Boat Safety Tips

Towing Your Boat
Your boat trailer is an important part of your boating equipment. After selecting the appropriate trailer for your boat and towing vehicle, proper maintenance and continual care when hitching and towing are necessary. If care and maintenance are neglected, you may be endangering the safety of your boat, your car, your family, yourself and others.

More damage can be done to a boat by the stresses of road travel than by normal water operation, so make sure you choose the right trailer. The trailer should be designed to carry the total weight of the hull, engine, equipment and any extra gear.

The coupling hitch on the trailer should have a lock or similar device to prevent it from vibrating loose. Periodically lubricate the hitch for longer wear and quieter turns.

The trailer should have two safety chains strong enough to control it if the hitch should come loose or break. The chains should be securely attached to the towing vehicle at a place separate from the ball and bracket. They should be long enough to allow turning, but not long enough to drag on the ground.

Extra caution is necessary when towing any trailer. The heavier the rig, the more time it takes to accelerate, pass and stop. Most boats on trailers obstruct the rear view of the driver. When this happens, a rearview mirror on each side of the towing vehicle is required by law.

Make sure your vehicle is capable of towing the trailer. Be sure the engine, transmission, cooling system and brakes can withstand the strain that towing will put on them.

Out of courtesy to others and to prevent rushing, prepare your boat for launching away from the ramp. If you must leave your vehicle on the ramp, set the parking brake, block the wheels and put the transmission in ''park."

Never allow anyone to stand in line with the winch cable when it is in operation or has a strain on it.

Boating Safety
Contrary to popular thinking, the most important equipment aboard your boat is not that expensive rod and reel or the new water skis; it is the safety equipment. For your own safety and that of your passengers, consult our checklist and tips before leaving the dock.

____ Radio
____ Fire extinguishers
____ Flares
____ Compass and chart
____ Lights
____ First aid kit
____ Spare batteries
____ Personal Flotation Devices
____ "Skier down" signal flag
____ Anchor and line
____ Sound signaling device
____ Paddle and bailer/bucket
____ Emergency drinking water
____ Extra fuel
____ Spare parts

1. Be Properly Equipped. Before you get underway, be sure you have all necessary safety equipment. Make sure fire extinguishers aboard are in working order and that gauges register and nozzles are clear. Make sure that all passengers know where safety equipment is and how to operate it.

2. Be Especially Careful With Flammables. When refueling, close all hatches, ports and other openings; shut off all engines and motors; and refrain from smoking. Fill all portable tanks on the dock.

Operate the bilge blower for at least FOUR MINUTES before starting an inboard engine. If you smell fumes, find out what is causing them and make repairs before starting the engine.

Make sure that flammable items are stowed safely and cannot come into contact with cooking or heating appliances or hot engine parts. Be sure heating and cooking appliances on board are secured and operate properly.

3. Plan Ahead For Safety. Don't go out if weather conditions are bad or storms threaten. In most areas you can call Directory Assistance and ask for the marine weather broadcast telephone number to get a complete weather forecast before you set out.

Leave a float plan with someone. A float plan is an easy way to avoid unnecessary search and rescue missions and may save your life. Fill out your float plan and leave it with a responsible person who can notify local authorities if you are long overdue. Cancel the float plan when you return ashore.

Distribute weight properly, especially if you have a small boat. Do not overload. Load low and spread the load around.

4. While You Are Boating: Be especially careful if you have a small boat, 20 ft. or under. The overwhelming majority of small boat capsizings occur because of sudden weight shifts.

Keep a good lookout. Failure to do so causes most collisions. You need a second person to act as lookout if you're towing a skier. The lookout should indicate a fallen skier by raising a brightly colored flag.

Don't ride on the bow or gunwales. Also, never ride on seat backs or in other unsteady positions.

Travel at safe speeds. Give swimmers, skiers and divers a wide berth.

Choose a safe spot to anchor -- one that's well protected, has water of a suitable depth and also has a flat bottom. Never anchor from the stern.

Don't pollute the water with leaky oil or fuel, litter or toilet discharge. It's illegal to pollute.

