United States Power Squadrons ® BS B VHF RADIO  VHF = Very High Frequency  A vital piece of safety equipment  Clear, static-free messages miles  24-hour contact with Coast Guard  Contact other boats and shore stations  24-hour source of weather information

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B USE YOUR VHF RADIO LEGALLY  Distress Calls – Danger to life and property  Safety Calls – Avoiding collision, safety bulletins  Operational Calls – Obtaining navigational information, supplies, accommodations, repairs; arranging to meet other boats.  Public Correspondence – with shore public telephone

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B CHANNEL 16 - DISTRESS, SAFETY AND CALLING  If you have your radio on, you must monitor channel 16 ( In Coast Guard District 1, Channel 09 may also used)  All boats monitoring this channel insures that distress messages will be heard

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B SPECIAL RADIO WORDS  “Affirmative” = You are correct  “Negative” = No  “Out” = I am through talking  “Over” = I am through talking; I expect a reply  “Roger” = I received your last call OK

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B EMERGENCY CALLS THE DISTRESS SIGNAL “MAYDAY”  For assistance when there is immediate danger to life and property  Examples Life-threatening medical emergencies Boat sinking Boat on fire

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B EMERGENCY CALLS THE URGENCY CALL “PAN-PAN”  For assistance when the danger does not warrant a “MAYDAY” call  Examples: Running out of fuel Lost in a fog Unable to control or operate vessel

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B EMERGENCY CALLS THE SAFETY SIGNAL “SECURITE”  For navigation safety messages  Examples: Weather Alerts Operational signals - backing out of a slip, approaching a blind bend To report a navigational hazard, such as a sunken object in a busy channel

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B EMERGENCY CALLS INFORMATION VITAL FOR OBTAINING ASSISTANCE  Your location  The nature of your distress  Description of your boat  Number of persons aboard (Any injured)  Seaworthiness of your boat

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Ship to ship safety 13 Navigational safety - ship to ship, locks and bridges 16Distress, safety, calling 09Alternative calling channel - ship to ship, ship to coast 22Communication with Coast Guard after contacting on channel 16; for receiving CG safety information 68, 69, 71, 72, 78 - Working channels RECREATIONAL BOAT VHF CHANNELS

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Additional VHF Channels

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B “MARK” AN AID TO NAVIGATION YOU SEE WHILE BOATING TWO CATEGORIES OF MARKS  Lateral Marks Marks starboard and port sides of a route  Non-Lateral Marks Supplemental aids having no lateral significance

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B IDENTIFICATION OF “MARKS”  In Daylight Shapes Colors Numbers or letters Sounds  At Night Light color and patterns Sounds Always Locate Marks On Your Chart

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B TYPES OF “MARKS”  BUOYS Floating marks anchored at specific locations  BEACONS Fixed marks permanently fastened to the earth’s surface

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B “BUOYS”  Floating Aids Various shapes and colors  Position approximate  Identified by Number, letters, sound devices and lights  Chart symbol diamond with a small position circle Magenta disc around position circle, if lighted

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B “BEACONS”  Permanently fixed to Earth's surface  Examples: Lighthouses Daybeacons  Identified by: Numbers, letters, sound devices, lights  Chart symbols: Unlighted - small triangle or square Lighted - magenta flare  with a black position dot

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B The “3-R” Rule Red - Right - Returning  When Returning from sea, keep red side- of-channel marks to your starboard  “Returning” is: Entering a harbor or bay from the open ocean Traveling up a river from the sea Traveling clockwise around the U.S. along it’s coastline –South along the Atlantic coast –West along the Gulf coast –North along the Pacific coast

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B TYPES OF SOUND SIGNALS

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B The General Rule of Responsibility  You must comply with The Rules  You must take every precaution required by the “ordinary practice of good seamanship” to avoid immediate danger, including collision.  “Precaution” may include departing from the rules.

