Boating Decision-Making 253
3. Stress—Am I under psychological pressure
from the job? Do I have money,
health, or family problems? Stress causes
concentration and performance problems.
While there are medical conditions
that require cancellation, stress
is not among them. The boater should
consider the effects of stress on performance.
4. Alcohol—Have I been drinking within
8 hours? Within 24 hours? As little as
one ounce of liquor, one bottle of beer,
or four ounces of wine can impair boating
skills. Alcohol also renders a boater
more susceptible to disorientation and
hypoxia.
5. Fatigue—Am I tired and not adequately
rested? Fatigue continues to be one of
the most insidious hazards to boating
safety, as it may not be apparent to a
boater until serious errors are made.
6. Eating—Have I eaten enough of the
proper foods to keep adequately nourished
during the entire cruise?
The VEEP Checklist
Another way to mitigate risk is to perceive
hazards. By incorporating the VEEP checklist
into pre-cruise planning, the boater
divides the risks of flight into four categories:
Vessel, Environment, External pressures,
and Person in Command (VEEP)
which form part of a boater’s decision-
making process.
With the VEEP checklist, boaters have
a simple way to remember each category to
examine for risk prior to each cruise. Once
a person in command (PIC) identifies the
risks of a cruise, he or she needs to decide
whether the risk or combination of risks can
be managed safely and successfully. If not,
make the decision to cancel the cruise. If the
PIC decides to continue with the cruise, he
or she should develop strategies to mitigate
the risks. One way a boater can control the
risks is to set personal minimums for items
in each risk category. These are limits unique
to that individual boater’s current level of
experience and proficiency.
One of the most important concepts
that safe PIC understands is the difference
between what is “legal” in terms of the regulations,
and what is “smart” or “safe” in
terms of boater experience and proficiency.
V =Vessel
What limitations will the vessel impose
upon the trip? Ask the following questions:
Is this the right boat for the cruise?
Am I familiar with and current in this type
of boat?
Is this boat equipped for the cruise? Instruments?
Lights? Navigation and communication
equipment adequate?
Can this boat use the marinas available and
do they provide pump-out stations and
fuel supplies as planned for the cruise?
Can this boat carry the necessary supplies?
Does this boat have sufficient fuel capacity,
with reserves, for planned cruise legs?
Does the fuel quantity delivered match the
fuel quantity ordered?
E = Environment
Weather is an major environmental consideration.
Earlier it was suggested boater’s
set their own personal minimums, especially
when it comes to weather. As the
PIC evaluates the weather for a particular
cruise, they should consider the conditions
for the entire transit. Current predictions
(coastal and ocean), near-term and long
range weather predictions from weather
services must be considered, safe havens
and foul weather anchorages plotted, and
alternate destinations considered.
What navigation aids will you expect
to see during the cruise, their shapes lights
and sound characteristics listed for reference,
and all known hazards plotted on a
properly scaled chart.
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73