5. Obey Navigation Rules. Always use lights in fog, bad weather and at night. In fog or areas of reduced visibility, you must give a prolonged blast (4-6 seconds) at least once every two minutes.

Know who has the right of way. In general, large boats, tugs, barges and fishing vessels have the right of way over other boats. Sailboats, rowboats and canoes have the right of way over motorboats. Any boat being overtaken (passed) has the right of way.

Pay attention to markers. The expression "red right returning" has long been used as a reminder that the red buoys are passed on the starboard side when proceeding from the open sea into the dock (upstream). Likewise, green buoys are left, to the port side, when going upstream. For more information on nautical traffic signs in your area, contact local boating officials.

6. What To Do In Emergencies. If you are in distress, or observe another vessel in distress, transmit the international Distress Call on VHF channel 16. This call is, "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY." State your vessel's name, location, what is wrong, the kind of assistance you need and your listening frequency and schedule. VHF channel 16 is constantly monitored. The Coast Guard also monitors CB channel 9, whenever resources permit.

If you are involved in an accident, you must provide your name, address and vessel registration number to other involved parties, provide assistance to any injured persons and, in case of death or disappearance, report the accident without delay to law enforcement officials. If the accident is a serious one, you may need to make a written report to the Department of Boating and Waterways.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
A Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is the cheapest form of insurance you can buy. It is a jacket, vest, cushion or ring buoy that will serve as a lifesaving aid.

Most boating accidents involve falls overboard, capsizing or sinking. A properly fitted and correctly used PFD can save your life. Recent statistics reveal that over 80 percent of boating-related deaths resulted from drowning. These boaters probably would have lived had they been wearing a PFD.

Children, the elderly and non-swimmers should always wear their life jackets while the boat is underway. In rough water it is recommended that all persons wear their PFDs. Persons waterskiing should always wear PFDs.

When boating in cold water, PFDs should be worn AT ALL TIMES. Cold water can numb the extremities and limit reflexes almost immediately. Should you be plunged into cold water, you may not have the opportunity or the ability to put on a PFD.

Each passenger on board should know where the PFDs are located and should be sure their assigned device fits properly. It is a good idea to hold a practice emergency drill on the proper use of PFDs at least once a year. Practice swimming and floating while wearing a PFD. Try putting one on while in the water.

Families should mark each person's device with their name and stow it with the name facing up in an accessible, well-ventilated area out of the sun. Children's PFDs should be checked periodically for proper fit.

Remember that a PFD is considered an aid: It should not be considered a substitute for good swimming ability.

Waterskiing Safety
As a team, the boat operator, skier and observer need to learn safe skiing skills. Before your team hits the water, know your equipment, teamwork, boating laws and the fundamentals of the sport.

Know and use hand signals. Before pulling up the skier, double check the path ahead for obstacles and make sure the towline is not caught in the propeller or wrapped around the skier.

When a skier falls, raise a brightly colored flag and return without delay. Other boaters may not easily see a skier in the water.

When making a pickup, approach with caution from the driver's side, so the skier is always in view. NEVER back up to a person in the water. The engine should be shut off when you are near the skier, so there is no danger from the propeller.

Alcohol and Boating
Operating a boat is at least as complicated as driving a car, and a boating accident can be just as dangerous as an automobile accident. Yet many people who would never drive drunk think it's safe to operate their boats after drinking. It isn't. In fact, 16 percent of all boating fatalities involve alcohol use.

Many boaters are not aware that the effect of alcohol can be more pronounced in the operation of a boat than in the operation of an automobile. This is due to various stress factors: boat and engine noise, sun, glare, wave action, temperature and wind. When these stress factors are combined with alcohol, the hazards associated with boat operation are intensified.

Alcohol can cause blurred, split or tunnel vision. After a few drinks, boaters also begin to lose their ability to judge their degree of impairment and become overconfident, taking risks. This factor combined with other effects of alcohol -- loss of judgment and coordination and an increase in reaction time -- leads to the inability to react appropriately to a dangerous situation.

The best advice is to let someone sober operate the boat for your safety and the safety of others.

