Carver 356 2004, Owner'S Manual

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S
ECTION
1 B
OATING
S
AFETY
Rules of the Road Navigating a boat responsibly requires you to comply
with a set of rules intended to prevent accidents. Just as
you assume other car drivers know what they are doing,
other boaters assume you know what you are doing.
As a responsible boater, you must comply with the
marine traffic rules enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard.
There are two sets of rules: the United States Inland
Navigational Rules and the International Rules. The
United States Inland Rules apply to all vessels inside
the demarcation lines separating inland and interna-
tional waters. The U.S. Coast Guard lists the traffic
regulations in its publication “Navigational Rules,
International-Inland . ” You can get a copy from your
local U.S. Coast Guard Unit or the United States Coast
Guard Headquarters, 1300 E Street NW, Washington,
D.C. 20226.
Other helpful publications available from the U.S. Coast
Guard include “Aids to Navigation” (U.S. Coast
Guard pamphlet #123), which explains the significance
of various lights and buoys; the “Boating Safety
Training Manual” and “Federal Requirements For
Recreational Boats.” Check with your local U.S. Coast
Guard station, your Carver Dealer, or a local marina
about navigational aids unique to your area.
The owner of a boat registered with the U.S. Coast
Guard is issued a Certificate of Number. This certificate
must be onboard whenever the boat is in use. State
registration is also required. If your boat has a VHF
radio onboard, an FCC license must also be displayed.
Check with the U.S. Coast Guard or your state regula-
tory agency to determine what other records are re-
quired on your boat.
In addition to required documents, it is strongly recom-
mended that you maintain the following logs. Log books
are available from maritime supply stores.
• A navigation log containing engine speeds, compass
courses and time records, which are essential for
both cruising and maintenance purposes.
• A radio log, which is mandatory on vessels required
to have a radio. A radio log can be useful to record
unusual events, especially for future litigation.
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