12 Most Common Boating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

12 Most Common Boating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

discoverboating

Even experienced captains make mistakes and can benefit from a refresher on essential boating practices. This ensures you have the best day on the water, confident and prepared.

The good news is that you can avoid these 12 common boating blunders with some extra planning and knowledge. Get ready for a smooth sailing adventure!

common boating mistakes

12 Common Boating Fails to Avoid

  1. Failing to check the marine weather forecast
  2. Running aground
  3. Forgetting to keep up with regular maintenance
  4. Hitting the dock
  5. Running out of gas
  6. Forgetting to put in the drain plug
  7. Overloading the boat
  8. Getting lost
  9. Putting out insufficient anchor line
  10. Running the engine while dry
  11. Improperly mooring the boat
  12. Trailering with the engine down and/or the top up

Now, let’s talk about how to avoid each of these mistakes.

Weather Safety Tips for Boaters

1. Failing to Check the Marine Weather Forecast

Tuning into marine weather before each trip is a must unless you want to be surprised by gusty winds, rough seas, and sudden storms. And remember, this means marine weather, not regular land-based forecasts, which don’t include sea conditions. To ensure you never encounter this error, check out marine weather apps before leaving the dock.

First-Time Boat Owners: How to Get Started

running aground with a boat

2. Running Aground

Running aground is a lot more common than you might think and can have varying degrees of severity depending on where you do your boating. On a soft mud or sand bottom, it’s usually no big deal, but in a rocky harbor, hitting the bottom can do some serious damage.
The solution? Always be aware of where you are and the local underwater hazards. And when in doubt, reduce your boat’s speeds.

3. Forgetting to Keep Up with Regular Maintenance

This mistake can have serious consequences, especially for your boat’s propulsion systems. Be sure to peruse our Boat Maintenance resources, create a maintenance schedule, and stick to it.

The Ultimate Boat Maintenance Guide

4. Hitting the Dock

boat-docking-fails

Docking mastery is critical! Even with perfect planning, unexpected issues like power loss can arise, risking your boat hitting the dock.
Knowing how to dock your boat skillfully prepares you to handle any situation and ensures a smooth arrival.

Boat Docking Guide

5. Running Out of Gas

This is one of the most common mistakes that boaters make. Remember that factors like sea conditions and load can change fuel consumption and your boat’s range. 
In addition, fuel gauge readings can change as fuel sloshes in the tank, and the fuel gauges on boats are often less reliable than those found in automobiles.
As a result, boaters should stick with the following formula:

  • Use one-third of fuel capacity going out.
  • Use one-third coming back.
  • Save one-third in reserve.

6. Forgetting to Put in the Drain Plug

This is another mistake that could be more familiar to many boaters, especially trailer-boaters, who commonly remove the plug between uses. Check out our article on How to Launch a Boat, which includes tips to help you avoid other common launching mistakes.

How to Launch a Boat

 

7. Overloading the Boat

This miscalculation can be downright dangerous, so always keep track of the weight of people and gear when loading the boat.

If you haven’t memorized your boat’s maximum capacity requirements, check the capacity plate to ensure you’re in the safe zone.

Watch Our Boat Capacity Requirements Video

8. Getting Lost

Although this happens less and less on the water thanks to modern marine electronics and navigation instruments, it still happens. 

Electrical systems can have issues, so you should always know your location and how to get home, regardless of what electronics you have aboard.

If your boat doesn’t have navigation gear, consider adding a marine navigation app to your phone, which can be used as a mini-chart plotter.

9. Putting Out Insufficient Anchor Line

Anchoring a boat seems simple: drop down the anchor, cleat off the line, and the boat will stay put, right? Not necessarily.

Even in calm seas, the anchor may pull free if you don’t let out enough line to match three times the depth. 

In a breeze, a “scope” (length of anchor line) of 5:1 or 7:1, compared to water depth, is considered minimal. When it’s rough out, 10:1 may be necessary.

How to Anchor a Boat

10. Running the Engine Dry

Most marine engines (excluding air-cooled and electric engines) require water for cooling purposes. Water cools the engine and lubricates the water pump impeller commonly found in most marine propulsion systems. 

