Today marks the official start of the boating season.
TODAY marks the official start of the boating season across the country and with the warm weather returning after a chilly start to the long weekend, authorities are warning boat owners to make sure their vessels are up to scratch.
Insurers are also reminding owners to check whether their insurance is valid and appropriate.
While there's no requirement for owners of registered vessels to have public liability insurance, they recommend it as another safety precaution.
Roads and Maritime Services maritime director Tony Middleton said besides having insurance, responsible boat owners also needed to ensure their vessels were water-worthy and had the required safety equipment on board before they took to the water this summer.