Tagged: safety
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 [...]
Smart Boating 194 – Safety Basics
This show sheds light on USCG required basic safety equipment and how it is used.
Fall Boating Demands Attention
Fall boating can be a great experience in New England. When the sun is out, and the breezes are light, it can be a fun and comfortable adventure. However, boating after Columbus Day requires paying attention at a slightly higher level than in the summer months. Shifting sandbars can cause accidental groundings when navigational buoys drift from their original locations; and prop-snarling lobster pot buoys can become temporarily invisible under the larger fall swells. Emergency engine overheating issues can arise from barnacle-laden cooling hoses, or hose jackets chafed through from a summer of cruising. And, that’s just tip of the [...]
Smart Boating 171 – Spring – Fall Boating Safety
This show illuminates important safety elements connected with enjoyable off-season boating.
Educate the Crew
It doesn’t matter if you’re an old salt, or just have a few voyages under your keel, you probably figured out, early on, that things can go south on a boat very quickly. A friend recounted a recent incident. He was out behind one of the Gloucester beaches tied to a mooring ball. As the tide started to go out and the boat began to swing uncomfortably close to the beach, he decided to take up another spot. He started the engine and climbed to the front deck to pull the line from the mooring ball. Everything was going smoothly [...]