Danger Overhead:
Sailing and Power Line Safety Tips

• Think about tides. Lines you can clear at low tide may present a serious danger at high tide.
  
• Keep an eye out for overhead lines when taking your boat out of the water. Have someone direct you until you get clear of the lines.
  
• Know the total height of your trailer and boat with the mast up and down and remember to remove flags and antennas before towing your boat.
  
• Keep in mind the fact that you need 10 feet of clearance between the highest point of your boat and the lowest point of the power line on land and in the water.
  
• There's electrical danger underwater too. Look for warning signs that indicate underwater electrical cables and never anchor your boat near them.

When you're out sailing you're probably keeping a close eye on a lot of things: other boats, the weather, water conditions.

But you may not have one serious hazard in mind — power lines. Here are a few tips to help protect you, your passengers and your boat from the dangers that electric power lines can create for sailors on and off the water.

• Look up and be aware of the location of power lines along your route as you sail or trailer your boat on land.
  
• Check clearance before you raise or lower your mast or spar if there are power lines overhead.