Small Boat Seamanship

Learning Objectives
Be familiar with the different types and
purpose of standard boats
List the members of the small boat crew and
describe their primary duties/responsibilities
Develop a basic understanding for proper
small boat etiquette
Introduction
- Boats are waterborne craft capable of limited
independent operations.

- Sometimes designed to be hoisted onto ships.

- When assigned to ships, used for transporting
supplies and people.

- At sea, serve as lifeboats. It is maintained in a
ready condition at all times for rescue
operations, training of the crew in MOB drills,
liberty boats, and general boating training.
Introduction
- Most standard boats are referred to by their
length, type, and function

-Constructed of metal, plastic, wood and
fiberglass

- In the past the motor whaleboat, motor launch,
motorboat, and LCM-6 filled the requirements
for the ships boat.

- Today, standard boats (utility boats, personnel
boats and rigid hull inflatables) and combatant
craft fill the requirements for ships boats
Types of Boats
Motor Whaleboat:

- Round-bottomed double-ended, 26 ft long

- Used as lifeboat, officers boat, shore party
boat, or mail boat

- Personnel capacity is 20, including crew

- Hoisted by slings or davits into water

- Maximum speed approx 8 knots
Types of Boats
Personnel Boat:

- Designed specifically to transport officers,
although the small types are sometimes used
for shore party boats, lifeboats, or mail boats

1. Gig - Used by commanding officers and
chiefs of staff not of flag rank, identified by a
RED stripe by waterline.

2. Barge - Used by flag officers. Black
hull, white canopy, and a GREEN bottom.
Types of Boats
Personnel Boat:

- Lengths: 26 ft, 28 ft, 33 ft, 40 ft.

- Personnel capacity and max speed varies

- Hoisted by slings or davits

- Used extensively in amphibious exercises and
operations as wave guides and safety boats
Types of Boats
Utility Boat:

- 40 feet in length

- Used to transport personnel or cargo - carry
75 personnel including boat crew

- Hoisted by slings or davits

- Max speed approx 11 knots
Types of Boats
Punts:

- Small, open square-ended boat with oars

- used for working along the waterline of the
ship
Types of Boats
Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB):

- Used for boarding and at-sea rescue
operations.

- Approx. 24 ft long and propelled by a 6
cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine.

- Max speed approx. 30 knots

- Capable of carrying 18 passengers

- Slewing Arm Davit allows for launch and
recovery at ship speed between 12-15 knots
Boat Crew
Responsible for small boat seamanship, upkeep of
craft, and proper training of crew
knowledge of rules of road and buoy systems
small boat engine
hoisting/lowing of small boat
small boat etiquette
Boat Crew consists of the following: Boat Officer
(if necessary), Coxswain, Engineer, Bowhook,
Sternhook (rescue swimmer), Signalman and
Corpsman
Boat Crew
1. Boat Officer:
- Officer or CPO assigned as the Safety
Officer, responsible to OOD for safe and proper
operation of boat

- Directs the coxswain as necessary to ensure
safety precautions are taken and the boat is
safely navigated

- Report to senior line officer onboard =
ultimately responsible for safety and
management of boat
Boat Officer assigned during following
conditions:

- Foul weather or reduced visibility exists or
expected

- Trips of long duration

- First boat trip into foreign or unfamiliar
harbor

- Large liberty parties returning after sunset

- When required by local regulations
Boat Crew
2. Coxswain:
- Responsible for the care and handling of the
boat.

- In charge of the boat in the absence of a
Boat Officer

- Familiar with all aspects of the boat,
including care, operation, capacity, location
of safety gear, and navigation.

- Responsible for the behavior and appearance
of the boat crew.
Boat Crew
3. Bowhook:
- Assist the coxswain in the operation of the
boat.

- Provide lookout while underway, and handle
lines and fenders while mooring and getting
underway.

- Has the knowledge to operate the boat in the
event of an emergency when the coxswain
requires relieving.


Boat Crew
4. Sternhook:
- Assist the coxswain in the operation of the
boat.

- Provide lookout while underway, and handle
lines and fenders while mooring and
getting underway.

- Has the knowledge to operate the boat in the
event of an emergency when the coxswain
requires relieving.
*SAR swimmer


Boat Crew
5. Boat Engineer:

- Ensures proper operation and maintenance
of the boats engine

- Makes any repairs or adjustments while the
boat is underway.
Boat Crew
Man Overboard Additional Boat Crew
requirements:

-Corpsman to administer first aid

-Signalman to maintain visual comms with
ship
Ready Lifeboat
1. Regulations require that a ship at sea has at
least one boat rigged and ready for lowering
to be used as the ready lifeboat.

