If you want to get more out of your boating experiences and keep everyone on board your Crownline Finseeker safe at the same time, it’s important to develop a strong skill set. Why? Because this will help you have an easier time manoeuvring your boat which in turn will help you prevent from getting involved in accidents and if you ever come across an emergency situation, you’ll know how to handle yourself well.

So, if you’ve been boating for a while and feel like you have lost the confidence of being a good boater or you’re a novice and you want to get better, it’s time to refresh those skills and familiarise the things you need to be doing to navigate and operate a boat efficiently. Here are the skills you should aim to master if you want to enjoy boating and ensure safety onboard always:

Weather Forecasting

Be familiar with how to read the weather. You don't need to be a meteorologist to read the weather, but you should at least be able to understand what the forecast is saying. Pay close attention to the weather forecast before every boating trip. Focus on the central prediction for the day, current conditions and the probability of changing weather conditions during the whole day and upcoming days. It’s also vital to learn how to predict weather changes based on wind speed changes, temperature changes, and the behaviour of certain animals, especially fish. This skill will help you prevent boating in scummy conditions.

Boat Inspections

Every boat owner should be familiar with the basic elements of their boat, including the names of each part, where they're located, and why they're important. You can use this knowledge as part of your pre-boat inspection, designed to make sure everything on your boat is intact and operational before you leave the dock. Check all parts of your boat and even your motor boat engine to make sure they are properly working. Idle the engine to warm it up before leaving and check for leaks or damaged parts. Your pre-boat inspection is also a perfect opportunity to inspect your safety equipment.

Float Plan Documentation

Develop the habit of filling out a float plan every time you head out on any voyage. Your float plan is essentially a document that tells people where you're headed and how long you plan to be gone so that if in case you go missing, your loved ones and rescuers will know where to look.

Controlled handling

Do you know how to maintain control of your boat even during difficult circumstances? It's a good idea to practice these skills so you're ready for any conditions, especially during tough ones.

Anchoring

You should also be familiar with how to anchor your boat safely. When anchoring, you should typically point your boat into the wind and anchor off the bow, using an appropriate length for the depth of water you're dealing with. When pulling your anchor up, always check to make sure everyone is on board and secure the anchor and your lines inside the boat.

Tying knots

There are many types of knots boaters should master but the basic and common ones such as the bowline, cleave hitch, rolling hitch, clove hitch, and figure eight can be learned firsthand before moving on to complicated ones.  You'll need to know when to use the right knot for the right purpose since some knots are much stronger and capable of bearing more weight, while others are specialized for quick release or fast tying.

Emergency signalling

Just in case your VHF radio fails, it's a good idea to be familiar with other forms of emergency signalling. Learn how to use a flare gun or use flags to signal for help. Make sure you have one of these items on board every time you go boating.