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S - 8
NAVIGATION LIGHTS
Although night activities are limited, cruising at night
can be very pleasurable. It can also be dangerous
if you don't pay close attention to water levels and
obstacles. Be especially careful of shallow waters and
watch for submerged debris, rocks and other obsta-
cles in the water. Your navigation lights are intended
only to prevent collision, not to improve your night
vision. You may choose to use a spotlight instead.
NOTE: It is illegal to use your spotlight as a headlight.
Use it only temporarily to check the position of your
boat and the surrounding area.
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
practices.
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 naviga-
tion 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 ob-
servation and reporting stations is available, weather
bureaus are known to have failures in their predic-
tions 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.
Pre-launch & Underway - Section S
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.
•
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 forma-
tion by periodically measuring the air temperature
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 inter-
vals to warn other boaters.
•
If there is any doubt in continuing boat movement,
Owner's Manual Page 150
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