Tagged: safety
Vessel Safety Check (VSC)
The United States Power Squadrons and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary are partners in delivering Vessel Safety Checks to recreational boaters. The VSC is similar to the one done by the U.S. Coast Guard, but only you receive the results and it’s voluntary. The check can be a really good way to ensure you have the right safety equipment in working order. I suggest you contact your local USPS office today to schedule your free safety inspection.
Seasonal Awareness
Last night I attended a local boat club meeting that featured a panel of fishermen sharing tips on landing more fish on outings. The meeting covered a lot of ground, from proven lures to various fishing line sizes, however, one thing that might have been included was safety. Currently the air temperature over Boston Harbor is 48 degrees and the water temperature is 49 degrees. With temperatures that low, any fisherman that unexpectedly enters the water is going to deal with hypothermia in short order. This time of year requires not only lures and rods, but EPIRBs - both [...]
Different Directions
Yesterday, I was reminded of the importance of the intersection between your boat’s course and wind direction, especially in the fall season. My friend and I headed out for a quick afternoon ride and it was relatively smooth sailing as we steered a course for nearby Bakers Island. There was a stiff breeze kicking up a short chop, but the 21’ walk-around handled it easily. The issue arose when we changed our heading to a course leading to Beverly, almost directly into the wind, and the spray began to fly. His boat has a full Isinglass enclosure, but to [...]
Be Aware
Boating is a great sport. It’s exciting to go tubing, fishing or cruising. There’s plenty of action to go around. Sometimes, with all the action, it can be easy to lose focus on the most important things – the distance between the kids and the pier, the boat and the rocks, and the boat and the buoys. Recently I was following a 30’ express cruiser with two couples on board out of the harbor. Quite suddenly, something captured the attention of everyone onboard and they all looked off into the distance on the port side. To have everyone focused in [...]
Be Aware
As all boaters know, boating is a great sport. Every trip is an adventure. However, embedded within those experiences can be many opportunities to have physical mishaps. Recently, I have heard of a few instances where swimmers brushed up against the stainless steel prop and had to head to the hospital for stitches. Yesterday, I noticed a fellow boater almost fall from the foredeck of his powerboat after snagging a line on an exposed fitting. And, I unexpectedly kicked my anchor lying on the cockpit floor, an act which could have caused some serious pain if I had bare feet. [...]
Trailer Check- Over
Recently I helped a friend check out a used 21’ walk-around power boat sitting on a nice aluminum trailer prior to purchase. Before towing the boat away, my friend and I checked a number of key areas. To start, we checked the bearings for grease; axles, frame, and springs for integrity; and tires for rot and air pressure. Then we tested the winch for smooth operation and the accompanying safety strap for freshness. We moved forward of the winch to examine the trailer light connector for pin configuration and cleanliness, ball size specification on the trailer tongue for proper fit, [...]
Limits
Today was a good day for boating, sunny and hot with a light breeze. A friend and I were planning to swim off the boat until we dipped our toes in and felt the frigid water. At this point, I changed my plans to revolve around a swim-less afternoon, whereas my friend donned his shorty wetsuit and jumped into the water. Moments later he surfaced, practically gasping for air, uttering expletives as he quickly swam to the boarding ladder. He slowly climbed the ladder, hampered by aging knees and the numbing cold which made motion of unprotected limbs challenging. After [...]
Safety First
This past weekend was a great one for boating – warm and sunny, with a light breeze. I spent time on a couple of boats and thoroughly enjoyed being on the water. However, some situations popped up that reminded me of the thin line separating fun and serious injury. In one instance, a young woman jumped from the dock to a departing boat, just barely making it. If she had missed, a serious head injury probably would have resulted. In another case, I noticed the propeller from a large idling outboard spinning while in neutral gear, within arm’s length of [...]