Even infrequent boaters will hitch up the trailer or book a boat rental for the Fourth of July weekend. Boating is definitely a classic way to celebrate this holiday in Florida, especially since it’s right in the middle of the hottest part of the year. We definitely plan on staying cool on the water this Fourth of July, so we’ve put together a quick guide to boating on this particular day and the following weekend. While it’s one of the biggest aquatic parties of the year, you definitely need to exercise a little extra caution while operating around so many people. If you follow the tips below, your fun will continue uninterrupted! Happy Fourth of July!
1. Police marine patrol boats will be out in force across the state of Florida on any major boating holiday. If you get pulled over, there’s no reason to panic! You may not have done anything wrong; the police will be routinely stopping boaters for safety checks throughout the holiday weekend. Just make sure you have the following items in order and you’ll be off in no time:
- Your boating license, if you have one
- Photo ID
- Enough life jackets for everyone aboard (children under 6 are required to wear them at all times)
In addition, boating while intoxicated is a crime and a major hazard on the ocean, so drink responsibly and consider the potential that you may be breathalyzed. If you’re not confident that you’ll remain below the legal limit, choose a designated driver to operate the boat or hire a captain to drive your floating party around! Driving a boat under the influence can incur state and federal charges, with associated penalties of up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines. Hiring a good captain is positively cheap in comparison! Also, if you do plan on having a few drinks, you should wear your life jacket. Your chances of falling off the boat increase exponentially while drinking, and a life jacket will prevent a small mishap from becoming a big one.
2. Mind the sun: Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and sunburns happen quickly in Florida’s strong sun. Be sure to pack a cooler with plenty of drinks, ice, and snacks for your group. Don’t forget about the needs of your four-legged friends if they’re coming along. Bring LOTS of sunscreen, and don’t forget to reapply after spending a couple hours in the sun! We wrote an entire article about beating the heat and preventing heat exhaustion while boating, which you can check out here for more great tips.
3. Watch for flags: In addition to swimmers, there are many divers in the ocean around the Fourth of July weekend enjoying the excellent water conditions. Dive flags mark the locations of divers under the water, and should be given a wide berth: not only is it extremely dangerous to boat near divers, there are also large fines associated with coming too close to dive flags.
4. Do a quick maintenance check: Unless you’re boating with 321, you should do an extra-thorough inspection of your boat before your Fourth of July excursion. If you are boating with us, no worries: our vessels are constantly checked and maintained. This is absolutely one of the worst times to attempt to get the towers to come rescue you on the water if you have an unexpected issue. Many boat owners leave their boat sitting for months before going out for the Fourth, leading to a huge spike in stranded vessels and service calls for agencies like SEA-TOW. Making sure everything is in good working order before you leave will minimize your chances of needing their services. If you run into any kind of trouble while cruising with 321, just give us a call and we’ll have you moving again in minutes!
BONUS TIP: The Coast Guard Auxiliary performs complimentary safety checks on vessels to certify that everything is in order! The safety check only takes 15-30 minutes, and they’ll award you a decal that certifies your vessel’s compliance with safety regulations (one of the things boat police in Florida will often stop you to check).
5. Stay alert: You may be a very safe and cautious boater, but not everyone on the water is. Practice “defensive driving” while near other boats on the water to avoid mishaps and close calls, just as you do on the road with other motorists. You can’t assume that other boats will always follow the rules of right-of-way and be paying attention. Most accidents on the water are caused by lack of attention or by distractions. Give other boaters and swimmers plenty of room and stay away from vessels that are moving erratically. Many inexperienced and inattentive boaters will be out this weekend, and they’re best avoided completely.
We know many of these tips are common sense, but planning ahead for the Fourth of July weekend will ensure that you have the best time possible and that your fun isn’t ruined by an avoidable pitfall. As long as you exercise a little caution, you’ll have a fantastic day. If you haven’t rented your boat yet, there’s still time! Give us a call or check out our fleet of rental boats, as we occasionally have last-minute cancellations leading up to major holidays. We might still have the perfect boat for you available!