Carver 46 VOYAGER, Owner'S Manual

Page: 29 / 180

4627 9/02
B
OATING
S
AFETY
S
ECTION
1
must be readily accessible and in serviceable condition. They must also be
of a suitable size for each person onboard. Three PFDs (two wearable and
one throwable) are required regardless of the number of persons onboard.
PFD Type I, Wearable: This offshore life jacket is most effective for all
waters when rescue may be delayed. In the water, its design turns most
unconscious people from a facedown position to a vertical or face-up posi-
tion.
PFD Type II, Wearable: This near-shore buoyant vest is intended for
calm inland waters where there is a chance of quick rescue. It turns its
wearer to a face-up position, but the turning action is not as pronounced as
the Type I, and it will not turn as many people under the same conditions
as a Type I.
PFD Type III, Wearable: Classified as a flotation aid, this PFD will not
turn a victim to a face-up position. This type of PFD is frequently used in
water sports.
PFD Type IV, Throwable: You must also have onboard at least one
throwable PFD Type IV device. The design of the Type IV device does not
allow it to be worn. It must be thrown to a person in the water and held by
the user until rescued. The most common Type IV PFDs are buoyant cush-
ions or ring buoys. This PFD must be in serviceable condition and immedi-
ately available for use.
1.4.2 Visual Distress Signals
The U.S. Coast Guard requires that all boats operating on U.S. coastal
waters have visual distress signal equipment. Boats owned in the United
States and operating on the high seas must also carry this equipment.
Visual distress equipment must be readily accessible and in serviceable
condition. Both pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic equipment must be U.S.
Coast Guard approved. This equipment can become ineffective with age. If
your equipment’s usage date has expired, replace the equipment before
taking your boat out.
Approved pyrotechnic equipment includes:
• Hand held or aerial red flares
• Hand held or floating orange smoke
• Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares.
Approved non-pyrotechnic equipment includes:
• Orange distress flag
• Dye markers
• Electric distress light.