Kiwis love the water and summer is the time when anyone who has a boat, heads for the nearest boat ramp.

But Coastgaurd NZ is urging boaties to make sure their vessels are in good nick first, especially if they haven’t been used all winter.

Key things to check are:
•    Fuel. Left for any length of time, fuel can degrade or become contaminated from condensation in the tank. Make sure you have fresh fuel before heading out.
•    Oil. Now’s a good time to get some fresh engine oil and replace the oil filter.
•    Engine. Engines don’t like inactivity, so paying attention to the engine before you hit the water is a good idea.

In terms of safety equipment, lifejackets are at the top of the list. Two-thirds of those who die in recreational boating accidents each year could have been saved if they had been wearing a lifejacket.
Coastguard’s Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade campaign is back this summer, providing an opportunity to trade in old lifejackets for a discount on a range of new, modern and fit-for-purpose Hutchwilco lifejackets.

The Old4New van will be at the Omaha boat ramp, off Omaha Drive, on Sunday, December 2 from 9am to noon. Visit old4new.nz to find other dates and locations.

No excuse for unsafe practices

One of the best ways to keep everyone safe while at sea is for boat owners and operators to do a Coastguard Boating Education course.

Courses range from the Day Skipper course to the more advanced Boatmaster course. Almost 11,000 people enrolled in Coastguard Boating Education courses over the last 12 months, while 30,500 people completed the Safe Boating programme.

However, even with the best preparation, things can go wrong. That’s why a Coastguard membership gives a guarantee that no matter whether its a breakdown, a flat battery or someone on board gets sick, a rescue vessel, crewed by trained volunteers, will turn up and do all they can to get everyone home in one piece, free of charge.

Last year, Coastguard volunteers attended callouts involving more than 6900 people.

Here’s a reminder from Coastguard of the Boating Safety Code:
Lifejackets: Take them – wear them
Communications: Take two separate waterproof ways of communicating
Marine weather: New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes.
Avoid alcohol: Safe boating and alcohol do not mix.
Skipper responsibility: The skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat. Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience.

To sign up for a Coastguard membership, visit coastguard.nz/membership.

To find out more and to enrol in a Coastguard Boating Education course, visit boatingeducation.org.nz.