Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial launch of boating season. In preparation, the Harbormaster Department hosted its third annual Boating Safety Day on Saturday at the Onset Pier.

"I think people take the waterways for granted," said Harbormaster Garry Buckminster. "They can get too confident and may not realize the dangers."

Buckminster said many boaters underestimate the danger that turbulent conditions, underwater debris, and fog can present while out on the water.

Planning ahead by bringing flares and wearing a lifejacket are a couple of ways to ensure safety on the seas.

Buckminster recommends boaters take a safety course and file a "float plan," or a form that provides the Harbormaster and Coast Guard with information regarding the trip, before leaving the dock.

The event featured lifejacket sizing stations and a United States Coast Guard boating safety inspection team, which conducted no-cost boat inspections. Boaters were also able to hand in expired marine flares for proper disposal.

Safety was the main focus, but there was also time for fun. Attendees took tours of the Harbormaster Department's Boston Whaler patrol boat and a Coast Guard vessel. Participants even got a sneak peak of the latest addition to the department's fleet: an 18-foot Carolina Skiff.