Tagged: safety
CDC Boating Basics
Some current CDC-based guideline highlights are 1) no guests on your boat – passengers must be from your household 2) no beaching or raft-ups with other boats – maintain distance at all times 3) disinfect hands and equipment – wash hands after touching public equipment like fuel hoses and railings 4) return directly home after boating – no unnecessary stops.
Safety First
A critical part of the spring commissioning process is checking out the safety equipment: PFDs, signaling kit components, fire extinguishers, marine radios, etc. Static PFDs should be examined for wear and tear and inflatable PFDs should be checked not only for integrity, but also for expired cartridges. Some signaling kit components such as the orange flag and whistle, are evergreen, and can be used year after year. But, other pieces, specifically the flares, have a fairly narrow shelf life and should be checked for expiration dates annually. Fire extinguisher pressure gauges should be reviewed to determine readiness. And, clear access [...]
Yellow Flag
Last weekend, while enjoying the entertainment at Mile Marker One on the Annisquam, I got into a conversation about the perils of passing under the Blynman Bridge. My new-found boater friend had recently had bad luck transiting the passage way due to three contributing factors. One, the tide was turning, which caused a series of tall, flat, waves to build up under the bridge. Two, she allowed too many passengers to congregate in the bow, which precluded the boat’s ability to climb, as opposed to plow, through waves. Three, she misjudged the timing of boats intent on coming up river [...]
Skinny Water
Recently I was talking to a relative about a recent GPS purchase. He was very excited about his new electronic addition and the ability to pilot his boat with added confidence through all sorts of weather. As we conversed, the focus drifted to dangers lying close to the the buoys that marked safe passage. Over the past few weeks, we had both noticed the impact of the off-season in a variety of places, from the entrance to Manchester Harbor to the middle of the Annisquam river to the Essex river inlet from Ipswich Bay. Over the winter, abrupt water depth [...]
Smart Boating 217 – Basic Safety Gear
This show focuses on the selection and operation of important safety gear.
Smart Boating 203 – How To Protect Your Boat In Event Of A Hurricane
This show focuses on the plans and activities that can reduce damage due to hurricanes.
Don’t Overlook the Basics
Earlier this week, I decided to take advantage of the hot weather and long summer days to do a little boating after work. Usually, I pack a small tote bag with some basics: sunglasses, suntan lotion, hat, sweat shirt, windbreaker, floating key holder, identification, water, and a snack or two. However, this time, I decided the timing and weather conditions were such that I didn’t need to carry a bag full of items, but could get by with simply stuffing some smaller ones into my short pockets. As I walked to the dock, I noticed a slight breeze blowing through [...]
Seadog Submerges
This past Saturday morning, I grabbed a breakfast sandwich at the local Dunkin Donuts and went down to the harbor to look at the boats. While sitting on the park bench, savoring the tasty bacon, egg, and cheese combo, I noticed nautical-looking dinghy, Seadog, lightly swinging back and forth on its mooring. After mentally trying to guess the name of the mother ship for a few minutes, I finished off my sandwich and moved on to morning chores. Later, about 4pm in the afternoon, when returning my boat to the mooring, I noticed the Seadog had taken on a very [...]