Absolute essentials?

E

EdgarRoniFigaro

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Apr 21, 2022
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Hi there,

In the process of buying a boat and wanted to know of things that’s basically needed to ride as safely as possible for a newbie.

it came/is coming with a fire extinguisher. I bought PFDs, and that’s pretty much it. It doesn’t seem to come with a VHF and I heard those are recommended. Any advice on decent east to use VHFs? Other than that is it basically PFDs and a working boat?

Thanks!
 
Welcome to the club!

What size boat are you buying?
Where will you be boating?
Will you always have cell service?
You need a throwable, flares and a whistle or other noise making device.
 
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iCom and Garmin both have VHFs that are relatively easy to use. Standard Horizon is arguably more powerful but IMO, are not the least bit intuitive.

You didn't mention what boat model you are purchasing, and that will certainly be useful info to help us help you.
 
EdgarRoniFigaro said:
Hi there,

In the process of buying a boat and wanted to know of things that’s basically needed to ride as safely as possible for a newbie.

it came/is coming with a fire extinguisher. I bought PFDs, and that’s pretty much it. It doesn’t seem to come with a VHF and I heard those are recommended. Any advice on decent east to use VHFs? Other than that is it basically PFDs and a working boat?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Check the fire extinguisher. Kidde had a major recall on most marine extinguishers.

Tim
 
Keep the fridge stocked and you should be fine. Ohh and +1 on a TowBoat US membership. And heck, if yer gonna be a bit offshore, get an EPIRB along with that VHF. Ohh and while you're at it make sure your VHF is DSC capable and nab yourself a free MMSI # from usps.org.


50648799047_cbda09891c_h.jpg
 
Wow, I only posted this a few hours ago. Ya’ll are a helpful bunch. :)

@Tucker K5 Assuming the survey goes well a 24’’ sundeck. Boating is mainly going to be in the Barnegat Bay near the Jersey shore. Good question on the cell service. I’ve never used a boat before or even been on one in the bay so not sure if I’ll have service. I’ll make sure to look into it though. Check on those three.

@bobeast Sorry, yeah a 2007 24’’ Sundeck. I’ll start my research there then.

@Pirate Lady :D I’m not a big drinker, but what are the rules on that? As long as the boat is off and you use common sense no one will bother you if you down one real quick while fishing or strictly passengers only?

Wait, there’s a boat towing service? Like AAA for water? Every day I’ve been surprised at how much I don’t know.

@Stee6043 That’s a lot of stuff I have to look up, thanks!
 
Golfman25 said:
Start with this site
http://cgaux.org/vsc/
And this checklist
https://www.usps.org/national/vsc/formtool_files/a7012.pdf
Click to expand...

Thanks so much. This kept me busy the rest of the night. So much there.

I decided I’d just keep searching and researching until after the survey. The broker contacted me and said to wait in case some stuff came included with the boat. Anything that’s not I can just buy at the marina. I checked the boat and unless things were hiding somewhere I don’t think they will. Probably the best idea though with how little I know currently. Thanks again all.
 
For what it's worth most of the inland boaters I know will not have a VHF nor any of the other fancy electronics.

If this is your first year on a boat I'd suggest you get the minimum safety gear required (as linked above) and enjoy! Stay off the ocean, enjoy that bay. If you want to be super ready maybe just a get a $125 handheld VHF just in case (and they are good for weather band too). Otherwise save your money for gas!
 
Highly recommend a boaters safety course. Check out your local power squadron or USCG Aux for classes available in your area.
 
Pirate Lady said:
Go back to #8.
I kid about the beer. In most states, getting a DUI on the water goes against your car drivers license, with all the same consequences. you can get pulled off the boat, thrown in jail, your boat towed to a marina at your expense. Basically a bad weekend. Best wait til off the boat in the marina.
Click to expand...

A key difference between piloting a boat and driving a car are the "open intoxicant" laws. You can legally drink while being in command of a boat in many (most, all?) states but you cannot do such a thing whilst driving a car. You cannot be over the legal blood alcohol limit in either situation, of course.
 
Stee6043 said:
A key difference between piloting a boat and driving a car are the "open intoxicant" laws. You can legally drink while being in command of a boat in many (most, all?) states but you cannot do such a thing whilst driving a car. You cannot be over the legal blood alcohol limit in either situation, of course.
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This was the kind of thing I heard as well. I don’t see myself ever drinking while out on a boat just because it’s not my thing. I’ve can count how many drinks I’ve had on one hand.

A bit more worried about passengers wanting a beer and if I should tell them to go to the front or whatever. After looking it up it seems in NJ an open bottle can be anywhere, and apparently even consume while operating. The normal 0.08 still applies of course though. As well at least to me the use common sense rule as well. No reason to just not wait until after and leave it to the passengers.

At least I don’t have to worry about anyone mistaking a passengers drink in a cup holder as mine.

Edit: @Pirate Lady Aww man! I missed out on the bikini ladies? :D

Yeah, definitely getting the boat/us membership once I officially close. I was happily surprised to see that boating insurance actually isn’t bad. I wish all boating aspects were surprisingly cheap like that. Think that was the first one so far. The fact that 2 or 3 MPG is what I can expect from the engine so far is probably my biggest “paying for that is going to get old quick” moments I’ve had.
 
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EdgarRoniFigaro said:
In the process of buying a boat and wanted to know of things that’s basically needed to ride as safely as possible for a newbie.
Click to expand...

Introductory boating course from USCG Aux or the Power Squadrons.

And those cover topics like safety equipment, too.

More like .75 MPG, plus or minus.

-Chris
 
I haven't checked the boating safety app and I am sure it is good, but I would add that the waters you intend to frequent really dictate what "else" you might need. In my neck of the woods, the water is *very* cold in most of the lake (very deep, glacier-fed) so while good PFDs might seem sufficient if you get dumped overboard while wearing one you will still expire from hypothermia in short order--so accessible and easy to put on dry suits are advisable. Radio too, because the lake has spotty cell service. And a depth finder--while the lake is generally very deep, at the southern end where it dumps out into a river there be sandbars, matey!
(I heard a story of a guy in a jet boat zooming over one, then saw where he was, and stopped. If had kept going he would have been ok but got himself 100 yards into a sandbar... :) )
So, know your waters/hazards and plan accordingly :D.
 
EdgarRoniFigaro said:
A bit more worried about passengers wanting a beer and if I should tell them to go to the front or whatever. After looking it up it seems in NJ an open bottle can be anywhere, and apparently even consume while operating. The normal 0.08 still applies of course though. As well at least to me the use common sense rule as well. No reason to just not wait until after and leave it to the passengers.

At least I don’t have to worry about anyone mistaking a passengers drink in a cup holder as mine.
Click to expand...

A real concern is the captain is responsible for the safety of all on board. Having drunks stagger around on a moving boat can really strain that responsibility.
 
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