nauticalknowhow
Pollution Regulations
Chapter IV – Legal RequirementsSection 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 liquid…
Navigation Lights
Chapter IV – Legal RequirementsSection 2b – Required Equipment Navigation Lights Specific lighting configurations are required for vessels operating between sunset and sunrise or in times of restricted visibility. Do not assume that your boat came from the factory or showroom with all the proper equipment. It’s your responsibility to make sure your vessel shows…
Fire Extinguishers
Chapter IV – Legal RequirementsSection 2c – Required Equipment Fire Extinguishers Next in line after PFDs, fire extinguishers are a very important safety item. Although not all motorboats are required to carry a fire extinguisher, it is highly recommended that you do. There are numerous types and sizes of extinguishers but each one has to…
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 UnderwaySection 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, rather…
Undocking Plan
Chapter VII – Getting UnderwaySection 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 onboard…
Anchoring
Chapter VII – Getting UnderwaySection 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 or…
Accidents
Chapter VIII – AccidentsSection 1 – Fatal Vs. Non-Fatal Accidents Believe it or not, most boating accidents occur when the weather is calm and clear and winds are light. Fatal Vs Non-Fatal Most fatal accidents are caused by persons falling overboard or the boat capsizing and the victims drowning because they were not wearing PFDs….
Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia
Chapter VIII – AccidentsSection 5 – Hypothermia Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia Even when the weather is warm, do not forget that in many areas the water can be very, very cold. A sudden unexpected wake or other “unbalancing event” can land you in the frigid water. Your body can cool down 25 times faster…
First Aid
Chapter VIII – AccidentsSection 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 boat…
Fires On Board
Chapter VIII – AccidentsSection 6 – Fires On Board Fires On Board An onboard fire is a serious event. If the fire cannot be controlled where does one go except in the water? The fire triangle consists of fuel, oxygen and heat. All three must be present to start a fire and the removal of…
Assistance From Shore
Chapter VIII – AccidentsSection 4 – Assistance From Shore Assistance From Shore Every year people drown within a short distance of the shore. When some trauma happens, such as stepping off an underwater shelf the surprise itself can cause a drowning response. The victim, even if they can swim, suddenly can not shout for help…
Running Lights
If you’ve been on the water at night, you already know how different things look. Test your recognition of running lights at night with this simulation.
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” which in…
Take a Boating Safety Course Online
Take a Boating Safety Course Online Be a safer boater! Take the Online Boating Safety Course – all of the information is free. Click here to check it out. Coastal Navigation Course Combination home study text/workbook, chart work and online information. View details of the Coastal Navigation Course. We are very pleased to announce that this course…
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…
Boating Safety Links
NWS Weather Always check the weather before leaving the dock and keep a “weather eye” when on the water. Alternate Marine Weather If the NWS site is down, you can use this alternate weather link above. NWS Marine Observations If you’re planning a trip offshore, check the marine observations. Tides Tide predictions from NOAA. USCG…
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…