To The Water

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To the Water

GETTING UNDERWAY

A responsible boat operator will always take the time, before casting-off, to talk with passengers regarding safety. This is especially true if there are first-time passengers onboard your boat. Follow a pre-set list of items to cover. Explain the necessity of knowing where all safety gear is located and what actions to take if an emergency happens. At a minimum, cover the items listed in the pre-departure checklist shown below. The boat operator is ultimately tasked with operating the boat responsibly and for the safety and well being of his or her passengers.

• Use a checklist to ensure all mechanical and safety equipment are onboard and functional.
• Always have the registration card onboard
• Avoid stepping into the boat with your hands full. Hand supplies to a person already in the boat, or get into the boat, and then retrieve the items from the dock.
• Communicate with passengers concerning the location and use of all safety equipment. If you have guests, assign each of them a properly fitting life jacket. Recommend that life jackets be worn.
• Talk about emergency situations and show location of all emergency gear.
• Store all unnecessary items out of the way of the operator and passengers.
• Start engines and test mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Note the speed and direction of wind and current
• Have all lines and fenders ready to be used

Departing From The Dock (Casting Off)

Docking and getting underway techniques, anchoring, vary depending on wind, current, location, number of boats in the vicinity, type of boat, size of boat and skills/abilities of the operator and crew. Each boat handles differently due to the amount of “sail area” (the total amount of the boat’s surface area above the waterline), draft and engine size. A boat with a large amount of sail area will be greatly affected by the wind and the operator must use good seamanship skills to maneuver the boat accordingly. There are a few precautions to take just prior to bringing in your lines and getting underway.

• Note the direction of the wind (look for flags on other boats or in the marina). The wind direction will play a significant part in how you maneuver your boat out of the slip and into the channel.
• Know the state of the current. Is it high, low or slack tide? The movement of the tide will move your boat, and you will have to compensate for this movement.
• Typically, a good push will move a smaller boat away from the dock to clear the slip. If the wind is blowing enough to hold you to the dock, ease away slowly from the dock gently and at only a slight angle so that the stern doesn’t pivot into the dock.
• If strong winds or current are present, have the bow line looped around a dock cleat as you motor the stern out. Once clear, bring in the bow line and slowly back out.
• If other boaters are underway near your slip, make sure they see, or hear you, or simply wait until the area is clear. When leaving a slip or dock, you must give-way to vessels already underway. The appropriate sound signal to use when operating in reverse is 3-short blasts (about 1 second each) of the horn or whistle.

Docking (Mooring)

Boat and/or property damage may result from improper docking, particularly in adverse weather conditions.

• Communicate with passengers your intentions to dock. Assign tasks to passengers dependent on skill level. Passengers not assisting should remain seated.
• Prepare lines and fenders. Test reverse gear. Note current and wind direction and approach dock accordingly. See the diagram for approaches depending on the direction of the wind.

Wind/Current Direction	Approach Angle	Action when nearing dock
Into Bow	30˚	Approach the dock and become parallel
Onto Stern	Parallel	Loop 180˚. Secure bow and stern lines
From Dock-Shoreside	30˚	Secure bow line. Reverse engine to dock.
Onto Dock-Seaside	Parallel	Stop a few feet off the dock. Allow wind to move boat into dock.

• Approaching too fast is a common mistake. Go slow and use engines only when necessary to overcome the effects of wind and current.
• Some boat operators will always use the bow line, Once the bow line is secure, the operator shifts the motor into reverse and turns the helm so that the stern eases toward the landing.
• Let people on the dock help moor the boat. If operating alone, use a boat hook to assist.

Caution: Never allow anyone to put hands, arms or feet over the side in an attempt to stop the boat.