Boston Whaler 280 Dauntless, Owner'S Manual

Page: 33 / 163

Chapter 1 • Safety
1-12
R R
280 Dauntless
Swimming, Diving and Water Skiing
Swimming
• Do not swim near a moving boat.
• Many areas prohibit swimming from a boat
except in designated areas.
• Turn off engine in gear (to prevent propeller
windmilling) before picking up swimmer.
Sport Divers Flag
- Red flag with diagonal white
stripe marks a diver in the water.
Code Alpha Flag
- Blue and white pennant
designates boat being used in dive operations.
Diving
Recognize and respect diving flags (see Figure
1.12.2). Keep at least 100 feet (30 meters) away.
Two red flags: Winds
34-47 knots
(39-54 mph)
Red flag: Winds to
33 knots
(38 mph).
Gale Small craft
Square red flag
with black box:
Winds 48-63 knots
(55-73 mph)
Storm
Two square red
flags with black box:
Winds above
64 knots (74 mph)
Hurricane
Weather Warning Pennants
Figure 1.12.1
Diver’s Flags
Figure 1.12.2
RED WHITE BLUE
CODE ALPHA
FLAG
SPORT DIVER’S
FLAG
WHITE
Water Skiing
• Always have two persons in the boat, one
at the controls and one who can easily and
continuously look at the skier.
• Insist that anyone who water skis must know
how to swim.
• Insist that skiers wear approved personal
flotation devices (PFD’s)
• Ski only in daylight when visibility is good.
• Never drive the boat directly behind a water
skier. At 22 knots (25 MPH), it takes only 5
seconds to overtake a fallen skier who was 60
meters (200 feet) in front.
• Ski only in areas where skiing is permitted.
• Observe local restrictions on towline length.
• Learn the signals to communicate with a skier.
The skier is to control the boat through hand
signals (see Figure 1.13.1).
• This vessel will handle differently while
towing a skier. Experiment carefully to learn
the difference. Skiers may start from the shore
or dock, if boat traffic allows. When returning,
pick up skiers from water. Do not ski back to
shore or dock.
• Give immediate attention to fallen skiers.