How to Become a Better Boater? Check These Tips
The summer season is coming to an end on Vancouver Island. Yet, there is plenty of boating and sportfishing left to be done. And, who doesn’t want to become a pro boater?
However, many people find themselves in a dilemma on what to consider while learning boating or fishing like a professional. There are tons of articles and information available on the internet. Well, it can be confusing for anyone to choose some specific resource. That’s why here we have listed the best tips that can help you get a better idea about the perfect boating on the Pacific West Coast.
1. KYB (Know Your Boat)
The essential step to becoming a pro is to get familiarity with your vessel and its gears. Today, there is a plethora of marine electronics available for different kinds of boats and their uses. A good boat dealer in Port Alberni can help you understand the in-depth working of electronic chart plotters, radar, autopilots, mapping instruments, and other components. It will enable you to pick up the suitable electronic suite as per your use & boating requirement and do your things on the water at your best.
2. CAI (Checklists Are Important)
It is vital to prepare a checklist of things before you start any journey on the water. It will help you to stay organized and not to forget anything behind. You should write down key points to check not only when you depart, but also when you arrive back. Making this your routine will also help you take the proper steps in sudden situations like flooding, fire, engine failure, overload, etc.
For example, the checklist before you go on the water can cover checking the engine oil, batteries, cleaning, food, other boat electronics, medical kit, keeping the area map, and more. While, shutting down the engine and checking, switching lights off, turning security cameras on, rinsing the boat deck, etc. are the part of the post-boating or fishing when you come back to the port.
3. 3P (Practice, Practice, Practice)
As they say, practice makes you perfect. Once you get enough theory knowledge, it’s time to get a move on the water. The more you spend your time on the boat in the water, the more skilful you can become. You can even opt for professional boat training courses in your city. It can improve your abilities that can be tested in windy weather when the current might not be in your favour.
4. BRY (Be Realistic with Yourself)
Often, we became joyous while experimenting with new things. However, it also can lead to over-expectations than our abilities. It doesn’t hurt until the real-life scenario comes. When you become too optimistic with yourself on the water without appropriate skills, it can lead to more difficulties for you to handle tough situations. That’s why it’s an absolute necessity to rightly assess your boating skills and knowledge about the water conditions & surroundings.When you know enough about boating, you should also pass it on to the other passengers. When everyone on the boat knows about the situations and how to handle them, your time on the water certainly becomes more enjoyable and memorable.
5. FTR (Follow The Rules)
Rules are not made to be broken. They are made to keep everyone safe. Whether they are for the road, air or water, you must have a thorough understanding of the day shapes and lights of different vessels from near and far.
For example, if a boat is displaying two red lights, one over the other, it means the vessel might have sustained damages and not in control to take action and avoid a collision. It indicates that you must move out of the way and call for help.
You can connect with the local boat dealership or the coastal authorities to solve any of your doubts related to safety & rules. You can even check the how-to videos on YouTube to understand various aspects of boating and sportfishing.
Conclusion
You can’t become a boating expert overnight. It requires patience, dedication, time, and practice that paves the way for success. For any query related to boating or the professional fishing boats for sale in Vancouver Island, you can connect with us. The team at Alberni Power & Marine will assist you in becoming a safer, smarter mariner.