BENETEAU First 44.7, Owner'S Manual

Page: 10 / 24

First 44.7 – GB – 03/12/03 10 / 24
3.2. Visibility
Visibility from the helm station can be obstructed because of high angles of the boat’s trim or because of other
factors caused by one or several of the following conditions:
- Load and distribution of the load
- Speed
- Sea state
- Rain and spray
- Darkness and fog
- Light inside the boat
- Position of overhead and side awnings
- People or movable equipment located in the helmsman’s field of visibility
- Fast acceleration and transition from the displacement mode to the planing mode in the case of powerboats
- Angle of trim tabs associated with the engine (for boats thus equipped)
- Angle of trim tabs associated with the hull (for boats thus equipped)
- Heel of sailing boats, the sails reduce visibility to leeward.
The international regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea (COLREGS) and rules of the road impose a
correct and permanent watch and the respect of priorities. Respect of these regulations is essential.
3.3. Stability, risk of flooding
- Reduce speed before going into tight turns, to avoid loosing control.
- When underway, maintain portlights, windows and opening doors closed.
- Stability is reduced when weight is added aloft.
- Stability can be reduced when towing a boat or lifting a heavy weight with davits or the boom.
- Breaking waves constitute great danger for stability and can cause flooding. Close doors and
companionway hatches in a rough seaway.
- Do not drive the boat with negative trim (bows down) at high speed. This could make the boat heel and
could result in instability in turns. Use negative trim for passing from displacement speed to planing speed,
and at lower speeds in chop.
- Compartments marked as being air tanks should not be perforated.
- If the boat is qualified as unsinkable, it is capable of supporting its passengers, even when flooded.
- On a boat where a bilge pump is not required, it is the responsibility of the user / owner to have at least a
bucket / bailer on board fitted with a means of preventing its accidental loss.