Are you planning on taking your family and friends out for one last boating hurrah in 2021? Do you plan on ringing in the new year 2022 on the water? There’s nothing like being out on the Canadian waters, no matter the temperature. That said, in the winter, it behooves all boaters to take extra safety precautions when going on the water. Our Canadian vessel documentation site has some recommendations so that you and yours can have a fun and safe boating experience during this wintry season.
What to Wear
“Dress for the water, not the air.” You may have heard that phrase before. What it means is that the air, no matter how cold it is, most likely doesn’t feel as cold as the water will. So, even if you don’t plan on going into the water, dress like you may fall in at any time. Layering is a great idea. That way, you can take layers on and off as you see fit. Of course, no matter what layers you’re wearing, always make certain your personal flotation device fits over the maximum number of layers you’re wearing.
Communication is Key
Most vessel owners, when they go out on the water, have their phones with them. That’s fine. Taking your phone with you is a good idea if it’s charged up and in a safe, dry place. That said, you want to do more than just have your phone with you. Unfortunately, you may run into a “dead spot” right in the middle of the water. To that end, having a marine-band VHF radio and signal flares are great “backups.” Even better: they make perfect holiday gifts for the boater in your life to boot.
1-10-1
That’s the principle for what to do if you fall into freezing water. What happens in the first minute of falling into the water is important. You want to calm yourself as much as possible, to resist that “cold water shock.” The sooner you can control your breathing, the better – doing it within one minute is optimal. From there, you have ten minutes after gaining awareness of “meaningful movement.” That means you can move without losing dexterity in your limbs. The last “one” is for “one hour,” which is how long you have before hypothermia can take over. Get your breath under control and get to safety.
Canadian Vessel Documentation in the Cold and the Heat
Hopefully, you never have to worry about the scenarios mentioned above. Instead, you, your family, and your friends have a lovely time out on the water this holiday season. Many vessel owners use this time to catch up on their vessel documentation, as they aren’t on the water as much as they would like to be. To that end, you can always use our site to file the vessel documentation that you need. To see everything that we offer, just head out to our site today.