There are a few basic things all boaters should do before taking to the water.
- Wear a properly fitted personal flotation device that matches the user and use– (kayaks and SUP’s are different that ski vests.)
- Know you own physical abilities.
- Know your vessel and propulsion methods.
- Know what wildlife you may encounter.
- otters
- turtles
- big fish
- water snakes
- Know the body of water and any challenges.
- DAMS and Locks
- Incoming streams
- Wind patterns
- Shallow spots
- Current channel/channel location
- Water levels
- Flow rate
- Know what type of traffic and wakes you may run into.
- Know the weather! If the wind is blowing up stream you may want to paddle down stream first.
- Understand registration requirements if using a public launch, they vary by state.
- Leave a float plan.
- Get a waterproof bag for you cell phone, you never know when you’ll run across an abandoned fishing boat that ran out of gas or a 4 wheel ATV that came down the bank too hard.
Know your river map. 
