Most people watch boat fail videos and cackle about the stupidity of others, though sometimes they learn a much-needed lesson about safety. Yet they rarely decide to jump in and make a positive change, which is what makes Dani Uzelac so unique.

As both a registered nurse and an avid boater in Chicago, Ill., Dani was dismayed by the number of tragic boating accidents in her area. In 2022, she and her boating friends were commiserating about the lack of boating education and the wild mistakes they witnessed on a regular basis.

“We would come back to the dock at the end of the day and complain about all the crazy stuff we saw. And one day I said, ‘Okay, but what can we do about this?’ We actually had the knowledge and experience to help people.”

Dani and her friends saw a need and worked to fill it. They launched Boat Safe Chicago in 2022, which offers nationally accredited on-the-water training for boating safety and also coordinates with charter companies to offer elite captains for hire on charter boats or private vessels.

Early in their journey, Boat Safe Chicago went from being a complete unknown to winning national boating awards from the Sea Tow Foundation and the National Safe Boating Council for their communication and social media messages. Always a strong advocate of safe boating practices, Dani shared with us her top six tips on boating safety.

Safety Tip #1: Learn How To Drive Your Boat

Before the creation of Boat Safe Chicago, the Chicago area didn’t have the option for on-the-water training, though boaters everywhere can purchase a boat without any prior training required. Utilizing the step-by-step curriculum from the National Safe Boating Council, the training offered through Boat Safe Chicago is easy to understand and implement.

One particularly encouraging example was when a family from Michigan took the courses. The mom booked the training but said only her husband and sons-in-law would be learning while she went along for the ride. Though she hadn’t planned on getting certified, the captain encouraged her to try each maneuver.

“It was life-changing for her,” Dani said. “By the end of the day, she completed every maneuver and was backing up the boat like a bad ass. It was a confidence-builder that changed her whole perspective.”

Dani loves to see any boater gain confidence and skill, but she’s especially passionate about empowering more women to become captains.

Safety Tip #2: Hire A Competent Boat Captain When Chartering

Boat Safe Chicago works hard to provide master captains for hire. While Chicago doesn’t require a captain’s license to drive a charter boat, Dani feels that it’s critically important.

“Last year, we had a boat driven by an unlicensed captain that sank and a person died. There’s just no reason that anybody that’s not a licensed captain should be driving a charter boat.” It’s the kind of tragedy that Dani works hard to prevent.

Most of the Boat Safe Chicago captains have years of experience and are National Safe Boating Council instructors or master captains with safety being their focus. “It’s a good feeling to know that we’re putting captains on boats who are really paying attention and qualified to do the work they’re doing,” Dani said.

Safety Tip #3: Wear A Life Jacket

It’s an important tip that we hear over and over, but life jackets make a vital difference. If necessary, tell your passengers to wear a life jacket instead of asking them if they need one.

People falling overboard, whether drinking or not, influenced Boat Safe Chicago to change their life jacket policy. Instead of asking someone if they want or need a life jacket, they simply hand them one and tell them to put it on. And it works!

Another key to success Dani has found is the comfort of inflatable life jackets. Their slim size makes them so easy to wear you might forget you have it on.

“Once I went to the grocery store hours after getting off a boat and a lady curiously asked what I wearing,” recalls Dani. “I looked down and realized I still had my life jacket on!”

Safety Tip #4: Don’t Drink & Boat

Boating is a natural high and you can enjoy the water without drinking alcohol. Boat Safe Chicago works hard to persuade captains to stay sober. With Sea Tow Foundation’s program, the Sober Skipper, Boat Safe Chicago reiterates the message that tragedies happen when you combine boating and drinking.

Another passion project for her is to increase the first aid available on each boat. Her latest endeavor is to make sure Narcan, the opioid reversal drug, is on every boat in the city. Unconditional overdoses are common, which is why Dani feels strongly about having it available.

“It’s tricky because people insist they aren’t using drugs, but you just never know—you might be out on the water and you’re the only person who has it. It’s worth saving a life,” Dani explained.

Safety Tip #5: Stay Within 10 Feet Of Your Boat

The further away you get from your boat in the water, the harder you are to see. Staying within 10 feet of the boat whenever you’re in the water increases your visibility and therefore your safety.

“We’ve had swimmers hit by passing boats, and people who are drinking who get too far away from their boat to safely get back,” Dani said. “It’s critically important to stay close to your vessel.”

Safety Tip #6: Know How To Call For Help

In the event of an emergency, the most important thing to know is how to call for help. In the Chicago area, marine radios are connected immediately to the Chicago Marine Unit; be sure to know how to reach the safety response team where you live. In the absence of a marine radio, have your phone available so you can call 911.

Because she coordinates so many working pieces in the Boat Safe Chicago endeavor, Dani gave herself the title of RingMaster.

“I just love it and I feel like ‘RingMaster’ fits perfectly. Once charter season starts, I’m juggling captains, boats, and everyone’s schedules,” she said.

And juggling is what she’s good at. As an RN, Dani worked for many years helping patients with rare diseases navigate their care, understand their diagnosis, and remember appointments. This translated perfectly to matching captains with charter requests and education with boaters.

Above all, Dani is working hard to keep people safe on the water so they can enjoy boating as much as she does.

“If I could choose to be anywhere, I’d be out on a boat. It’s therapeutic to be on the water and I want as many people as possible to experience that,” she said.

And now, thanks to Boat Safe Chicago, more people than ever can enjoy it safely.