Chapter Three Operating Your Boat Safely Key Topics

Chapter Three Operating Your Boat Safely

Key Topics u. Casting Off and Docking u. Navigation Rules u. Navigation Lights u. Night Navigation u. Sound Signals

Key Topics (cont. ) u. Anchoring u. Dams, Locks, and Bridges u. Compasses and Charts u. PWC Operation u. Ignition Safety Switches u. Avoiding Propeller Strike Injuries

You should … Objectives ►be able to cast off and dock under different wind and current conditions. ►know three major responsibilities of a vessel operator. ►know what to do when encountering another vessel. ►know types of night navigation lights and

Objectives (cont. ) ►be able to use and interpret sound signals. ►know what to do when encountering buoys and markers. ►be able to anchor vessel correctly. ►understand dangers inherent in boating near dams, locks, and bridges and effects

Objectives (cont. ) ►know how to use a compass and read a nautical chart ►be able to operate a PWC safely and courteously. ►be strongly aware that power is required for steering control of PWCs. ►understand how ignition safety switches work.

Casting Off Before casting off: • Keep boat tied to dock while you warm up engine. • Make sure everyone on board is seated and wearing a life jacket. • If Check that is current: running properly and there is noengine wind or departure area is clear of traffic. Then begin to cast off. • Cast off bow and stern lines.

Casting Off (cont. ) Click Start to begin animation

Casting Off (cont. )

Before docking: Docking • Reduce speed to minimum required to maintain steerage. Use reverse gear to bring boat to a stop well away from dock. • Determine wind and/or current direction— make your approach into wind or current, whichever is stronger. • Have bow and stern lines ready—put fenders in place. Never stop moving boat with arms or legs.

Docking (cont. ) Click Start to begin animation

Docking (cont. )

Navigation Rules Three basic rules of navigation: • Practice good seamanship. • Keep a proper lookout. • Maintain a safe speed.

Navigation Rules (cont. ) There are two terms to help explain what to do when encountering other vessels. • Give-way vessel—vessel that is required to take early and substantial action to keep well away from other vessels

Navigation Rules (cont. ) • Stand-on vessel—vessel that should maintain its course and speed unless it becomes apparent that give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action

Navigation Rules (cont. ) The action a vessel operator should take when encountering another vessel depends on: • How the two vessels are propelled • How the two vessels are approaching one another The following rules cover most situations. There are exceptions. For example: • If you approach a vessel that has less maneuverability than your vessel, the other

Navigation Rules (cont. )

Navigation Rules (cont. ) If operating power-driven vessel, you must give way to: • Vessel not under command • Vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver or a vessel constrained by its draft, such as large ship in channel • Vessel engaged in commercial fishing • Sailing vessel unless it is overtaking

Navigation Rules (cont. ) If operating a sailing vessel, you must give way to: • Vessel not under command • Vessel restricted in ability to maneuver • Vessel engaged in commercial fishing

Navigation Rules (cont. ) Operating During Restricted Visibility • All operators should navigate with extreme caution if visibility is restricted. • Vessels not in sight of one another should: – Proceed at a safe speed given the conditions of restricted visibility. – Reduce speed to the minimum if an operator hears a fog signal of another vessel ahead, is in a close-quarters situation with another vessel ahead, or detects the presence of

Navigation Lights • Navigation lights help you and other boaters determine which is the give-way vessel when encountering each other at night. • These lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility.

Navigation Lights (cont. ) • Sidelights (or combination lights) – Red light indicates vessel’s port (left) side. – Green light indicates vessel’s starboard (right) side.

Navigation Lights (cont. ) n Sternlight ● White light seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel.

Navigation Lights (cont. ) n Masthead Light ● White light shines forward and to both sides— required on all powerdriven vessels. ● Must be used by all vessels when under engine power. ● Absence of this light identifies sailboat under sail.

Navigation Lights (cont. ) • All-Round White Light – May be used to combine masthead and stern light on power-vessels less than 39. 4 feet in length. – Serves as anchor light when sidelights are extinguished.

Night Navigation • Lights of other vessels help you determine: – Whether they are operating under power or sail – Their direction of travel • Apply the same navigational rules used in the daytime. • Never assume lights of other vessels are

Night Navigation (cont. )

Night Navigation (cont. ) Lights – green, white

Night Navigation (cont. ) Lights ––green, white Lights – red, white

Night Navigation (cont. ) Lights – white

Night Navigation (cont. ) Lights – red, green, white

Night Navigation (cont. ) Lights – red, green

Night Navigation (cont. ) Lights – red

Night Navigation (cont. ) Towing Lights • When commercial vessels are towing, they display one or more yellow lights in place of sternlight. There may be an unlit space of several hundred yards between lights on bow and stern.

