With longer days, higher temps, and more sunshine, people are ready to hit the water for some summer fun! Enjoy the outdoors, but stay safe with these quick tips.

From kayaking to paddleboarding, spending a day on the water can be incredibly fun and relaxing. However, it is important to keep yourself — and those around you — safe while enjoying your favorite watersport. With our K-1 outboard motors flying off the shelves, we wanted to provide some quick tips to safely enjoy your summer:

Tip #1: Be Aware of the Weather and Currents

Sometimes the weather is a little too nice, and it can encourage you to go further out than you originally planned. If the weather turns and you are caught in a storm, this can be incredibly dangerous. There are lots of great apps that can help you plan around this, and we specifically recommend finding a weather app that features a radar map. Then, when you get to a point where you are not sure if you should turn around or keep going, you can check your phone to verify if the weather will be clear.

You can also find apps that give you information about tides and currents, so that way you can plan your trip so that you are not fighting either. However, there are no apps that can predict rip currents. Keep an eye out for discolored strips of water or areas that appear calm between breaking waves and whitewater as these can all be indications of a rip current. If you get stuck in one, remain calm and direct yourself parallel to the shore until you exit the current.

Thankfully both weather and currents can be overcome with a K-1 motor! Using a motor, you can make it back to shore quickly if the weather turns, and it can also safely power you out of a strong current to get back on track.

Tip #2: Wear Life Jackets

Accidents happen, and even the best of swimmers can be overcome by adverse circumstances in the water. Make sure to wear a life jacket during any activity where you will be on the water far from shore, and make sure that your friends and family are wearing them as well. Even with an amazing motor that can get you out of some tight spots, nothing can replace a life jacket.

Tip #3: Wear Your Kill Switch

Our motors come equipped with a magnetic kill switch that makes it easy to instantly shut off your motor. It also allows you to run your motor without a remote, and you can turn your battery on/off with it too. While the kill switch helps to make our motors more accessible in case you lose or damage your remote, the switch is also an essential safety feature that we made sure to include in all of our designs. Sometimes you just need to cut the power to your motor instantly without worrying about pushing the right button on a remote. In case of an emergency, you can always pull the kill switch. However, you have to have it handy! That means you need to make sure you are always wearing it — and if you are taking turns with friends and family, make sure to educate them about it and show them how to use it.

Tip #4: Check Your Battery

You’re excited. You pack everything up. You hit the water. You’re enjoying the day. You go far, because you know you have a motor to get you back. When the day comes to an end, you go to start your motor. Only problem is, you did not check your battery so you have no power to get back to shore! Always check your battery before heading out to make sure that it is charged. In fact, make it a routine to check it the night before so it has time to charge, and check it right before you leave shore too. That way, you never have to worry about motoring back.

We hope these tips help keep you safe this summer, and we cannot wait to see pictures from your next adventure with our K-1 motor. The K-1 is more compact, quieter, and more rugged than its predecessors, and it makes water sports more accessible for those who might struggle paddling themselves. If you don’t already have the K-1, SHOP NOW!