When you rent a boat, you’re doing so under the assumption that the renter has taken care of the boat’s maintenance and has done their due diligence in keeping the vessel safe. Whether you rent a sailboat, canoe, pontoon or other kind of vessel, if anything goes wrong when you’re out on the water, you could be badly hurt or drowned.
There are a few ways that you could be hurt when renting a boat. These include:
- Injuries because of poor boat maintenance
- Damage to your vessel because of a collision
- Injuries from broken parts or pieces of the boat, like a broken railing or damaged steering column
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to check over the boat before you rent it. Here are some of the things you should do before you accept the keys.
- Make sure the body of the boat is in good condition
Check the body of the boat for serious scratches or dents that might compromise its integrity. The last thing you want is for the boat to start taking on water while you’re driving or enjoying your day out.
- Check accessories, like anchors, lifejackets and ropes
Always check the boat’s accessories, like its anchor, the included lifejackets and any ropes, so that you can see that they’re in good condition. If you need to anchor, you want to know that the anchor is well-attached and that the rope is long enough, and strong enough, to be used.
- Make sure you have enough gas, flares and rescue equipment
Finally, to make sure you stay safe on the water, make sure you have enough gas, that you have flares on board (if you’re on a vessel that requires them), and that you have rescue equipment to help in case of a boating collision.
These are some tips that can help you be sure your rental boat is as safe as possible before you and those you love climb onboard. If your boat does sink or you are hurt because of missing safety equipment that is required on board, you may have a claim against the business or owner of the boat.
