Life Jacket

One for each person on the boat. If you fall overboard, your life jacket is the only flotation you have. If you fall overboard and you are windless or unconscious this may prevent you from drowning. A life jacket is also a great wind shield and helps to preserve body temperature in bad weather conditions. A good life jacket is worth the money spent. Life jackets must be worn when the main motor is used. It is not necessary to wear life jackets if the boat is drawn by the trawling motor, however, in bad weather and windy conditions it's not a bad idea. Use your own discretion.

Bailing bucket

Must be at least 2 liter, and is useful if you have to dispose of some water quickly.

2 x Oars

Can help you to maneuver, a set of oars must be aboard even if the boat has an electric motor.

20 m Ski rope with an anchor

Essential in windy situations. Please use an anchor that will work with your boat. A mere heavy object (like a Ford motor) is not good as it only gets dragged over terrain, so use an anchor that will hook on the bottom or on structure. This is often disregarded as an anchor is not a useful fishing item, it's heavy, doesn't really fit anywhere and is not used often. If worst come to worst an anchor can help to keep your boat pointing into the waves, thus preventing it from taking on water.

Fire Extinguisher

1,5 kg or larger Position it away from hazard potential areas where you can get to it quickly. Don't be stupid about this one. A boat can burn up and sink within one minute and you cannot run away from it if you are on the water.

First Aid Kit

Have a decent first aid kit aboard. See below

An aluminum Pole is a must-have. Beside it being used to quietly maneuver in shallow water and weeds while fishing, it can help to push the boat away from rocks or out of the shallows to where the main motor can operate. Plug both ends with rubber plugs. It will float.

Attend the Captain’s Meeting, here skippers will be made aware of any known dangers and dangerous spots in the dam. Such information should not be taken lightly.

Ensure that all Drain Plugs are in position before launching. This may sound unnecessary, but misunderstandings do occur, especially if two people are involved with the launching.

It's fun trying to get a semi submerged boat now weighing four tons out of the water.

Work out how much your boat will weigh when full of water.

(In meter) length x width x hight = tons. (1m x 1m x 1m water = 1000kg = 1 ton)

A Toyota Corolla 1600 weigh about 900kg

Never allow someone to sit on the front of a boat. It has happened on many unfortunate opportunities that someone gets flipped off in front of the boat and got killed. Boats do not have brakes.

Some really Bad Weather Bad Wind tips.

If some bad weather comes up, consider the following:

Is there enough time before dark to make the trip, even if you go slow?

How cold is it? When you're soaked? How tired are you?

If you have any doubts at all that you are going to make it, anchor behind an island

or make for the nearest shoreline. No, Red Bull won't work, thats bull.

In high winds water is blown off the crest of the waves.

This water spray will hit and hurt your face all the way back, and visibility

will be extremely poor if you go against the wind. Reconsider.

It is better to wait the storm out in discomfort than to attempt wild waters

and losing everything including lives.

If you decide you can make it, hold one thought –

As long as you keep control of the boat you have a good chance of making it.

If you lose control that chance diminish.

Put loose things and anything that can create a problem securely away.

Make sure fuel supply is ok, you don't want to switch fuel tanks in the heat of things

and you don't want to run out of fuel also.

Get passengers seated properly.

Make sure everyone wears a life jacket and that it is securely worn.

You also don't want hysterical children all over you, you will need your concentration

steering the boat, if it means tying them up...

If possible, stay near the shore where the waves will be smaller.

The waves will be the smallest at the upwind shore of the water.

Slow down, do not ramp the waves.

If you have to cruise at a fast idle, so be it.

ramping waves will shake and bump the boat vigorously and you may lose

equipment, passengers and possibly yourself.

If you have a passenger that gets sick, have him / her look towards the back,

the water seems calmer there.

It also helps if they can be seated at the back where the ride will be less bumpy.

ALWAYS keep the boat's nose pointed into the waves, or with the waves, never sideways.

When going downhill off a wave, beware the steering ability "loosens", and the boat

tends to turn sideways, almost like when you ride on someone else's wake.

If another big boat is around, travel in their wake, the big boat will break the worst waves –

Just make sure they know you will be following, otherwise if they lose you out there somewhere

you may be left in the middle of hell. Please do not follow a boat smaller than yours!

Remember that when the winds finally die down, the water may still be rough for up to an hour.

Whatever you leave the shore without initially, you have to be content with and cope without.

It is highly recommended to have a dedicated main motor battery in good condition.

All other appliances should work off another battery(s).

Always have clean drinking water on the boat, even when you have enough cool drinks.

Make sure remotes, cellphones, documentation and other not waterproof items can be kept dry.

A wet remote control or phone for you car can be a great discomfort

Keep enough spare fuses on the boat and where they are easily accessible.

Some really Fantastic Weather tips.

Wear a hat, preferably one that will cover your neck from the sun, a long sleeve shirt and as much protection from the sun as you can. There is no such thing as burning too little, and skin cancer is a reality. Also keep in mind that the sun also burns from below when you're on the boat.

Wear good Polaroid glasses. It will enable you to see into the water while fishing and is essential protection from the sun glaring on the water. People have gone blind from this (and snow! Did you know?)

Never fall asleep or allow someone to sleep in the sun. Always cover up from the sun.

Take lots of liquid during the day, and not the alcoholic type.

Heat exhaustion and dehydration can make you very ill.

Never wet your hat and put it on your head, you can get Meningitis (Breinvliesontsteking).

People die of Meningitis, this is serious. Never do this no matter how hot you feel.

When towing another boat make sure the rope used is adequate.

If it breaks it could backlash like a whip and seriously injure someone,

especially if the shackle used breaks. Travel slowly.

Electronic Equipment like an Echo Sounder, Marine Radio etc are always a great

help in difficult situations. An Echo Sounder may warn you before you run

aground like an underwater island just below surface. Cellphones are not good

on water, although they sometimes do work. The proper tool for the job is a

marine radio, they do not need repeater towers to operate.

Launching the boat:

All boat owners should clean their boats properly after being on a dam.

If boats don’t get cleaned properly, the hyacinth plant could be transferred from one dam to the next.

Check drain plugs are in place

Remove the boat tie-downs before backing the boat into the water. (HOT Tip  for Charles)

When launching the boat, place one hand at the bottom of the steering wheel and move

it in the direction you want the trailer to go.  Back up slowly, make small corrections