Boating is a major pastime here in Florida. We have an amazing amount of waterways from the Everglades to lakes to intercoastal waterways, from the Gulf over to the Atlantic Ocean. One thing we are not lacking in Florida is bodies of water! What’s the other thing we aren’t lacking? Boats to traverse those waterways, of course.
Boats vary from little one-man skiffs to full-scale yachts. Most boat owners fall somewhere in between with the size of their boat. On any given day, you will generally see family-size fishing boats which fit four to six people or maybe a fun pontoon boat made for playing, relaxing, and jumping into the water. If you travel the local causeways at all, you can take in a truly panoramic view of the intercoastal waterways hosting a number of beautiful sailboats.
Going out on a boat for the day is a lot of fun. If you don’t own one yourself, there are plenty of local businesses that offer boat tours/cruises. You can go out and enjoy time on the water without the cost and upkeep of your own vessel. You will usually spot some of our beautiful water wildlife like turtles, dolphins, and manatees while you are out there.
It is important to stay safe so that your day on the water will be as fun as possible. On that note, we want to remind you of a couple safety regulations here in Florida. First, always wear sunscreen. This is NOT required by law, obviously! Can you imagine being pulled over on your boat by the Sunscreen Squad? However, you will get a sunburn very quickly not only directly from the sun’s rays, but also from the glare of the sun off the water. Wearing clothes with built-in sun protection, hats, and sunglasses are all great ways to protect yourself from the sun.
It IS a law in Florida that you must have a life jacket for each person on the boat. Children under six must wear them at all times on any vessel under twenty-six feet. We recommend that even older children wear them at all times. We can’t be too careful when it comes to the safety of our children. Just as with an automobile, being under the influence of alcohol while driving a boat is illegal. If you plan to drink alcohol while stopped at one of the many islands in the area, please do not operate your boat again until the alcohol has left your system. We want everyone to be safe and have fun.
For all of you boat owners out there, we at Solar Solutions wanted to let you know about a great product we offer called Solar Gard. It is a water repellent that is applied to the glass on your boat, such as the windshield. It is greatly helpful in creating a clear field of vision for you while operating your boat. It is one more way to help make your boating experience safer. It must be applied by a trained professional who is certified by Solar Gard to apply their products. If you are in the Melbourne, Sebastian, Palm Bay areas down to the Fort Pierce and Vero Beach area, we are certified and ready to serve you, so give us a call today!