You need to brief boat guests to ensure everyone stays safe and comfortable aboard. If you are taking people out on your boat, a safety briefing is critical.
Summary
If you’re taking guests out on your boat, one of the most important things you can do—before you ever leave the dock—is to give them a safety briefing.You’ll want to cover anything they need to know to keep from being injured and to help them know what to do in an emergency.
Topics should include chain of command, safety gear, first aid and other emergency equipment. Hopefully, you’ll never encounter an emergency. So don’t forget to instruct guests on basic safety.
And you’ll also want to cover everyone’s role in mooring or docking. And make sure everyone stays hydrated and protected from the sun.
A good briefing isn’t only about what you say. You’ll also want to ask about your guests. Do they have any fears? Are they prone to seasickness? Do they have any health conditions you should know about?
Taking time for a good safety briefing will ensure everyone has a good time and stays safe.
For more details, listen to the full pocast or, if you prefer to read, check out Safety Briefing for Boat Guests.
Subscribe to the Boat Galley Newsletter!
The Boat Galley podcast is sponsored by FastSeas.com. Plan your next passage using FastSeas.com. Whether you are after speed or comfort, FastSeas will find the optimum route to your destination. FastSeas – making weather routing simple. Use coupon code GALLEY for an exclusive 10% discount.
Click to see all podcast sponsors, past and present.
Music: “Slow Down” by Yvette Craig
Be sure to subscribe to The Boat Galley podcast to get new episodes automatically in your podcast player.
Check out our courses and products
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Leave a Reply