New year, same ocean, smarter boating

The new year always feels like a reset… a turn of the page, a time to lock in new goals and look ahead. But while the calendar changes, the ocean doesn’t. The conditions haven’t changed, nor have the risks. And the things that can commonly catch boaties out, year after year, haven’t changed either.

That’s why the start of a new boating season is the perfect time to reset your habits, not just your plans, because most on-water incidents aren’t caused by one big mistake. They’re usually the result of a few small things being missed.

If there’s one thing Coastguard Tautiaki Moana sees again and again, it’s that the basics matter - and they matter every single trip. With that in mind, here are a few practical ‘resets’ worth checking over before the season really gets underway.

Reset your Gear

Gear has a way of slowly drifting out of readiness or repair. Batteries run down. Flares expire. Lifejackets get buried under chilly bins and bags, and with a salty or humid environment, anything electric, metallic, or plastic will deteriorate a lot faster than expected.

Before your first proper trip of the year (or your next one if you have been making the most of the weather windows so far), it’s worth doing a proper once-over, not a quick glance, of your full kit to make sure things are up to scratch for the season.

Lifejackets should fit the people actually on board, not the people who were last season, (no matter how lofty those New Year’s resolutions may be). They should be in good condition and easy to grab, not buried in a locker. Communication gear should be charged, switched on, and working, whether that’s a VHF radio, a cell phone in a waterproof case, or both.

Emergency beacons like EPIRBs and PLBs are one of the most powerful safety tools we have on the water, but only if they’re registered, in date, and mounted where they can be reached quickly.

One of the most common Coastguard callouts each summer is for vessels that are otherwise seaworthy but stuck because something small failed: a flat battery, an anchor that won’t hold or has come away due to a rusty shackle, or gear that didn’t work when it was vitally needed.

A simple pre-season check can prevent a long wait on the water later.

Reset your knowledge

Even the most experienced boaties can quickly forget things, especially if they haven’t been out much over winter. That’s a normal fact of life, but it’s also why a quick knowledge refresh can make a big difference.

Trip reports are a classic example. They’re simple, they’re quick, and they’re one of the first things Coastguard can look to for vital info when something goes wrong. Knowing who & how to leave one, what information to include, and when to update it is a habit worth locking in early. Coastguard Boating Education website & courses contain a wealth of information, even if you’ve done a day skipper or VHF course before, it’s never a bad thing to do a refresher, as there may be something new to learn or something you missed the first-time round. 

On that note, VHF radio use is another area that often trips people up. Knowing the difference between a distress call and a call for assistance, which channels to monitor, and how to clearly explain your situation can speed up help when it matters most if you do end up getting caught out. The Maritime VHF Operator's Certificate is a must do and is the minimum legal requirement for operating a VHF radio in NZ waters.

Coastguard regularly attends incidents where help could have been faster, or where unnecessary risk crept in, simply because communication wasn’t clear. When you’re in distress on the water, you can’t just park up on the side of the road and wait for the tow truck, so speed in assistance matters, and it starts with clear, concise comms. A few minutes brushing up now can save a lot of stress later when it really matters. 

Reset Your Crew

Yes, it may be time to stop inviting old mate who never pitches in for gas or bait…  but more importantly, having a well-prepared, capable crew onboard is vital for assistance and support at sea. Safety on the water isn’t just the skipper’s job, but the skipper does set the tone. A good crew knows where the safety gear is, understands the plan for the day, and can step in if something goes wrong.

That matters not just for your own boat, but for others on the water too. When another vessel needs a hand, whether it’s relaying a message, keeping watch, or providing first response until help arrives, a calm, informed crew can make a real difference.

And it works both ways, as boating is a shared environment. The more capable and prepared crews there are on the water, the more likely help is close by when you need it. Coastguard Tautiaki Moana often sees situations where nearby boats are the first line of support, buying time and reducing risk before assistance arrives.

At the start of the season, many boats carry different people than usual: kids on school holidays, friends visiting, family members who don’t boat often. Assuming everyone knows what to do is a common mistake. A simple crew briefing before leaving the ramp, showing where lifejackets and radios are kept, explaining the trip plan, and making sure at least one other person can operate the boat, builds confidence, capability, and a safer boating culture for everyone. 

Coastguard regularly responds to situations where the skipper is injured or unwell, and no one else on board knows what to do next. A simple pre-departure briefing can turn a potential emergency into a manageable situation.

Reset Your Habits

Like knowledge, this is where most experienced boaties get caught out, not through lack of skill, but through familiarity. It’s why 62% of motor vehicle crashes occur within 11km of home, according to a University of Waikato Crash analysis study. When we repeat something often enough, the brain tends to switch to autopilot. 

In a boating context, things like checking the weather become a quick glance instead of a proper look. Fuel planning becomes optimistic. And largely the pressure to “just get out there” creeps in, especially on a hot summer day or fine weekend.

Coastguard Tautiaki Moana sees similar patterns every year:

• Boats are pushing on because they think they’ll beat the weather
• Fuel is running low because the return trip was rougher than expected
• Crews are fatigued & ill-prepared after a long day in the sun
• Overconfidence from having done the trip out to the local fishing spot many times before, leading to shortcuts.

These aren’t necessarily all rookie mistakes, more-so they’re human ones. Resetting your habits means slowing down just enough to make good decisions, even when you’ve done the trip a hundred times before.

So start the year Smart

Smarter boating doesn’t mean complicated boating. It means doing the basics well, every trip, every season. And if you only reset one habit this season, make it this: tell someone your plan.

A trip report takes minutes. It gives Coastguard a starting point if you don’t return when expected, and it gives your family peace of mind while you’re out enjoying the water.

Because the goal isn’t just to get out there, it’s to get home safely, every time.

ENDS