Scout Boats 295 Abaco, Owner'S Manual

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11.5 Required Safety Equipment
Besides the equipment installed on your boat by Scout, certain
other equipment is required by the U.S. Coast Guard to help
ensure passenger safety. Items like a sea anchor, working an-
chor, extra dock lines, flare pistol, life vests, a line permanently
secured to your ring buoy, etc. could at some time save your
passengers’ lives, or save your boat from damage. Refer to
the “Federal Requirements And Safety Tips For Recreational
Boats” pamphlet for a more detailed description of the required
equipment. You can also contact the U.S. Coast Guard Boating
Safety Hotline, 800-368-5647 or 800-336-2628 and 800-245-
2628 in Virginia, for information on boat safety courses and
brochures listing the Federal equipment requirements. Also,
check your local and state regulations.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a “Courtesy Examination.”
This inspection will help ensure that your boat is equipped with
all of the necessary safety equipment.
The following is a list of the accessory equipment required on
your boat by the U.S. Coast Guard:
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
PFDs must be Coast Guard approved, in good and service-
able condition, and of appropriate size for the intended user.
Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible, meaning you must
be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an
emergency. Though not required, the Coast Guard emphasizes
that PFDs should be worn at all times when the vessel is un-
derway. Throwable devices must be immediately available for
use. All Scout boats must be equipped with at least one Type
I, II or III PFD for each person on board, plus one throwable
device (Type IV).
Visual Distress Signals
All Scout boats used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, ter-
ritorial seas, and those waters connected directly to them, must
be equipped with Coast Guard approved visual distress signals.
These signals are either Pyrotechnic or Non-Pyrotechnic de-
vices.
Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals
Pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be Coast Guard ap-
proved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible. They
are marked with a date showing the service life, which must
not have expired. A minimum of three are required. Some
pyrotechnic signals meet both day and night use requirements.
They should be stored in a cool, dry location. They include:
• Pyrotechnic red flares, hand held or aerial.
• Pyrotechnic orange smoke, hand-held or floating.
• Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares.
P Y R O T E C H N I C S A R E U N I V E R S A L LY
RECOGNIZED AS EXCELLENT DISTRESS
SIGNALS. HOWEVER, THERE IS POTENTIAL
FOR INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IF
NOT PROPERLY HANDLED. THESE DEVICES
PRODUCE A VERY HOT FLAME AND THE RESIDUE
CAN CAUSE BURNS AND IGNITE FLAMMABLE
MATERIAL. PISTOL LAUNCHED AND HAND-
HELD PARACHUTE FLARES AND METEORS
HAVE MANY CHARACTERISTICS OF A FIREARM
AND MUST BE HANDLED WITH CAUTION. IN
SOME STATES THEY ARE CONSIDERED A
FIREARM AND PROHIBITED FROM USE. ALWAYS
BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND FOLLOW THE
MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY
WHEN USING PYROTECHNIC DISTRESS
SIGNALS.
Non-Pyrotechnic Devices
Non-Pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be in serviceable
condition, readily accessible, and certified by the manufacturer
as complying with U.S. Coast Guard requirements. They
include:
•
Orange Distress Flag. (Day use only)
The distress flag is a day signal only. It must be at least
3 x 3 feet with a black square and ball on an orange
background. It is most distinctive when attached and
waved from a paddle or boat hook.
• Electric Distress Light. (Night use only)
The electric distress light is accepted for night use only
and must automatically flash the international SOS distress
signal. Under Inland Navigation Rules, a high intensity
white light flashing at regular intervals from 50-70 times
per minute is considered a distress signal.
Fire Extinguishers
At least one fire extinguisher is required
on all Scout boats. Coast Guard approved
fire extinguishers are hand-portable, either
B-I or B-II classification and have a spe-
cific marine type mounting bracket. It is
recommended that the extinguishers be
mounted in a readily accessible position.
Fire extinguishers require regular inspec-
tions to ensure that:
• Seals & tamper indicators are not
broken or missing.
• Pressure gauges or indicators read in
the operable range.