Specifications
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Bealert!Remembertoshutoffyourengineswhenapproaching
swimmersorotherpersonsinthewaterKeepthoseinthewateron
theoperator’ssideoftheboat,alwaysinviewPropellerguardsare
helpfulbutarenotsuitableforalltypesofboatsThebestandsafest
actionwhenpeopleareinthewaternearyourboatistoyour
engines
Youshouldneverleavethedockwithoutfirstcheckingthelocal
weatherforecastYoucangettheweatherinformationfromtheTV,
radio,localnewspaper,online,orfromoneoftheweatherchannelson
yourVHF-FMradio
Atcertaintimesoftheyear,weathercanchangerapidlyandyou
shouldcontinuallykeepa“weathereye”outWhileyouareoutina
boat,hereareafewsignsyoucanlookforthatindicateanapproaching
weatherchange:
• Flatcloudsgettinglowerandthicker
• Puffy,verticallyrisingcloudsgettinghigher
• Dark,threateningclouds,especiallytothewest/southwest
• Asuddendropintemperature
• Ahaloaroundthesunormoon
• Increasingwindorasuddenchangeinwinddirection
• Flashesonthehorizon
• Seasbecomingheavy
• HeavyAMradiostatic,whichcanindicatenearbythunderstorm
activity
Ifyouhaveabarometeronboard,checkiteverytwotothreehours
A
risingbarometerindicatesfairweatherandariseinwindvelocity;a
fallingbarometerindicatesrainapproaching
• Reducespeed,keepingjustenoughpowertomaintainheadway
• Makesureeveryoneonboardiswearingtheirlifejacket
• Turnonyourrunninglights
• Ifpossible,headforthenearestshorethatissafetoapproach
• Headtheboatintothewavesata45degreeangle
• Keepthebilgesfreeofwater
• Seatanypassengersonthebottomoftheboat,nearthecenter
line
• Iftheenginefails,trailaseaanchorfromthebowoftheboat
tokeepitheadedintothewaves(Abucketcanworkasasea
anchorinanemergency)
• Anchortheboat,ifnecessary
Playitsafe;keepastackofFloatPlanformsonhandLeaveacopy
withafriend,relative,orthelocalmarinabeforeheadingoutonthewa-
terIncaseofanemergency,pertinentinformationwillberightattheir
fingertipstoenablethemtocontactthelocalmarinepoliceorCoast
GuardwithnecessarydetailsAworldofcaution:ifyouaredelayed
and
itisnotanemergency,informthosewithyourFloatPlan,andbe
suretonotifythemwhenyoureturnsotheFloatPlancanbe“closed
out”andanunnecessaryandcostlysearchavoidedAsampleFloat
PlanFormisprovidedonpage73TheCoastGuardalsomakesFloat
PlanFormsavailableonlineatwwwuscgboatingorg
WARNING
EXPOSED PROPELLER BLADES
People in the water can be severely injured or killed!