Accident Prevention and Emergency Response

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HELPING OTHER BOATERS ON THE WATER

There will come a time when you come across another boater whose boat has broken down. They may have engine or steering troubles, or simply be out of gas. It is the unwritten rule of the water that we all try to assist each other as best we can.

It you decide to tow another boat, ask yourself these basic questions prior to offering assistance:

1. Is my boat big and powerful enough to tow this size boat?
2. Do I have the proper size and length of towline?
3. Do I have the skills to hook-up the tow?
4. Is there a storm pending? Do I have enough fuel to return to shore?

Make certain you are comfortable before offering assistance and know that the best speed you can make while towing another boat is no more than 6 – 8 miles per hour. Helping the people on board the boat is more important than the boat itself. It’s ok to risk equipment to save lives, but never risk lives to save equipment.

If you do decide to tow the other boat, follow these basic steps:

1. Ask the persons on the other boat to wear life jackets, and you should do the same.
2. Prepare whatever line you decide to use (usually the heaviest and longest line is the anchor line) and make sure it is not knotted or tangled.
3. When you are ready, approach the disabled vessel by crossing in front and then tossing the towline. Once the other boater has the towline, stop the motion of your boat to allow time to connect the tow.
4. After you are certain the towline is connected, start maneuvering your boat so the towline is directly inline with the other boat’s bow. Let out at least 75 feet of line. Once you are lined-up, begin applying throttle to the engines. Go slow. Pay particular attention to the strain being placed on the towline and the attachment points. If in doubt, slow down or stop to access the equipment.
5. Once you have the other boat in motion, you will probably need to adjust the length of the tow so the two boats are “in step”. In step means that as your bow goes up the face of a wave, so should the bow of the boat being towed. Depending on the sea state, and how much tow line you have, you usually want the towed boat to be 2 or 3 waves behind your boat.
6. When you finally near or enter sheltered waters, reduce the length of the tow to bring the other boat closer for better maneuvering. Don’t hesitate to ask people on the dock to assist in helping moor the disabled boat.