What should I do if someone new to my boat steps onboard?

It’s important, then, that if someone who has no clue about how different boating is to their drive down to the boat ramp, they’re quickly brought up to speed on how things will work out on the water.

Boats have no seatbelts, there are no airbags, boats can move up and down quite violently and while cars are big on passive safety that kicks in automatically, on a boat most of the safety technology needs someone to physically activate it, from pulling the cord on a lifejacket to flicking the switch to activate an EPIRB.

Here’s the boatsales guide to the best way we think you can introduce someone new to boating to your boat.

Marine licences vary around Australia. These range from the Northern Territory, which doesn’t require one, to places like Victoria, where a boat licence is more like a master’s ticket, meaning you can hand the helm to someone else on board so long as they remain under your supervision.

Let them know that as the skipper of the boat, you’re entirely responsible for their welfare and well-being for as long as they’re onboard.

A proper safety briefing is important. In an emergency situation, knowing how to react may make a big difference.

If lifejackets are stowed somewhere on the boat, ensure everyone knows where, and how to access them.

Also show them the location of the flares, torch, bailing bucket and – if your boat is fitted with one – the EPIRB, with a quick demonstration on how to activate it.

If you don’t already have all your safety gear in a watertight grab bag, maybe it’s time you added one to your boat.

Point out the fire extinguisher and give them a brief run-down of how they can use it to stop a fire by aiming it at the base of the flames rather than the top.

Don’t just ask someone to put on a lifejacket, put one on yourself.

It gives you a chance to show someone else how the lifejacket is fitted, and if it’s an inflatable one, how to deploy it.

Boats drive very differently from cars, so jumping from behind the steering wheel of one to another is not easy.

Give everyone an introduction to how the boat steers itself from the rear, and how to change the gearshift from forward to reverse, and to neutral. Also make sure they know how to turn the engine on or off.

If your boat is fitted with a kill switch, ensure you let them know what it does and point out how to re-fit it to the throttle and shift controller or dashboard.

A VHF radio is a vital bit of safety equipment on a boat. A smart skipper will have a cue card somewhere that anyone can follow to send a distress call out on the airwaves.

The more modern radios may have Digital Call Select, a one-button system that will automatically alert all boats within range that you are in trouble, including exactly where you are. Give a demonstration.

Sitting in a boat is very different to riding along in a car. If conditions are going to be a bit rough, let everyone know and make it clear that if at any point they’re not comfortable with the speed you’re travelling at, they can ask you to slow down.

It’s also very important that they let you know as soon as they start to feel queasy, a sure sign that they’re becoming seasick. You may even need to slow down, head for calmer waters, or even abandon the trip.

If you’re heading into the wind, let them know that a bit of spray may come over the bow, so they’re best to not have a mobile phone in hand when it happens.

Letting someone know where you’re going, and what route you’re taking to get there, may be important in the event of a rescue if someone can relay the details to emergency services.

If you plan on towing anyone behind the boat, it’s important that they know how to communicate with the observer.

Go through all the hand signals you will need, including the important ones of ‘slow’, ‘stop’ and the two signals for ‘okay’ that they will use, one while being towed and the other while being recovered from the water. 

Don’t ever think you know what’s best for the people being towed behind the boat, and let them set the pace.