Surviving a Tempest: (grounding, swamped, capsize, flooding)

It's important to slow down in bad weather so as to avoid losing control of the operation of your pleasure craft, which could increase the risk of causing injuries or loss of life to persons onboard.

• Everyone onboard should be wearing their lifejackets.  (a huge breaking wave, a strong wind-gust, or your pleasure craft striking hard against a submerged object can cause your pleasure craft to become swamped, capsize, or even sink suddenly.)
  

• Know the actions to take and you will increase your prospects for rescue;
  
• Everyone wearing their lifejacket or personal flotation device,
  
• Stay with the craft (on top, out of the water) if possible,
  
• Account for everyone previously onboard,
  
• Use or exhibit signals to indicate distress & your need for assistance.
  

Carry a Vessel Emergency Kit  onboard.

Hull leaks or flooding:
Pleasure craft operators should carry, at all times, in their emergency kit, tools and materials to temporarily stop hull leaks & flooding.

• A roll of duct tape, (good for taping-up a burst engine cooling water hose),
  
• Tapered wooden plugs, (can be driven into broken through-hull fittings),
  
• A spare transom drain plug,
  
• A variety of spare fuses.  (if the bilge-pump fails, check for obstructions that may have jammed the pump impeller, causing the circuit breaker to trip, or the fuse to blow.)
  

• A vessel that has run-aground should not be reversed or pulled free into deep water until it has been determined that the vessel has not been holed, and won't be during the attempt.  If there is uncertainty, obtain professional assistance.