You own a boat and love it. Great! And if you frequently take it out on Lake Fork Reservoir—the bass capital of Texas—stow it at Fork Boat Storage. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump from the lake and three RV parks.
At 27,690 acres with 315 miles of shoreline, Lake Fork is one of the 10 biggest in Texas. So no matter how much boating experience you have, tell everyone onboard to review these safety tips to help you boat responsibly and enjoy your time on the water.
Always check local, route and destination weather and water conditions before departing to ensure it’s safe to go out.
Operate at a safe speed at all times, especially in crowded areas. Steer clear of large vessels and watercraft whose ability to stop or turn might be limited.
Be aware and respectful of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which are there to ensure the safety of all watercraft in the area.
In case the primary operator is incapacitated and someone else needs to get the boat back to shore, make sure that one passenger besides the skipper knows the boat’s operations well enough to get it back to safety.
Tell a family member or the Reservoir staff about your trip’s destination and duration. Include: everyone’s name, address and phone number; the boat type and registration information; and the types of communication and signal equipment onboard, such as an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
Make everyone wear a life jacket. Regulations vary by state, but children under 16 and all watersport participants must wear one.
Because almost half of all boating accidents involve alcohol, designate a sober skipper before leaving the dock.
Maintain fresh-air circulation throughout the boat. Educate all passengers about the symptoms of CO poisoning and where CO can accumulate.
To avoid electrocution, never swim in a marina or in other areas where boats are connected to power on the shore.
Drivers should always wear the lanyard with the boat’s engine-cut-off switch. When people are in the water, monitor the propeller area. Be extra careful around boats towing skiers or tubers.
Let Fork Boat Storage in Emory be your first choice for keeping your vessel safe and sound. We’re at 4683 FM 515. Contact us at 903-765-3600. And for after-hours help, call Ryan at 781-367-1744.