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While on a boat, you'll want to respect your surroundings. There's no need to throw trash in the water, and you should learn not to make noise or cause trouble for other boaters. You also don't want to do something against the rules because another boater did it. Learn to ask for help if you need it, and don't do something against the rules just because someone else did it. Bring life jackets and protect yours and your passengers lives.
Observing the Rules of the Road when you're on a boat requires careful consideration. While motorized vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians, non-motorized craft should always stay to the right of the channel and pass other vessels on a left-hand side. The boater must also use signals and actions that signal their intention to cross the channel or to stop when a motorized craft is in the way. While it's often impossible to enforce the rules in a crowded harbor, boaters should use their best judgment to keep everyone safe.
Observing the Rules of the Road while on a boat requires that you observe the laws of the road. Inland waters, you must obey the rules of the road. Whether you're on a river, canal, lake, the Rules of the Road are applicable to you and the rules of the road vary by state and jurisdiction. If you're navigating through inland waters, the Rules of the Road may differ from those in the water. You should follow the rules despite the age and experience.
A boat can have very dirty conditions, so keeping your space clean is crucial. A few tricks will help keep your space in tip-top shape, and will save you from wasting time cleaning. For starters, you should try to park your boat on an incline. If you need to work under water, keep the water cool. To avoid getting your hands dirty, keep a trash bag nearby and use an oil-absorbent pad under your work space. Changing the impeller of a generator can also be easy. In this case, it can be a good idea to save it for rebuilding later.
Make a list of the items you'd like to keep onboard your boat. Use your logbook or the MyStuff2 app to categorize items. Toys, cleaning materials, and fishing equipment should be grouped together, and personal items like towels and tools should be in separate categories. Depending on what you need to keep on board, group the items by their purpose. This will save you time and money because you won't have to buy the same items over again.
The purpose of signaling a sailor while on a boat is to alert the other vessel to a maneuver. The reply to the signal should be the same: five short blasts. Power-driven vessels will have more time to react to signaling, and must be as clear as possible. The same signal must be used for passing vessels and those in the area of the maneuver.
The signalling devices used on a boat can be flags or radios. Some are wireless and transmit information to satellites. A Cospas-Sarsat satellite system will receive the information and alert rescuers. Other devices, such as emergency contact numbers, can be used to alert family members. A signaling device on a boat is particularly useful when other vessels are not in sight.
When you're on a boat, staying clear of power-driven vessels is critical to your safety. If you're sailing, you need to be aware of the rules of "pecking order," which govern the interaction between power-driven and sail-driven vessels in open water. A sailboat with a running motor is a motor boat. In open water, however, the "pecking order" between power-driven and sail-driven vessels is more complicated. In the presence of different winds, sailing vessels must steer clear of each other.
In waterways, large vessels must follow a channel and give way to smaller vessels. It's very important to give way to large vessels, especially when they are traveling downstream. Large vessels can be difficult to see from a distance and can be moving very quickly. Be extra cautious as you approach bends in waterways, and use your PFD as often as possible. Be particularly alert when approaching narrow bends in waterways.
There are a number of safety tips for boat operators to follow. They must ensure that everyone on board is aware of the boat's rules and laws. Make use of a checklist before departure and conduct emergency drills with your passengers. Then, keep an eye out for anyone who might go overboard. Always have at least one person at the helm and one person on the passenger seat. If someone goes overboard, stop the boat immediately and monitor them to prevent the situation from getting worse.
If your boat has more than 75 passengers, you must keep track of them. If your boat is undergoing multiple stops, keep a running tally. There is an exception to this rule for vessels that operate between ferry terminals, but this is not a good practice. In any case, you should keep a running tally of passengers on board. The same rules apply to other vessels.
