Specifications

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

Trainingisimportantforboatersofallexperiencelevels,butespecially
forthebeginningboaterInatypicalyear,approximately70percentof
accidentsinvolvingfatalitiesoccuronboatswheretheboatoperator
hashadnoformalinstructionon
howtooperatethevesselAsa
result,morethanhalfofallstates
haveenactedlegislationmandat-
ingboatersafetyeducationasa
requirementforboatoperators
Boatingsafetyisnoaccident
Tofurtherdevelopyourboating
knowledge,proficiency,and
confidence,takeaboatingsafety
course
Tolocatelocalcourseofferings,orformoreinformationonrecreational
boatingandboatingsafety,contactyourstateboatingagency,US
CoastGuardDistrictoffice,oroneoftheorganizationslistedbelow:

Yourdegreeofenjoymentonthewaterdependsonyou,your
equipment,andotherpeoplewho,likeyourself,boatresponsibly
Asaboatoperator,youshould:
• MakesurethateveryoneonboardiswearingaUSCoast
Guard-approvedlifejacketatalltimeswhileonthewater
• Takeaboatingsafetycourse
• Neveroperateavesselwhileundertheinfluenceofalcoholor
dangerousdrugs
• MakesureyourboatisintopoperatingconditionItshouldbe
free
oftrippinghazardsandfirehazards,andhavecleanbilges
• Makesuretherequiredsafetyequipmentisonboard,maintainedin
goodworkingorder,andthatyouknowhowtousethesedevices
• Alwaysfileafloatplanwitharelativeorfriend
• Haveacompleteunderstandingoftheoperationandhandling
characteristicsofyourboat
• Knowyourlocation,whereyouaregoing,andhowtoreturn
• Maintainasafespeedatalltimestoavoidcollision
• Keepaneyeoutforchangingweatherconditions,andact
accordingly
• Knowandfollowthe“RulesoftheRoad”(NavigationRules)
• Knowandobeyfederalandstateregulationsandwaterway
markers
• BesuretomaintainaproperlookoutScanthewaterbackand
forthStayalertMostboatingaccidentsarecausedbyoperator
inattention


CarbonMonoxide(CO)canbeasilentkilleronhouseboatsandother
recreationalvesselsEachyear,boatersareinjuredorkilledbycarbon
monoxideVirtuallyallsuchpoisoningsarepreventable
Carbonmonoxideisaby-productofthecombustionofcarbon-based
material,suchasgasoline,propane,charcoal,orwoodCommon
sourcesaboardboatsincludemainandauxiliaryengines,generators,
cookingranges,spaceheaters,andwaterheatersNotethatcold
and
poorlytunedenginesproducemorecarbonmonoxidethanwarm,
properlytunedengines




NationalHeadquarters
wwwcgauxorg


NationalHeadquarters
(888)367-8777
wwwuspsorg



(859)225-9487
wwwnasblaorg

(703)361-4294
wwwsafeboatingcouncilorg

(800)245-2628
wwwboatuscom/foundation
USCoastGuardDistrictOffices
arelistedontheinsideback
cover