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NAUI Master Scuba Diver 258 Boating, Diving, and Seamanship LEARNING GOALS In this chapter, you will: 1. Be introduced to the terms presented in bold letters. 2. Learn the advantages and features of inflatable boats. 3. Read about three different types of keels for inflatable boats. 4. Discuss the different types of open skiffs. 5. Learn the steps to prepare for and dive on a charter dive boat. 6. Learn the responsibilities of operating a boat. 7. Learn six terms of basic ship handling. 8. Learn three important rules of the road. 9. Learn five criteria for safe anchoring of a boat. 10. Learn five common knots used in boating. INFLATABLES Inflatable boats should not be confused with rubber rafts (figure 12-1). Today’s inflatables are high-performance boats, as rugged as comparably sized hard-hull crafts. They are easily stored in limited spaces, transportable in small vehicles, and require less fuel than hardhull boats of the same size. Divers today have a wide, and sometimes confusing, choice of inflatable boats, at very competitive prices. What should a diver look for in an inflatable boat? First, some sort of hard floor and a keel are necessary. Soft, fabric-floored boats are intended primarily as dinghies or tenders and will not stand up to the abuse of diving. They accept only small engines, which would be hard-pressed to move the extra weight of diving equipment. The capacity plate, if required by law, is usually mounted on the transom and contains information on maximum weight, number of passengers, and maximum horsepower engine allowed. Rated capacity should be cut by 40 to 50 percent where divers are involved. If a boat is rated for eight passengers, it will accommodate four to five divers with equipment. An inflatable should be at least 3 m (10 ft) long to accommodate two divers. Boats from 3 to 5 m (10 to 15 ft) are easily transportable or can be carried and assembled by two persons. They are usually best for offshore runs to local reefs, up to about 8 km (5 mi) from shore. Boats just larger than 5 m (15 ft) belong in the next category. These boats are usually stored on trailers that are permanently set up. They will accommodate up to six divers and are appropriate for open water runs up to about 24 km (15 mi), if properly equipped for going offshore. Anything larger than about 5.5 m (16 ft) is generally considered too big for most sport diving purposes. Originally, all inflatable boats were made of nylon impregnated or layered with neoprene and hypalon. This required a lot of hand labor in assembly. Recently, manufacturers have changed over to plastics for lower cost, greater durability, and more automated assembly. There are three types of keels for inflatable dive boats: inflatable keels, wood keels, and fiberglass semi-hulls. Inflatable keels are light, easy to transport, and easy to set up. They are the least likely to be damaged when running over rocks or obstructions. However, they tend to allow more bounce in swells and wind chop, causing a harsher ride. Wooden keels impart a firmer shape to the bottom material, allowing the boat to cut through chop more effectively and turn with less skidding. However, they require more care and assembly, make the boat more difficult to transport assembled, and are heavier than FIGURE 12-1. I NFLATABLE DIVE BOAT inflatable keels.


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