NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — The unofficial start to summer is here, and with many people planning to head out on the water this weekend, safety is a top priority.

"You have to make sure everyone on the boat understands what their responsibility is for boating safety," Capt. David Fetherston with Wickford Boat Rentals said. "They need to be wearing life jackets and need to know where the safety equipment is on board."

12 News went out on the water Friday to get a first-hand look at what boaters need to know.

"Keep your speed down, and if you have multiple people on board, you have multiple lookouts available to you," Fetherston said. "You want to check the radio, and all your safety equipment."

According to the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM), there are about 40,000 registered boats in Rhode Island.

"Boats have gotten a lot more powerful and a lot faster," Fetherston said. "Faster might be thrilling, but it's also very dangerous, and what people don't understand is you can't stop a boat very quickly."

Proper training is even more critical, requiring all hands on deck. That's something Fetherston said has become more popular after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"You really need that on-the-water training to be comfortable with it," he explained. "You can't just assume that because you have a driver's license or car, it's the exact same thing as running a boat."

The DEM will be stepping up water patrols throughout the weekend to ensure safety for everyone.