Riding on the gunwales should be described as which of the following?

• A. Should never be allowed under any circumstances
• B. Allowed with lifejacket
• C. Allowed during daytime
• D. Only for experienced swimmers

Answer: (A)

Riding on the gunwales is unsafe because the edge of a boat is not a stable place to sit or ride. A sudden wave, wake, or loss of footing can throw you overboard in an instant, and you could be injured by impact with the water, the hull, or nearby gear. A lifejacket helps you float, but it cannot prevent a fall or protect you from being sucked toward a propeller or entangled in lines. The risk is present regardless of the time of day or a swimmer’s ability, so this behavior should be avoided entirely. The safest practice is to stay seated or hold on to interior rails and keep all parts of the body inside the boat.