Rules & Safety
Boating Safety in Florida
Florida boating safety: pre-departure checks, afternoon storms and hurricanes, carbon monoxide, swimmers and divers, and what to do in an emergency.
Last reviewed: See official sources
Florida's warm water and year-round season make boating easy to start, but the same conditions bring fast-building afternoon storms, crowded inlets, heat and long days in the sun. This guide covers the habits that prevent most problems: checking the boat and the weather before you go, running the boat sober and alert, protecting people in the water, and knowing exactly what to do in an emergency.
At a glance
- Check the marine forecast before you leave and watch the sky all day.
- Wear life jackets; children under 6 must wear one on Florida boats under 26 feet while underway.
- Use the engine cutoff switch link whenever you are on plane.
- Channel 16 VHF-FM is the distress and calling channel.
- Leave a float plan with someone on shore.
Before you leave the dock
The U.S. Coast Guard's safety guidance starts with simple steps that are easy to skip on a busy launch day.
Pre-departure check
- Required equipment on board and working: life jackets, throwable, fire extinguisher, distress signals, sound device, lights. See Required Safety Equipment.
- Registration certificate, boater education card and photo ID where required. See Boat Registration and Titling.
- Fuel, oil and battery checked; bilge clean and dry; blower run on gasoline inboards before starting.
- Drain plug in, cutoff switch link attached, engine in neutral before starting.
- Marine forecast checked and a turnaround time agreed.
- Float plan left with someone on shore.
- Passengers briefed on where life jackets, the extinguisher and the radio are.
- Water, sun protection and a charged phone in a waterproof case.
Learn your boat's controls and limits before you need them. Formal instruction helps: the Coast Guard notes that most fatal boating incidents involve operators who never took a course. See Boater Education.
Florida weather and storms
Summer afternoons in Florida often bring thunderstorms that build quickly, with lightning, sudden wind shifts and heavy rain that cuts visibility. Plan to be off open water or close to a safe harbor before storms are forecast, and head in as soon as you see towering clouds or hear thunder.
Check the National Weather Service marine forecasts (opens in a new tab) for wind, waves and small craft advisories before every trip, and keep a weather radio or app on board. Inlets can be dangerous when an outgoing tide meets an onshore wind; if conditions look rough, wait or use another route. Our Florida Marine Weather guide explains how to read the forecast and advisories.
From June through November, follow the National Hurricane Center (opens in a new tab) and make your storm plan early. Our Hurricane Preparation guide covers securing or moving your boat.
Safe operation on the water
Life jackets. Florida requires them to be on board for everyone and worn by children under 6 on boats under 26 feet while underway, and by everyone on a personal watercraft or being towed. The Coast Guard recommends that everyone wear one while the boat is underway, because drownings often happen near shore in calm weather. See the Coast Guard's life jacket guidance (opens in a new tab).
Stay sober. Alcohol is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents, according to the Coast Guard. Florida's BUI law (opens in a new tab) applies at 0.08 or whenever your faculties are impaired. Sun, heat and wave motion add to the effect.
Keep a lookout. Scan the water constantly. Operator inattention is a common cause of accidents. Keep speed down near other boats, in channels and in posted zones, and follow the Navigation Rules.
Seating. Keep passengers off the bow, gunwales, seat backs and other areas not designed for seating while underway. Florida's boater education courses specifically cover the danger of people falling overboard.
People in the water
Propeller strikes are among the most serious boating injuries. Shut the engine off when approaching swimmers or people in the water, and never start the engine in gear or leave it running while people board from the swim platform.
Carbon monoxide. Engine and generator exhaust can build up around the swim platform and rear deck. Keep people clear of those areas while engines or generators run. If someone has a headache, nausea, dizziness or irritated eyes, move them to fresh air and investigate.
Divers. Florida's dive sites are busy. Watch for divers-down flags and buoys, slow to the minimum speed needed to steer inside 100 feet on rivers, inlets and channels or 300 feet elsewhere, and keep at least those distances when you can (s. 327.331 (opens in a new tab)).
Anyone in the water near a running propeller is at risk. Turn the engine off, not just to neutral, when people are swimming, boarding or being picked up.
Emergencies and accidents
Call for help. Channel 16 VHF-FM is the primary marine distress and calling channel; a VHF radio is more reliable than a cell phone on the water. If you boat offshore, consider an EPIRB or personal locator beacon, and a life raft for longer runs. Boating Emergencies and the Coast Guard walks through a mayday call and the most common emergencies step by step.
If a person falls overboard, shout and point, keep them in sight, throw the throwable device, and approach carefully with the engine off as you reach them.
After a collision or accident, Florida law requires you to help others where you can do so safely, exchange names, addresses and boat identification in writing, and notify FWC, the county sheriff or local police without delay when there is injury beyond first aid, death, a missing person or damage of at least $2,000 (s. 327.30 (opens in a new tab)). See Florida Boating Regulations for reporting details.
Oil or fuel spill. Report any discharge of oil or hazardous substances to the Coast Guard's National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.
Free help to stay safe
The Coast Guard Auxiliary and America's Boating Club offer free Vessel Safety Checks, where examiners review your equipment and explain federal and Florida requirements. When you are ready to go, find a launch in Places.
Official sources
Read the U.S. Coast Guard's A Boater's Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (opens in a new tab), check the National Weather Service marine forecast (opens in a new tab) before every trip, and review Florida rules with FWC Boating Regulations (opens in a new tab).
Frequently asked questions
What VHF channel do I use for emergencies in Florida?
Channel 16 VHF-FM is the primary marine calling and distress channel monitored by the Coast Guard. Use it for distress and calling only, then switch to a working channel for routine traffic.
What is a float plan?
A float plan tells a responsible person on shore where you are going, who is aboard, a description of the boat and when you expect to return, so they know when and where to send help.
What should I do if someone shows signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Move the person to fresh air right away, find and stop the source, and get medical help if needed. Symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness and irritated eyes are easy to confuse with seasickness.
Can I get a free safety check for my boat?
Yes. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and America's Boating Club offer free Vessel Safety Checks. It is a courtesy exam, not a law enforcement boarding.
Official sources
- U.S. Coast Guard — A Boater's Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety — Life jacket wear (opens in a new tab)
- National Weather Service — Marine Forecasts (opens in a new tab)
- National Hurricane Center (opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes, s. 327.30 — Collisions, accidents, and casualties (opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes, s. 327.35 — Boating under the influence (opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes, s. 327.331 — Divers-down warning device (opens in a new tab)
- Florida Statutes, s. 327.50 — Vessel safety regulations (opens in a new tab)
Checked against these sources on . Rules change — confirm current requirements with the official source before you rely on them.
