List the federally required equipment for a 33-foot recreational vessel equipped with an inboard diesel engine.
- Boat registration card and hull numbers
- Type I, Type II, or Type III PFD for each person plus 1 Type IV throwable PFD.
- Visual distress signals for daytime: Distress flag and/or 3 smoke flares or 3 day/night flares
- Visual distress signals for nighttime: 3 night flares
- Fire extinguishers: two B-I or one B-II
- Hand-held or mouth-blown horn
- Sidelights, sternlight, and masthead light
- Placards: Discharge of oil and MARPOL discharge of garbage
- Marine sanitation device: Type I, Type II, or Type III
Describe the characteristics and benefits of PFDs, both wearable and throwable.
- In order to meet the requirement, they must be Coast Guard approved, in good condition, and ready to wear (i.e. not in the packaging they were purchased in).
- Type I = offshore, will roll unconscious person face up
- Type II = near-shore, may turn unconscious person face up
- Type III = flotation aid for inland use
- Type IV throwable = not designed to be worn, includes floating cushions, life rings, horseshoe buoys
- Type V = Special Use Device, including hypothermia suits, work vests, commercial deck suits, and inflatable life vests. Type V only counts toward the requirement if worn.
List the ASA recommended safety equipment for a recreational sailing vessel.
VHF Radio, Cell Phone, Rope and Twine Charts and Plotting Tools Anchor and Rode, Binoculars First Aid Kit, Tool Kit Rigging Knife with blunt end Flashlights, High Power Flashlight Battery Lantern, Clock or Watch, Boathook Portable Bilge Pump, Softwood Plugs Bucket, Radar Reflector
Describe the purpose and proper use of a safety harness and tether.
Purpose: to keep you from falling overboard.
Proper use: Wear the harness when leaving the cockpit during heavy weather. Attach it to the tether and attach the tether to a secure point on deck or a jackline. Do not attach it to the lifelines.
Describe safe refueling procedures for a vessel equipped with an outboard engine using gasoline.
- Send the crew ashore, extinguish all open flames, turn off all electrical devices, turn off the battery switch.
- Close the portlights, hatches, and companionway.
- Carefully locate the correct fuel fill plate and open it.
- Have someone on the dock place a rag over the fuel nozzle and hand it to you.
- Start fueling slowly. Have someone periodically call out the number of gallons pumped. Hold the nozzle firmly against the pipe to prevent static. Don’t try to top off the tank.
- Hand the nozzle back to the attendant and close the fill plate. Wipe up spilled fuel.
- Open hatches and companionway and run the bilge blower for 5 minutes or longer if you still smell fuel. No crew to re-board until procedure is done.
Describe safe refueling procedures for a vessel equipped with an inboard diesel engine.
- Read signage on dock and choose the correct fuel.
- Using the fuel gauge, estimate how much fuel is needed.
- Have someone on the dock place a rag over the fuel nozzle and hand it to you.
- Start fueling slowly. Have someone periodically call out the number of gallons pumped. Don’t try to top off the tank.
- Withdraw the nozzle while holding the rag around it.
- Return nozzle to attendant. Replace the cap on the fuel-fill plate.
How do you prevent undue magnetic influence on a compass?
Avoid placing items that might influence the compass within three feet of the ship’s compass, including flashlights, deck knives, portable radios, and cell phones.
Define “small craft advisory” and “gale warning” and describe precautions to be taken for each.
Small craft advisory: issued by the NWS when forecast sea or wind conditions might prove hazardous.
Gale warning: issued by NWS when forecast winds are from 34 to 47 knots.
Precautions: stay ashore, reef, wear PFDs, make way to sheltered location. (???)
Describe the primary responsibilities of skipper and crew.
The captain of a ship is responsible for everything that happens on and to that ship. The captain is responsible for the safety of the vessel and every person aboard.
The skipper’s role is to ensure that action is taken when necessary, the crew receive guidance if needed, and the “entire enterprise runs harmoniously and safely.”
The crew must respect the skipper’s authority.
Describe the rule for proceeding at a safe speed (Rule 6).
Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
Factors to be taken into account by all vessels:
(i) Visibility; (ii) traffic density and type of traffic; (iii) maneuverability esp. stopping distance and turning ability; (iv) at night the presence of background light; (v) the state of wind, sea, current and navigational hazards
(Additional factors apply to vessels with radar.)
Describe the rule for determining the risk of collision (Rule 7).
(a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt, such risk shall be deemed to exist.
