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Got Stripers makes some excellant advice. I would follow it to a T!
When it comes to safety, you can never be too safe. Most states require you to carry 3 distress signals for day and night. Why not four? What's the harm? This can be as much as just adding a large bright blanket and a flashlight to your boat.
Now a word about lifejackets. If you have the kind with airpockets in them, check each one of them for leaks. If one leaks, write all over it with a marker, "NO GOOD" and toss them in the dumpster.
Another idea, attach whistles to each one of them and reflective tape if they come with on them allready. Not knowing how old your kids are, if they are young, get them a Type 1 Offshore. These are bulkier than most of the other types but it will face them right ways up incase they don't know how to right themselves.
Another thing you gotta get is a first aid kit. They should be required on every boat.
The two most important things you can have though, is A, a float plan which tells the law enforcement officers where you are going to be, when you are to return. And a plan on the boat. People panic, it's in our nature to panic. Screaming commands at them is useless in a real emergency. Go over what people need to do in case of a emergency.
Safety to you and your boat.
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