NW Explorations
AQUILA OPERATING MANUAL
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Section 6:
Emergency Procedures
6A: Protect Your Lives First...
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Put on life jackets
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Contact the Coast Guard with an emergency “MAYDAY” call.
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If adrift, prepare to anchor to keep the boat from drifting into danger. If the boat is really sinking, consider
“beaching it” if necessary.
•
Launch the dinghy and prepare to board if necessary. Take a handheld VHF radio, if available. Be sure to
wear life jackets!
6B: ...Then, Worry About The Boat!
In a true emergency, you certainly are authorized to call for immediate commercial assistance as minimally
required to assure the safety of you and the boat.
It is not an emergency, however, if neither you nor the boat are at risk.
6C: If You Think It May Not Be An Emergency:
If you have any concern about your long-term safety, contact the Coast Guard, either normally or using an
urgent “PAN” call. Tell them that you are calling to advise them about your situation, so they can keep in touch.
Be sure that the status and safety of the boat and crew is someone’s responsibility while you sort out the boat’s
problem. For example, delegate your mate to keep a watch for hazards, or to operate the boat on course
slowly while you deal with the difficulty.
Here is a checklist for solving the problem:
(A) Isolate it;
(B) Get the manuals;
(C) Get parts;
(D) If necessary, call vendors for help.
Over the years, most problems with boats are caused by misuse!
Holding tanks overflow because they aren’t
checked; heads clog because foreign matter (especially facial tissues and tampons) are put in them; engines
fail because they run out of fuel, then must be “purged” to re-start. Use the boat carefully, and you’ll avoid
these problems.
Almost all problems that are not operator-caused, i.e., that are boat deficiencies, are caused by
pumps that
fail, hoses and belts that break, and seawater strainers that get clogged. Generally, these problems are
annoyances, and usually they are inconvenient, but they still can happen. Try to stay calm, collected, and be a
professional by dealing with the problem in a businesslike, calm way. It will make everyone’s day a better one!