So, you’re planning to take your family and/or friends sailing the first chance you get? Naturally, you will want to have the safest possible boat for the occasion. But how do you choose the best one in that particular department?
Well, first of all, your choice will very much depend on the type of boat you’re looking for. In other words, it’s not the same if you’re planning to spend a few days on a sailboat or if motorboats are your choice.
The main reason for this difference is the type of hull your boat has, and we will dive into that issue a bit more in the rest of this article. Keep reading!
Sailboats with multiple hulls
Now, if you want a stable vessel out at sea and you adore sailing, then choosing a sailboat with multiple hulls is the way to go. In other words, you will want a catamaran or even a trimaran.
These boats have two (or three) hulls that are connected by a deck, which not only gives the passengers plenty of space but also keeps the boat very stable. This is because the hull of a sailboat doesn’t glide on the surface of the sea but cuts right through it. For that reason, powerboats with multiple hulls are much less reliable.
However, this is not to say that monohulls are unsafe. On the contrary, if you choose a boat with a broad hull, you will have a great time too, and monohulls actually deal better with huge waves. Just make sure your boat has a keel.
But if you’re going for a nice relaxing family vacation, say somewhere on the Adriatic, you can’t go wrong no matter which type of boat you choose. Click here and find the best selection of awesome vessels for that occasion!
Other elements
Of course, the number of hulls is not the only thing that can impact your boat’s stability and your overall safety at sea. The size of the boat you choose matters very much because it’s not the same if you have to tackle rough seas in something small or something big. The bigger your boat is, the easier it is for it to deal with the waves.
The material your boat is made of also has a role to play. Things like carbon fiber are always a good choice because they are quite resilient and reliable.
Finally, if you opt for a sailboat, you will want to make sure it has a strong and resilient mast. The mast is a crucial element when it comes to your boat’s stability, and losing it can mean a whole lot of problems for you. As a matter of fact, boats that have had their mast broken off have a significantly bigger chance of capsizing.
Equipment
A good thing to keep in mind when it comes to your safety while sailing is the amount and quality of the equipment you have. In fact, some of the equipment that we will mention here is prescribed by law in many (if not all countries), and you shouldn’t sail out without it. Not only will you be putting yourself in danger, but you will also be risking a hefty fine in that case.
Lifejackets, i.e. personal flotation devices are probably the most obvious guess, but remember that there has to be enough of these for each person on the boat. Furthermore, your boat should have fire extinguishers, signaling devices (visual and sound), and a floating device you can throw if someone should have an accident and end up overboard.
Medical kits, radios and/or cellphones with which you can call for help, a knife to help you free your propeller if it gets entangled by something, and many other small things can have a huge impact on the safety of your boating trip, so always make sure your boat is properly equipped before you take off.
Other things to look out for
Obviously, a boat has many different components, and checking the most important ones is always a good idea. Things like the hull, the rudder, and the keel are all pretty fundamental to your safety and your sailing experience.
For example, you may want to check the material the keel is made of. If it’s made of iron, there may be some rust present. Then there’s the rudder and its relation to the keel. Are those two things separate? How difficult it is to repair the rudder in case it suffers some damage?
As for the hull, you may come across the so-called unsinkable hulls, i.e. unsinkable boats. Usually, these are smaller boats, but the big advantage they have is the fact that they have a hull that is filled with foam, not air, which makes it a lot more difficult for the water to break through and sink them. Also, almost all “unsinkable” boats have a fiberglass hull.
Conclusion
All of this being said, however, you will find that it’s actually quite easy to rent a safe and resilient boat for a family trip. Just make sure you’re renting one from a reliable and experienced company, and you will have a great time out and create some incredible memories.
No matter which type of boat you go for, be that a standard sailboat, a catamaran, or just a yacht, you will immediately see that you’re on a reliable vessel. The advances made in constructing these types of boats in the last three or four decades are staggering, and today it’s safer than ever to get out and enjoy, even if you don’t have any experience.
So, you have nothing to worry about. Just choose the boat you like best, and very soon you will be out on the sea, soaking in the wind and the sun. In a few clicks, you’ll be all set. Happy travels!