As part of Your News Now's "Discover Better Boating" Series, Sea Grant Specialist Dave White discusses the most important things a boater should have on board to be a safe boater.

Syracuse, NY, May 21, 2011 - Welcome to Discover Better Boating, the second in a new monthly series that we hope will provide New York boaters with helpful information to better enjoy your boating season

This month, as National Safe Boating Week kicks off, New York Sea Grant Coastal Recreation and Tourism Specialist Dave White is joined by Dale Currier from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. White and Currier talk about three of the most important things a boater should have on board to be a safe boater.

Q: What about life jackets?
A: There a number of different type of life jackets. The most common is the Type2 , which is designed for calm waters where people would be rescued quickly. A second kind is the Type 3, designed for different types of boating such as kayaking to power boating. Type 4, like a cushion or life ring, which can be thrown into the water for a rescue. Then you have the Type 5, inflatable, designed for someone who knows how to swim and only categorizes as a life jacket if it's worn.

Q: Tell us about fire extinguishers.
A: The extinguisher is required on all power boats. Things to remember: make sure it's charged, flip it around occasionally to keep the material loose and be sure you know how to operate it.

Q: What about flares?
A: Make sure they're not outdated. Keep them out of the package so they're accessible and know how they operate.

The Discover Better Boating segments will run on YNN stations every third Saturday through October.

The YNN channel, based in Syracuse, telecasts two separate program feeds, one to Central/Northern New York; one to the Southern Tier. YNN is available to nearly 600,000 cable subscribers across a 25-county, 15,000 square mile area.