Good Topic, one thing I would add is about anchoring. Always make sure you are out of the bite of the anchor line when letting line out. Sounds like common sense, but I have seen people standing in the coil before. I used to run a tender boat on the Yukon River, and used a 300 pound anchor. Had a deckhand who would have gone over with the anchor if I hadn't double checked before letting it go. Also, as any sailor will tell you carry a knife on you, and keep it in the same spot every time. In a panic situation you don't want to have to ask yourself "which pocket did I put my knife in?". Hopefully this recent stuff will make us all a little more careful.
Tom