Albemarle 280 EXPRESS FISHERMAN, Owner'S Manual

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280 Series Express Fisherman
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the required equipment. You also can contact the U.S. Coast
Guard Boating Safety Hotline, 800-368-5647, for information
on boat safety courses and brochures listing the Federal equip-
ment requirements. Also, check your local and state regula-
tions.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a “Courtesy Examination.”
This inspection will help ensure that your boat is equipped
with all of the necessary safety equipment. The following is a
list of the accessory equipment required on your boat by the
U.S. Coast Guard:
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
PFDs must be Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable
condition, and of appropriate size for the intended user. Wear-
able PFDs must be readily accessible, meaning you must be
able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emer-
gency. Though not required, the Coast Guard emphasizes that
PFDs should be worn at all times when the vessel is under-
way. Throwable devices must be immediately available for
use. All Albemarle boats must be equipped with at least one
Type I, II or III PFD for each person on board, plus one
throwable device (Type IV).
Visual Distress Signals
All boats used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial
seas, and those waters connected directly to them, must be
equipped with Coast Guard approved visual distress signals.
These signals are either Pyrotechnic or Non-Pyrotechnic de-
vices.
Pyrotechnic visual distress signals:
Pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be Coast Guard ap-
proved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible. They
are marked with a date showing the service life, which must
not have expired. A minimum of three are required. Some
pyrotechnic signals meet both day and night use requirements.
They should be stored in a cool, dry location. They include:
• Pyrotechnic red flares, hand held or aerial.
• Pyrotechnic orange smoke, hand-held or floating.
• Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares.
PYROTECHNICS ARE UNIVERSALLY
RECOGNIZED AS EXCELLENT DISTRESS
SIGNALS. HOWEVER, THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR
INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IF NOT
PROPERLY HANDLED. THESE DEVICES
PRODUCE A VERY HOT FLAME AND THE
RESIDUE CAN CAUSE BURNS AND IGNITE
FLAMMABLE MATERIAL. PISTOL LAUNCHED
AND HAND-HELD PARACHUTE FLARES AND
METEORS HAVE MANY CHARACTERISTICS OF A
FIREARM AND MUST BE HANDLED WITH
CAUTION. IN SOME STATES THEY ARE
CONSIDERED A FIREARM AND PROHIBITED
FROM USE. ALWAYS BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL
AND FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S
INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY WHEN USING
PYROTECHNIC DISTRESS SIGNALS.
Non-Pyrotechnic Devices
Non-Pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be in service-
able condition, readily accessible, and certified by the manu-
facturer as complying with U.S. Coast Guard requirements.
They include:
• Orange Distress Flag (Day use only)
The distress flag is a day signal only. It must be at least 3
x 3 feet with a black square and ball on an orange
background. It is most distinctive when attached and
waved from a paddle or boat hook.
• Electric Distress Light (Night use only)
The electric distress light is accepted for night use only
and must automatically flash the international SOS distress
signal. Under “Inland Navigation Rules,” a high intensity
white light flashing at regular intervals from 50-70 times
per minute is considered a distress signal.
Sound Signaling Devices
The navigation rules require sound signals to be made under
certain circumstances. Recreational vessels also are required
to sound fog signals during periods of reduced visibility. There-
fore, you must have some means of making an efficient sound
signal.
Navigation Lights
Recreational boats are required to display navigation lights
between sunset and sunrise and other periods of reduced vis-
ibility (fog, rain, haze, etc.) Navigation lights are intended to
keep other vessels informed of your presence and course. Your
boat is equipped with navigation lights required by the U.S.
Coast Guard at the time of manufacture. It is up to you to
make sure they are operational and turned on when required.