Robalo 2012 220, Owner'S/Operator'S Manual

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• Have all persons on board put on their personal floatation devices.
• 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 persons on board should jump
overboard and swim a safe distance away from the burning boat.
Guidelines for Fire Prevention
• Check the bilge for fuel leaks
• Check cleaning products for flammability
• Ventilate when cleaning or painting
• Disconnect electrical system from power source when perform-
ing any type of maintenance
• Use extra caution when using exposed flame around urethane
foam
• Extinguish smoking materials carefully
• Ensure ventilation systems are not obstructed
• Use only approved marine cooking and heating systems
• Open flames demand constant attention
• Keep flammable materials in approved containers
• Replace circuit breaker fuse with one of the same amperage
• Electrical appliances must be within rated amperage of boat
circuits
• A qualified marine electrician should service the electrical
system
Flooding, Swamping or Capsized Boat
Flooding or swamping is usually caused by the actions of an inat-
tentive boat operator, or by hazardous weather or water conditions.
To prevent boat flooding:
• Install drain plug before launching.
• Ensure proper bilge pump operation.
• Do not overload boat.
• Adjust boat speed and trim to match sea and weather
conditions.
• Close all cabin hatches, doors, etc. while underway to prevent
flooding due to heavy seas or rain. Ensure proper ventilation to
avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. See carbon monoxide hazard
information later in this chapter.
• When only using one anchor, it should be attached to the bow of
the boat.
• When slowing down or moving in reverse do not allow wake or
following seas to flood cockpit.
If your boat becomes swamped or capsizes, put on a PFD immedi-
ately and set off a distress signal. Chances are good that a
capsized boat will stay afloat. For this reason, stay with the boat. Do
not leave the boat or try to swim to shore except under extreme
conditions. A capsized boat is easier to see than a swimmer, and
the shore may be farther away than it appears.
More often than not, boats sink while docked. Any number of factors
may contribute to these sinkings. There may have been a mechani-
cal failure such as a failed bilge pump or an electrical problem such
as a dead battery or tripped circuit breaker. Check your boat regu-
larly if it is docked for an extended period of time to make sure
everything is in order.
Hypothermia
If a person falls overboard, hypothermia may be an immediate con-
cern. Hypothermia means a person’s body loses heat to the water
faster than the body can replace it. If not rescued, the person will
become exhausted or likely drown. In general, the colder the water,
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WARNING:
Smoking, poor maintenance, or carelessness when
refueling can cause hazardous conditions. Always follow proper
refueling procedures for your boat.