If you are inexperienced or only have limited experience, you should not hire or use any type of boat for any purpose on your own. Experienced boaters, as well as their passengers, can enjoy the fun of planning and preparation for long or short voyages. The skipper is the boss Remember that the person in charge of the boat, the skipper , is the boss. The skipper should be experienced and able to do the right thing in an emergency. The boat needs to be checked to make sure that it is suitable for the journey and in good condition.
Safety equipment has to be in working order and easy to find.
When crew or passengers are on board they need to be told the rules for travelling safely and be aware of what to do in an emergency. It will take the skipper only two minutes to leave a message giving details of your trip with a reliable friend or relative, boat club member, volunteer marine rescue group or the coast guard unit. Before leaving, even on a short trip in the local area, the skipper needs to leave name, address and contacts, details of passengers, where you expect to go and when you intend to return, along with a full description of the boat. If these plans are altered the skipper must be sure to let the contact know. If you fail to return on time your contact can alert the police.