Section 3: Going Boating 33
The two previous sections discussed
basic boating terms and required
equipment. Now, let’s go boating. Planning
is necessary every time we go to sea.
This facilitates sound briefings and development
of useful check lists. It is useful to
take along an experienced boat operator
who has local knowledge of the cruising
area on your initial cruise. As you progress
to more lengthy cruises, you will want to
include the provisions of the USPS CRUISE
AND CRUISE PLANNING course. If the
voyage is to foreign waters such as Canada,
Puerto Rico, Bahamas and United States
Virgin Islands, you will want to review
US Customs provisions for return to US
ports. If boating is anticipated in Canadian
waters, presentation of current material
in the USPS University seminar, Crossing
Boarders, is recommended. Appendix A
presents the on-the-water training guide
for skills discussed in this Student Manual.
Use of this guide for self-improvement in
boat handling skills reinforces material in
this course and is encouraged.
OPERATOR’S
RESPONSIBILITIES
Always recognize you are responsible, as
the operator of the boat, for the boat and
the crew, even if it’s not your boat. When
you rent a boat, the person who rents the
boat is responsible for having all local, state,
and Federal legally required equipment on
board, not the rental agent. The boat must
be properly equipped, the passengers must
be briefed, children must be wearing personal
floatation devices, and there must be
one PFD for everyone aboard. The skipper
is responsible for any damage caused by the
boat, even from its wake. Use of checklists
such as in Table 3-1 helps the skipper ensure
boat readiness for emergencies and that all
aboard including the “partner in command”
will know their responsibilities.
1
2
Section 3: Going Boating
Table 3-1. Required Passenger Briefing
and Pre-Departure Checklist
All persons on board should receive a pre-departure briefing on items with
an astrix (*). Be sure to add checklist items unique to your boat and area of
operations.
Operator’s license / ABC3 graduate card, boat operations
* Introduce the “Partner” in command.
Discuss response to bad
weather/emergencies = PFDs.
* Life Jacket for each person, each
with whistle and light, serviceable,
proper size and fitted, preferably
worn but otherwise
readily available
* Throwable floatation aid with
retrieving line, ready for man-overboard
(MOB) emergency
* Swim/re-boarding ladder to
help MOB recovery. Discuss plan
and responsibilities. Emphasize
dangers of propeller strike and
cautions to prevent (See MOB in
Appendix A).
* Visual distress signals, with person
responsible, and use
* Type B fire extinguisher(s) and
use, and first aid kit
location
* VHF marine radio and GPS use
with RESCUE 21, and GPS MOB
feature
* Mooring lines and fenders, placement
and use
* Anchor for bottom type where
operating with rode, and procedure
* Local area nautical charts and
plotting tools, review track, foul
weather shelters, and obstacles
* Use of the head
* Marine Pollution Rules against
discharge overboard of trash,
human waste, petroleum product
waste of any kind
* Boat stability and cautions for
moving about
* Fill out and place FLOAT PLAN
with responsible person ashore
(Appendix D).
Sound signaling device(s)
Nautical compass
Boat hook
Paddle or oars for emergency
Tool kit
Spare parts, fuses and navigation
light bulbs
Search light
Flash light with fresh, spare
batteries
Heaving line
Carbon monoxide detector in closed
spaces
Automatic bilge pump and back-up
bailer
Before starting engine, run bilge
blower for 4 minutes and then
sniff for fuel fumes. Warm up
engine to normal operating temperature
to detect engine cooling
problems before departure.
(Note, reproducible copy of this check
list is in Appendix D, Forms.)
manual, and boat registration