Silverton 38 CONVERTIBLE, Owner'S Manual

Page: 53 / 220

SAFETY-15
Examine your yacht for damage to the
hull and running gear. If no serious damage
is noted, attempt to free the yacht by shift-
ing weight to the bow to raise the stern and
then reverse the engines and back out of the
shallow water into deeper water.
If towing is necessary, DO NOT attach
the tow line to the deck cleats. They are not
designed to take the full load of the yacht
under pressure.
Silverton recommends using a commer-
cial towing service for your safety and to
decrease the potential for additional dam-
age to your yacht as a result of removing
it from the underwater obstruction.
NEVER attach a tow line to a deck cleat
or anchor windlass. The cleat or windlass
may pull free from the deck and cause
serious personal injury or property dam-
age.
Hazardous Weather Conditions _
Storms
Storms rarely appear without some advance
warning. Check the local weather forecast
before you leave port, but be aware that
weather conditions can change rapidly. If
you have a VHF radio, listen to the continu-
ous weather reports issued by the National
Weather Service. If you have a portable ra-
dio, keep it tuned to a station that broadcasts
frequent weather reports. If you are tuned
to an AM frequency, listen for static; it often
means an electrical storm is approaching.
Many boating clubs
fl y weather signals in
the form of fl ags or lights. Learn to recognize
these signals.
Your surroundings can also be a good
indicator of changing weather conditions.
Watch for changes in wind direction or cloud
formations. There is no substitute for a good
understanding of typical weather conditions
and what to do when it takes a turn for the
worse.
Fog
Fog is the result of either cold air passing
over a warm earth surface or warm air pass-
ing over a cold earth surface. You can judge
the likelihood of fog formation by periodically
measuring the air temperature and the Dew
Point temperature (the temperature at which
moisture in the air will develop), which is
given during a normal weather forecast. If
the difference between these two tempera-
tures is small, fog is likely to develop. Always
remember the following guidelines if you
encounter fog conditions:
Unless your yacht is well equipped with
charts, head for shore at the
fi rst sign
of fog and wait until conditions improve
before continuing your cruise. If you
have charts on board, take your present
location bearings as the fog sets in, mark
your position, and continue to log your
course and speed.
REDUCE YOUR SPEED.
Be certain all persons on board are wear-
ing their PFD.
Station a person forward as a lookout.
Sound your horn or fog bell at the ap-
propriate intervals to warn other vessels
of your presence. Refer to the
“Rules
of the Road” for information concerning
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