take sounding and match them with sound-
ings on your char ts.
• Station a per son forward on the boat as a
lookout.
• Reduce your speed. F rom time to time, stop
engine and listen for fog signals.
• Sound the proper hor n or fog bell at proper
intervals to w arn other boater s.
• If there is an y doubt in continuing boat
movement, anchor. Listen for other fog sig-
nals while continuing to sound the proper
fog horn or bell for a boat at anchor .
RUNNING AGROUND
Operating in shallow w ater can present a num-
ber of hazards. Sand bar s in nar row inlets are
constantly shifting , making it difficult to mar k
them with buoys. Sometimes sand bar s are indi-
cated by waves as the y form into breakers when
passing over sand bar s. In coastal areas, tides
can change water levels by as much as 30 feet.
Check with local marinas or Coast Guard sta-
tions for tide tables and cur rent char ts.
If your boat r uns aground, fir st check per sons
aboard for injur y. Then check for damage to the
boat. If the drive unit strik es an underwater haz-
ard, check for boat and drive unit damage. If the
engine vibrates excessively after striking an
underwater obstruction, it ma y indicate a dam-
aged propeller. If vibration is noticeable, retur n
to port slowly to pre vent further drive and
engine damage from an out-of-balance condi-
tion. Watch the temperature gauge to mak e
sure you do not o verheat the engine.
If the boat is not taking on an y water, it may be
possible to rock the boat b y shifting the w eight
of the passenger s and gear and b y raising the
drive unit while re versing the engine.
If you ground your boat on a sand bar , shut down
the engine and seek help from another boater or
radio for help. See your dealer as soon as possi-
ble, as sand ingested in the engine cooling
system can cause major engine damage.
WARNING MARKERS
It is a good idea to find out about hazardous
areas and how the y are mar ked by asking your
local authorities.
• Boater s must also recognize the flag
designs which indicate that scuba diver s are
present and k eep well clear of the area.
• Watch for swimmer s. Swimming areas ma y
not be mar ked. Steer clear from the area
and always remain aler t.
• Distress flags indicate a fellow boater is in
need of assistance.
• Navigation markers ser ve as a means of
identifying navigable routes and indicate
water hazards. Boater s should become famil-
iar with na vigation markers and sta y within
marked boundaries and clear of hazards.
REACTING TO EMERGENCIES
Be prepared to deal with emergencies before
they happen. T ry to for mulate a plan for each
type of emergency in advance so that decisions
can be made quickly and without hesitation.
Precious moments lost can mean the difference
between losing and sa ving a life.
FLOODING
If your boat star ts taking on w ater, activate the
bilge pump immediately . Make sure all passen-
gers are w earing their PFDs. Open the engine
compartment, look for the cause of the flood-
ing. Check all hoses, through hull fittings,
seacocks and strainer s. If flooding occur s as a
result of collision or grounding damage, call for
assistance and head for shore if possible.
CAPSIZING AND MAN OVERBOARD
By far, the largest number of boating fatalities
involve capsizing and falling o verboard acci-
dents. By being prepared ahead of time with an
appropriate plan of action, you can greatly low er
your chances and your passenger s’ chances of
becoming seriously injured.
7-10
To prevent boat damage, DO NOT use
deck hardware or water ski pylon for
towing. Use a commercial towing
service.
WARNING
!
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