hnladue
Contributor
With the diving season (and boating season) getting ready to start back up here in the great white north, I thought I'd post some things to look for when boating or choosing a charter boat. I don't have the US Federal Regulations right in front of my, but I do have the New York State regulations, which are about the same. Again this is for all boats in the United States.
First off when looking at your charter boat, look for a safety inspection decal from either the state police, US Coast Guard Auxiliary or the Power Squardron. This sticker means the boat has already gone thru a detailed safety inspection and passed. If they don't have one or you own a boat and would like one, contact your local USCG Auxiliry. http://nws.cgaux.org/index.html
What to look for:
Cleaniness of the deck: it should not be cluttered and easy to walk on
Fire Extingishers: Vessels 26ft to 40ft are required to carry 2 B-I US Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers. 40ft to 65ft must carry 3, 65ft and up need more. On any vessel, one B-II exitnguisher may substitute for 2 B-I. Vessels equipped with approved fixed extinguishing systems (like halon) may carry one less B-I extinguisher. Extinguishers should be mounted. It's recommended to mount them sideways so that the motion of the boat, pounding up and down, doesn't pack the chemicals into the bottom of the bottle. You should be able to feel the chemicals move around when you tilt the bottle. (I get wierd looks when I do this, but if I'm on your boat, I wanna know that extinguisher works). Halon bottle must be weighed and inspected yearly. No tag-it doesn't count as a fire extinguisher.
PFD's (life jackets): There should be one life jacket for everyone on the boat. At least a type III. Vessels 16ft and bigger must have one type IV throwable. All PFD's should be clean, with no tears or rot. They must be easliy accessible. If they are in a locked box, or in bags, they don't count as PFD's. The suspender type must be worn to count as a PFD. Children under 12 MUST wear a PFD at all times, while underway. All PFD's must be US Coast Guard approved (they will say right on them).
Visual Distress Equipment: NYS law states all vessels 16ft and up must carry approved visual distress equipment. A day flag, night light, 3 day/night flares (not expired) all count. Federal law requires all maually propelled vessels to carry visual distress equipment approved for night use.
Navigation lights: should WORK!
Whistle or a horn: again should WORK! Bells are no longer required for inland vessels, but they are nice to have.
Additional suggested equipment: first aid kit, tool kit, bilge pump/bailer, boat hook, oar/paddle, compass, Marine radio, spare parts (ask me about spare parts.... My dad is the king of fuel filters).
Boating and drinking: Here where I live, the coasties follow the federal guidelines... blow a .08 or whatever it is and you're drunk... however, if the local sheriff gets involved, it's ZERO TOLERENCE.... you blow ANYTHING, you lose your drivers license and your boat. It's recommened the caption doesn't drink for 24 hours before a trip.
Diving operations: From my NYS book. It recognizes both the alpha flag and the red/white flag. Under no circumstances should a vessel approach within 100 ft of any craft displaying either flag. Any vessel displaying either flag is to be considered restricted in it's ability to maneuver and should be afforded the right of way.
I'm available to give any vessel an exam if anyone is interested (in Rochester). I'll be contacting Dwight again to get his boat done.
First off when looking at your charter boat, look for a safety inspection decal from either the state police, US Coast Guard Auxiliary or the Power Squardron. This sticker means the boat has already gone thru a detailed safety inspection and passed. If they don't have one or you own a boat and would like one, contact your local USCG Auxiliry. http://nws.cgaux.org/index.html
What to look for:
Cleaniness of the deck: it should not be cluttered and easy to walk on
Fire Extingishers: Vessels 26ft to 40ft are required to carry 2 B-I US Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers. 40ft to 65ft must carry 3, 65ft and up need more. On any vessel, one B-II exitnguisher may substitute for 2 B-I. Vessels equipped with approved fixed extinguishing systems (like halon) may carry one less B-I extinguisher. Extinguishers should be mounted. It's recommended to mount them sideways so that the motion of the boat, pounding up and down, doesn't pack the chemicals into the bottom of the bottle. You should be able to feel the chemicals move around when you tilt the bottle. (I get wierd looks when I do this, but if I'm on your boat, I wanna know that extinguisher works). Halon bottle must be weighed and inspected yearly. No tag-it doesn't count as a fire extinguisher.
PFD's (life jackets): There should be one life jacket for everyone on the boat. At least a type III. Vessels 16ft and bigger must have one type IV throwable. All PFD's should be clean, with no tears or rot. They must be easliy accessible. If they are in a locked box, or in bags, they don't count as PFD's. The suspender type must be worn to count as a PFD. Children under 12 MUST wear a PFD at all times, while underway. All PFD's must be US Coast Guard approved (they will say right on them).
Visual Distress Equipment: NYS law states all vessels 16ft and up must carry approved visual distress equipment. A day flag, night light, 3 day/night flares (not expired) all count. Federal law requires all maually propelled vessels to carry visual distress equipment approved for night use.
Navigation lights: should WORK!
Whistle or a horn: again should WORK! Bells are no longer required for inland vessels, but they are nice to have.
Additional suggested equipment: first aid kit, tool kit, bilge pump/bailer, boat hook, oar/paddle, compass, Marine radio, spare parts (ask me about spare parts.... My dad is the king of fuel filters).
Boating and drinking: Here where I live, the coasties follow the federal guidelines... blow a .08 or whatever it is and you're drunk... however, if the local sheriff gets involved, it's ZERO TOLERENCE.... you blow ANYTHING, you lose your drivers license and your boat. It's recommened the caption doesn't drink for 24 hours before a trip.
Diving operations: From my NYS book. It recognizes both the alpha flag and the red/white flag. Under no circumstances should a vessel approach within 100 ft of any craft displaying either flag. Any vessel displaying either flag is to be considered restricted in it's ability to maneuver and should be afforded the right of way.
I'm available to give any vessel an exam if anyone is interested (in Rochester). I'll be contacting Dwight again to get his boat done.