Night Navigation (cont. ) Precautions at Night • Make sure all navigations lights are working. Carry extra bulbs. • Use an all-round white light whenever vessel is at anchor. • Reduce speed and proceed with caution. • Be alert for everything in front of you. • Avoid traveling alone at night. • Stop if visibility is severely restricted. Use

Sound Signals Sound signals composed of short and prolonged blasts and must be audible for at least one-half mile. • Short blast—about one second in duration. • Prolonged blast— 4 -6 seconds in duration.

Sound Signals (cont. ) Sound signals can communicate a change in direction to other boaters. • One short blast tells other boaters “I intend to pass you on my port (left) side. ” • Two short blasts tells other boaters “I intend to pass you on my starboard (right) side. ” • Three short blasts tells other boaters

Sound Signals (cont. ) Sound signals let other boaters know where you are located during periods of restricted visibility. • One prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes is the signal used by power-driven vessels when underway. • One prolonged blast plus two short blasts at intervals of not more than two minutes is the signal

Sound Signals (cont. ) Sound signals are used to warn other boaters or alert them to danger. • One prolonged blast is a warning signal. • Five (or more) short, rapid blasts are used to signal danger or that you do not understand or disagree with the other boater’s intentions.

U. S. Aids To (ATON) Navigation System Lateral Markers • Red Colors, Red Lights, and Even Numbers mark the edge of the channel on your starboard (right) side as you enter from the open sea or head upstream. • Numbers usually will increase consecutively.

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) ¾Green Colors, Green Lights, and Odd Numbers mark the edge of the channel on your port (left) side as you enter from the open sea or head upstream. ¾Numbers usually will increase consecutively.

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) • Red and Green Colors and/or Lights are referred to as “junction buoys. ” • Placed at the junction of two channels to indicate the preferred channel when a channel splits. – If green on top, the preferred channel is to the right.

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) • Nun Buoys: Cone-shaped buoys marked with red markings and even numbers. They mark the edge of the channel on your starboard (right) side when entering from the open sea or heading upstream. • Can Buoys: Cylindricalshaped buoys marked with green markings and odd

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) • Lighted Buoys: use the lateral marker shapes, colors, and numbers. They have a matching colored light. • Daymarks: permanently placed signs attached to structures, such as posts, in the water. Common daymarks are red triangles (equivalent to nuns) and green squares

U. S. Aids To Navigation System Use this phrase as(cont. ) a reminder of the correct course when returning from open waters or heading upstream: “Red Right Returning”

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) Lateral Markers—Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) • Variation on U. S. Aids to Navigation System • Chain of local channels linked together along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts • Marked with yellow symbols on channel buoys and markers

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) • Following the ICW in a clockwise direction from New Jersey to Brownsville, TX, these rules apply: – Any marker with a yellow triangle should be passed by keeping it on the starboard (right) side of the vessel. – Any marker with a yellow square should be passed by keeping it on the port (left). – These rules are true regardless of

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) Lateral Markers—Western Rivers System • Variation on U. S. Aids to Navigation System • Used on the Mississippi River and tributaries above Baton Rouge, LA and on some other rivers that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) • Differs from ATON lateral markers in that navigation markers on Western Rivers System are not numbered. – Numbers displayed below daymarks along Western Rivers System are not associated with right or left side of channel. – These numbers indicate distance from river’s mouth. Indicates 73. 5 miles from the river mouth

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) Non-Lateral Markers • Squares provide information indicating directions, distances, places to find food, supplies, and repairs, etc. • Diamonds warn of dangers such as rocks, dams, shoals,

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) • Circles indicate controlled areas such as no wake, idle speed, speed limit, or ski zone. • Crossed Diamonds indicate areas off-limits (exclusion area) to all vessels such as swimming

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) Other Non-Lateral Markers • Safe Water Markers indicate unobstructed water on all sides—mark mid-channels or fairways and may be passed on either side. • Inland Waters Obstruction Markers indicate an obstruction to

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. ) • Mooring Buoys found in marinas and other areas where vessels are allowed to anchor—these are only buoys you may tie up to legally.

