Hunter 50CC, Operation Manual

Page: 59 / 200

Hunter 50
CC
• Boating Safety
4.13
If you can get at the fire, aim the fire extinguisher at the
base of the flames and use a sweeping action to put out
the fire.
If the fire gets out of control, make a distress signal and
call for help on the radio.
Deciding whether to stay with the boat or abandon ship
will be difficult. If the decision is to abandon ship, all per-
sons on board should jump overboard and swim a safe
distance away from the burning boat.
4.5 Distress Signals
4.5.1 Mayday
If you have a VHF radio, heed storm warnings and
answer any distress calls from other boats. The word
“MAYDAY” spoken three times is the international signal
of distress. Monitor marine radio channel 16, which is
reserved for emergency and safety messages. You can
also use this channel to contact the Coast Guard or other
boaters if you have trouble.
Never send a “MAYDAY” message unless there is a serious
emergency and you are in need of immediately assistance.
4.5.2 Visual Distress Signals
The U.S. Coast Guard requires that all boats operat-
ing on U.S. Coastal Waters have visual distress signal
equipment on board. In general, coastal waters include
all waters except rivers, streams, and inland lakes. The
Great Lakes are considered coastal waters, as is a river
mouth more than two miles wide. Boats owned in the
United States and operating on the high seas must also
carry visual distress signal equipment.
Visual distress equipment must be in serviceable con-
dition and stowed in a readily accessible location.
Equipment having a date showing useful service life must
be within the specified usage date shown. Both pyrotech-
nic and non-pyrotechnic equipment must be U.S. Coast
Guard approved.
Pyrotechnic U.S. Coast Guard approved visual distress
signals and associated equipment include: Red flares,
handheld or aerial Orange smoke, hand held or floating
Launchers for aerial red meteor or parachute flares. Non-
pyrotechnic equipment includes an orange distress flag,
dye markers, and an electric distress light.
No single signaling device is ideal under all conditions for
all purposes. Consider carrying various types of equip-
ment. Careful selection and proper stowage of visual
distress equipment is very important. If young children
are frequently aboard, you should select devices with
packages which children, but not adults, will find difficult
to open.
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 Coast Guard Station, your
new dealer, or a local marina about navigational aids
unique to your area.
4.5.3 Running and Navigation Lights
Your boat must have running and navigation lights for
safe operation after dark. Observe all navigation rules
for meeting and passing. Do not run at high speeds dur-
ing night operation. Always use common sense and good
judgment.
Operating at night can present some special challenges.
Not only is your depth perception lessened, bright lights
on the shore can cast misleading reflections on the water
and if you wear glasses, or worse yet, bifocals, you sim-
ply don’t see as well at night as you do during the day.
It is not only important that you be able to identify other
vessels operating in your proximity, it is equally important
that other vessels see you. Most recreational vessels are
less than 30 feet in length and, according to “The Rules
of the Road”, shall be equipped with navigation lights.
These lights not only have a certain arc through which
they can be seen but must be seen from a minimum dis-
tance. Fig. 4.8, on page 4.14 will show you the following
lighting requirements for recreational vessels both less
than 12 meters in length (approximately 39.4”), and over
12 meters in length to 20 meters (65')
Light Arc Color Visible
Range
Masthead
Light 225 Wht 2
Starboard 112.5 Grn 1
Port
Sidelight 112.5 Red 1
Sternlight 135 Wht 2