nauticalknowhow
Recommended Equipment
Chapter IV – Legal Requirements Section 3 – Recommended Equipment Recommended Equipment In addition to all the equipment that the U. S. Coast Guard requires, certain equipment and supplies just make common sense to have. The following are items that should be carried aboard: VHF Radio Anchor and ground tackle Bilge Pump and or bailer…
Pollution Regulations
Chapter IV – Legal Requirements Section 2f – Pollution Pollution Regulations Many might think that environmental regulations to protect the waters from pollution were enacted in recent years. In actuality the “Refuse Act of 1899” was designed to prohibit throwing, discharging or depositing any refuse matter of any kind (including trash, garbage, oil and other…
Water Sports
Many people who operate boats do not consider themselves “boaters,” because boating is only incidental to their major activity. In fact, everyone who is in a boat is a boater, whether the reason is to fish, hunt, or just drift around. Hunting and Fishing A number of hunters and fishermen drown each year, simply because…
Personal Watercraft
Chapter VII – Getting Underway Section 6 – Personal Watercraft Personal Watercraft A Personal Watercraft (PWC) is defined as a vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as the primary source of motive power, and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel,…
Undocking Plan
Chapter VII – Getting Underway Section 2 – Docking & Undocking Plans Undocking Plan Prior to getting underway, you should implement an undocking plan with the help of your passengers. You should consider the traffic in the area, the direction of wind and current and the depth of the water. Do not assume that everyone…
Anchoring
Chapter VII – Getting Underway Section 4 – Anchoring Anchoring At some point in your boating career you will probably want to anchor. You may want to stop and fish, swim, have lunch or stay overnight. A second reason to drop anchor may be to control the boat if bad weather is blowing you ashore…
First Aid
Chapter VIII – Accidents Section 7 – First Aid First Aid Every boater should take an American Red Cross or other approved first aid course. It is not only important for your own personal safety but for your passengers and other boaters you may encounter who need first aid assistance. You should also equip your…
boating course
You’re operating at night when you see a white light flashing this pattern: a short flash and brief dark interval, then a longer flash and a longer interval of darkness, repeated every 8 seconds. What is it? The answer is: the white light is sending the morse code equivalent of the letter “A”…
United States Coast Guard – Exploring Its History During the Month of its Birth
The United States Coast Guard celebrated its 208th birthday on August 4th, 1998. The U.S. Coast Guard’s origins go back to 1790 when our countries first Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton was having difficulty paying off our nations war debt from the American Revolution. Alexander Hamilton proposed that Congress appropriate funds to build ten cutters…
National Safe Boating Week Reminders
The Do’s and Don’ts of Boating Safety Following these simple doÂ’s and donÂ’ts of boating safety will help you chart a safe course towards the fun and excitement of recreational boating: DO wear a life jacket. Life Jackets. They Float. You DonÂ’t. DONÂ’T mix alcohol and boating. DO observe the nautical rules-of-the-road. DONÂ’T stand in…
Legislation of interest to recreational boaters
Florida More No-PWC Zones Sought in Florida Keys Less than two months after personal watercraft (PWCs) were banned from 11 shoreline areas of the Florida Keys, local residents are petitioning to add 12 more zones. The 11 areas approved by the Monroe County Commission in June won’t take effect until the county can mark the…
Will Y2K Effect Your GPS and When? At the Millinium Or Sooner!
The GPS Joint Program Office has determined that all generations of GPS satellites are unaffected by the Year 2000 (Y2K) and GPS End-of-Week (EOW) Rollover Issues. However, the Civilian GPS users may need to verify that their receivers and applications will work properly through these events. GPS has two “rollover” issues The Year 2000 “Millennium”…
MILDEW REMOVAL AND CONTROL
Unfortunately mildew is a common problem on boats. Commercial mildew removers are expensive and have a limited life in storage. Apart from the obvious of keeping dry and ventilation, here are a couple of tips for combating mildew. REMOVAL You will need to purchase some concentrate. I use AQUA CHEM spa care SHOCK TREATMENT. It…
Coastal Navigation Course
This course will prepare you for the navigation portion of the U.S.C.G. captain’s license exam. It will also prepare you for the Coastal Navigation Standard Exam (ASA 105). And, it will show you how to get your boat to your favorite waterfront restaurant, safely and on time. The navigation course is a combination of a…
West Virginia Boating Regulations
West Virginia Boating Regulations This section contains information on West Virginia Boating Regulations that are in addition to the Federal Requirements covered in the Basic Boating Course. If you have not reviewed the course material, please do so now. All Federal Requirements in the basic boating course apply to West Virginia; this section lists West Virginia Boating Requirements that…
State Information for VA
