It’s a good bet that with our early spring a lot of Minnesotans are itching to get out on the water — and the D-N-R’s Lisa Dugan says this is a great time to make sure your boat is in good shape for the coming season. Lifejackets — up-to-date and in good working order — are a must. Dugan says, “Make sure you have your inflatables, a horn or a whistle, fire extinguisher always, navigation lights, make sure everything is in working order, and then of course valid boat registration, and make sure the numbers are visible on the side.” Dugan recommends using the U-S Coast Guard’s checklist. She says a thorough mechanical check of your vessel is a good idea also — not only at the start of the season but periodically throughout the summer.
Dugan stresses lifejackets are essential when you go out on the water — “Not just in the boat — wearing them,” she says. “No one’s ever expecting to fall in accidentally, so always wearing the lifejackets, not just having them.”
More info in the complete interview: