Friday, January 9, 2015

Important Information About Boat Rentals In Bermuda For Travelers

By Enid Hinton


When visiting the island of Bermuda, one of the best ways to appreciate its natural beauty and rich culture and history is to view it from the sea. This experience should top the itinerary of any traveler. Some people feel more at ease on an organized tour lead by a knowledgeable guide whereas more adventuresome types may prefer the freedom to explore that comes with private boat rentals in Bermuda.

Getting together a group of friends and heading out on the open water to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this enchanting island makes for a memorable holiday experience. When renting a boat, people have the opportunity to spend as much or as little time as they like at each spot, and they also have a wider range of areas they can check out, which may not be included on a tour.

Safety rules to protect both the boaters and the craft will need to be observed. Usually each rental business has their own list of rules and there will also be some local regulations which apply to all users which must be followed in order to keep the waters a safe place for everyone.

Renters will be presented with several papers that must be signed before they can use the agency's watercraft. Signing these forms indicates the user's agreement to abide by all safety rules and not operate the boat at speeds exceeding 5 knots in all areas designated "no wake zones" where it is prohibited to accelerate boats in such a manner that waves are created. The consumption of alcohol should also be avoided while driving watercraft.

Choosing to deal only with companies that are licensed and registered is safest. One can look online for customer reviews for any companies they are considering to find out what others have to say about them, and consult the Department of Tourism for listings of reputable rental agencies.

Before setting sail, a company representative will familiarize the customer with all of the boat's equipment and instruments. If the renter does not believe that he or she can safely operate it, then it's best to hire a local, experience captain to do so instead. Not only is this the safest option, but also a good opportunity to learn some interesting facts about the island one would otherwise not know.

One must also ensure that all safety equipment such as life jackets, and a first aid kit are present and in good working order. Generally having a sense of basic seafaring terms such as the positions on a watercraft like bow, stern, port, and starboard is advisable, and one must not leave without having a working cell phone and emergency numbers for the local marina and police if needed.

When out on the sea, boaters will encounter numerous buoys so it's important to know what they signify. Watercraft must be driven between buoys as they mark the edges of navigable channels. Heading out from the shore to the open waters, red buoys will be on one's right and green buoys with lights on the left, and vice versa when returning to shore. Buoys are placed for safety and communications purposes of boaters




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