Boating Safety Checks by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

In Tampa, Florida boaters at the Gandy Boat Ramp were delayed shoving off on Sunday. The 10-15 minute delay was for a good cause as members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offered boaters a safety check. “Boaters will remember beer, water and food. But they’ll forget that their flares are out of date, or their radio isn’t working,” Tim Teahan of the Coast Guard told Fox 13.

Inspectors checked for life preservers, radios, and flares. They also checked to make sure young drivers had taken boating safety courses in the last five years. All boaters, regardless if the Coast Guard is there, should perform safety checks before heading out on open waters. Part of an inspection of your boat includes checking the oil levels, so make sure you’re stocked up on Evinrude xd100 oil.