Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 1 Chapter 2 Before You Get Underway

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 2 We’ll Discuss: Capacity Float Plan Pre-Departure Checks Trailering & Fueling - Safety Launching and Retrieving Boating Equipment

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 3 Capacity Plate Why is this important? Boats manufactured after March 14, 2011 will show a maximum number of passengers based on 185 lbs each person on board. The previous standard was 145lbs each. Regardless of the Capacity Plate, the actual total number of passengers MUST NOT EXCEED the total passenger weight listed on the Capacity plate.

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 4 Over Loaded

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 5 Capacity Plate Over loaded vessels may be directed to return to the nearest shore facility.

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 6 Float Plans Download at Complete description of boat. Emergency contact information. Destination and expected return. Detailed trip legs. Number & Names of passengers. Notify plan holder upon return or change of plans.

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 7 Float Plans Download at Link from our websitewww.FloatPlanCentral.org Discussion: - Who could you give your float plan to? - What events or situations would you contact the person that you gave the float plan to?

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 8 Weather forecast Charts Float plan Brief crew and passengers Safety checklist Vessel systems checklist Plan fuel consumption PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKS

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 9 bunks tongue winch coupler rollers Trailering Your Boat The right size trailer for the boat The right tow vehicle

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 10 TRAILERING SAFELY Grease bearings Lug bolts tight Tire pressure Carry jack, spare tire and tools

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 11 Trailering Your Boat Match coupler and ball size Maintain proper tongue weight 7-10% Too little tongue weight will actually cause trailer to sway Safety chains – crossed

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 12 TRAILERING SAFETY CHAINS S-Hooks can bounce out if improperly connected

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 13 TRAILERING SAFELY Before leaving home Secure boat & gear Tilt and secure boat O/B or outdrive Inspect hitch and safety chains Check Brakes Check Lights

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 14 TRAILERING SAFELY

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 15 STEERING, PASSING, BACKING A TRAILER STEERING NO TIGHT TURNS STOPPING TAKES EXTRA DISTANCE PASSING TAKES EXTRA DISTANCE BACKING HAND ON BOTTOM OF STEERING WHEEL

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 16 On the Road Turning and cornering wide Check rigging periodically Carry tools, jack, spare tire, spare parts, and flares Observe speed limits

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 17 Prepare away from the ramp Use a check list. Discuss what would you put on your launch check list Transfer equipment and supplies Remove tie-downs Prepare lines and fenders Disconnect Trailer Lights Survey the ramp for obstructions or overhead power lines Launching Your Boat

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 18 Check drain plug before you launch!!! This owner of this brand new 19’ Center Console learned this lesson the hard way February 27 th, 2011, when his boat sank at the Jacksonville Landing while he was having lunch. Launching Your Boat

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 19 Launching Your Boat

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 20 Launching Your Boat Back down until boat begins to float Start engine and check idle OK Discuss Why you should start the engine before backing off the trailer Release winch line Back boat off trailer

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 21 Retrieving Your Boat Back in water to top of trailer tires Slowly drive the boat onto trailer Don’t power onto the trailer.

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 22 Retrieving Your Boat Attach the winch line to the bow eye Shut off the engine Raise lower unit Winch boat until the bow rests on the roller, stay out of direct line of cable. Discuss why this is important Pull trailer out of the water Move away from launch ramp

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 23 Retrieving Your Boat AFTER RETRIEVING YOUR BOAT. Move away from the ramp and park Remove weeds Drain bilge and live wells Remove gear and equipment Re-attach tie-downs and electric

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 24 Fueling Safely Fill portable tanks on dock to keep vapor in empty tank out of bilge. If filling at a service station, put the tank on the ground FUELING PORTABLE TANKS

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 25 Fueling Safely FUELING PORTABLE TANKS

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 26 Avoid Fueling With Ethanol Ethanol and Boats Don’t Mix very well. Because It is likely to sit for a longer period of time in a boat. Plastic, and Fiberglass parts are often damaged

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 27 Avoid Fueling With Ethanol Over a period of time fuel lines, flexible and rigid, can crack and cause a dangerous leak which could cause an explosion. Studies show that ethanol tends to accelerate fuel line deterioration. Inspect fuel lines yearly. Purchase Ethanol Free Fuel from marinas and gas stations that advertise “Ethanol Free Fuel”. (Many Gate Stations have Ethanol free Fuel)

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 28 Fueling Safely Inboard Tank To prevent a static spark keep fuel nozzle in constant metal to metal contact with the filler pipe

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 29 Fueling Safely Fuel Dock Explosions can kill! Always remove passengers from the boat, and reboard only after refueling is complete and the engine(s) restarted. FUELING INBOARD TANKS

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 30 Use Your Nose If you smell gas fumes, don’t start the engine! Investigate first.

