Boating is a favourite pastime for many Canadians across the country. Noting beats the feeling of freedom and relaxation when you’re on the water. 

Pontoon boats offer additional comfort with their spacious designs and layouts intended for entertaining family and friends. Regardless of how you’re planning on putting your Legend Boats Pontoon to use, safety should always be your top priority. In this blog, we’ll discuss the safety features you should keep an eye out for, plus safety practices you and your family should turn into regular habits. 

General Boating Safety 

Before we get into the specifics of pontoon safety, you must be well-versed in the basics of general boating safety. These basics are covered in your boating course, but it’s a good idea to refresh your memory by reviewing them a couple of times per year. 

Some items that we recommend focusing on include: 

• Understanding boating regulations. Transport Canada has a comprehensive guide to safe boating. Some of the topics this guide covers include knowing the “rules of the road”, licensing and registration requirements, and more. 
• How to prepare for emergencies. Boaterexam.com has a great checklist complete with safety equipment you should have on board. Remember, on top of having all of the necessary equipment, you should also make sure to tell people where you are going. 
• Understanding the weather as it pertains to boating conditions. Wind on land is something entirely different than wind on the water. Check the weather before departure, and pay close attention to wind speeds and direction, fog, and storm warnings. 

These general safety tips are key to creating memories with your friends and family this Summer.

 

How Legend Prioritizes Your Safety 

Water Testing 

Before our customers pick up their boats, we complete a extensive water-test. This ensures that everything is in working order, and the boat is safe and ready for customer use. 

During the water testing, our staff checks for several things, including: 

• Ensuring the motor works as it should 
• Checking electronics to ensure they are functioning properly 
• Ensuring the vessel itself meets our quality build standards 

 

This means that by the time our boats have made their way to you, they have our stamp of approval for pontoon safety.

Preferred Equipment Package

• A reboarding device is legally required on vessels in Canada. We take this requirement seriously and our ladders are made with you in mind. An extra step makes for easy reboarding, so your pontoon can double as a floating dock to jump from! 
• Legend Boats are all equipped with a horn to communicate to other boats that you’re on the water.
• Evening cruises are a favourite for pontoon owners, but your vessel must be visible to others on the water. The exterior lights on our pontoons were designed with style and functionality in mind. 

Pontoon Construction

• The doors on Legend Boats pontoons close using a safety hinge system, so they can’t accidentally be opened by small hands. You can relax knowing that your kids are safe. But they should always be supervised. 
• You may have noticed that there is a small gap on our pontoons between the deck and the side walls. This gap allows water to drain out, preventing your pontoon from flooding. 
• Our pontoon tubes are created with an airtight design, meaning that no water can get in. You can read more about our pontoon construction on another blog post here. 

Ways to Prioritize Your Own Safety  

While people often use pontoons for casual cruising, you must not forget to prioritize your safety. Following these simple rules will make your vessel safer for everyone on board. 

• No alcohol on board 
• Stay vigilant 
• Follow boating laws 
• Fire extinguisher 
• Life jackets 

 

Boating and Pontoon Safety 

Safety is the cornerstone of creating memories to last a lifetime. Doing your part by following safety guidelines and ensuring your pontoon has all of the safety equipment it needs will help you continue to have fun on the water all Summer long. 

Remember, pontoon safety is not just about having the right gear, but also about creating the right habits. Always perform a pre-departure safety check, and if anything ever doesn’t seem right, do not venture out into the water. Take the appropriate precautions to ensure you and your passengers will return safely after a fun-filled day on the water.

Above all, always ensure that the manufacturer you are purchasing from has taken the appropriate measures to ensure you are safe on the water. At Legend Boats, we pride ourselves on going above and beyond the legal requirements, so you can focus on creating memories.