Anchoring when fishing offshore can be strenuous and potentially dangerous. This video from the Coastwatch Vault shows tips from experienced offshore angler Barry McDade on using a technique that's been around for a long time and makes it much easier and safer.

You often hear the term "pressure waves" used when describing coastal bar conditions. This short video from the Coastwatch Vault explains what they are and has some basic bar crossing safety tips.

From the Coastwatch Vault this video shows the importance of having an anchoring light on your boat if you are fishing at night and carrying a torch to alert approaching boats of your presence

From the Australian Maritime Safety Authority this video shows the importance of carrying an EPIRB on your boat

From the Coastwatch Vault this video shows the importance of having good trim tabs on your planing hull boat and how they work to keep the boat in optimum trim in all operating conditionsd.

You musty carry distress flares on your boat. This video from the Coastwatch Vault has tips on your responsibilities on carrying and using flares.

Just like we need them on the roads, there are rules on the water that must be followed so we don't run into each other. Apart from always operating your vessel at a safe speed, the most basic of these rules is to always give way to a boat approaching from your starboard or right side and always turn to starboard to avoid a collision if one is imminent. This video from the Coastwatch Vault clearly shows how this rule works.

There's nothing more dangerous than a fire on a boat and a lot of boat fires occur when fuelling. From the Coastwatch Vault this video shows some of the things you can do to prevent a fire happening.

There's an old saying ... "it's remarkable how much water a desperate man can bail with a bucket from a sinking boat". This video from the Coastwatch Vault shows the importance of carrying a couple of buckets and the correct technique for using them to bail water out of the boat

Boating and fishing on dams can be just as rough in strong winds as it is in open bay or offshore waters. This story from the Coastwatch Vault shows the safety equipment you should carry when boating on dams