Schedule a safety check for your boat.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons, the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, and boating organizations in other countries offer a free vessel safety check (also called a courtesy check or exam) upon request. The examiners check for the equipment required by regulations, and they will make recommendations about how you can make your boat safer. There are no government reports involved. If you haven’t had your boat checked out, add this to your “to-do” list. In the U.S., to find out more see www.safetyseal.net; in Canada go to http://tinyurl.com/calgb3y, and in other countries go to the websites of your recreational boating organizations.