boating notes

I recently took the boating test and passed the test. Here are some notes to help you out.

• red light is on the port side (left)
• green light is on the starboard side (right)
• mandatory: all-round white light
• draft is the part of the boat that is under water floating
• sole is the floor of the cockpit or interior cabin. ( pretty much the deck)
• bilge is the lowest part of the interior of the hull, under the sole. 

Jet Skis

• on a jet ski if you let of the power there is no steering.
• no power no steering (all jet skis, some boats)
• jet pump intake grate takes water in, compresses it then shoots it out.
• advantages: you can run them in shallow water, can park on beaches easier, and has no exposed motors.
• disadvantages: it could suck up your long hair, and can suck up skis and other things.
• PWC (personal water craft) are subject to all of the same laws and requirements of any other boat.
• the safety lanyard is a short cord attached to the ignition so if you fall off then the engine turns off.

Sail Boats

• if it does not have a motor the other rules do not apply to it.
• keels keeps you going straight and in line.
• the rutter is what actually steers the boat
• popular types of sailboats: catboat, cutter, ketch, sloop, yawl.

Boat Lengths

• dictates if you will need additional safety equipment

Hull Shapes

• Flat Bottom Hull
• Deep Vee Hull
• Round Bottom Hull
• Multi-Hull

Factors Influencing Seaworthiness

• Size
• Design
• Construction Materials

Types Of Engines

• Outboards:
• Inboards:
• Stern Drives
• Jet Drive:
• Outboard Jet:

• Boats are classified by their size, engine, and construction materials. (All Boats)
• if you were 40 years old on April 28 in 1994 you are grandfathered in and don’t have to take the boaters safety test, but you must have a V on your license.

• Capacity Plate will tell you how many people you can fit on your boat at maximum and also how much horse power.

Float Plan

• tell someone where you are going, who with, what boat, where, when, when will you be back.

Vessel Safety Checks

• don’t charge, they check to make sure you are safe and gives you a sticker to show you have everything

Trailering Your Boat

• Make sure you have the right trailer appropriate for the boat that you are hauling.
• The right tow vehicle
• match the coupler to the ball
• maintain the proper tongue weight
• make sure you attach your safety chains.
• make sure the safety chains are crossed
• Make sure they are crossed so that it will catch it if the boat falls

On The Road

• Traffic flow
• turning and cornering wide
• check rigging periodically
• carry tools, jack, spare parts, and flares
• observe the speed limits

Launching Your Boat

• Prepare away from the ramp
• transfer equipment and supplies
• remove tie-downs
• check drain plugs
• back down ramp until lower unit is submerged
• start engine and check idle OK
• start engine and check boat floats
• undo winch line
• back boat off of the trailer

Fueling Safety

• Fill Portable tanks on dock
• close hatches and portholes
• keep fuel nozzle in contact with deck plate
• do NOT overfill tanks
• ventilate tanks
• check systems for leaks
• use your nose

Maintain your Boat

• examine interior and exterior out of the water
• keep them covered but keep them ventilated.
• do NOT anchor off the stern of the boat

Boating Accessories

• anchor and lone 
• spare parts and tool kit
• compass and charts
• radio, VHF-FM marine
• docking lines
• first aid kit
• water for emergencies
• flashlights
• spare bulbs
• sunscreen

Review

• avoid running out of gas by using the 1/3 method
• vessel equipment is required by law
• trailer winch cables and straps can snap be sure to stay out of direct line with a winch cable.
• when launching a sailboat with the mast raised at a launch area be certain that no overhead electrical wires come into contact with it
• always fill your extra fuels cans on a dock so that the fumes do not get into your boat.

• general responsibility rule: you are responsible for any thing that happens in your boat, and the wake of your boat, or anything that the wake of your boat that your wake messes up.
• Departure from rules may be necessary to avoid collision.
• “he who is bigger, stay out of his way.”

Stand on or Give Way

• if he is on the right then you give way just like at a four way stop sign.
• if you see a boat of your starboard side then let them go
• if sailboat has no motor on they are always stand on no matter what unless they have their motor on.
• power driven vessels always give way to sailing vessels, vessels engages in fishing, vessels engaged in fishing, vessels restricted in ability to maneuver.

