The Tauranga Coastguard is reminding boaties to be well prepared before heading out on the water this summer following a busy Saturday night.

Tauranga Coastguard operations manager Simon Barker. Photo: file.

Operations manager Simon Barker says the coastguard crew didn't get back until after 1am on Sunday, following two back-to-back call outs on Tauranga Harbour.

Coastguard was first called to Karewa Island about 9pm when a boat was reported to be taking on water.

'We dispatched a vessel and found out it wasn't taking on too much water so they weren't in danger of sinking,” says Simon.

He believes there were about seven people on board, all wearing lifejackets.

'We took some of the people off and put them on our boat and brought them all back to Tauranga so they were okay.”

While Simon says the boat seemed well equipped, he noticed they didn't have a VHF radio on board and advises they get one for their next boat trip.

As the crew were attending to the incident, coastguard received a second call to Hunters Creek about 10pm, when Simon says a 33ft launch had troubles with its steering.

Coastguard towed the launch back to Tauranga Bridge Marina. He's unsure if all three people on board were wearing lifejackets.

Meanwhile, coastguard was called to help rescue a boat that got stuck in shallow waters off Matakana Island about 4pm on Boxing Day.

Simon says two coastguard boats were used to tow the boat and the three people on board to safety.

He's reminding people to be safe out on the water this summer.

'Make sure your boats are prepared and ready to go and you're wearing your lifejackets.

"On the whole we've had less calls than we usually do this Christmas which is a good sign.”