A successful cruise begins with careful trip planning, and today’s new technology and the Internet have simplified much of the work. These four steps are essential:

• Research the location prior to boating there
• Check the weather forecast
• File a float plan
• Inspect your vessel before departure

New technology
 The Internet provides a wealth of information for planning trips. Using a robust search engine, you can research particular bodies of water for tips on travel planning, navigating and tide management. Take advantage of new tide-tracking technology being incorporated into boat GPS units and nautical watches. You can even find tide tables in various formats – including printed versions and CD-ROM – through commercial vendors. Regional charts can be found online through the National Ocean Service at http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/.
Do as the locals do
 Sometimes local boaters are the best resource for insight into potentially dangerous on-the-water conditions. The point is to find out as much as you can about the area where you’ll be boating: local sea anomalies, hazardous areas, expected boat traffic and the location of recreation and fishing areas. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, you might check a local ­nautical blog.

Channel your inner ­meteorologist
 Checking the weather is high on the list of things most often overlooked. The weather forecast will help you determine if you should go out and what extra gear to bring if you do. Track the extended five-day forecast, either on local AM/FM radio or television, or on Internet weather sites. If you have a VHF-FM radio, check the latest weather forecast. At the marina, check for small craft advisories, storm warnings and other alerts that warn boaters of high wind, waves or river bar conditions within the next 24 hours.
 Knowing there’s a “chance of a thunderstorm” doesn’t tell you if one is headed your way. So during the volatile summer months be sure you know what to do if you’re caught on the water in a sudden squall.

Leave your tracks
 Filing a float plan is an essential tool for search and rescue. First published in the 1994 edition of the federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boaters, a float plan form asks for critical information about you and your vessel to assist the U.S. Coast Guard or local law enforcement if you fail to reach your intended port. A float plan is not filed with the U.S. Coast Guard. You should leave a copy with family members, a marina operator, a spouse or anyone else with whom you’ve established an expected return time.

15 Minutes That Could Save Your Lifed
-  Make sure your vessel is “seaworthy” and that all essentials are on board; set aside 15 minutes for a quick inspection before launch.
-  Check the operating condition of your boat: motor, steering, ­battery, hoses, clamps, bilge pumps, wiring, lines, float switches and lights. Make sure you have sufficient fuel and the drain plug
is in.  A missing drain plug can mean an early end to your boating trip.
-  Make sure you have a U.S. Coast   Guard-approved life jacket of the correct size and type for you and every passenger aboard. The Coast Guard recommends that you always wear your life jacket when under way.
-  If your boat is greater than 16 feet in length, be sure you also have a Coast Guard-approved throwable flotation device – i.e., buoyant cushion or ring life buoy (kayaks and canoes are exempt from this requirement).
-  Check for other required or ­recommended safety equipment appropriate to the size of your boat and the area where it will
be operating; for example, fire ­extinguisher, visual distress signals, flashlight, tool kit, first-aid kit, ­sunscreen, paddle, anchor, anchor line, charts of the local area and a VHF-FM marine radio.
-  If applicable, check the boat’s capacity plate information to ensure that you don’t overload the boat with passengers and gear.

Make a Ditch Bag
Many operators equip their boats with a “ditch bag” or onboard emergency kit loaded with anything and everything they might need if they have to abandon ship or spend the night on a lonely shore. Consider the following basics; then customize your kit for
the season and your boating location:

• Waterproof, portable VHF marine-band radio
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First-aid kit
• Emergency blankets
• Change of clothes
  Additional signaling devices: flares, whistle, ­personal locator beacon, fire starters
• High-energy snacks
• Freshwater

 Stow these materials in a waterproof bag or container to protect them from rain, sleet, snow or spray. Keep the bag handy to grab at a moment’s notice.