2. The lifeboat must be manned and full davit
crew standing by for flight operations,
underway replenishments, and plane guard
duties.
*Boat Officer, Signalman, and Corpsman
remain on call
Ready Lifeboat
3. Underway on a daily basis the coxswain will:
a. Muster the boat crew
b. Check the boat and inventory gear
c. Report the boat status to the OOD.
d. Ensure the boat engineer starts / tests the
boat daily
Small Boat Equipment
Life ring
Life preservers
Lights
Harbor charts, compass, and compass log
book
CO2 Extinguisher
Anchor and fenders
Signal equipment
Radio (B-T-B)
Small Boat Safety
General Safety Rules include:

a. Non-operating personnel clear the area
prior to any boat handling operation.

b. Number of personnel riding in a boat
should be kept to a minimum for launching
and stowing.

c. Personnel use monkey lines when raising or
lowering the boat.

Small Boat Safety
General Safety Rules include:

d. Be alert for any malfunction.

e. All personnel involved in the movement of
the boat will wear hard hats and lifejackets

f. All personnel required to wear lifejackets in
heavy weather and cut boat capacity by 50%

g. Sufficient lifejackets for all personnel onboard

Small Boat Etiquette
customs established over years for
smooth loading of passengers,
governing boat traffic, and expedite
movement at piers
Boat Salutes
Rendered to boats carrying officers and
officials
Junior boat salute senior first
Proceed at slowest safe speed
coxswain rise to salute as conditions warrant
Senior boat return salute
engine return to speed
Colors
Small boat within sight or hearing of
ceremony
Proceed at slowest safe speed
Boat Officer (and in their absence
Coxswain) stand at attention and salute
in direction of ceremony except when
dangerous to do so
Others in boat shall remain seated or
standing and shall not salute
Boarding/Leaving small boats
Coxswain salutes when officers
enter/leave boat if conditions warrant
Junior personnel board boats first,
seniors last
Seniors depart boats first, juniors last
At landings, junior boats give way to
senior boats
Small Boat Flag Etiquette
National ensign displayed during
following times:
when underway during daylight in foreign
port
when ships are required to be dressed/full
dressed
when going alongside a foreign vessel
when an officer/official embarked on official
occasion
when senior officer embarked on boat of his
command
whenever senior officer present tells you to
Boat assigned to Officer for
Personal Use
Officer in command displays following insignia
on bow of boat
Flag/General Officer - stars of rank as
arranged in flag in chrome
Unit Commander (not flag officer) replica of
command pennant
Commanding Officer or COS (not flag) an
arrow
Stern typically will have officers abbreviated
title of command
Flagstaff Insignia
Observe insignia fitted at peak of boats
flagstaff to identify officer when
embarked
Types:
Spread eagle - President
Halberd - Flag/General Officer/Cabinet
Ball - Officer of grade Captain in Navy
Star - Officer of grade Commander in Navy
Flat truck - Officer below grade of
commander or civil official not requiring
above honors
Hailing an approaching boat
OOD must take notice to approaching small
boats and rank of senior officer embarked so
that they will be received with proper
ceremonies
hail boat as soon as it is within hearing distance -
Boat ahoy (night) or clenched fist raised in
direction of boat/training binoculars in direction
(day)
Coxswain will reply with specific hail (night) or
number of fingers corresponding to side boy
requirements.
Wave off if no sideboys required
Side Boy Requirements
Indicate the arrival or departure of an
officer, gongs sounded in pairs
Number of gongs = number of side boys
required
Fleet/Vice Admiral 8
RADM 6
Captain or Commander 4
LCDR to ENS - 2
Coxswain Replies
President United States
SECDEF Defense
SECNAV Navy
CNO/Vice Naval Operations
Chief of Staff Staff
CO of ship name of ship
Other Commissioned O Aye, aye
Enlisted Hello
not intending to go alongside Passing
Boat Gongs
indicate liberty boats are soon to depart
over ships general announcing system
(1MC)

3 boat departs in 10 minutes
2 boat departs in 5 minutes
1 boat departs in 1 minute
Number of gongs Meaning
Homework
Read for Monday/Wednesday
Seamanship Chapters 9-11
Surface Ship Ops 3