Just like beach etiquette there is also boating etiquette. Whether it is your first time onboard or your 100th, boating etiquette is important for everyone to have fun and remain safe.
If you’re accepting a spot aboard, you’re accepting your captain and their rules. At the end of the day, they’re legally in charge of the boat and passengers. It’s important to follow their guidance.
Trash belongs in a trash can. Not loose in the boat or worse in the water. Keep things clean and dispose of anything you need to when you get ashore.
Seasickness happens and if you begin to feel sick, try to tell the captain or another passenger as soon as you notice symptoms. Always stay on deck & focus on the horizon. A quick tip for captains: it’s always a good idea to keep motion sickness medication on board.
Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket if you’re planning to be exposed to the water. If you’re not a confident swimmer tell the captain and keep to areas of the boat with limited water exposure.
Always sit so that you don’t add all the weight tone section of the boat—especially the bow. Also, depending on the body of water there might be a law to stay seated on the boat while moving. So, ask your captain for the rules.
Not surprisingly but the best way to have fun is to avoid accidents. This means no pushing people overboard, standing on seats or playing around by the boat controls and if you’re drinking know your limits. Look out for each other and be responsible.
There is plenty of room to swim in the water but stay away from the boat, especially while it’s running. That way you can avoid serious injury from a rocking boat, the propellers or exposure to carbon monoxide. This also allows a captain to assess a headcount and their proximity to swimmers.
Check out these other tips from Discover Boating on passenger etiquette.
At Robalo, building world class fishing boats is a passion and a way of life. A leader in the marine industry since 1968, Robalo is renowned for its heavy-duty construction, legendary ride and unwavering desire to stay on the cutting edge of innovation. We invite you to choose from an incredible lineup of Center Consoles, Cayman Bay Boats, and Dual Consoles.
