A series of workshops that aim to improve Bay boaties' knowledge around safer boating practices have been awarded Maritime New Zealand grants.

In the single largest grant made, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council received $62,000 out of a total Safe Boating Week funding package of $470,000 being distributed to regional councils across the country.

The money will be spent on a safety compliance programme – boat ramp workshops, roadshow presentations to clubs groups and the boat show, college visits and on-water enforcement.

Boat ramp workshops involve weekend visits to popular boat ramps where departing and arriving boaties will be able to receive information pack giveaways and will be able to take part in inflatable lifejacket maintenance.

'Apparently there are a lot of people who don't really know how to do that,” says communication advisor Jessica Sommerville. 'They are not actually a lot of good unless you know that they are working.”

The weather dependent workshops started in Rotorua with Fish and Game and Coastguard, and are scheduled for Whakatāne and Bowentown over upcoming weekends. About 20 workshops are being lined up for the summer.

Last year Maritime NZ spent only $124,000 on safer boating grants, and $77,000 in 2014.

The funding comes from the road tax boaties are paying on fuel for their boats.

The increased funding means thousands more boaties will now be reached through face-to-face training courses, school programmes, smartphone apps, subsidised 'Old 4 New” lifejacket upgrades, and many more initiatives.

'Our aim is to support community programmes that help boaties be safer,” says Safer Boating Forum chair, Maritime NZ Deputy Director Lindsay Sturt.

'We are helping groups and regional councils to do more to interact directly with boaties.”

Maritime NZ is also looking at how councils and boating organisations can be funded over three years so programmes could have continuity.

'Continuity will hopefully lead to fewer boaties dying in preventable accidents. Programmes could be better planned, messages repeated and reinforced, and you are more likely to get safer behavior,” says Lindsay.

Safer Boating Week is the week before Labour Day weekend, the traditional start of recreational boating in much of the country. The aim is to encourage boaties to take simple steps before getting back on the water: Prep your boat, Check your Gear, Know the rules.

For more information visit the Safer Boating Forum's website at: www.saferboating.org.nz

PREP, CHECK, KNOW:

Prep – service the engine, check and change the fuel, check the battery and just generally give the boat a good onceover.

Check – make sure your lifejackets are still fit for purpose and you have enough. Service any inflatable lifejackets and ensure you have two reliable forms of communication equipment.

Know – ensure you know the 'rules of the road” on the water, and check your local bylaws to make sure you understand what the requirements are in your area.