Boaties planning to hit Bay of Plenty waters this long weekend are encouraged to ensure they’ve serviced their engine and given their vessel a once-over to avoid being caught short out at sea.

With Labour weekend often the first water outing for boat owners for the summer season, Tauranga Coastguard volunteers say it’s easy for things to go wrong with you boat after an idle winter in the shed.

“Yes, we do hear of all sorts of things that happen – flat batteries, run out of petrol, engines overheating etc,” says Tauranga Coastguard volunteer radio operator Ann Oldridge.

People who get in minor trouble often phone the coastguard, instead of getting on the radio, says Ann.

“They ring up and say: ‘I need help because my boat engine won’t go for whatever reason... we record this and pass it on to the duty officer who organises for the coastguard to go and help them.”

Ann says often boaties ask for help when their battery runs flat or they run out of petrol.

“Coastguard always recommends the one third rule. This means one-third of fuel to get there, one-third to get home, and one-third of fuel in reserve.”

“Sometimes people go fishing and are maybe enjoying themselves and go a bit further, then a bit further, then when it’s time to come home and they’ve gone too far and run out of petrol on the way home.”

About one-quarter of Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard callouts tend to be for electrical issues, which is usually a flat battery. Photo: supplied.

So Coastguard’s radio room is busy?

“Yes, it can be – but it is all weather-dependent. It’s been quiet the last few months due to poor boating weather, but we know it is going to pick up. On a busy day we are taking a VHF call every minute of the day.”

Ann expects the busy period will begin around Labour Weekend.

“We’ll get more ‘calls for help’ at the beginning of the season so to speak, because that’s when people might not have yet serviced their boat. They’ve just thought: ‘Oh, I’ll go; it’s a good day’ and then something happens. On average, Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard will help four vessels every week of the year but in the summer this can increase considerably.

“Whereas further into the season more have people have got their boat serviced.”

Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard qualified alpha crew member Bonnie says about one-quarter of callouts tend to be for electrical issues, which is usually a flat battery.

So what can boaties do better when they decide to hit the water?

“Definitely wear lifejackets – but also make sure your boat is in good condition and the batteries are charged, your fuel is new and has not been sitting in the tank all winter, your VHF radio is working, and that you have a Coastguard membership.

“Having a Coastguard membership means that free assistance for you is only a call away. We will always help non-members too, but they can be facing a cost of $350 an hour. So a Coastguard member-ship is great peace of mind.

“So get your boat in for a service before you head out on the water this summer, and make sure you log a trip report with Coastguard before you leave and log out when you’ve returned to shore safely.”

Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard radio channels are VHF Channel 01 and 62.

Log your trip report on VHF Channel 01. Coastguard contact phone number is 07 578 5579. A 12-month Tauranga Coastguard membership is $130.

See: https://www.taurangacoastguard.co.nz/Membership Or call: 0800 26 28 43.