Accident Survival Tips
Use your Personal Flotation Device! Sudden immersion in cold water can cause rapid breathing, heart stoppage and other problems that result in helplessness and drowning. Wearing a PFD is the only defense. A properly fitted and correctly used PFD can save your life.

Know how to swim. If you don't know how, LEARN. Sign up for a swimming course today if you need to learn how to swim or want to improve your skills. Contact a local YMCA, YWCA, Red Cross office or recreation department for information.

If you capsize, stay with the boat. The shore is usually more distant than it appears. In most capsizings, your chances of survival and being found are better if you stay with the boat (even if you are a good swimmer).

Do not disrobe. It is a common belief that someone dressed in heavy clothing will sink immediately if they fall overboard. This is not true. Air trapped in clothing provides considerable flotation. Bending the knees will trap air, providing additional flotation. To stay afloat, remain calm, do not thrash about or try to remove clothing or footwear; this leads to exhaustion and increases the loss of air that keeps you afloat. Keep your knees bent, float on your back and paddle slowly to safety.

Prevent hypothermia (the loss of body heat). It is a life-threatening condition! Your clothing will help trap heat. As much as possible, avoid moving. If several people are in the water, huddle together so you can conserve heat and stay alive. If your boat capsizes, it will likely float on or just below the surface. To reduce the effects of hypothermia, get out of the water as much as possible. If you can't get in the boat, a PFD will enable you to keep your head out of the water. This is very important, because about 50 percent of body heat loss is through the head.

First Aid Do's And Don'ts For Hypothermia
DO get the victim out of the water as soon as possible.
DO give artificial respiration if necessary.
DO gently remove wet clothing and wrap the victim in warm blankets or a sleeping bag.
DO try to keep the person awake.
DO get medical help immediately.

DON'T give the victim alcohol or warm liquids. They don't help warm the person and can pose a choking hazard.
DON'T massage the victim in an attempt to get blood circulating.

 

Preventing Boat Theft
Most boats are easy targets for theft. You can protect your boat and its equipment through your actions and attitudes.

Thieves often steal boats under 20 ft. long because such boats are easily transported and stored. Thieves usually steal when boat owners aren't likely to be around: before daybreak, Mondays, after long holiday weekends or during the "off-season."

Always take your registration certificate with you when you leave the boat. Photograph or videotape your boat from different angles and while underway. Record your boat's make and model number, too.

Make a list of everything normally kept on the boat. Include manufacturer's names, model numbers and serial numbers. Take photographs. Keep these at home in a safe place.

Engrave your gear with the boat's Hull Identification Number (HIN). Engrave chairs, cushions, fishing tackle and other loose items.

Use a waterproof marker to write your name and the boat's home port on sails, PFDs, chairs, cushions, fishing tackle and other loose items.

Replace flimsy locks and chains with more sturdy security measures.

Install a "kill switch" in a hidden location on the ignition line.

Consider adding a boat alarm. Some can even be tied into marina security systems.

If you keep your boat on a trailer, lock the boat to the trailer. Lock the trailer to a tree or post.

We hope this information has been helpful. If you have any other questions about boating safety, contact your nearest Coast Guard Auxiliary. As for your boat insurance needs, your local Farmers Agent will help you any way he or she can.

This article contains generally accepted information about boating safety. However, because every situation is different, the publishers are not assuming liability for the accuracy or use of the information contained herein.

Jet Skiing
Personal watercraft (PWC) ownership is growing by almost 40 percent per year. And, as a result, the number of PWC-related accidents are increasing. As a PWC operator, you are a member of the boating community and must abide by the basic rules of boating safety and etiquette. You should know how to swim and how to operate your PWC before venturing into the water. Be aware that certain states also have minimum age requirements for PWC operators.

Here are a few suggestions for safe PWC operation:

• Familiarize yourself with your vessel by reading the owner's manual and practicing operation of the engine.
  
• When operating your PWC, wear a personal flotation device.
  
• Let someone on shore know where you are heading and when you'll return.
  
• Go slowly near shore and drive defensively in congested areas, where most collision occur.
  
• Never operate your PWC between a water-skier and the ski boat.
  
• Because your PWC is not equipped with running lights, operating after dark is illegal.