How often should you inspect your vessel's safety equipment?

Inspecting your vessel's safety equipment before every trip is essential for ensuring the safety of everyone on board. It allows boaters to verify that all safety gear, such as life jackets, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and flares, is in good working condition and readily accessible. This proactive approach helps to identify any potential issues that could arise during the outing, ensuring that you're prepared for emergencies.

Routine checks boost safety by allowing boaters to replace or repair any equipment that may not function properly. Also, conditions can change rapidly on the water, and it’s crucial to ensure that safety equipment remains ready for use in any situation.

While monthly or yearly inspections could be beneficial, they do not provide the immediate assurance that comes from checking equipment right before setting out. Relying solely on inspections after an incident can lead to dangerous situations where critical equipment might be non-functional when needed the most. Therefore, the correct practice is to inspect safety equipment consistently before every trip to maintain a safe boating environment.