What is the first action to take if your boat's engine fails?

When a boat's engine fails, the first action to take is to attempt to restart the engine. This is crucial because it may be a temporary issue, and a quick restart could restore power and allow the vessel to continue safely. Checking and attempting to fix the problem before escalating the situation helps conserve resources and maintains safety.

If an engine fails while out on the water, options such as calling for help or anchoring the boat come into play after an immediate attempt to restart the engine. Jumping overboard is not a safe or logical response as it can lead to further risk and does not address the underlying problem of engine failure. Therefore, attempting to restart the engine should always be the first step before pursuing other measures.