Us Air Flights Status - Boating Safety Equipment (Part II)

The regulated equipment does not account for many safety items you would need for day to day use. But which is equally important, in this second part we are going to look what is not regulated. In Safety Equipment part 1 we looked at the safety equipment required by Coast Guard and other Regulatory bodies.

Important Safety Equipment to supplement items in part 1

Basic Boat Equipment

Tow line o Dock lines,

O Fenders

O Anchors and Rhode

O First aid kit

O Flash lights

O Throwable flotation

O If you have a holding tank get an overboard waste placard

Bilge pump o Bailing device,

If you get a leak its important to have some sort of bailing device or bilge pump. Of course in Part 1 we need lifejackets but also look to have a modern throwable flotation device in case of a Man Overboard MOB. If you have an injury you can do basic first aid with a kit and then be able to transfer to another vessel with fenders. If it is dark you may need a flashlight to set the anchor. Anchoring will enable you to stop drifting and call for help. The Anchor is sized by the boat size and type. A recommended anchor Rhode is a stretchy line with short chain 7 times water depth. The same goes for an Anchor and Rhode. A tow line can be vital if your engine fails. But they are, you may not consider these items safety.

Personal Equipment

O Water and food

O Personal gear and Clothing

O Singlehanded or ski boat consider an Engine kill switch

O Personal Locator Beacon or MOB locator

O Shade for hot and sunny days

O Cover for cold and wet windy days

Remember it is very easy to get stuck out longer than planned. If you are just going out for the day close to shore or if you are crossing a large body of water taking several days you must take the appropriate gear. Be prepared, whatever the body of water you are in.

While a MOB locator can be located by the vessel, a PLB can send a signal to SAR if you fall overboard. If you are driving a small speedboat and fall overboard an Engine kill switch is needed.

Navigation

O Compass

O Chart

O Binoculars

O GPS

Signal flags chart symbols and much more, how to read day shapes, understanding aids to navigation and rules of the road, Boatsafe.com has a set of cards that are very useful in navigating. Handling your boat in navigable waters and collision avoidance, get a copy of the Coast Guard rules of road and learn rules for approaching vessels. On the water you need be able to navigate your way safely around the waterways which involves keeping clear of other vessels and shoal water.

If your power goes out your GPS is no good. There are many books on how to read a chart. Being able to read a Nautical Chart is therefore important. Rocks and basically staying safe in navigable water, navigating also includes keeping clear of shoal waters.

Maintenance

O Yearly Mechanical Maintenance

O Tools

O Clean Fuel

O Battery Charging

O Steering systems

O Sails and Rigging

And then fouled propellers, next comes adverse weather. Engine failure is by far the largest culprit by 3 to 1. Is machinery, number 1 problem boaters have that instigate a rescue. They track the number of launchings of lifeboats and relate them to the cause of the distress call. The RNLI the British rescue organization has some interesting statistics regarding their rescues.

Charging systems and rigging if you are sailing, it is important to do annual checks for other important equipment like steering gear. Avoid fish traps and Check weather forecasts, don't start the engine with lines in the water, make sure you have clean fuel, what we can take from this is you need to maintain your engine.

Communications

O Weather forecast

O VHF

O Cell Phone

O Satellite phone

VHFs are useful for getting weather updates, not only used for communications. Cell phones are also useful. VHF for inshore or SSB or Satellite phone for offshore. It would be wise to have marine communications device. One of the items you will notice that is not on the Coast Guard list is Communications.

What to do when you get in trouble

O Towing membership

O VHF

O Cell

O Satellite

EPIRB o Distress signals,

For an annual fee anytime you get a mechanical problem you can get towed to shore or back to your mooring. If the issue is mechanical you can join a local or national towing organization like Sea Tow or BoatUS. Emergency or Mechanical issues, when you get in trouble it is either.

The can send signals via satellite to search and rescue teams with your exact position. For extreme conditions a distress signaling device like an EPIRB or PLB with GPS position would be wise. If you don't come back at the specified time your friends can contact the coast Guard. Before you leave have a plan and let someone know your plan. They key here is preparation. Learn the proper procedures to operating VHF. It is strongly recommended that all boaters carry VHF. The most common way a boater can get rescued is to notify the Coast Guard via VHF-FM radio or even a cell phone at last resort, if it is an Emergency.