Top 7 tips for heading offshore for the first time

But just like you prepare your car for a long road trip, it can pay big dividends if you use the same mindset when getting your boat ready to head out beyond the coastal shoreline.

Here, we have nominated the seven top sins to avoid to ensure your trip running wide won't turn into an unexpectedly early return to the boat ramp.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve bought a brand-new boat from a dealer or a second-hand one from a private seller, you will need to become familiar with the functional operation of the boat.

The main thing is knowing the boat’s electronics, which starts with the battery system.

If the battery is fitted with an isolator switch, ensure you know how it works. If the boat has multiple batteries, decide which one you will dedicate to cranking the engines, and which will primarily serve as the house battery running the boat’s electronics.

A common mistake is to run both batteries at the same time. If you do this and you don’t realise that all the batteries have run down, there may be insufficient voltage to start the engines for the run home.

Become familiar with the boat's navigation aids such as the chartplotter, and ideally the VHF radio that has been programmed to scan the channels used in the local waters.

Ensure you know how to find your GPS location so you can relay your position if ever you need help. Don’t assume that mobile phone coverage will be available in an emergency.

First-time buyers may not be aware that some vessels are not built to handle offshore conditions, particularly if there is ocean swell and adverse weather.

It’s important to know that your boat is fit for purpose. This starts with research before buying a boat.

A good seagoing boat won’t compensate for skipper inexperience, so the two should ideally be matched.

There is no substitute for experience gained out on the water.
Time spent learning how your boat behaves on the water will also improving your skippering capability and expand your ability to manage conditions at sea.

My advice to anyone new to boating is to get significant hours up in bays or inland waterways and become familiar with the boat’s handling in changing conditions.

Frequent use of the boat will build an important knowledge of changes to fuel use in various conditions.

Other key points come naturally, such as ensuring the fuel is fresh (not stale), engine oil is topped up, batteries are fully charged, bilge pumps are working, and navigation systems and accessories are fully functioning.

All these good habits help to eliminate issues that could present problems out on the water.

Don’t head out offshore on your first trip after an extended lay-up. It’s always good practice to first have had a shakedown session in safer waters such as an enclosed bay to ensure everything is working correctly.

Regulations in each Australian state or territory dictate what safety equipment needs to be carried onboard, and what you must carry can vary depending on whether you’re in protected (such as a bay) or unprotected (as in the ocean) waters.

Safety requirements are detailed on most marine safety websites, so claiming ignorance of what you need to carry is not a valid excuse.

Check that your EPIRB emergency beacon (mounted in an easily accessible spot on the boat) or personal locator beacon (worn by people on the boat) are registered and their batteries functioning – many will have a test button that allows you to check the battery status.

One of the most common reasons for attracting a fine from authorities is out-of-date flares. Check yours haven’t expired, and that you have the right number of orange smoke, red and parachute flares onboard in an easily accessible part of the boat.

Check that you’re carrying the right number and type of lifejackets to suit everyone on board, and that their service records are up to date. The rules say you need to wear lifejackets at times of heightened risk, so if you're inexperienced at offshore boating, be honest with yourself and wear one.

Make sure the fire extinguisher is in date, has charge and its volume is matched to the fuel capacity of your boat.

Look at the compass. Inspect for pools of oil beneath it to indicate it has burst its seal, and needs replacing.

Store safety equipment so in an emergency it is easily accessible for you your crew because if things do go dramatically pear-shaped you could end up in the water in seconds.

It also pays to carry a suitable length of tow rope – it could be an invaluable item if you do break down.

It’s good practice to let family or a friend know where you’re headed, and your expected time of return.

Write it on the fridge or a whiteboard or send a text. Don’t just tell someone where you’re going, as precise details can be difficult to remember.

Other options are to sign in with the local coast guard station via mobile phone, a smartphone app, or even VHF radio, registering your details, location and expected time of return as you leave the boat ramp.

If something happens and you haven’t signed off with the coast guard at the expected time, they can raise the alarm.

Remember that wind and current can quickly alter your position. The software used by rescue groups can model wind and current drift but providing your exact location as a reference point critically improves your chances of being found.

Running out of fuel should never be an excuse to ask for help. On long runs, it’s a good rule of thumb to allocate a third of our fuel for the trip out, a third for the trip back, and a third in reserve – in bad weather you could burn through significantly more fuel on the trip home.

Carry enough food and water.

Most importantly, play it safe.

An organised boat is a much safer boat. There’s nothing worse than tripping or stumbling over loose gear in a boat’s cockpit. get into a practice of everything having a dedicated spot.

Secure everything that can move about, including fishing gear, hooks and sinkers, bags, iceboxes, and ropes.

When heading offshore, there’s often a bar or other turbulent water to cross as you head out to the open sea.

These rough bits of water can turn any loose object into an obstacle, including items on the boat’s dashboard – a phone or a pair of sunnies threatening to slide off the console can be a dangerous distraction when your eyes need to be on what’s ahead of, and around you.

Ensure everyone else on the boat knows where to sit or stand in times of heightened risk, as sudden changes to weight distribution can cause a boat to behave unexpectedly.

Always check marine weather forecasts for swell, wind and tides.

Sea conditions can alter dramatically in some coastal areas, and quickly. Tide, swell and wind may all permit a bar crossing in the morning, but later in the day it may not be a viable option.

Plan your trip accordingly so that if a change in the weather is forecast, you have plenty of time to return to safer water.

Weather forecasts are broadcast over marine radio at regular intervals, so do your homework and find out the appropriate times and channels for where you are.

These real-time reports are useful if you’re venturing beyond mobile phone range.

Speaking of real-world conditions, while the weather might be fine, visibility may not. Fog, rain, spray and even heavy cloud cover can easily reduce visibility down to around 50 metres, severely affecting your ability to navigate by sight, and travel quickly.

We’ve also seen the effect that Australia’s bushfires can have out on the water, with dense smoke creating problems.

Navigating at night presents a whole new set of challenges for inexperienced boaters, and ideally should be avoided.

If it’s your first time running wide, don’t go alone. It’s always better to have company on board so that if something does go wrong, help is at hand.

It’s also good to have someone who can step up and take over when needed; operating a boat while stressed, fatigued or impaired can be challenging even for experienced skippers.

Heading offshore to open waters is always a significant risk. If you’re inexperienced, see if you can go out with a second boat, or crew on another boat to observe and learn.

If you’re skippering for the first time, take someone experienced with you who might just help you avoid making a mistake and be that extra pair of hands if something goes wrong.

Offshore boating is extremely enjoyable, but it is not without risks. No trip (or fish) is worth risking your life, so the best advice is: If in doubt, don’t go out.