A safe boating trip starts before the launch. Check the weather and route, make sure the operator knows the boat, and have everyone put on a properly fitted life jacket. Once underway, a steady lookout and a speed suited to the conditions give you time to respond to a wake, a swimmer, or another vessel.
Before leaving the dock
Tell someone ashore where you plan to go, who is aboard, and when you expect to return. Check fuel, steering, lights, communications, and the equipment required for your vessel and waters. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries equipment guide covers life jackets, throwable devices, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and sound signals; requirements differ by boat and use.
Wear a life jacket instead of relying on finding one after a fall. The CDC’s drowning-prevention guidance recommends life jackets for boating. Show passengers where the safety equipment is and how to call for help before engine noise and movement make a conversation difficult.
Check the operator’s training requirements too. R.S. 34:851.36 generally requires a NASBLA-approved safety course and proof of completion for people born after January 1, 1984 who operate a motorboat over ten horsepower. The statute includes exceptions, including specified supervision and rental situations. Review the actual conditions through LDWF’s boater-education information before relying on one.
Before booking a paid fishing trip, review the operator and vessel details as well as the weather plan. Our guide to Louisiana fishing-charter licenses and insurance explains the state and federal requirements and the coverage questions that may arise after an injury.
Leave room for changing conditions
Check the marine forecast before departure and keep watching it on the water. The National Weather Service warns that thunderstorms can develop quickly, bringing gusts, waves, lightning, and poor visibility. Postponing a trip is safer than depending on a fast run home. If storms approach while you are out, seek port or safe shelter early.
Slow down before reaching docks, bends, bridges, congested channels, or poor visibility. Watch for people in the water and for smaller boats that may be hidden by waves or larger vessels. A passenger can help watch for hazards, but the operator must continue to keep a lookout and control the boat.
Choose a sober operator before leaving. Keep phones and other distractions from interrupting the lookout, and plan breaks when fatigue becomes a concern. Passengers should remain in appropriate seating and avoid crowding or sudden movements that make the boat harder to control.
If someone is hurt or a collision occurs
Account for everyone, keep people afloat, and summon help. Use marine VHF or another reliable means of contacting responders, giving your location, the problem, and the number of people involved. The Coast Guard’s radio guidance explains marine distress communications. Follow responders’ instructions and do not delay rescue or treatment to gather evidence.
Once people are safe, preserve the boat’s position, registration details, photographs of damage, witness contacts, and GPS or navigation records. Keep original files where possible. Record the weather and visibility as you experienced them, identifying what you actually saw rather than guessing at another operator’s speed.
Contact the appropriate authorities promptly and determine the reporting requirements that apply to the casualty. Our article on steps after a Louisiana boat accident addresses the post-incident process. A photograph or insurance report is not a substitute for a required agency report.
A boating claim may involve maritime law
Do not assume a boat collision follows all the same rules as a Louisiana road crash. In Foremost Insurance Co. v. Richardson, the Supreme Court held that a collision between pleasure boats on Louisiana navigable waters fell within federal admiralty jurisdiction. The location, activity, parties, and claims need to be assessed before selecting deadlines or fault rules.
Keep maintenance, rental, repair, and insurance documents along with the incident records. Those materials may help answer disputes about equipment, operator responsibility, or how the damage occurred.
If someone died, the identity of the proper claimant also needs attention. Our Louisiana wrongful-death claimant guide explains state-law eligibility, while a maritime case requires its own analysis. Our Baton Rouge boat accident lawyers can review the circumstances and identify which rules govern.