Owning a boat can be the source of endless hours of fun and relaxation, whether you like to go out on a lake to fish or hold a shipboard party in a nearby harbor for the weekend. But, like an automobile, a boat is a large motor vehicle, and so, as Bingham Insurance Group serving Braselton, GA is pleased to remind you, certain safety protocols should apply.

You should have your boat safety kit available, including life vests for all passengers. You can hope that you will not suffer a mishap that will cause you to abandon your boat, but being able to survive in the water until the Coast Guard or another boater rescues you is a good thing. A working radio with which to summon help would also be of use.

You should check the weather before going out. Nothing will ruin your outing quite like being out on the water in a storm.

You should maintain your boat properly, making sure that the engine runs as it is supposed to.

Do not overload your boat with people and equipment. Having your boat capsize is not only embarrassing but downright dangerous.

Use common sense while on the water. Do not go tearing around like a hot-rodder, endangering other boaters and swimmers. The same rules that apply to safe driving on the road in a car apply to safe boating. Be alert, as well, to other boaters who may be misbehaving.

Follow all of the safety procedures for anchoring when on the water and for docking when you return to the marina.

For information on boat insurance, feel free to contact Bingham Insurance Group serving Braselton, GA.