Greg discusses boating safety tipe in this episode of Ask The Expert. 800 CHAB radio presents Ask the Expert with Greg Marcyniuk of Heritage Insurance located in Moose Jaw.
Here's a full transcript of the episode.
Rob Carnie: Summertime in Saskatchewan, of course, unofficially arrives with the May Long Weekend.
So it's well underway, and the boats are on the lakes. And Greg Marcyniuk at Heritage Insurance is here to talk about that today: boating safety and boating insurance.
First of all, let's start with the safety, Greg. Man, there's dangerous situations on Saskatchewan lakes just about every weekend, and we can avoid them just by following some simple rules.
Greg Marcyniuk: That's correct, Rob. These are just a few boating safety tips.
First of all, one of your docking tips. Make sure you use forward and reverse at an idle speed when you're docking and moving your boat motor through the boat launch. Have bumpers, your mooring lines, and anything that you require all ready before you're docking.
I know I've witnessed it time and time again. People come up, and they're trying to get the dock, but have that stuff ready before you get there. Keep all the body parts in the boat until you have come to a complete stop. Tie the line that holds the boat against the wind first when you're docking. It just makes common sense.
And some other general boating precautions: Always wear a personal flotation device when on the water, and require them for children and those who cannot swim. And another thing: If you have any kids, make sure they don't swim near the boat launch, because boaters cannot see when they are trying to dock. Wear non-slip shoes on the boat and the deck, and keep your boat in good condition with all equipment and all the safety equipment that's required by law.
Again, when you went through and got your boating license — which you do require while operating a boat — all those are set out there as far as what you need available.
Rob: I've seen it out at the provincial park — Buffalo Pound Provincial Park at the launch there, which is a busy, busy place. People not being real courteous. That's important, too.
Greg: Yeah. You should just have common courtesy, and let the person come in, and just, like, when you're going in a line, make sure you let the person that was there first go in there. Don't try and butt up because it gets very busy there on the weekend. In fact, all the boat launches across the provincial parks do get busy, so common courtesy is, you know, the call of judgement.
Rob: What about insurance? Insuring our boats and our trailers?
Greg: Just the one thing that I would like to mention to people out there is that we do have different carriers that will provide standalone policies. And I really believe it's a good idea to have a standalone policy, so if you do have a claim, it doesn't go against your home policy.
And the other thing: What we're finding is some of the coverages offered on a standalone policy as far as with replacement cost is a little longer, as well as haul insurance, which is — the vast majority is just a little bit better worded. So I would certainly recommend people to come on in and have a look at a standalone boat policy.
Rob: You can do that at Heritage Insurance in downtown Moose Jaw. Drop in and see any of the brokers here. Heritage Insurance, the one with the big red truck on the roof, and they're at the corner of First Avenue and Fairford Street West in downtown Moose Jaw.
(Video transcription by Speechpad)