General Boating Safety; Getting Underway; Mandatory Safety Equipment - Back Cove Yachts Back Cove 30 Owner's Manual

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4.1 Getting Underway

Prior to departing a dock or anchorage, the following
points should be considered as a part of every
captain's "Make Ready" routine:
A. Emergency Gear
Verify that the safety gear required is onboard and in
good condition (see section 4.2).
B. Equipment
Safe and enjoyable boating requires outfitting your
Back Cove 30 with proper gear required for
operation, navigation, communication, anchoring and
damage control. A partial list would include:
• First Aid Kit
• Tool Kit
• Charts
• GPS Receiver
• VHF Radio
• EPIRB Distress Beacon
• Manual Bilge Pump
• Anchor and Rode
• Damage Control Kit
• Waterproof Flashlight
• Mooring Lines
• Fenders
• Boat Hook
• Spare Parts
• Lube Oil
Always Keep Your Owner's Manual Onboard along
with the engine and accessories manuals.
C. Routine Systems Checks
A responsible captain must be familiar with the Back
Cove 30 electrical, fuel, raw water, exhaust systems
and watertight closing
inspections at the dock prevent system failures
underway.
• Inspect the fuel fittings under the cockpit
hatch and in the engine room, look for
leaking or spilled fuel. Check for crushed,
cracked or chafed fuel hoses.
• Inspect clamps and hoses along the exhaust
system run(s). Loose or damaged hose will
discharge dangerous gasses AND seawater
into your boat.
G e n e r a l B o a t i n g S a f e t y
appliances. Frequent
• Inspect raw water sea valves, hoses and
fittings. Ensure that any sea valves required
to operate the vessel are open.
• Verify proper functioning of navigation lights,
and ensure that both battery banks are
charged prior to departure.
• Cockpit
hatch
appliance. Verify status of hatch. Hatch must
be in a closed and locked position while
underway. Failure to do so may cause
flooding of the bilge.

4.2 Mandatory Safety Equipment

No matter where you operate your Back Cove 30,
there is a government authority, like the U.S. Coast
Guard, that requires certain equipment be kept
onboard at all times. Contact the appropriate
agencies to ensure that you meet any requirements.
In the United States, the USCG Auxiliary conducts
courtesy inspections which will specify the equipment
required in US waters. The USCG requires that a
Back Cove 30 carry the following safety equipment.
• One (1) Type B-1 portable fire extinguisher.
• Three (3) approved pyrotechnic devices
marked with date showing service life must
be carried,
serviceable condition and not expired. Store
pyrotechnic signals
waterproof container in a dry location.
• One (1) whistle or horn. The Back Cove 30
has a factory
standard, but it is good practice to carry an
additional emergency whistle or horn.
• Boats are required to carry one wearable
personal flotation device (PFD) (Type I, II, III,
or V) for every person on board, and have at
least one throwable device (Type IV) on
board at all times.
PFD's must be readily accessible if not worn.
"Readily accessible" means removed from
storage bags and unbuckled. Children and
nonswimmers must wear PFDs at all times
when aboard.
is a watertight closing
be readily accessible,
in a well-marked
mounted ships whistle
in