Rafting Up Right

Rafting up with friends on the water to kick back and relax is a great way to enjoy your summer days.

It’s best to have a few ground rules to prevent unintentional bumps, scratches, misunderstandings, and the like. Here are 5 tips to make sure it all goes smoothly.

Location: Rafting up out of the wind, out of the current, and away from any place that may have serious boat wakes is best. Ideally, look for a place that is buffered by the shore with access to shallow water or a beach where kids can wade, swim or dinghy to shore.

Anchoring: Start with the biggest boats in the middle and smaller boats on the outside edges for balance. The largest boat should anchor first and set one off the bow and one off the stern for added security.

Permission: When tying up alongside another boat in an existing raft always ask for permission first. If you don’t know the skipper, approach slowly and ask to join the raft from a safe distance.

Fenders: You will need several fenders, at least two or three per side, depending on the size of the boat. Bring the biggest ones you have (a minimum of 10 inches) and secure them along the side of your boat before you approach the raft to tie up.

Boat Alignment: To avoid climbing over gunwales, it’s best to align swim platforms to move from boat to boat. Tie off at the bow and stern and use spring lines amidships to fine-tune positioning.

Practice safe boating, be courteous of your neighbors and follow these tips the next time you raft up. If you end up cranking the tunes and enjoying yourselves so much that your batteries go dead, you know who to call.

Protect Your Boat This Hurricane Season

Preparing for a storm is imperative. Sea Tow is offering up tips to help boaters prepare in advance. Before a storm, consider the following:

•Check your marine insurance and marina policies for storm information. Speak with your insurance agent and marina contact to understand all procedures and requirements during a storm situation.

•Document inventory of all property onboard and be sure to take videos AND photographs. Place legal documents such as policies, licenses, and registration in a secure, dry place away from the vessel.

• Learn the difference between a hurricane watch and hurricane warning and the area’s evacuation rules and instructions.

•Be knowledgeable of the storm surge history and the area’s elevation.

•When a storm is impending, consider where the boat will ride it out. Insurance companies may require you to haul out the boat or store in a specific location. Be sure to check your policy.

•Move boats on trailers close to a house, weigh them down and lash securely to anchor the trailer.

•If the boat must stay in the water, secure it to the dock with longer, thicker lines and use lines that are protected against chafing so that they will hold up to the swinging and swaying that is often caused by storms.

If your boat is affected by a storm, know that Sea Tow has the experience and knowledge to safely recover your property. Make sure you only work with licensed and insured companies that do this type of work every day. Contact your local captain to learn more about Sea Tow’s salvage and recovery capabilities.