BARRIE POLICE SERVICE
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Getting ready for a boat trip this long weekend?
If you are hitting the waterways ensure you have all the correct information you need to make your holiday weekend a safe and enjoyable experience. Visit Transport Canada for your guide to marine safety and vessel standards.
Make sure to download the Discover Boating app on your smartphone. It gives you information about the key rules, guidelines and best practices that will help you and your family stay safe on water.
10 Tips for Boaters Watching Fireworks
Many towns and cities across Canada located on lake, a bay or a river will be firing off spectacular fireworks displays over the water on July 1.
- Designate a sober Driver to stay at the helm all evening and be responsible for returning the boat and its passengers safely to shore after the fireworks are over.
- Make sure everyone on board the boat is wearing either a traditional or an inflatable life jacket that fits. Navigating at night in a crowd of other vessels can be just as dangerous as boating in stormy weather or in fog.
- Don’t overload the boat with passengers. The number of seats available on board is not always the best indicator of capacity. Look for the weight capacity plate on the transom or by the helm, or look up the passenger capacity in the builder’s manual.
- Remember that at night, visual navigation marks you rely on during the day may be invisible. Chart your route to the on-water fireworks viewing zone in advance, and use GPS-enabled electronics to help you find it, if necessary.
- If you are rafting up to other vessels to watch the fireworks, as you approach the raft-up, have fenders and lines ready, and tell your passengers to keep their entire body inside the boat at all times.
- No Shooting. Don’t bring store-bought fireworks along on the boat to fire off yourself. Fireworks should only be lit on a flat and level surface; a boat is not stable enough because it will rock and move in the water. In addition, fiberglass is flammable, and the vessel’s engine and fuel also can create a serious fire risk when sparks and open flames are present.
- Never fire emergency flares in place of fireworks. They are not intended for this use and often burn hotter and faster than fireworks. In addition, it is against the law to make a false call for help; you could face severe fines and/or jail time.
- Keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water handy to put out any sparks that might accidentally drift over to your boat from the fireworks display.
- Don’t be in a rush to get home; let some of the boat traffic clear out before you raise anchor.
- Obey any designated zones for swimmers and keep out - they are there to protect swimmers!
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