Safety Check-Up
by Don Casey
At least once a year you should perform a safety check of your boat
and correct any deficiencies.
Life
Jackets
Coast Guard regulations require an approved personal flotation device
(PFD) for everyone aboard. While a locker full of $5 Type II vests satisfies
the letter of the law, a Type II vest is definitely not what you want
in a real emergency. You should have a high-quality Type I life jacket
for every person regularly aboard. And make sure they fit. Children
can outgrow a jacket in a matter of months, and it is not unheard of
for an adult to put on or take off a few pounds in a year. At the very
least, buckles should be re-adjusted to the wearer's new size so the
jacket can be donned in an instant.
If you do any boating at night, the lifejackets aboard should be equipped
with both a whistle and a light. Check to make sure these critical items
are functional and secure.
If you need a new jacket, consider an inflatable. Manually inflatable
PFDs finally have Coast Guard approval, and they have the advantage
of being comfortable to wear all the time. Approval of the automatic
ones is still hung up, but that doesn't make an automatic inflatable
any less effective at saving your life if you will wear it. PFDs have
a distressing habit of being in a locker when the owner suddenly needs
it.
Boats over 16 feet must also have a throwable flotation device aboard.
An approved cushion satisfies this requirement, but it is a lot easier
to stay afloat in a horseshoe buoy. If you have a Lifesling aboard,
toss it overboard to remind yourself how to use it and to make sure
the tether line runs out freely. The line in some early models tended
to resist uncoiling.
Offshore sailors will find greater security in wearing a harness attached
to the boat. Examine the stitching, hardware, and tether of each harness.
If you are buying a harness, some also incorporate an inflatable vest,
providing dual levels of security.
If your boat has lifelines or rails to keep you aboard, make sure they
are solidly attached and in good condition. Lifelines in particular
lose strength to corrosion. Rust stains coming through the cable cover
are a sure sign the lifelines need replacement.
Fire
Extinguishers
If your boat has enclosed engine or living spaces or a built-in fuel
tank, you must have at least one fire extinguisher, two if your boat
is over 26 feet, and three if it is 40 feet or longer. A built-in system
counts as one extinguisher, and a large extinguisher (B-II) can substitute
for 2 small ones (B-I). As with life jackets, if you have a fire aboard,
you will wish you had an extinguisher that lasts longer than 10 seconds-the
capacity of the 10-BC units most boats carry.
Whatever size extinguishers you have aboard, you must service them.
Start by removing the extinguisher from the bracket and shaking it vigorously
upside down-like a stubborn catsup bottle. The motion of the boat tends
to compact the dry chemical (usually baking soda) in the bottom of the
canister, reducing the extinguisher's already limited capacity.
The gauges on extinguishers are notoriously inaccurate. Weighing is
the best way to assess the condition of the internal charge. Weigh a
new unit, or call the manufacturer to find out what your extinguishers
should weigh. Recharge or replace any that are partially discharged.
By the way, inexpensive extinguishers are nearly always fitted withplastic
brackets that are not up to the rigors of the motion of a boat. It is
disheartening to reach for an extinguisher in an emergency, only to
find an empty bracket. While you are servicing your extinguishers is
a good time to replace plastic mounting brackets with heavy-duty metal
ones.
Flares
Boats over 16 feet long used in coastal waters and the Great Lakes are
required to have three day-use and three night-use distress signals
aboard. Flares are the usual choice, satisfying both day and night requirements.
Check the expiration date on your flares and replace any that have expired,
but do not discard the old ones. Most will perform normally for many
years beyond the 42 month life dictated by the Coast Guard regulation.
Despite the day/night rating of handheld and aerial flares, smoke devices
are far superior in daylight. If you do not have at least one smoke
flare aboard, add this important safety item.
Horn
All boats are required to have some device aboard capable of producing
an "efficient sound signal." That is usually a horn. During your inspection,
make sure yours puts out a piercing note, not the feeble bleat of a
dying duck. If you don't have a spare air canister, put one aboard.
Batteries
Check the date on strobe and EPIRB batteries, and replace them if they
have expired. Don't overlook personal strobes attached to the lifejackets.
Put fresh batteries in all onboard flashlights, or at least put replacement
batteries aboard, and in a spot where you can quickly access them, even
in the dark.
First
Aid Kit
The first aid kit is often overlooked until you need it. Get in the
habit of emptying and repacking it annually. Replace expired pharmaceuticals
and renew any bandage materials that show signs of moisture damage.
If your first aid manual is not with the kit, find it-or buy a new one-and
put it there.
It only takes a few minutes to make sure your equipment is up to the
task of keeping you safe on the water.
For
more information about boat safety, consult Dragged Aboard by Don
Casey.
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