Carver 396 Motor Yacht 2003, Owner'S Manual

Page: 18 / 234

6
B
OATING
S
AFETY
3808 6/02
S
ECTION
1
• Close portlights, exterior doors and hatches and
secure them. Stow all loose gear below deck and tie
down any gear on deck.
• Reduce speed as the seas build. Make sure all
persons onboard have put on their personal flota-
tion devices.
• Drop a sea anchor to maintain the bow into the
seas. If you do not have a sea anchor onboard, use a
canvas bucket, tackle box, or other object that will
work like an anchor.
Radar reflectors (if installed on your boat) should be 18
inches, measured diagonally. They should be placed 12
feet above the waterline, otherwise, a boat with radar
may have trouble “seeing” your boat.
The following is not an exhaustive list of situations
which may be encountered while boating. You should
obtain training to handle any emergencies which may
arise.
Fire
Any fire onboard your boat is serious. Explosion is
possible. Develop a fire response plan. Respond
immediately.
To help prevent a fire onboard your boat, keep your
bilges clean and check for fuel and gas vapors at regular
intervals. Also, DO NOT fit free-hanging curtains or
other fabrics in the vicinity of or above the stove top or
other open flame devices. Do not store any materials or
equipment of any kind in the engine room.
Every boater should develop a fire response plan to
determine what kind of fire (fuel, electrical, etc.) might
break out, where it might break out, and the best way
to react. Have a plan and, if possible, assign responsi-
bilities to others to allow quicker decisions and reac-
tions.
Emergency
Procedures