Safer Boating Week runs from 16 – 23 October 2015 aims to focus boaties’ attention on key safety messages as they get their vessels and gear ready for the traditional start of the boating season at Labour weekend.
“Too many recreational boaties end in the water or in difficulty and have no way of calling for help,” says Maritime NZ education and communications manager Pania Shingleton.  “Everybody should carry two reliable forms of communications equipment, and make sure they are water-tight.”
Cell phones should be carried in waterproof bags, so that calls can reliably be made by pushing buttons through the plastic covering. Other communications options include distress beacons (PLBs – personal locator beacons), hand-held VHF radio (Channel 16), and flares to draw rescuers” attention.