You’ve probably noticed that the nice weather is closing, so you might have started to feel the pull of the sea. But you need to prep every time you’re planning on going on the water. The sea is an unpredictable mistress, so you can never be too careful when planning your boating trip. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Check your vessel

Start by inspecting your boat’s components. Find a good pre-departure check list that will make sure you don’t miss anything. If you’re not comfortable with all the inspections, see whether you can get a free safety check for your watercraft. Before you stop on the boat, make sure to fill up your tank full of fuel, and ensure your batteries are fully charged so your equipment can stay fired up during your trip.

Restock supplies

Depending on how many people are on board, you need to have a good amount of necessities in stock. Besides your first-aid kit, you also need to have enough sunscreen, food, water and clothing. If you have these items on board, check their expiration date to ensure they are working. If you don’t want to sail stocked to the brim, consider how many opportunities you’re going to have to embark on your journey and pick up supplied. Sometimes, you can stop at stores every day, but not every trip offers this opportunity so come prepared.

Check for all necessary equipment

Don’t start your trip without checking for all the mandatory and useful equipment like GPS and satellite radio and phone. Also, be aware that accidents can happen, so make sure to be equipped with all the necessary survival essentials. Every passenger needs to have a personal floatation device or a life jacket. You also need to have enough oars and ropes on board so you can be safely towed in case you have a breakdown. Naturally, you need to have a full first-aid kit and enough flares. Yachts for charter are a great way to go because they come fully equipped. If you don’t have any experience, pre-trip preparations will ensure everything’s onboard and ready to serve you. Be prepared for an emergency

Emergencies are not always predictable, so stay vigilant at all times. You always need to have items like EPIRB, man overboard recovery systems and life rafts. Most boat owners never use them, but you’ll certainly be glad they are there in case you need them.

Plan your itinerary

One of the most important things to settle on before you leave is your destination. It’s important to come up with an itinerary and know how long your trip is going to last. See whether you want to get there fast or if you want to take a more scenic route and take plenty of stops. There are usually ready itineraries you can follow available online. Just to be sure, give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. Also, keep people close to you informed of your whereabouts.

Check out places to stop

Knowing where you can stop is an important preparation point. You might need to stop to refuel, get water or grab other essential supplies, so make sure to do your research before you leave. Many yachters often pick a stop for the night along the route. You can always find places to spend the night in marinas, or you can anchor your boat if the conditions are suitable.

Stay on track

Getting lost out in the open ocean is one of the most dangerous and scary things. Luckily, if you have all the necessary technology for mapping at hand, you’re mostly safe, but even the best tech sometimes fails. So before you embark, chart your journey so you know which route you’re taking even without all the tech to rely on. This way, you’ll always be able to find your way or at least help rescue services find you.

No matter if you’re planning a short sail near your home or want to embark on a longer voyage, make sure to take good safety preparations so you can face all the situations that might befall you. If you come prepared, you will have nothing but smooth sailing before you.