Marquis 500 Sport Bridge Owner's Manual page 20

ONLY - EXCLUDING the section titled: Pre-departure Actions . FEDERAL LAW REqUIRES YACHT OWNERS TO PROVIDE AND
MAINTAIN SAFETY EqUIPMENT ONBOARD . Consult the US Coast Guard, State, and local regulations to ensure that all the
required safety equipment is onboard . It is the owner's responsibility to learn about additional recommended equipment before operat-
ing their yacht .
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (PFD'S)
• A minimum of one personal flotation device is required for each person onboard . The PFD must be U .S . Coast Guard-ap-
proved wearable (Type I, II, or III) .
• The PFD's must be readily accessible and in serviceable condition .
• The PFD's must be of a suitable size for each person onboard .
• A minimum of three PFD's (two wearable and one throwable) are required regardless of the number of persons onboard .
pfd type I, wearable:
• Type I is the most effective life preserver for all waters when rescue may be delayed .
• Type I is designed to turn most unconscious or drowning people from a facedown position to a vertical or face-up position .
pfd type II, wearable:
• Type II is a near-shore buoyant vest . Type II is intended for calm inland waters when a quick rescue is anticipated .
• Type II turns the person to a face up position, but the turning action is not as evident as the Type I . Type II will not typically
turn people over in the same manner as Type I .
pfd type III, wearable:
• Type III is classified as a flotation aid; however, the device
• Type III is frequently used in water sports, and
pfd type IV, throwable:
• At least one throwable Type IV PFD device is required onboard at all times .
• Type IV PFD does not strap to the user .
• Type IV PFD must be thrown to a person in the water and held by the user until rescued .
• The most common Type IV PFD's are buoyant cushions or ring buoys .
• Type IV PFD must be in serviceable condition and immediately available for use .
VISUAL DISTRESS SIGN (VDS)
Visual distress signal equipment is required by the U .S . Coast Guard for all yachts operating on U .S . coastal waters . Yachts owned
in the United States and operating on the high seas must also carry VDS equipment . The visual distress equipment signal must
be readily accessible and in serviceable condition . Both pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic equipment must be U .S . Coast Guard
approved . Both types of distress signal equipment can become ineffective with age . Replace the equipment before taking the yacht
out if the equipment's usage date has expired .
approVed pyrotechnIc eQuIpment IncludeS:
• Hand held or aerial red flares
• Hand held or floating orange smoke
• Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares
approVed non-pyrotechnIc eQuIpment IncludeS:
• Orange distress flag
• Dye markers
• Electric distress light .
No single signaling device is ideal under all conditions . Carrying a variety of visual distress signal equipment onboard is important .
Select devices with packaging that children ONLY will find difficult to open, especially if children are onboard .
6
WiLL nOt turn a victim to a face-up position .
SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN PERSONAL YACHTING .
Y Y S S
achting achting
5027 • E5 09/2011
afetY afetY