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New to boating

Checking your battery
Avoid ruining a day on the water by making sure your battery is in good nick.

Five handy knots to know
You're going to need to know some practical knots for boating.

The give way rules on the water
If you’re looking to take a boat out for the first time, you need to know the rules of the road at sea.

What to do in an emergency
Most emergencies occur unexpectedly and very quickly. Being ready for any issue can help you and your mates survive a dramatic incident.

Rent a lifejacket
To help keep you safe out on the water, Coastguard Northern Region – with the help of our friends at Hutchwilco – operate a lifejacket rental service to cover you no matter what situation you're faced with.

Things to check before you hit the water
Make sure you kick off your boat trip smoothly, by checking these key things every time you head out.

Top 10 tips for boat maintenance
Check out our top 10 recommendations to keep your boat in tip top condition at all times.

VHF Callsigns
All VHF radio transmissions in New Zealand are legally required to be individually identifiable, and the best way to do this is with a callsign.

Trip reporting basics
A trip report (TR) is a message that you pass to Coastguard Radio to advise us of your intended boating activity.

How to choose a well fitting lifejacket
A lifejacket is only good for saving your – or your child’s – life if it stays on snugly when you need it.

Crossing a bar
Crossing a bar can be very dangerous. Check out our tips for getting across safely.

What you need on your boat
Here's the Coastguard approved list of what you should have on your vessel when you head out.

Safety and regulations
Just like driving a car on the road, there are a laws and safety regulations for when you’re out on the water.

Protecting our marine environment
Here are three easy ways to keep yourself out of trouble and our marine environment clean.

All about lifejackets
While it’s true that any lifejacket is better than none when you head out on the water, it’s a good idea to select the best lifejacket for your activity.
Boatie's Best Mate.
Get a Coastguard membership today for peace of mind when you’re out boating.