09/14/2026
🚤 Boat Safe. Stay Safe. 🌊
Before you head out on the water, make sure you’re prepared to have a safe and enjoyable day on the boat!
🦺 Wear your life jacket: Rhode Island law requires every boater to have a personal flotation device (PFD) on board. Everyone using a canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or other paddle craft must wear a properly fitted, USCG-approved life jacket at all times. Children under 13 must also wear a properly fitted life jacket.
📚 Know before you go: Operators born after January 1, 1986, and anyone operating a personal watercraft, must have a boating safety certification.
🍺 Boat sober: Alcohol is the top known contributing factor in fatal recreational boating accidents. Never operate a boat while impaired.
🚤 Ride safely: Passengers should remain in designated seating areas. Never ride on the bow without proper seating, and keep your feet and legs inside the boat while underway.
🚨 Give emergency responders room to work: If you’re within 300 feet of an emergency vessel displaying flashing lights, slow down and move over.
🧯 Check your gear: Before heading out, make sure your safety equipment is in good working order and that your fire extinguisher is up to date and ready to use.
🌊 Know the rules. Wear your PFD. Stay sober. Boat safe.