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Definition of Terms  Sailing Vessel  Under sail only  Power-Driven Vessel  Propelled by machinery  Give-Way Vessel  Must stay out of another vessel’s way  Stand-On Vessel  Not required to get out of the way, but must always avoid collision  Underway  Not at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Definition of Terms  Restricted Visibility  Any condition in which visibility is restricted  Vessel Not Under Command  Unable to maneuver as required by The Rules due to special circumstances, and therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel  Vessel Restricted in Ability to Maneuver  Unable to maneuver due to the nature of her work and unable to keep out of the way of another vessel

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules  Apply in Three General Situations  Vessels in any condition of visibility  Vessels in sight of one another  Vessels in restricted visibility

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules In Any Condition of Visibility  Lookout  You must maintain a lookout at all times  You must be alert for other boats  Your lookout must be qualified and have no other duties  Safe Speed  You must always proceed at safe speed

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules In Any Condition of Visibility  Proceeding in Narrow Channels  Keep as near to the outer edge of a channel that lies to your starboard side as is safe and practical  Do not impede vessels that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel  Rounding a Bend  Navigate with alertness and caution  Sound warning signals

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules In Any Condition of Visibility  Vessel Priority (Except where required otherwise) Vessels not under command Vessels restricted in maneuverability Vessels engaged in fishing Power-driven vessels

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules Vessels in Sight of One Another  Vessel Overtaking  The overtaking vessel must give-way  The vessel being overtaken must stand-on  The overtaking vessel, with proper signal, may pass on either side

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules Vessels in Sight of One Another  Powerboats Meeting Head-On  Neither vessel has priority of movement  Both must take action to avoid collision  Vessels, with proper signal, may pass on either side

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules Vessels in Sight of One Another  Powerboats Crossing  A power-driven vessel seeing another vessel crossing off its starboard side is the give-way vessel  The crossing vessel is the stand-on vessel, but must always take action to avoid collision

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules Vessels In Sight Of One Another Wind Stand-On Vessel Give-Way Vessel Wind on starboard side Wind on port side Sailing vessels approaching one another each with wind on a different side

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules Vessels In Sight Of One Another Sailing vessels approaching one another both with wind on the same side Give-Way Vessel Wind Stand-On Vessel

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Steering and Sailing Rules Vessels in Restricted Visibility  Proceed at a safe speed  Display running lights  Sound proper sound signals  Post lookouts and listen for other vessels

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Maneuvering and Warning Signals  Meeting, Overtaking, Crossing  I intend to pass you on my port side –1 short  I intend to pass you on my starboard –2 short  Operating Astern Propulsion –3 short  Approaching a Blind Channel Bend or Departing a Dock or Mooring –1 prolonged  DANGER SIGNAL –5 or more short Short Blast - 1 Sec Prolonged Blast Sec

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Signals for Vessels at Anchor in Restricted Visibility

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Signals for Vessels Underway in Restricted Visibility

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Know the Lights on Large Vessels Especially tugs and tows! IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! Don’t recognize the light you see? STAY AWAY! KEEP YOUR DISTANCE!

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Mounting a Cleat with a Backing Block Cleat Deck Backing Block Apply caulking to the bolt holes between the deck and cleat before tightening

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B TOWING TECHNIQUES Tow Towing Bridle around boat Stern cleats with backing Transom Eyebolts Bow Eye

United States Power Squadrons ® BS B Man Overboard Recovery Procedures  Shout “Man Overboard”  Toss out a life preserver  Keep victim in sight  Stop forward motion and turn back to victim  Approach victim against wind/waves

United States Power Squadrons ® B B Operating in Restricted Visibility  Reduce speed  Sound proper signals  Life jackets on all aboard  Post lookouts bow an stern  Navigation lights on  Listen for other boats  Determine position

United States Power Squadrons ® BS Reacting to a Collision  Account for crews - both boats  Give first aid if needed  Call for help if needed  Estimate your position  Life jackets on all aboard  Make emergency repairs if needed  Report accident as required