Run a boat motor while it’s on dry land without a sufficient water supply, and it will overheat, the impeller will be damaged, or both.

properly-mooring-up-a-boat

11. Improperly Mooring the Boat

The most common issue here is failing to learn a proper cleat hitch. Then, one might be left standing on the dock, watching the boat float away. Of course, tying up correctly in a slip is also important to ensure the boat doesn’t bang the dock or pilings.

Read our How to Tie Up a Boat guide, to make sure you have it down pat.

12. Trailering with the Engine Down and/or Top Up

Prepping a boat for trailering is an important task, and two things that people sometimes make mistakes with include the engine tilt and Bimini tops. In both cases, they shouldn’t be left in the up position.

Engines tilted all the way up can bounce and sway, putting much pressure on the boat’s transom. If the trailer allows the engine to be tilted down, great. If not, a “transom saver” bracket that supports and secures the outboard is a must.

And when it comes to Bimini tops, remember that they aren’t designed to withstand 60 MPH winds. Rather than being left up, a convertible top should always be taken down and secured for highway speeds.

Avoid These Common Boating Mistakes for a Stress-Free Boating Adventure!

Unexpected situations arise on the water, and reviewing these 12 mistakes can be the difference between a minor blip and a major mishap. By keeping these reminders fresh, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate any challenge and ensure a safe day on the water.

From discoverboating.com

"*" indicates required fields

Share this with

fb

linkedin

pin

tweet

copy

Our Top Picks

1999 Jim Smith Custom 66 Sportfish

$3,250,000

Size: 66 ft
UID: 7269133
Year:  1999
Manufacturer: Jim Smith
Location: Miami FL

2003 Cabo Express

$368,000

Size: 45 ft
UID: 8660442
Year:  2003
Manufacturer: Cabo
Location: fajardo

2019 Mag Bay Center Console

$425,000

Size: 33 ft
UID: 8378700
Year:  2019
Manufacturer: Mag Bay
Location: North Miami Beach FL

2003 Sea Ray Express Bridge

$249,900

Size: 45 ft
UID: 7339592
Year:  2003
Manufacturer: Sea Ray
Location: Miami FL

1997 Sunseeker Camargue

$200,000

Size: 51 ft
UID: 9125264
Year:  1997
Manufacturer: Sunseeker
Location: Port Huron MI

2024 Rio Yachts Daytona 35

$349,000

Size: 35 ft
UID: 9290427
Year:  2024
Manufacturer: Rio Yachts
Location: Boca Raton FL

2019 Sea Chaser 27 HFC

$99,900

Size: 27 ft
UID: 9293762
Year:  2019
Manufacturer: Sea Chaser
Location: Hallandale Beach FL

2023 Rio Yachts Daytona 34

$599,000

Size: 34 ft
UID: 9371259
Year:  2023
Manufacturer: Rio Yachts
Location: Fort Lauderdale FL

2003 Intrepid 322 Cuddy

$107,500

Size: 32 ft
UID: 9384586
Year:  2003
Manufacturer: Intrepid
Location: Miami FL

1999 Ocean Yachts 60 Convertible

$360,000

Size: 60 ft
UID: 9385895
Year:  1999
Manufacturer: Ocean Yachts
Location: Seabrook TX

2024 Rio Yachts Daytona 50

$1,475,000

Size: 50 ft
UID: 9371315
Year:  2024
Manufacturer: Rio Yachts
Location: Fort Lauderdale FL

2016 Boston Whaler 350 Outrage

$255,500

Size: 35 ft
UID: 9473535
Year:  2016
Manufacturer: Boston Whaler
Location: Aventura FL

2024 Rio Yachts Daytona 50

$1,490,000

Size: 50 ft
UID: 9516507
Year:  2024
Manufacturer: Rio Yachts
Location: West Palm Beach FL

2021 World Cat 280 DC-X

$229,000

Size: 28 ft
UID: 9179469
Year:  2021
Manufacturer: World Cat
Location: Pompano Beach FL

2016 HCB 53

$589,989

Size: 5292 ft
UID: 9615504
Year:  2016
Manufacturer: HCB
Location: Lighthouse Point FL

2012 Hatteras 60

$1,990,000

Size: 60 ft
UID: [email protected]
Year:  2012
Manufacturer: Hatteras
Location: Coral Gables , Florida