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Station a person forward on the boat as a lookout.
•
Reduce your speed. From time to time, stop en-
gine and listen for fog signals.
•
Sound the proper horn or fog bell at proper inter-
vals to warn other boaters.
•
If there is any doubt in continuing boat movement,
anchor. Listen for other fog signals while continu-
ing to sound the proper fog horn or bell for a boat
at anchor.
C. Running Aground
To prevent boat damage, DO NOT use deck
hardware or water ski pylon for towing. Use a
commercial towing service.
Operating in shallow water can present a number of
hazards. Sand bars in narrow inlets are constantly shift-
ing, making it difficult to mark them with buoys. Some-
times sand bars are indicated by waves as they form
into breakers when passing over sand bars. In coastal
areas, tides can change water levels by as much as 30
feet. Check with local marinas or Coast Guard stations
for tide tables and current charts.
If your boat runs aground, first check persons aboard
for injury. Then check for damage to the boat. If the
drive unit strikes an underwater hazard, check for boat
and drive unit damage. If the engine vibrates exces-
sively after striking an underwater obstruction, it may
indicate a damaged propeller. If vibration is noticeable,
return to port slowly to prevent further drive and en-
gine damage from an out-of-balance condition. Watch
the temperature gauge to make sure you do not over-
heat the engine.
If the boat is not taking on any water, it may be pos-
sible to rock the boat by shifting the weight of the pas-
sengers and gear and by raising the drive unit while
reversing the engine.
If you ground your boat on a sand bar, shut down the
engine and seek help from another boater or radio for
help. See your dealer as soon as possible, as sand
ingested in the engine cooling system can cause ma-
jor engine damage.
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D. Warning Markers
It is a good idea to find out about hazardous areas and
how they are marked by asking your local authorities.
•
Boaters must also recognize the flag designs which
indicate that scuba divers are present and keep
well clear of the area.
•
Watch for swimmers. Swimming areas may not
be marked. Steer clear from the area and always
remain alert.
•
Distress flags indicate a fellow boater is in need of
assistance.
•
Navigation markers serve as a means of identify-
ing navigable routes and indicate water hazards.
Boaters should become familiar with navigation
markers and stay within marked boundaries and
clear of hazards.
S - 10 REACTING TO EMERGENCIES
Be prepared to deal with emergencies before they hap-
pen. Try to formulate a plan for each type of emer-
gency in advance so that decisions can be made quickly
and without hesitation. Precious moments lost can
mean the difference between losing and saving a life.
A. Flooding
If your boat starts taking on water, activate the bilge
pump immediately. Make sure all passengers are wear-
ing their PFDs. Open the engine compartment, look
for the cause of the flooding. Check all hoses, through
hull fittings, seacocks and strainers. If flooding occurs
as a result of collision or grounding damage, call for
assistance and head for shore if possible.
B. Capsizing and Man Overboard
By far, the largest number of boating fatalities involve
capsizing and falling overboard accidents. By being pre-
pared ahead of time with an appropriate plan of action,
you can greatly lower your chances and your passen-
gers' chances of becoming seriously injured.
C. Capsizing
Wear PFDs or have them readily available at all times.
If your boat capsizes, and others were on board, lo-
cate them and guide them to the safety of the hull.
Section S
Page 7
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