U. S. Aids To Navigation System (cont. )

Anchoring

Dams, Locks, and Bridges

Dams, Locks, and Bridges (cont. )

Dams, Locks, and Bridges (cont. ) • You should always reduce speed and proceed with caution near any bridge. • Many bridges are high enough to allow normal passage. • Some bridges provide only low clearance during normal conditions or periods of high water. • Many drawbridges open and close when a boat arrives.

Dams, Locks, and Bridges (cont. ) • Sailboat operators should always check clearance of the boat’s mast before passing under a bridge.

Changing Water Levels • Changing water levels can cause hazards for boaters. Water levels can change rapidly. • Any change in water level can affect docking to a fixed pier. • Boat operators in coastal waters need to be mindful of the effect of tides. • Rise and fall of tides can cause water levels to fluctuate by several feet and can generate strong currents. • Tides can cause boats to run aground in

Compasses and Charts A compass shows magnetic north to which you apply a correction to determine the direction of true north. • Useful if land is out of sight, visibility is reduced, or boat operator is disoriented. • Compass should be mounted away from iron, magnets, and electrical wiring and equipment.

Compasses and Charts (cont. ) Nautical charts are helpful when boating in bays or in large lakes. Charts give: • Water depths • Locations of channels, sand bars, rocks, and vegetation • Most direct course possible

Compasses and Charts (cont. )

Personal Watercraft (PWC)

Personal Watercraft (cont. )

Personal Watercraft (cont. ) • The most important thing to remember about PWCs is that you always must have power to maintain control. The operator is holding down the throttle lever and steering the PWC straight ahead.

Personal Watercraft (cont. ) The operator releases the throttle lever. With the throttle released, the PWC continues to go straight ahead even though the operator is trying to turn right.

Personal Watercraft (cont. ) Other PWC Considerations • PWC regulations vary from state to state. • Most states require everyone on board a PWC wear a PFD (life jacket). • Any passenger on a PWC should be able to securely hold on to person in front of them or to the handholds, while keeping

Personal Watercraft (cont. ) • Before turning a PWC, always look back over both shoulders to check for other vessels in the area. • A passenger on a PWC should never be seated in front of the operator. • Keep hands, feet, loose

Personal Watercraft (cont. ) • The jet of water that comes out the steering nozzle at the back of the PWC is extremely dangerous. The jet stream is powerful enough to force water into a person’s body cavities, causing serious internal injuries, permanent disability, or death. • Wear a wetsuit or clothing that provides equivalent protection.

Personal Watercraft (cont. ) • Frequently inspect your PWC’s electrical systems and perform “sniff test” after fueling. • Never exceed the load capacity of a PWC. • Know your limits and ride according to your abilities.

Ignition Safety Switches • A lanyard connects the safety switch to the operator’s wrist or PFD. If the lanyard is pulled from the switch, the engine shuts off. • Most states require operators to attach the lanyard. • PWCs may have a self-

Ignition Safety Switches (cont. ) Safety Lanyards Prevent Self-Inflicted Propeller Strikes • Wearing an ignition safety switch lanyard ensures that your boat or PWC stays close by if you fall overboard and prevents you from being run over by your own boat. • Wearing the lanyard reduces the risk of a propeller injury and makes it easier to reboard.

Avoid Propeller Strike Injuries • Turn off the engine when passengers are boarding or disembarking. • Prevent passengers from being thrown overboard accidentally. – Never start a boat with the engine in gear. – Never ride on the seat back, gunwale, transom, or bow. – Make sure all passengers are properly seated before getting underway. – Assign a responsible adult to watch any

Avoid Propeller Strike Injuries (cont. ) • Maintain a proper lookout for people in the water. – Slow down when approaching congested areas and anchorages. Be alert for swimmers and divers. – Learn to recognize warning buoys. – Keep the boat away from marked swimming and diving areas. Become familiar with the two types

Avoid Propeller Strike Injuries (cont. ) Devices that Reduce Propeller Strikes Several new technologies are available to reduce propeller strikes. The devices fall into the following categories. • Guards: Devices that provide some type of physical barrier around the propeller.

Avoid Propeller Strike Injuries (cont. ) • Propulsion: Devices such as jet drives and pump jets. • Interlocks: Devices that automatically turn off the engine or sound an alarm. • Sensors: Wireless sensors or other devices worn by boaters that shut off the boat’s engine or trigger an alarm if the