Boating Safety; B.-.1.General; Required.safety.equipment; Personal.flotation.devices.(Pfds) - Four winns 318 VISTA Owner's Manual

B - 1 GENERAL
As.the.owner/operator.of.the.boat,.you.are.responsible.
for.assuring.that.all.required.safety.equipment.is.
aboard..You.should.also.consider.supplying.additional.
equipment.as.needed.for.your.safety.and.that.of.your.
passengers..Check.state.and.local.regulations.and.
call.the.US.Coast.Guard.Boating.Safety.Hotline.at..
1-800-368-5647.for.information.about.required.safety.
equipment.
A. Required Safety Equipment
Most.of.the.safety.equipment.required.by.federal.
regulations.is.provided.as.standard.equipment..
Personal Floatation Devices (life jackets) must fit .
the.person.wearing.it..If.local.regulations.require.
additional.equipment,.it.must.be.approved.by.the..
US.Coast.Guard.(USCG)..Minimum.requirements.
include.the.following:.
.
. •.Personal.Floatation.Devices
. •.Visual.Distress.Signal
. •.Bell.or.Whistle
. •.Fire.Extinguisher
. •.Navigation.Lights
NOTICE
As the owner/operator of the boat, you are
responsible for assuring that all required safety
equipment is aboard and meets the boating
regulations as prescribed by both federal and
local authorities in your area.
B. Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs)
Federal.regulations.require.that.you.have.at.least..
one Coast Guard approved personal floatation device
(PFD).for.each.person.in.a.recreational.boat..You.
should.not.use.your.boat.unless.all.PDFs.are.in.
serviceable.condition,.readily.accessible,.legibly.
marked.with.the.Coast.Guard.approval.number,.of..
an.appropriate.size.(within.the.weight.range.and.chest.
size.marked.on.the.PDF).for.each.person.aboard.
A.PFD.provides.buoyancy.to.help.keep.your.head.
above.the.water.and.to.help.you.remain.in.a.satisfac-
tory.position.while.in.the.water..Body.weight.and..
age.should.be.considered.when.selecting.a.PFD...
The.buoyancy.provided.by.the.PFD.should.support.
the.person's.weight.in.the.water..
.
Boating Safety - Section B
The.size.of.the.PFD.should.be.appropriate.for.the.
wearer..Body.weight.or.chest.size.are.common.
methods.used.to.size.PFDs..It.is.your.responsibility.to.
ensure.that.you.have.the.proper.number.and.types.of.
PFDs.on.board.and.that.your.passengers.know.where.
and.how.to.use.them.
C. PFD Types
Five.types.of.PFDs.have.been.approved.by.the.US.
Coast.Guard..The.PFDs.are.described.as.follows:
PFD Type 1, Wearable.(Figure.B-1).has.the.greatest.
required.buoyancy..Its.design.allows.for.turning.most.
unconscious.persons.in.the.water.from.face.down.
position.to.a.vertical.or.slightly.backward,.face-up.
position..It.can.greatly.increase.the.chances.of.
survival..Type.1.is.most.effective.for.all.waters,.
especially.offshore.when.rescue.may.be.delayed...
It.is.also.the.most.effective.in.rough.waters.
Figure B-1: Type I, Wearable
PFD Type II, Wearable (Figure.B-2).turns.its.wearer..
in.the.same.way.as.Type.I,.but.not.as.effectively...
The.Type.II.does.not.turn.as.many.persons.under.the.
same.conditions.as.a.Type.I..You.may.prefer.to.use.
this.PFD.where.there.is.a.probability.of.quick.rescue.
such.as.in.areas.where.other.people.are.commonly.
involved.in.water.activities.
Figure B-2: Type II, Wearable
PFD Type III, Wearable (Figure.B-3).allows.the.
wearer.to.place.themselves.in.a.vertical.or.slightly.
backward.position..It.does.not.turn.the.wearer..It.
maintains.the.wearer.in.a.vertical.or.slightly.backward.
position.and.has.no.tendency.to.turn.the.wearer.face.
down..It.has.the.same.buoyancy.as.a.Type.II.PFD.and.
may.be.appropriate.in.areas.where.other.people.are.
commonly.involved.in.water.activities.

Boating Safety

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