Safe Boating Tips - Hunter Passage 420 Owner's Manual

SAFE BOATING TIPS
DOCKING
Docking your boat should be handled carefully to avoid
potential damage. Under normal wird and water conditions,
the following considerations should be made:
1. Whenever possible, your approach should be made
against the prevailing wind and current to assist in stopping
the boat. Where these conditions are contrary, the strongest
should be used to determine approach.
2. Approaching the dock Dock lines and fenders should be
atready,loose gear stowed and decks cleared. Determine
the direction ofwird and cr:rrent, and" onceyou decide which
side ofthe boat will be against the dock, rig dock lines and
fenders on the appropriate side. One dock line should be
attached to the bow cleat, another to the stem cleat oppo-
site the side that will lie agains the dock.
NOTE: If the boat is to lie against a piling, rig afender
board across two or more fenders.
3. Typrng up: Attached bow and stern lines to dock, hauling
boat in withfenders against dock. Rig crossing spring lines
to limit motion forward and aft. Be sure to allow some slack
in all lines to compensate for tidal activity ifpresent. Never
use bow rail, stern rail or stanchions to secure vessel, even
for briefperiods. For other types ofmoorings, or for abnor-
mal wind or water conditionso consult your Chapman's or
other approved boating guide.
AI\CHORING
Your Hunter comes with an on-deck anchor well and a
Danforthtype anchor as standard equipment. The anchor is
'elected to suit the size and weight ofyour boat under nor-
- mal anchoring conditions, and provides its best holdng chtr-
acteristic in muddy or sandy bottoms.
When anchoring, pay particular attention to the scope of
your anchor rode (i.e., the relationship between the depth of
the water and the length ofthe rode). A good rule ofthumb
is to allow a scope of about 7:1 (a rode seventimes as long
as the vertical distance fiomthe bow to the bottom). A lebfiil
aid is to mark the rode every 20 feet or so with knots or
other ffisofindbaton. Before dropping anchor, make sure
the bitter end is secured to the cleat in the anchor well.
Also, be sure to consider wind direction, currents, mean
lowtide depths and other localconditions when anchoring,
as well as the positions of any boats already anchored
nearby.
To weigh anchor, motor or sail (under main only) forward
slowly, When at a point directly above the anchor, a quick
tug should free it fromthe bottorn Take care not to darnage
the topsides when hauling.
A
Anchoring in unusual water and/or weather con'
ditions will require additional precautions. Con'
sult your Chapman's or other approved guide
for suggestions.
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