Summer may officially be a few weeks off (mark June 20 on your calendar), but did you know today, June 1, starts "meteorological summer"? And, of course, this past weekend was generally considered the "unofficial start of summer". The weather sure was nice but it's expected to get even warmer as this week progresses. A bit of a "do-over" may be in order as we hit the 80s this weekend and you'll be more than ready to get (back?) out on the boat.

As they were conducting free safety checks over the weekend, Iowa authorities have already encountered some do's and don'ts they would like to make the public aware of as they head out on the water, according to Iowa's News Now.

What safety benchmarks are suggested, if not required?

Linn County sheriff's sergeant Mike Kempin says to start with the most important pieces of equipment: life jackets, horn, whistle. Life jackets, though not required to be worn at all times except by those under 13, should at least be with you at all times, regardless of the type of boat you're on.

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An engine cut-off switch is required for operation on Coralville, Red Rock, Rathbun and Saylorville reservoirs as well as the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Again, while not required elsewhere, Iowa conservation officer Ron Lane recommends having one on board.

An ECOS, as it's called, will automatically turn off the watercraft if passengers or get ejected from the boat.

Follow these tips prior to to ensure a fun and safe summer. Who isn't ready for that???

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

 

 

 

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