What should you do if your boat's engine fails?

When your boat's engine fails, using oars or paddles to navigate towards safety while being prepared to signal for help is the most effective course of action. This approach allows you to maintain control of your vessel and head towards safety, rather than remaining adrift, which could expose you to additional risks such as drifting into dangerous areas or being stranded without assistance.

Navigating with oars or paddles provides a way to actively manage the situation while awaiting assistance. If you are in a location where signaling for help is necessary, being proactive about your navigation enables you to position yourself in a more visible and safer location.

In contrast, attempting to restart the engine may lead to additional complications without ensuring your safety. Signaling for help after drifting can delay assistance unnecessarily, and trying to fix the engine while adrift could compromise your safety further. Therefore, utilizing oars or paddles while also preparing to signal for help is the most prudent and effective action in the event of an engine failure.