There’s nothing more annoying than being sprayed with a stream of water from a boat a yard away from you. Whether you’re an angler on the shore or boating on a lake, this stunt can be potentially dangerous. The pressure from the jet could knock someone overboard.

This is just an example of how boaters can bother or injure those around them if they’re not careful. This is why there are courtesy rules among boaters that they should practice at all times to avoid bothering fellow boaters and anglers along the shore. However, some irresponsible boaters skim through these courtesy guidelines. Even though these guidelines are more like unspoken rules than anything officially written, this doesn’t excuse some boaters who can be rude to others and practice bad behaviours and habits. This is a good reminder for you that even if you own an incredible Yellowfin boat or a Quintrex boat, you need to be respectful of your surroundings.

Let’s take a look at some courtesy guidelines for boaters:

Watch Your Wake

Heavy boats that travel at fast speeds usually displace water by a lot. When water is displaced, it creates waves that travel from the sides of the boat. These waves are called wakes, and they are generated as you traverse through the water. These waves can either get weak and eventually disappear, or crash into the shore. Big wakes can be either bothersome or annoying. They cause other boats to rock and even capsize small vessels. Wakes can also splash into the shore with enough force to knock people back or topple equipment.

If you’re travelling anywhere near the shore or among fellow boaters, make sure to drive slowly to minimise your wake. You can practice moving your boat at the slowest speed while maintaining steerage. This is called slow-waking. Practice slow-waking when you’re within 60 meters from shores and docks.

Courteous Fishing on Boat

When you’re fishing in a lake or a river, make sure to talk to other patrons about local guidelines. This includes matters such as boat traffic, behaviour, and anchoring protocols. When a fish is spawning, don’t fish over it. Spawning is when a fish releases its eggs for breeding. Leave it alone and allow them to breed to compensate for overfishing.

General Courtesy Guidelines

Do not throw your waste overboard. This can harm the environment and it’s just overall rude and tacky.

Make sure to bring a portable toilet or mobile restroom facilities if you need to relieve yourself. Never throw your waste into the water.

Make sure that your boat is cleaned before you go on your boating adventures. Make sure it’s not fouled with marine pests such as barnacles. You could introduce invasive species from one body of water to another.

Now that you have an idea of what things you should do to be a good and respectable boater, you can head out to the water with more respect and appreciation of the beauty around you. If you need to buy your own water vessel, there are many available boats for sale in Queensland at affordable prices. If you can head to your nearest boat dealership, browse for Quintrex boats. This brand of aluminium boats prides itself on designing the sturdiest and most reliable boat hulls for Australian boaters. Ask your local dealers if they have any of these boats for sale.