Staying Safe in a Dinghy!

Looking to stay safe in a dinghy?

Since it's almost impossible to tip or sink an inflatable dinghy it's easy for people to think that they don't have to be careful on an inflatable dinghy as they would be in a traditional hard dinghy but that's a mistake that could be dangerous. Any boat can be unsafe at some point so it's important that you still follow some safety rules when you're taking out a dinghy. Here are some tips to help you stay safe when you're using your dinghy.

Avoid sharp objects - Sounds so basic doesn't it? But every year inflatable boat owners end up losing their boats because they didn't watch their gear or their kids closely enough and someone poked something sharp into the hull of the dinghy or into one of the inflatable tubes that keeps the dinghy afloat. It can happen in an instant even if the object is not overly sharp. To prevent a puncture or tear from your gear check and then double check to make sure that fishing reels and lures are security fastened and that any other sharp objects are safely stowed away. Also make sure there are no sharp edges on your motor that might wear away at the edge of the boat and check everyone's shoes for sharp heels or treads when they get on the boat.

Don't be rough on the boat - It's true that it's tough to tip or swamp an inflatable dinghy because of the way that the inflated tubes work but that doesn't mean you should do your best to try and tip or swamp it. Children can be especially rough when climbing in and out of the boat so make sure that you instruct your passengers on the proper way to get in and out of the boat so they won't end up damaging the boat.

Wear a life preserver - Once again that probably seems like common sense but you'd be amazed at how people get out into the open water with their inflatable dinghies and realize they left their live preservers on the deck. It may have even happened to you before. Always make sure that you have your life preserver on before you head out into open water.

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