Salt Water Fishing Secrets - Safety Tips For Fishing On Rowboats And Outboards

Fishing on rowboats and outboards is the boat fishing combination you probably will use the most. It's the most economical when you're the skipper and you can go where fancy dictates, you can run up on a sandy beach for a swim and lunch or just to stretch your legs. You cannot do these things in any other boat you can hire for a day. Not at these prices.

A rowboat without the outboard costs from two to five dollars a day, depending on where you are, size of the boat, weekday or weekend.

But for family fishing, be wise and consider the outboard a must. Venture out with only oars to propel you when you're alone or only Andy is with you, and then only when the water is placid. The kicker should rent for from five to ten dollars a day. It ought to be seven to ten horsepower. Don't settle for any that's less than five.

Never leave the livery without first taking the necessary safety precautions. Here are the musts of rowboat-outboard fishing.
1. Rowboats are usually from twelve to sixteen feet long. When Mother, Andy and Peg are with you hire no less than a fourteen - or sixteen - footer, preferably the latter.

2. Make sure the livery gives you a spare can of gas and make sure the motor tank is full.

3. The Coast Guard says each person aboard must have a Coast Guard approved life jacket or buoyant cushion. The boat station must provide them. See that it does. Make the kids wear their jackets no matter how much they holler.

4. Take a long length of clothesline with you. Kids being kids, it might turn out to be a lifeline.

5. Don't move around in the boat. Don't stand up, either. Dad sits in the stern manning the tiller; Mother sits in the bow and handles the anchor. Andy and Peg share the center seat.

6. Don't go outside, meaning even two feet out to sea. Stay within the shelter of land.

7. Don't ever take a fifth person with you. In an emergency, you'll have your hands full taking care of four. A rowboat wasn't built for five and you're more apt to have an emergency.

8. Don't cast. Flying hooks are dangerous to people around you.

9. Take along a first aid kit.

10. Be sure to have a pair of oars. Something could go wrong with the motor.

11. If a sudden storm comes up get onto the nearest shore fast, whether it has shelter from rain or not. You may get wet but you'll be on land.

12. If you go ashore for a lark, allow for a changing tide when mooring or you may find your boat high and dry.

13. If you or anyone else falls overboard, cling to the boat. Don't budge from it, no matter how close by that shore seems to be. You may be a good swimmer but you can't stay afloat as well as a boat.

14. Learn the rules of safe navigation; they're available free at any Coast Guard station and lots of other places. And obey them. You may not own the boat but you're responsible for the safety of your family.

15. Always remember this when on the water: If you're careless there can be no tomorrow.