7 Steps for Safe Glamping on a Boat
Glamping is all about relaxation, but you can only truly relax when you know you’re 100% secure. Every step you take needs to bridge the gap between luxury and smart seamanship.
Keep reading to learn how to stay safe, secure, and stress-free while glamping in the United States.
Key Takeaways
- Glamping is fun, but only if you stay safe.
- Boating safety rules that apply to glamping include: keeping all legally required safety equipment on board, anchoring your boat properly, managing your power sources, avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning, keeping pathways clear, wearing a life jacket and keeping your boating card within easy reach.
1. Keep the Right Boating Safety Equipment on Board
The same safety equipment rules apply for glamping as for any other boating activity.
In the United States, you need the following on board at all times:
- Personal Flotation Devices (Life Jackets) for adults and children
- Marine Distress Signals
- Visual Distress Signals
- One other communication device, such as a radio, mobile phone, VHF Radiotelephone or EPIRB.
- Fire Safety Equipment
- First Aid
- Tools
- Fuel
- Bilge pump
- Lights
- Boat Registration
- State-approved Boating Licence, Boating Education Certificate or equivalent
Always double-check that your equipment is in good condition and functioning properly before heading out.
If you aren’t sure of your boat and equipment are up to safety standards, you can always schedule a free Vessel Safety Check (VSC).
You can also refer to our boating safety equipment checklist, so you can be sure you aren’t missing anything.
2. Anchor Your Boat Properly
The absolute most critical element of a peaceful night’s sleep is knowing your boat isn’t going anywhere.
Learn how to anchor your boat in different locations and conditions. Find out whether you should be using a mooring ball or a proper anchor. And take every precaution to make sure you don’t drift away, including using a GPS or a mobile app so that you will be wakened by an alarm if your boat ends up outside a safe radius.
3. Manage Your Power Sources
Glamping usually involves extra gear, such as rechargeable decorative lights, bluetooth speakers, coolers, and phones. You have to balance your luxury ambiance with your boat’s battery capacity, otherwise you could wake up with a dead engine.
Isolate your starting battery before settling in for the night. Or, go wireless and solar. Instead of plugging everything into the boat’s system, use independent, rechargeable power banks, solar-powered lanterns, and LED lights. They look just as cozy and put zero stress on your marine batteries.
4. Beware Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
If you are running a generator for air conditioning, heat, or appliances while you sleep, carbon monoxide is your biggest safety priority.
CO is odorless, colorless, and lethal.
Every time you sleep on a boat, keep a marine-grade, functioning carbon monoxide detector in the cabin. Test it before you leave the dock.
Also, be aware of how the wind is blowing. Your own exhaust or a neighboring boat’s exhaust can back-draft into your cabin or cockpit enclosure. Ventilate everything properly.
Note: Many states have specific laws about carbon monoxide risks. For example, California carbon monoxide regulations stipulate that all new and used motorized vessels sold in in the state must display a set of carbon monoxide warning stickers on the transom and helm.
5. Keep the Pathways Clear
Part of the glamping appeal is adding plush throw pillows, Turkish towels, blankets, and elegant styling to the deck or cabin. However, a cluttered boat is a tripping hazard, especially in the dark. And many of these items can also be a fire hazard.
Arrange your cozy spaces so that you can clear a path to the helm or the bow in less than 10 seconds if you need to react to an emergency (like a sudden storm or a dragging anchor). Stow all loose items before going to sleep. And keep a marine fire extinguisher within reach.
6. Wear a Life Jacket
If you need to go on deck during the night, wear a correctly-fitting, buoyancy-appropriate, approved life jacket.
Falling overboard at night into dark, moving water is a completely different scenario than a daytime swim. There is a real risk of cold water shock following sudden immersion, which can lead to drowning or serious injury.
Tip: Keep a high-powered, waterproof flashlight right next to your bed. If you hear a strange sound or a nearby boat getting too close, you won’t waste time scrambling in the dark.
7. Keep Your Boating Card on Hand
Many states in the U.S. require boat operators to carry a state-specific boater education card, commonly called a boater card or boat license. You need to keep this document on board with you at all times. Make sure it is easily accessible in case you need to show it to local authorities. Otherwise, you could be fined.
Learn About Safe Boating with Drive A Boat USA!
At the end of the day, glamping is about peace of mind. Taking the necessary safety precautions will allow you to enjoy a special trip.
The dangers of being on a boat are real. And boating at night poses its own set of challenges, whether you are tied to a dock or navigating a waterway.
Drive a Boat USA offers boating safety courses and certifications that are recognized by the National Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). If you’re ready to take a boater safety course and get certified in California, New York or Florida, we can help! Sign up today to obtain your state-specific boating license.