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As a friend of mine once said, the only thing better than owning a nice
boat is having a good friend who owns one. None of the headaches, none of the problems,
none of the responsibility but all the fun when asked out to enjoy the water. But what
happens when your friend, the owner and skipper, is suddenly injured, becomes ill, our
worse yet, falls overboard. You were just along for the ride, you don't know anything
about the boat, about what to do or how to do it - but...suddenly YOU are in charge.
Suddenly, YOU need to know how to run the boat, YOU need to know how to use the emergency
equipment, YOU need to know what to do in each situation that requires action. Don't wait
until YOU are suddenly in charge. Learn the basics before just "going along for the
ride."
Learn Boating Basics
Even if you don't own a boat, if you ever go out in one as a passenger,
you should know the basics of boating. Even if you're just going for a ride, if the
Skipper doesn't give the passengers an orientation, ask where the emergency equipment is
located. Ask the location of the Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), the fire
extinguisher(s), emergency signaling devices and other safety gear. Practice throwing PFDs
or a line to a pretend person overboard, practice anchoring the boat and getting aboard
from the water. Ask about the operation of the boat, how do you start it, how do you stop
it and how to use the radio (if equipped). Better yet, even if you don't own a boat, take
a Basic Boating Safety
Course. The more time you take to educate yourself the more likely you will be a hero
rather than a hindrance, should an emergency arise.
This article covers basic operations of small outboards. Future articles
will cover larger powerboats and sailing vessels. |
