As a hobby of mine, boating is fun no matter what time of year, but happens to be especially exciting around the Fourth of July. After all, what better way is there to celebrate America and summertime than getting cruising on the water and throwing out a fishing line? With the Fourth of July fast approaching and many people headed to the lake, it’s important to know how to make the most of the day. So here I’ve listed out my top tips in this 4th of July boating guide.
Stock up on enough food and drinks
Boat days are a so much fun, but they’re often long and you’ll probably be on the water until dark. Make sure you bring a cooler with enough food and drinks to last you all day. Not only does pre-planning with chips, hotdogs, and sandwiches make the day more festive, it also keeps everyone happy and well-fueled to last the whole day. Being out in the sun all day, it’s also important to stay hydrated, so stock up on enough water for everyone!
Bring a waterproof camera
With all the fun Fourth of July festivities, you’ll want to document the occasion. Bringing a normal high quality camera is risky with the all the water, so play it safe and invest in a waterproof camera for the day. If you bring your kids on board, they’ll also love taking creative underwater photos and you won’t have to worry about damaging an expensive digital camera. You’ll be happy for all the fun patriotic photos not being waterlogged later in the day.
Make new boating friends
With so many people congregating on the lake for the Fourth, it’s easy to start conversation from boat to boat, especially if everyone is close together waiting for fireworks to begin. Even if you set anchor and want to check out the sandbar, try to hang out with some new lake-goers. After all, patriotism is so much stronger when you have camaraderie.
Get your firework spot early
Most lakes and waterfronts set off fireworks from a resort or boat on the water, and you don’t want to miss the spectacular show! With the crowds of boats and people bound to show up for the show, secure your spot early for the best view. If you think about making your way to the firework site early, you won’t have to worry about navigating through the multitude of boats later on.
Make safety a priority
As fun and exciting as taking your boat out is, it’s important to keep safety in mind to keep the day going smoothly. With this in mind, always keep enough life jackets on hand for everyone on board and keep a fire extinguisher in the boat just in case of a stray firework. Boating accidents are more likely to occur during the Fourth because of the higher number of boats on the water, so it’s important to keep your distance from other vessels and keep your speed low to avoid accidents.
