July 4th weekend is coming up next weekend, and that marks one of the busiest boating weekends of the year at Lake Nacimiento! As your Lake Nacimiento real estate agent, I want to know that everyone is having fun and staying safe out on the lake. Therefore, I’ve created this simple boat safety checklist to keep in mind before next weekend rolls around:

Be weather-wise. Always know what type of weather you’re getting yourself into before departing on your boat. Check the local TV and radio stations for the day’s forecast. Bring the right jackets, and if you notice dark clouds or rough winds, it’s safer to stay off the water.

Use common sense. You know what safe operating speeds are, especially in crowded areas, so use them. Stay alert of other boats, people in the water, people doing water sports, navigational aids, fishing lines and anything else that might come in your path. Don’t drink alcohol while driving the boat.

Have an assistant. Never take a boat out by yourself. Always have at least one other person on the boat who is familiar with the boat’s handling and operations, in case the main driver on the boat were to become injured, sick or incapacitated in any way.

Use lifejackets appropriately. It’s safest for all boaters to be wearing lifejackets at all times, but at least make sure that kids are wearing them, and anyone that doesn’t know how to swim. When partaking in water sports or swimming in the lake, wear a lifejacket.

Have your boat inspected before launching it into Lake Nacimiento! Lake officials are very serious about keeping quagga and zebra mussels out of the lake, which invade and ruin local ecosystems and sport fishing. All it takes is one boat with one mussel to ruin the entire lake. One quagga mussel can give birth to one million offspring! They have infested nearby lakes, so please get your boat inspected, and get it cleaned, drained and dried if needed. This video explains more.

Enjoy boating on your summer weekends here at Lake Nacimiento, and use these smart boat safety tips! Would you like to live on Lake Nacimiento? Contact me, your Lake Nacimiento real estate agent! I would love to help you find the lake house of your dreams.

From Grace Borzini
grace@oakshoresrealty.com