(b and c apply to radar)
(d) considerations to be taken into account:
(i) Risk shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not change.
(ii) Even when the bearing does not change the risk may exist when approaching a very large vessel or a tow or a vessel at close range.
Describe Rule 8, action to avoid collision.
(a) Any action shall be taken in accordance with the rules, be positive, made in ample time, and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.
(b) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall be large and readily apparent.
(d) Action taken to avoid collision should result in a safe passing distance.
Describe the actions to be taken when operating a vessel in restricted visibility.
- Proceed at a safe speed, taking into account not just visibility but also density and type of traffic and the time and space needed to “take proper and effective action.”
- Before losing visibility, establish where you are.
- Keep a sharp lookout and listen for sound signals from other vessels.
- Sound signal required of vessel under sail: one long blast followed by two short blasts, repeated at intervals not longer than 2 minutes.
- Sound signal required of power-driven vessel under way is one long blast at intervals not longer than 2 minutes.
What are the basic maneuvering and warning signals for inland waters?
Danger signal: Five short blasts.
Signals of intent: (These require a response.)
- One short blast: I intend to leave you on my port side.
- Two short blasts: I intend to leave you on my starboard side.
Describe the appearance and purpose of the “Diver Down” and “Alpha” flags.
Both flags signal that a diver is down and that other vessels must keep well clear at low speed.
International Code Flag A is white and purple and meets rule 18 of the Navigation Rules.
The Diver Down flag is red with a white diagonal stripe, is often used by recreational divers, and is recognized in the US and Canada.
Describe common anchor types.
Bruce: ???
Danforth: ???
Plow: ???
What are the major considerations for selection of an anchorage?
- Enough depth at low tide but not too much at high tide
- Lots of swinging room
- A bottom with good holding
- Shelter from wind and seas
- Enough room to respect your neighbors
Describe the proper scope for short term and overnight anchoring as well as storm conditions.
Calculate scope based on depth at high tide plus the height from the waterline to the bow, multiplied times 7 for rope rode or times 5 for all-chain.
- If more than short term, set the anchor well and consider using a power set.
- If storm conditions will arise, find the most sheltered location available and have a second anchor ready.
Describe three stages of hypothermia and name symptoms and treatment for each.
Stage 1, Mild Hypothermia: violent shivering, slurred speech. Remove wet clothing and wrap torso in blanket. Give warm, not hot, liquids, no alcohol.
Stage 2, Moderate Hypothermia: loss of muscle control, drowsiness, incoherence, exhaustion: wrap patient in blanket or large sleeping bag with another person. Cover the patient’s head. Do not massage. Do not administer fluids.
Stage 3, Severe Hypothermia: Collapse, unconsciousness, heart failure, respiratory failure: a medical emergency. Call the Coast Guard or other available source of assistance if patient not responding to treatment.
Describe 2 methods for getting a person out of the water and safely back on board the vessel.
Swim ladder - may be dangerous in moderate or higher seas
Rope Elevator - Tie one end to a midships cleat or the base of a shroud. Drop a deep bight over the the side and bring the other end up through the stern fairlead and up to the jibsheet winch. Keep holding the MOB with the attachment line, etc., etc.
Dinghy - Inflatable is stable enough to bring MOB over the side. Hard dinghy might allow bringing the MOB over the transom.
Identify common sources and prevention of fires and/or explosions.
Common sources
- Electricity: faulty wiring or electrical devices
- Engine compartment/ fuel leaks
- Cooking (low on list)
Prevention: frequent inspection for faulty wiring, fuel leaks. Store gasoline with care in a way that fumes cannot get into the boat. Propane must be stored in a locker that vents and drains to the exterior of the hull.
Describe the procedure for operating a fire extinguisher.
Fight the fire from a position from which you can escape. Discharge the fire extinguisher in short bursts, aiming at the base of the flame and sweeping from side to side. Okay to use water on wood, fabric, and fiberglass,but not on burning liquids.
Describe immediate actions to be taken when the cabin is filling with water.
Pump and bail while other crew find the leak and work to stem it. If the leak is impossible to stem, and the boat and people are threatened, call for help. Motor or sail to a sheltered shallow area.
Describe immediate actions to be taken when there is a failed steering system.
- Ensure that the autopilot has not been accidentally engaged.
- Locate and attach the emergency tiller. Determine whether the rudder is still working.
- If there is a problem with the steering cable, attempt to repair it.
- Rigging lines from the primary winches can help with the emergency tiller.
- If the boat loses its rudder, call for help and be prepared to set the anchor if required.
