Every year tragedies occur on the open seas, rivers and lakes. People are injured or worse because they did not remember to keep boat safety in mind. The irony is that these problems could have been avoided by taking a few simple measures before embarking out on their boat. With this in mind, let's explore some proactive measures that boaters, whether they are on a canoe or a yacht, can take to avoid misfortune while out on the water.One of the biggest mistakes boaters make is misjudging weather conditions. Often they look out and see calm water and become complacent with respect to safety. Unfortunately on occasion, and without any forewarning, the weather can take a brutal turn for the worse, as you might imagine this can lead to catastrophic consequences.It is important to remember that the United States Coast Guard prescribes that certain equipment be inventoried on every boat. The number of devices mandated is determined by the size of the boat and how it is...