How should you react if your boat is taking on water?

When a boat is taking on water, taking immediate and effective action is crucial for ensuring safety and preventing a potential sinking. The best course of action involves attempting to plug the leak, using a bilge pump if available, and heading toward the shore. This proactive approach addresses the problem directly by attempting to minimize the water entering the vessel while simultaneously removing any existing water to stabilize the situation.

Plugging the leak can effectively slow or stop the influx of water, providing additional time to make it to safety. Utilizing a bilge pump helps to remove the water that has already entered the boat. Heading to shore is essential because it allows you to reach a safe area where you can assess the situation further or receive help if needed.

Other responses may lead to greater risk. For example, calling for help and waiting might delay necessary action, especially if the situation worsens while you wait. Moving to deeper waters could exacerbate the problem since deeper water could create more hazardous conditions, and throwing out excess weight without addressing the primary issue may not be sufficient to prevent sinking.