Boating Safety Tips

By Don Seibert

Having a safe and fun day on the water simply requires a little planning and a heavy dose of common sense. Most boaters are so much about having fun on the water that they sometimes overlook some FUNdamentals. Since boating is such a pleasurable treat, it’s very easy to let your guard down. So here’s the plan for a great and safe day on the water.

Planning your voyage: Before leaving home, know where you are going, who will be with you, and when you expect to return. Obviously, if you are just going across the lake or up the river, this is a simple matter, but if your are going salt water fishing, it is critical that someone ashore knows where you are going and when you are expected to return – so that they can call for help if you turn up overdue.

Make sure your boat is seaworthy: Whether you are just going ‘for a spin’ or for a full day’s trip, it’s important to ensure that your boat is seaworthy (not taking on water), your engine is reliable, and you have the proper safety equipment on board. Your boat should never be overloaded with people or gear and the engine must be of adequate power to push the loaded boat through the worst possible conditions that you can imagine. Whatever bad weather you can expect, sometimes you just get really surprised!

Have the proper boat equipment, fuel and supplies: There are few worse experiences than being broken down or out of fuel in a boat well out of the sight of land. Before venturing out, make certain that you have enough fuel to go to the farthest point and back and still have half a tank to spare, taking into consideration the various marinas and fuel stops that may be along your planned route. Never leave the dock without, at a minimum, a Person Floatation Device (PFD) for each person in the boat and a throwable floating cushion as well. You must have a fire extinguisher of adequate size and type for the boat. The battery(s) must be fully charged and the bilge pump in good working order. Be sure that the boat’s blower, horn, and navigation lights are in good working order – even if you don’t intent to be out at night. Although it’s usually not a legal requirement in most states, you should always have an anchor and line of the size and length to enable you to safeguard the boat in the event of a breakdown. If you plan to be out of cell phone range, a marine radio is a must as is a GPS for navigation if you are going out to sea.

Have the proper people equipment, fuel and supplies! For you and your crew, be certain to have enough water, ice and snacks. A good sunscreen lotion is a must and the sun’s rays are greatly enhanced by the reflections off the water. Be sure to take the medical needs of your crew and guests, especially if someone is a diabetic, has a heart condition or other chronic condition. Of course, a good first aid kit is important. If alcoholic beverages are on the menu, make sure that nobody overdoes it, particularly anyone who will operate the boat. Since there are no lanes out on the water, other boaters can approach from any direction and the driver of the boat must be ever alert to traffic, wakes, and conditions. Most states now enforce a “Boating Under the Influence” law with serious consequences for those who overdo the alcohol and then risk their lives and those of their crew by driving a boat. It just pays to have a designated driver along.

Unexpected variables: Many things can come up to surprise you when you are out on the water, particularly the weather. Check out the weather forecast before leaving the dock so that you know what’s expected. Of course, storms are most likely to ‘pop up’ at any time, so it really pays to keep an eye to the horizon at all times. If you see a thunderhead approaching, you should not try to outrun it, but to take a course at a 90 degree angle from the direction of the storm. If you can get to a harbor or shoreline and tie up, that would be advised. If you cannot avoid being in the storm, stow all loose gear, just keep the bow of the boat pointed into the direction of the storm and give the engine enough gas to keep the bow raised to handle the wave action. My salty old Coast Guard chief petty officer used to say, “Boats are made for bad weather, people are not!” If it is in reasonably good condition, your boat will likely weather the storm very well. All of the SOB’s (Souls on Board) should put their PFD on at the first sighting of a bad storm – just to be safe. If people become ill during the rough weather, help them rest as much as possible.

If you will take the proper precautions and plan ahead just a little bit, your voyage on the water will be a whole lot of fun. Have a great cruise!

Resources: Don Seibert is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and has operated a large marina and boat dealership for the past 10 years. Don has been boating for more than 50 years.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Seibert

We all remember the saying “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” There is some truth to this old adage, particularly on your boat. A sloppy boat is just a disaster waiting to happen.

What is a sloppy boat?

A sloppy boat has lines, and equipment lying around the deck. A sloppy boat has a bilge, which contains foreign objects. A sloppy boat has chafed and/or exposed electrical systems. A sloppy boat has leaky or poorly supported fuel systems.

A sloppy boat has a galley full of dirty dishes. A sloppy boat has pots and pans not secured. A sloppy boat has heating and air conditioner ducts clogged or blocked. A sloppy boat is a very dangerous place to be. Let’s examine why in the next section.

Dangers of a sloppy boat

For some of us who remember the original Dennis the Menace television series, Mr. Wilson was always tripping over Dennis’ toys.  However, that was TV, and your boat is reality!

Tripping on equipment or lines that are just lying around the cockpit, the galley, the sole, or even the walkways can seriously injure you, your crew or guests. In fact, it’s possible to fall overboard by tripping over something.

In addition, gear, which is not stowed properly, as far as weight distribution, can cause instability for the vessel, and increase the chances of both a broaching and/or a swamping. A reason for the increased likelihood of these two conditions is the reduced free board caused by the improper weight distribution.

Foreign articles in the bilge can cause the pump to fail, which in turn, prohibits the water from finding its way out of the boat. Excess water in the bilge can cause stability problems for your vessel, by having a freely shifting weight moving counter to the righting arm of the vessel.

