An evening cruise on your boat under a starry sky offers a great way to enjoy the coolest part of the day with a celestial show overhead. Add a dinner destination to your cruise for romance and more fun, but remember—returning from that destination after dark offers special challenges. Here are some tips and rules from the Coast Guard for nighttime boating. Consider taking a boating safety course to brush up on skills.
The U.S. Coast Guard is asking all boat owners and operators to help reduce fatalities, injuries, property damage, and associated healthcare costs related to recreational boating accidents by taking personal responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their passengers. Essential steps include: wearing a life jacket at all times and requiring passengers to do the same; never boating under the influence (BUI); successfully completing a boating safety course; and getting a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) annually from local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, United States Power Squadrons®, or your state boating agency’s Vessel Examiners. The U.S. Coast Guard reminds all boaters to “Boat Responsibly!” For more tips on boating safety, visit www.uscgboating.org.