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 31 Fueling Safely Engine should be turned off and do not operate any electrical switches, including the ignition. Keep all doors, ports and hatches closed During Fueling, and only open them AFTER refueling is complete. Hold hose nozzle firmly against fuel fill. Also don't overfill. A quick sniff test takes only a few seconds and is the most effective method for detecting fuel leaks. After refueling, ensure engine compartment blower runs for at least four minutes. FUELING INBOARD TANKS

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 32 Fueling Safely Discuss: Why you should close hatches and port holes before fueling Why should you turn off the bilge blower? Why should ventilate your bilge blower for 4 minutes after fueling FUELING INBOARD TANKS

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 33 Fueling Safely 1/3rd RULE 1/3rd to go out 1/3rd to return 1/3rd for safety

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 34 Boating Accessories These Items Are Not Required By Law Anchor and line Spare parts and tool kit Compass and charts Radio, VHF-FM marine Docking lines First aid kit Water for emergencies Flashlight Spare bulbs EPIRB ( if going off shore )

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 35 Chapter 2 Review

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 36 Review Exercises A condition that could result in your being directed to return to shore: the display of navigation lights in daylight. running with your fenders hanging from your boat. overloading beyond the manufacturer’s recommended safe loading capacity. failure to carry charts of your cruising area. 2 a b c d

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 37 Review Exercises Relative to the amount of trailer tongue weight, which of the following statements is TRUE? The amount of weight on the coupler ball makes no difference. Too little weight on the coupler ball will cause the trailer to sway back and forth. Too little weight on the coupler ball will raise the rear of the tow vehicle off the ground. You can change the weight on the coupler ball, by changing the size of the ball. 3 a b c d

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 38 Review Exercises Trailer winch cables and straps can snap. Be sure to: stand close by and watch the winch operation carefully. tape up any winch cable that has broken strands. stay out of direct line with a winch cable or strap. release the ratchet on the winch handle. 4 a b c d

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 39 Review Exercises When launching a sailboat with the mast raised at a launch area: be careful not to tip the boat off the trailer. use a halyard to pull it off the trailer. just as on the water, a sailboat has priority privileges. be certain that no overhead electrical wires come close to or in contact with the mast or rigging. 5 a b c d

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 40 Review Exercises In addition to keeping the pump nozzle in constant metal-to-metal contact with the filler pipe, an important safety instruction to follow when refilling portable fuel tanks is to: always use approved yellow marine safety tanks. take them out of the boat and fill them on the dock. use only approved safety tanks and fill them inside the boat. step carefully onto the gunwale when carrying full tanks on board. 6 a b c d

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 41 Review Exercises It is important that the trailer have sufficient weight-carrying ability to: hold the boat, gear, and all passengers in it when on the road. keep the trailer on the road surface when traveling at very high speeds. carry just the weight of the boat. support the boat, motor, fuel, and all gear you plan to carry when on the road. 7 a b c d

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 42 Review Exercises To avoid running out of fuel, determine the usable capacity of your fuel tank and your boat’s rate of fuel consumption, and then: bring extra fuel in easy-to-pour containers such as plastic milk jugs. plan to use 1/3 of the fuel to reach your destination, 1/3 to get home, and 1/3 for emergencies. plan on enough fuel to get to the next fuel dock. plan on ½ of the tank to reach your destination and ½ of the tank to get home. 1 a b c d

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 43 Review Exercises A float plan includes a description of your boat, who is on board, and, most importantly: the name of your radio operator. where you expect to be and when you expect to return. the draft of your boat. what mechanical equipment on your boat is not in the best condition. 8 a b c d

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 44 Any Questions?

Copyright Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. 45 End Chapter 2