Age Restrictions: PWC operators must be at least fourteen years old. PWC operators between the age of 14 and 16 must have proof of successful completion of an approved Boating Safety Course in order to operate a PWC. Successful completion of this Basic Boating Course meets Virginia’s boater education requirements. Registration/Titling: All boats propelled by machinery,…
OPERATING LAWS AND REGULATIONS
VERMONT BOATING SAFETY OPERATING LAWS AND REGULATIONS Howard Dean, M.D., Governor A. James Walton, Jr., Commissioner COLLECTED MANAGEMENT RULES FOR VERMONT LAKES, PONDS AND RESERVOIRS(1) APPENDIX A NAME LOCATION (TOWN) SURFACE AREA IN ACRES > 30 CONTIGUOUS ACRES(2) (Y/N) INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTORS ALLOWED(3) (Y/N) MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT(4) M.P.H. PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ALLOWED (Y/N) USE BY AIRCRAFT…
Nebraska Boating Regulations
Nebraska Boating Regulations This section contains information on Nebraska Boating Regulations that are in addition to the Federal Requirements covered in the Basic Boating Course . If you have not reviewed the course material, please do so now. All Federal Requirements in the basic boating course apply to Nebraska; this section lists Nebraska Boating Requirements…
VERMONT BOATING SAFETY
OPERATING LAWS AND REGULATIONS OPERATION Can I Operate My Motorboat on Any Body of Water? Restrictions apply on several other bodies of water around the state. Read carefully the Water Resources Board regulations for information on Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs. When Should I Carry a Personal Flotation Device (P.F.D.)? Anytime you use your boat. If your recreational…
Vermont Boating Regulations
Vermont Boating Regulations This section contains information on Vermont Boating Regulations that arein addition to the Federal Requirements covered in the Basic Boating Course. Age Restrictions: Persons less than 16 years of age shall not operate a Personal Watercraft. Persons less than 12 years of age are restricted to motorboats of 6 hp or less. Anyone born after January…
U.S.C.G. License Exam Questions
From the U.S. Coast Guard Captains License Exam Database #40 Sailing Endorsement #39 Lifeboats #38 Obscure Rules of the Road #37 Stability #36 Rules of the Road – Inland & International #35 Radio Communications #34 Aids to Navigation #33Marlinespike #32 Block & Tackle #31 Tides #30 Compass Principles #29 Nautical Charts Average Score:71.3% #28 General…
Operating in Fog
Rules of Thumb and other quick boating tips: Operating in Fog Hose Guards Kitty Litter Coat Hanger Tonnage Paint & Varnish Winterizing Knots Estimating Distance “Pencil” Radar Navigating by Eye Flares Piloting by Echo Mooring Tilt/Trim Wake Crossing Changing oil Aground Accident Reports The Original Rule of Thumb Back to BoatSafe.com Home Operating in Fog…
Local Notice to Mariners
The Local Notice to Mariners is a USCG publication which is issued by each district as shown in the map below. This publication lists changes in aides to navigation, chart changes, and other information that may be of interest to mariners. In order to keep your charts current, you should subscribe to the local notice…
MAPFINDER REGION SELECTION
According to the The National Ocean Service : “The National Ocean Service’s (NOS) MapFinder is a one-stop World Wide Web service that provides direct Internet access to primary NOS imagery and data holdings for coastal photography, nautical charts, coastal survey maps, environmental sensitivity index maps, hydrographic surveys, water level stations, and geodetic control points. NOS…
Search MIC Database
You may remember reading in a past tip that the first three letters of the Hull Identification Number are a three letter code that identifies the manufacturer. To decipher the code and determine the manufacturer of a boat, click on the link “USCG Manuf. ID Code (MIC)” and you will find a page similar…
What Does Buoyancy Mean for Boaters?
When you’re looking for life jackets and other PFDs you may run across pounds buoyancy. Floatation devices all have a buoyancy rating. Understanding what that means will allow you to choose the right PFD for you. Everyone on a boat should have access to a personal flotation device. One that fits and they know how…
How Does A Heavy Boat Float?
A boat, or any other object designed to float, is based on a theory by a very old guy, even older than Capt. Matt. Though he is old and, by the way, dead, he was really a cool guy and his name was Archimedes (Ark-i’-meed-eez). His principle, cleverly named the Archimedes’ Principle, explains how things…
VESSEL SPARE PARTS LIST
Every vessel should have a basic mechanic’s tool kit onboard. This kit should include, at minimum, the following: TOOLS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Socket set – 3/8 drive (3/8″ – 13/16″) Open and box wrenches (3/16″ – 1″) Screw driver set – slotted & phillips Crescent wrenches – 8″…
Possible Explanation of Weather Proverb
Thanks for addressing a possible answer to an often quoted , but perhaps less understood, weather proverb. The proverb is as follows: “When the bubbles of coffee collect in the center of the cup, expect fair weather. When they adhere to the cup, forming a ring, expect rain. If the bubbles separate without assuming any…
Staying in Touch – Even Offshore
Cellular phones work great if you stay near-coastal. You can usually use them with no problem as long as you are within 5 miles of the US shoreline. However, if you want to venture further out, and still stay in touch, your only alternative until recently was a very expensive IMARSAT system. Now, staying in…