Boat Capsizing: Prevention and What Should You Do?

December 11, 2024

Every year, boaters drown as a direct result of a capsized boat. The good news is that there are many precautions you can take to prevent your vessel from capsizing, and things you can do to increase your chances of survival even once you are in the water.

How to prevent your boat from capsizing

There are two main ways you can prevent your boat from capsizing: adjust your behavior while in the boat, and drive your boat responsibly.

Behavior in the boat

Capsizing occurs when a boat is off-balance, either due to what is taking place in the boat, or to external factors. Your behavior in the boat can affect its balance and your safety:

Stay low in your boat, and stay in the centre of the vessel. Always maintain three points of contact when moving around in your boat, which means you should never walk without holding a rail or some other solid part of the boat, in case you lose your balance. Always keep both hands and one foot or both feet and one hand in contact with the boat while underway.
Never sit on any part of the boat that is not specifically designed for seating.
Respect your boat’s capacity limits and don’t overload your vessel. Putting too many people or too much gear in a pleasure craft will make it wobble or ride too low, which can lead to taking on water or make it prone to capsizing.
In small boats like motor boats and canoes, make sure you distribute the weight of passengers and objects evenly. Keep the weight low, as much as possible, to prevent rolling.
Do not lean out of the boat.
Always wear an approved, correctly fitting life jacket or PFD.
Attach an engine shut-off line to your wrist, lifejacket, or PFD to prevent serious injury or death due to a propeller strike if you fall in the water.

Driving tips to prevent capsizing

Driving a boat is a big responsibility. Your choices as captain will influence the likelihood of capsizing and falls overboard.

Take corners at a safe speed.
Don’t turn too sharply.
Watch out for the wake created by other boats, and always take each wake head-on from the bow.
Do not go boating if there is a risk of bad weather, such as high winds that could cause choppy water.
Always anchor your vessel to the bow, and never the stern.

What to do once you are in the water

Remember, you should always carry appropriate marine distress signals and radio equipment so you can call for help in case of an emergency.

If a passenger falls overboard while you’re operating a boat, do the following:

Immediately slow down and bring the boat to a stop.
Quickly throw a buoyant object, such as a life buoy or lifejacket, to the person in the water, even if they are wearing a life jacket. This will help them stay afloat and mark their location if they go under. This is especially important due to the risk of losing consciousness due to cold water shock, which is possible even at warm temperatures.
Assign someone on board to keep constant visual contact with the person overboard. They should continually point to the individual’s position in the water.
Maneuver your boat carefully, approaching close enough to reach the person. Keep them on the operator’s side of the boat. If you are operating a motorized vessel, turn off the engine immediately to avoid death by propeller strike. Use a manual propelling device to manoeuvre your boat instead.
Toss a buoyant line to the person and pull them toward the boat. Help them back on board using the boarding ladder or other piece of safety equipment.

If you are in a smaller vessel like a canoe or rowboat, and it capsizes, stay with your boat and use it to help you float if you can. Don’t try to swim a long distance to shore. Conserve energy and stay warm. Call for help. Get out of the water if you can. If you have fallen into a fast-moving river, float on your back with your feet pointed downstream so you can push off from obstacles like fallen trees and avoid being trapped (and drowning). Most important of all: don’t panic!

Learn about boating safety at Drive A Boat Canada

Learning to drive a boat involves more than just learning how to operate your vessel and follow the rules of the road. Safe boating involves being prepared for emergencies and preventing them whenever possible.

No matter where you are in Canada, you need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card to drive a motorized boat legally. To get your card, you need to follow an online safe boating course, and take an exam. You only have to pay and pass once, then you’re certified for the rest of your life.

Get started today, and you’ll be smiling at the helm before you know it!