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.

Boat Operator Responsibilities:

A boat operator has the ultimate responsibility for operator proficiency, situational awareness, safety of boaters aboard and anyone coming into contact with the boat, and all activity aboard the boat.

1. Ensure all safety equipment is in good and serviceable condition.
2. Service all mechanical equipment regularly. Have spare parts and tools onboard.
3. Ensure the well being of passengers. Is there shade? Plenty of water to prevent dehydration? Snacks? Sunscreen?
4. Communicate with passengers at all times. Let passengers know what you are going to do before you do it (throttling up, turning, stopping). By communicating, your passengers will have time to prepare themselves and this will reduce the risk of injury.
5. Train and teach. Show your passengers/family how to put on a life jacket, use the radio, anchor, launch, steer, and dock the boat. Explain “man overboard” procedures so they understand and know how to react in emergency situations.
6. Maintain a safe speed and proper lookout at all times.
7. Obey all buoys, especially no wake/slow speed restrictions.
8. Always operate the boat in a safe and legal manner, refraining from careless/reckless operations.
9. Abide by other general boater courtesies - meaning slow down when passing boaters who are fishing, waterskiing, or at anchor. Respect the rights of other people who live, recreate, or work on the water. Assist other boaters if the need arises and you are able.

On average, three-quarters of all reported boating accidents and half of all fatalities involve operator controllable factors.  The most common types of such factors include careless or reckless operation, operator inattention, operator inexperience, excessive speed, loading and movement of passengers and gear, and failure to maintain a proper lookout.

The first few times you operate a boat are by far the most difficult. Not only are you trying to remember all the tasks you need to perform, you need to perform each task proficiently. Boating is a multitasking sport and the operator is constantly monitoring various situations to make each and every outing a safe and enjoyable one. As a boat operator becomes more proficient, the tasks become easier, but the boat operator’s inherent responsibilities of having a safe journey each and every time never diminish.

• 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.
• Observe the engine gauges (oil pressure, temperature, etc.) for proper operating range.
• Note the speed and direction of wind and current.
• Have all lines and fenders ready to be used.
• Ask that anyone not helping remain seated. Allowing passengers who are not helping to stand up reduces the operator’s vision.

Departing From the Dock (Casting Off)

Docking and undocking techniques 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 always things to do and 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)

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

3. Approaching too fast is a common mistake. Go slow and use engines only when necessary to overcome the effects of wind and current.
4. A boat moves much the same way as a shopping cart, that is, the stern pivots, not the bow. Unlike a car, a boat’s steering wheels are at the back, not the front of the craft. Keeping this in mind while maneuvering will help you realize that the stern will pivot far to the left or right when turning and you will have to make sure there is plenty of clearance in that area. When going around an object, such as the corner of a dock, keep the bow close to the corner as you turn and let the stern swing out.
5. Using the bow line to initially secure the boat is a good practice. After the bow line is secure, the operator can then shift the motor into reverse and turn the helm so the stern eases toward the landing. At this point, the remaining mooring lines can be attached.
6. Let people on the dock help moor the boat. If operating alone, use a boat hook to assist.

Operating in Reverse

A boat will naturally turn “ stern toward the wind, or current” because of the flat stern surface area. Since there is less surface area at the bow, the bow is easily pushed to one side or the other causing the boat to pivot away from the wind or current. Since this is the natural reaction of the boat to wind or current, it only makes good sense to use this to your advantage when docking and will help in determining the best approach angle as you maneuver the boat.

Once the boat is at the landing area, use enough line to hold the boat securely in place. The amount and size of the lines you use is determined by a few factors: it this a temporary or permanent mooring? What is the current wind and is there any chance of a pending storm? Always use enough lines to prevent the boat from coming loose and use plenty of fenders to keep the boat from banging into the dock.