Boat Safety Week is in full swing and Maritime New Zealand says more people are wearing lifejackets.
But it's concerned too many boaties still don't have effective communication devices on board and says if you can't call for help, it can't help you.
When Oisin Frost went fishing past the Manukau Harbour bar a year-and-a-half ago, a relaxing day turned into one of the worst of his life when the journey back to shore turned nasty.
"We were caught unexpectedly by a nasty little wave and it turned over one-and-a-half times. The skipper and the first mate were gone and then the boat turned over another time," he told Newshub.
"I was upside down in the boat. I gashed my head really badly. I tried to get a mayday call out but it didn't get out."
Fortunately, Coastguard knew they were crossing the bar, and after not hearing they were safe, set out to find them.
Lifejackets helped save the crew but a lack of waterproof communication meant rescue wasn't immediate.
"We spent the next two-and-a-half hours clinging to the side of the boat," Mr Frost said.
What they should have had was a VHF, a radio that can be used to call for help, and an Epirb, which is a beacon that activates a distress signal when wet.
"If we'd had a VHF on our person or an Epirb, a helicopter would've picked us up with 15 minutes," Mr Frost said.
"But everything was sitting on the boat and it went down with the boat."
Nationwide, it's not compulsory for recreational boats to have waterproof communication. While more boats have something, Maritime NZ wants those heading out on the water to think twice.
"We've pushed the lifejacket message for the past few years and with an increased uptake in lifejackets, we're broadening that out to communication," Maritime NZ's Neil Rowarth told Newshub.
"So if you do get stuck in the water, you can call for help.
"For $150 you can get a waterproof marine VHF. For a couple of dollars you can get a plastic bag to put around your cellphone."
The last bit of advice is reserved for someone who knows from bitter experience.
"Let someone know where you're going and when you're going to be back," Mr Frost said.
"Take a lifejacket and take at least one or two means of communications."
Newshub.
