As summer creeps closer, many are preparing to spend time out on the water.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jeremy King says that those with boats need to remember a few things before getting them out and driving them on bodies of water. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the most important thing boat owners need to remember is that boat registrations expired on April 30th this year, and that they must renew those before the vessel can be operated on water. King shares a few other things that individuals should keep in mind.

“A lot of times fire extinguishers after a winter or sometimes sitting, they’ll lose their seal. So make sure you check to make sure that they still have good pressure and a seal in them. Make sure your life vests, if you have inflatables, that the canisters don’t need to be replaced or anything like that, or the tablets that dissolve to allow those life vests to expand.”

King mentions that boats are required to have fire extinguishers, and multiple floatation assistance items when they are on the water. He adds that there must be at least one type four throwable flotation device, like a life preserver or a square float, along with a life jacket for each individual on the boat.