What action should be taken if you see a hazard in the water?

When you see a hazard in the water, the most appropriate action is to alert other boaters and navigate around it. This ensures safety for everyone on the water. By notifying others, you help prevent potential accidents or collisions, especially if the hazard poses a significant risk to navigation.

Navigating around the hazard allows you to maintain a safe distance, reducing the likelihood of causing damage to your vessel or injuring passengers and fellow boaters. It promotes a responsible and cautious approach to boating safety.

Additionally, while investigating the hazard or ignoring it may seem like viable options, they can lead to dangerous situations. Stopping to investigate might place you and others in harm's way if the hazard turns out to be significant. Ignoring it altogether poses a risk not only to yourself but also to other boaters who may encounter the same hazard. Speeding past the obstacle may also create a risky situation, as it might lead to loss of control or make it difficult to react to other hazards that could arise in your path.