Riding on the gunwales should be described as which of the following?

Riding on the gunwales should be described as which of the following?

• A. Should never be allowed under any circumstances
• B. Allowed with lifejacket
• C. Allowed during daytime
• D. Only for experienced swimmers

Answer: (A)

Riding on the gunwales is unsafe because the edge of a boat is not a stable place to sit or ride. A sudden wave, wake, or loss of footing can throw you overboard in an instant, and you could be injured by impact with the water, the hull, or nearby gear. A lifejacket helps you float, but it cannot prevent a fall or protect you from being sucked toward a propeller or entangled in lines. The risk is present regardless of the time of day or a swimmer’s ability, so this behavior should be avoided entirely. The safest practice is to stay seated or hold on to interior rails and keep all parts of the body inside the boat.

Riding on the gunwales is unsafe because the edge of a boat is not a stable place to sit or ride. A sudden wave, wake, or loss of footing can throw you overboard in an instant, and you could be injured by impact with the water, the hull, or nearby gear. A lifejacket helps you float, but it cannot prevent a fall or protect you from being sucked toward a propeller or entangled in lines. The risk is present regardless of the time of day or a swimmer’s ability, so this behavior should be avoided entirely. The safest practice is to stay seated or hold on to interior rails and keep all parts of the body inside the boat.