What should you do to ensure your vessel is properly equipped?

Completing a pre-departure checklist is essential for ensuring that your vessel is properly equipped before you head out on the water. This checklist typically includes items such as confirming that safety equipment is on board and in good condition, checking the functionality of navigation lights, ensuring that life jackets are available for all passengers, and verifying that communication devices are working.

By following a pre-departure checklist, you can systematically ensure that all necessary equipment and safety measures are in place, which helps reduce the risk of accidents and ensures compliance with regulations. This thorough approach is crucial for safe boating practices and provides peace of mind that you have prepared your vessel for the journey.

While regular maintenance, checking the fuel level, and inspecting the hull are certainly important practices for vessel upkeep, they do not replace the comprehensive approach that a pre-departure checklist inherently provides.