Power Driven Vessel

• when you are in a narrow channel keep right!
• if you are going upstream you are always the give way vessel. because it is harder to steer when you are in a strong upstream current.
• no vessel at sea can assume right of way 
• a sail boat is a stand-on when meeting a power boat.
• don’t shine your spot light at the bridge of another boat

Sound Signals

• i short blast means i’m meeting you on my P O R T side
• two shorts blast means i’m leaving you on my S T A R B O A R D side
• channel 16 is the international signal and distress channel or use 13 in some other areas
• yellow lights are on tows or tow boats itself 
• if you see a pair of green lights or red lights, don’t get between them or in front of them
• let other boats know where you are especially in fog, rain, or any other dangerous conditions.
• do a loud blast every two minutes to let them know you are here.
• a fog blast is about 4 to 6 seconds long
• 5 or more short blast are the danger signal 
• stop what you are doing and look around to see whats happening.
• if you loose a crew man 5 short blast and request help to find him if you need help
• inland rules
• signals indicate intent
• require an answer of agreement
• south of jetties are inland rules, north is international

• international rules
• Signals indicate execution
• no response required unless danger

• long blast in reduced visibility
• 3 short blast and one long blast means i’m leaving port

How to Prevent Problems

• practice good seamanship
• maintain lookout
• maintain safe speed
• SAFE SPEED
• you are responsible for your speed

US Aids to Navigation (ATON)

• Lateral Markers: marks the sides of a channel
• if they are buoys they float
• right side of the channel red color, red lights, even numbers, nun buoys
• when you are returning from see keep the red on your right
• left side of channel green colors, green lights, odd numbers, CAN buoys 
• buoys are usually deeper waters
• telephone poles are the same as the buoys 
• RED RIGHT RETURNING
• regulatory markers: information, danger, controlled, exclusion.
• special purpose markers: anchorages, traffic separation schemes
• data gathering
• etc
• special purpose markers do not tell you where you are
• safe water markers have no numbers but maybe letters
• in the intracoastal waterway keep the yellow pointy buoy on your right
• keep the yellow squared buoy on your left
• note yellow shapes: yellow means intracoastal waterway
• a red over green buoy marks an intersection of channel

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Legal Requirements of Boating

• coast guards role: they will check you for life jackets that fit and for other safety things like that. (fire extinguishers, life jackets, etc)
• they don’t have to have probable cause to enter you’re boat
• what the states do: they’re the law enforcements on water but also can get you on land.
• they do try to have probable cause but they don’t have to.
• everybody on the boat needs to comply with safety regulations.
• numbering decals: the numbers must be applied front to back and be able to read clearly
• they must be 6 inches from the nose of the boat
• either hyphen of space between the first two letters and numbers
• registration certificate: must be on board when underway (must be the original)
• if you buy it from another state you must take off the old numbers and put on the new ones that fit to whatever current state you are living.
• boats are not titled in alabama
• register your boat at the courthouse
• documented vessels: u.s. citizens only may have a large vessel documented
• documentation number must be clearly visible on the interior structure
• name and hailing port 4’ high on hull
• hull identification numbers came in, in 1972
• you may be 14 years old to operate a boat by yourself with a certification and 12 with certification and a parent with certification
• obviously it’s illegal to operate under the use of drugs and alcohol
• contributes to 1/3 of boating accidents
• it’s illegal to: anchor in a channel, tie up to an ATON, tamper with, deface, or move any ATON, or obstruct a pier, wharf, or boat ramp.
• stay clear of naval vessels
• be aware of security zones
• no anchoring under bridges (overnight)
• help with America’s Waterway Watch
• personal flotation devices: children under the age of 8 MUST wear a life jacket when on the deck unless anchored up, if boats in motion, they MUST have on a life jacket.
• type 1 offshore life jacket: minimum buoyancy 22 pounds
• if you are on a tube, ski, jet ski, etc., YOU MUST wear a life jacket
• type 2: near-shore vest minimum buoyancy 15.5 pounds
• commercials vessels are required to provide type 1
• type 3: flotation aid minimum buoyancy 15.5 pounds (most popular.)
• type 3/5 inflatable PFD minimum buoyancy 22 pounds
• type 5 MUST be worn for the certification to be in effect.
• don’t wear a type 5 when tubing because it will inflate when touches water and it will probably rip apart if you’re tubing.
• type 6: throwable device: what size vessel must carry these aboard?