If someone falls into the water, the key factor in finding them will be visibility.  Put some reflective tape on your outer clothes when sailing.  Inexpensive chemical light tubes can be bought, or personal flashlights which clip to a jacket.  Be careful about personal strobes however, as these can blind the rescuers - look for combination strobe which can be switched to steady light.

Safety harnesses, are an essential piece of boating safety equipment.  Carry one with you whenever you're aboard a boat and be prepared to attach yourself whenever conditions warrant.

Ensure you have a fresh supply of flares which are not out of date.

Never drink alcohol when onboard a boat.  Not only can it make you careless and lead to accidents but also, if you do find yourself in the water it will be far more difficult to get back onboard.

Have a life jacket or life vest for every person who will be onboard your boat.  No matter how good a swimmer you are or how short a distance you intend to travel in your boat, a life jacket or vest is an absolute essential.  If you are taking a family pet along for the ride, you can get a life jacket for your pet too.  Check out the link at the botom of this page for some quality life vests and jackets which you can buy online.

Carry seasickness tablets - just in case!

If towing someone on water skis try to have someone else in the boat with you.  Two pairs of eyes can allow one person to watch the skier and the other to navigate safely.

Have a fire extinguisher at hand.  If you have a medium or large sized boat, ensure there are fire extinguishers near to you wherever you may be on the boat, and particularly in places where fires are most llikey, for example in cooking galleys of larger boats.

Try to avoid tow barges which can be a particular boating safety hazard on rivers.  Large wakes can overturn small boats, and tow barges can have blind spots where they cannot see you.