Mainers Should Add Some Personal Info To Small Boats. Here’s Why

Getting out in your canoe or kayak in the summertime is probably one of the most fun activities Maine has to offer. Whether it's cruising the coast, or up and down the state's lakes and rivers, there are so many fun places to go. But for Maine's Game Wardens, and Coast Guard, it can make for a difficult time, according to the Press Herald.

An ounce of prevention...

Sometimes, in a perfectly harmless fashion, a boat may come untied, and drift away. And occasionally, these drifting boats get the attention of other folks on the water. Then the immediate question becomes, is there someone out there in trouble?

Of course, thankfully, that's not always the case. Sometimes, bad weather or a bad tie-off job sends your little dingy or kayak off into the sunset. But it also sets off a chain of events for authorities to try and locate the owner. Either to return it or begin a search.

You don't wanna be that guy... or girl.

The Coast Guard is recommending that folks put some of their personal info onto their boats. Obviously, don't put the password to your bank account on there, but your name, phone number, and any other important info should be placed somewhere that's easy to spot on your boat.

That will save officials tons of work. If your boat gets lost, it will shorten the time it takes to return it to you. Or worse, if you are lost, it will speed up the time it takes to begin looking for you, because they'll know who they're looking for or can use it to verify your identity.

At any rate, it's something that will take two minutes to do, with a sturdy sharpie, or paint marker, etc... But it could literally help save your life. Or at the very least, save your boat.