For those who haven’t taken a seamanship course, the righting arm is the term used in determining the amount of heel a vessel can withstand before it capsizes. Many factors (vectors) are involved, from height of the vessel, to beam. One factor is the buoyancy of the vessel. Free moving water changes the relationship of this vector and hence the equations of the righting arm. In simpler terms, when the bilge pump isn’t working, your vessel isn’t safe!

Electrical systems and fuel systems that are in need of repair can be the cause of the one element you never want to loose control of in a boat. From time in memorial, fire has been one of the most prized, yet frightening aspects on a boat. “Fire”, as Richard Pryor once said, “is inspirational”, except on boat!

With nowhere to go, but overboard, a fire can be one of the most frightening and dangerous events that a boater can encounter. As in your house, frayed wires can cause a fire. Improperly maintained fuel systems can also cause gas fumes, which can be ignited. In either case, unsafe electrical and fuel systems are a dangerous condition. Dirty and clogged heating or air conditioner vents prevent these systems from efficiently working, and can cause overheating of the a/c or heating systems.

Vermin, insects, food poisoning, flying debris are all caused by a sloppy galley. Broken glass, crockery, sharp implements (such as knives, forks and even spoons) can be dislodged during a bouncy ride, and be the catalyst for injury.

Who wants to sleep in an overly cold or hot cabin that most likely is inhabited by non-paying, non-contributory guests (we’re not talking about the in-laws…we’re talking about vermin and insects)?

Safety of life, limb and property is a personal responsibility we should all follow no matter what we do. While boating, wearing a life jacket is perhaps your single, most important responsibility for both you and your passengers. In 2004, according to  Coast Guard statistics, 484 boaters drowned. Of these, 90% were not wearing a life jacket and it has been estimated that approximately 431 lives might have been saved if a life jacket had only been worn.

Why didn’t those boaters wear their life jackets? Past reasons for not wearing a life jacket are simply not true for today’s personal flotation devices. Today’s jackets are no longer the hot and bulky vests once associated with water safety gear. Now there are many attractive styles and colors to choose from, including infants’ wearables and the newest inflatables. There is simply no excuse for not wearing a life jacket aboard a pleasure craft. Besides that, for some age groups and users it’s the law.

Federal regulations for recreational boats state that life jackets must be Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition and of appropriate size for the intended wearer. One size does not fit all! Recreational boats must carry one Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device for each person aboard. A life jacket stowed in an inaccessible compartment does little good when the unexpected happens, and suddenly the boater is in the water. The best life jacket or other personal flotation device is the one that is already being worn.

With the aim of saving lives, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Canadian Safe Boating Council, the National Safe Boating Council and other marine safety organizations, celebrate National Safe Boating Week each May.  The event is the high point of a year-round North American Safe Boating Campaign. Its purpose is to get the boating public to think safety and to reduce the toll of death and injuries on our waterways by being responsible and always wear your life jackets.

Wearing a personal flotation device is a must for children, and in most states, it’s the law. An important feature of National Safe Boating Week is safety for children on our waterways. Creative NSBW programs have kid-appeal and help to bring the point home in entertaining ways. What do a panda, a seal or a robot have to do with safe boating? They’re safe boating week mascots. What child can resist a cuddly panda bear, especially one that teaches kids how to be safe on the water? Who can ignore a friendly seal that barks out water-wise wisdom to the youngsters? And who can resist smiling when “Coastie^®,” the robotic tugboat winks its eye and toots its horn at our future sailors? These mascots have a message for boaters of all ages: “Wear It!” Wear your life jacket when aboard! Meet the costumed mascots and their trainers at a NSBW event this year, at the docks, at the marinas or wherever boaters congregate.

As incentives to “Wear It,” life jacket exchange programs and giveaways are held from coast to coast during National Safe Boating Week. The California Department of Boating and Waterways sponsors a joint exchange program with the Auxiliary during the May event. The Department procures the vests and the Auxiliary examines boaters’ life jackets to see if they are still serviceable. If the jacket is no longer wearable, it is exchanged for a brand new jacket of the same size.

In his National Safe Boating Week Proclamation in 2005, President Bush urged all Americans to learn more about safe boating practices, wear life jackets and take advantage of boating safety programs throughout the year. Vessel examinations and public education are integral parts of NSBW activities.

In addition to promoting life jacket wear, National Safe Boating Week is a push for vessel safety checks. Throughout the United States, members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadrons offer free courtesy checks to make sure a boat has the proper safety equipment, required by law, and is free of obvious hazardous conditions. Vessel safety booths are set up at launch ramps, marinas and retail store parking lots. To locate a Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel examiner in your area and schedule your boat to be checked, go to http://www.vesselsafetycheck.org/. Click on “I want a VSC.” To contact a Power Squadron examiner, go to http://www.usps.org/.

Today, over 13 million boats traverse our waterways, yet 65% of the boaters have never taken a boating safety course, according to Coast Guard statistics. Public boater education is emphasized during the campaign because boating education saves lives and property. The Auxiliary, the Power Squadrons and other boating organizations offer the basic America’s Boating Course™ to the more advanced navigation and GPS courses. To find a Coast Guard Auxiliary class near you, click onhttp://www.cgaux.org/, “Visitors.” To take a Power Squadron class, click onhttp://www.usps.org/.

Recreational boating is one of our nation’s most popular sports. Safe boating is smart boating when the vessel operator complies with federal and state regulations. During National Safe Boating Week and throughout the boating season, smart boaters get vessel safety checks, take boating safety classes, stay sober on the water and, above all, “Wear It!”