S.-.9; Storms; Fog; S.-.9.. Hazardous.conditions - Four winns 348 vista Owner's Manual

Your.boat.has.one.white.(stern),.one.red.(port).and.one.
green.(starboard).light..The.stern.light.may.be.a.
removable.pole.light..To.use.the.light,.line.up.the.two-
prong.plug.in.the.pole.with.the.receptacle.in.the.base..
Plug.the.light.in,.and.lock.it.into.place.with.lever/slide.
lock..When.not.in.use,.stow.the.light.inside.your.boat.
for.safekeeping..This.light.can.be.turned.on.or.off.at.the.
helm..
Check.lights.for.proper.operation.before.heading.out.at.
night..You.should.also.learn.to.identify.the.running.light.
combinations.for.other.vessels..We.recommend.that.
you.participate.in.a.boating.safety.course.to.further.
learn.about.navigation.lights.and.safe.boating.prac-
tices..
The.anchor.lights.and.navigation.lights.are.controlled.
by.a.switch.at.the.helm..The.anchor.light.switch.allows.
you.to.turn.on.just.the.stern.(white).light.when.an-
chored.or.moored..While.underway,.use.the.navigation.
light.switch.to.turn.on.the.stern.(white),.port.(red).and.
starboard.(green).lights..Lights.are.off.when.switches.
are.in.the.OFF.position..
S - 9 HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
A. Storms
Storms.sometimes.appear.without.advance.notice..
Although.weather.information.from.meteorological.
observation.and.reporting.stations.is.available,.weather.
bureaus.are.known.to.have.failures.in.their.predictions.
or.information.gathering.equipment..There.is.no.
substitute.for.a.strong.understanding.of.what.action.to.
take.when.the.weather.takes.a.turn.for.the.worse..
Many marinas fly weather signals. You should learn to
recognize.these.signals.and.monitor.your.local.weather.
forecasts.before.leaving.port..
The.present.and.forecasted.weather.conditions.are.of.
primary.consideration,.but.a.threat.of.possible.storms.
should.always.be.a.concern..Observance.of.the.
following information will help in your safety afloat if
storms.do.occur:
•. Keep.a.watch.on.the.horizon.for.approaching.storm.
indicators..
•. Turn.radio.ON..Dial.in.local.weather.station.and.
monitor.forecast..If.your.boat.has.a.VHF.radio,.
check.the.weather.channels..
•. The.best.possible.situation.is.to.return.to.a.safe.port.
if.time.allows..
Pre-Launch and Underway - Section S
•. Close.and.secure.all.portals.and.hatches..Stow.
all.loose.gear.below.deck.and.tie.down.any.gear.
required.to.remain.on.deck..
•. Reduce.speed.as.the.seas.build..Make.sure.all.
passengers.are.wearing.their.PFDs..
•. If.you.lose.power,.keep.the.boat.headed.into.the.
waves.by.rigging.a.sea.anchor.off.the.bow...If.
there.is.no.sea.anchor.on.board,.use.a.canvas.
bucket.or.any.object.that.will.offer.resistance..
• Radar reflectors (if installed on your boat) should
be.18.inches.diagonally.and.placed.12.feet.above.
the.waterline..
B. Fog
Fog.is.a.result.of.either.warm.surface.or.cold.surface.
conditions..You.can.judge.the.likelihood.of.fog.
formation.by.periodically.measuring.the.air.tempera-
ture.and.dew.point.temperature..If.the.spread.
(difference).between.these.two.temperatures.is.
small,.you.likely.will.incur.a.fog.situation..Remember.
the.following.guidelines:
•. Turn.on.running.lights..
•. As.fog.sets.in,.take.bearings.and.mark.your.
position.on.the.chart.while.continuing.to.log.your.
course.and.speed..
•. Make.sure.all.persons.aboard.are.wearing.their.
PFDs..
• If your boat has depth finding equipment, take
sounding.and.match.them.with.soundings.on.
your.charts..
•. Station.a.person.forward.on.the.boat.as.a.
lookout..
•. Reduce.your.speed..From.time.to.time,.stop.
engine.and.listen.for.fog.signals..
•. Sound.the.proper.horn.or.fog.bell.at.proper.
intervals.to.warn.other.boaters..
•. If.there.is.any.doubt.in.continuing.boat.move-
ment,.anchor..Listen.for.other.fog.signals.while.
continuing.to.sound.the.proper.fog.horn.or.bell.for.
a.boat.at.anchor..
Owner's Manual Page 9