Boating Skills and

Seamanship

Lesson 2
Equipment For Your
Boat
Approved by DC-E USCG AuxA, Inc

Lesson Objectives
Safety Equipment
Require for the boat
Desired but not required by law

Legal responsibilities
U.S. Coast Guard Zero Tolerance
Dangers of substance abuse
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary VSC program
2

Power Driven Vessels

Must Be:
Documented
U.S. Coast Guard
Foreign travel
U.S. Citizen
Pleasure use only

Registered Check State Laws

Numbering of Vessels
Registration
Original must always be on-board

Number is on registration certificate

Permanently displayed on forward half
of vessel on port and starboard side
Clearly visible

Registration Lettering
Read left to right
Proper spacing
BLOCK letters and numbers

3 inches or greater
Contrasting color to hull
5

Hull Identification
Number
Transom

ABC 45678 A4 84
Manufactures I.D. Code

Hull Serial Number

Date of Certification (optional)

US- FGE62233K102
6

Capacity/Compliance
Plates
Manufacturers are required to put
compliance PLATES on
motorboats less than 20 feet

Ventilation
Requirements
Many fires/explosions caused by
gasoline fumes in enclosed
engine/fuel compartments
Best detector Your NOSE!
Exhaust fumes can cause carbon
monoxide poisoning detectors are
available
8

Ventilation
Requirements (cont)
Natural ventilation uses ram
effect of motion
Powered ventilation uses blowers
Table 2-1 specifies type required

Natural Ventilation

10

Power Ventilation

11

Warning Label
WARNING
Gas vapors can explode. Before starting
engine, operate blower for four minutes and
check engine compartment bilge for gas
vapors.

12

Backfire Flame
Arresters
Required for inboard enclosed gasoline
engines
Avoids carburetor backfire
Must be Coast Guard Approved or U 1
SAE type
Must be kept clean

13

Backfire Flame Arrester

14

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide
Primary source when boating
Engines, especially generators

Prevention
Turn off engines when activities at stern
Install detector
Underway, change direction periodically if
traveling with the wind

15

Types of Fires
A - WOOD, PAPER, CLOTH
B OIL, GREASE, GASOLINE
C - ELECTRICAL

16

Types of Fire
Extinguishers
Carbon Dioxide
Liquid flashes to cold gas & snow
Excludes Oxygen & snuffs fire
Can cause asphyxiation

Dry Chemical
Sodium Bicarbonate when heated
decomposes, absorbs heat and releases CO2
& steam
17

Fire Extinguishers
Must be Coast Guard approved
Coast Guard Classification
B-1
B-11
Indicates weight of agent and type of fire

18

Types of Fire
Extinguishers
Halon
Fixed systems
Liquid flashes to gas that inhibits
combustion chain reaction
Can cause asphyxiation
Can degrade stratospheric ozone

19

Class B Extinguishers
Coast Guard Class

B-I

B-II

UL Listing

5B

10B

Carbon Dioxide (lbs)

15

Dry Chemical (lbs)

10

Halon (lbs)

2.5

10
20

Required # of
Extinguishers
Length of
Vessel

No Fixed Fire
Ext. System

Fixed Fire Ext.

System

Less than 26

1 B-1

None

26 thru 39

2 B-1 or 1 B11

1 B-1

40 to 65

3 B-1 or 1 B-1
and 1 B11

2 B-1 or 1 B11

21

Fire Extinguishers
All boats with inboard engines
Enclosed living space
Closed compartments where gas or
combustible/flammable materials can
be stored
Permanent fuel tanks
Length of 26 or more
Some boats with double bottoms
22

Life Jackets
MUST be Coast Guard Approved
Proper size
Boats < 16 feet
One wearable for each person

Boats > 16 feet

One wearable for each person
One throwable for the boat

23

Life Jackets (cont)

Wearable life jackets
Must be readily accessible

Throwable cushions or rings

Must be immediately available
ALL LIFE JACKETS, CUSHIONS & RINGS
MUST BE IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION

24

Life Jackets (cont)

Type I PFD

off shore life jacket

Type II PFD

near-shore buoyant vest

Type IV PFD

throwable devices

Type III PFD

flotation aid

Type V PFD

special use device

fully inflatable
25

Type I Offshore Jacket

22 pounds flotation
Will turn most unconscious people face
up
Acceptable on all recreational &
commercial vessels

26

Type II Near Shore

Buoyant Vest
15.5 pounds flotation
Will turn most unconscious people face up
Acceptable on all recreational boats

27

Type III Flotation Aid

15.5 pounds flotation

Many special designs for water sports
Acceptable on all recreational boats
Includes some
inflatables

28

Type IV Throwable
Designed to be thrown, not worn
Must have as an additional
device for boats 16 feet or
longer

29

Type V Special Use

& Hybrid
Special use Must be worn whenever
vessel is underway to be legal
Hybrid Buoyant and Inflatable
Expensive
Old ones must be worn underway
Available as Type I, II & III counterparts

30

Life Jacket
Considerations
Each person, especially children, should be
assigned a jacket
Jacket should fit and be adjusted
Jackets need to be readily accessible
Should be replaced if worn or damaged

31

Sound Producing
Devices

Installed power horns

Portable air horns
Whistle
Hailer

32

Bell
Required for all vessels 12 meters and
over (39.4 feet) under inland rules, or
20 meters (65) & over under
international rules.

33

Visual Distress Signals

Day Night
Pyrotechnic Non-pyrotechnic
Coastal waters inland waters

34

VDS Non-Pyrotechnic

Day

Night
35

VDS Pyrotechnic
Daytime
Smoke
Dye

Nighttime
Hand Held Flares
Aerial Flares

Remember
Keep dry - short burn time
Use only when they might be seen

36

Marine Sanitation Devices

(MSD)
Must be Coast Guard certified type I, II,
or III (A & B)
Look for pump out station symbol

37

Emergency Position
Indicating Radio Beacon
(EPIRB)
What are advantages?
Can be rented

38

Other Equipment
Desired but not required
paddle

Anchors & lines

VHF-FM radio

Dewatering devices

First aid kit

Tools & spare parts

39

Skippers Duties
Responsible for
Safety of crew
Safety of boat
Damage from your wake

Remember the 3 Cs
Caution
Courtesy
Common Sense

Good Samaritan Clause

40

Accident Reports
Required when
A death is involved
Person missing
Injury requiring more than first aid
Property damage exceeds $2,000 (State
limit may still be $500)

Reports used for collecting statistical

data
Not made public
41

Pollution Control
Navigable waters & within 3 nm of shore
Illegal to dump all garbage

3 12 nm offshore
Illegal to dump garbage > 1sq inch

Up to 25 nm offshore
Illegal to dump floatable packing, dunnage &
lining materials

Anywhere
Illegal to dump plastics
42

Pollution Control
Boats > 26 ft must post placard that
outlines restrictions

43

Substance Abuse

DONT

44

Auxiliary Safety
Checklist

Numbering
Life Jackets
Fire Extinguishers
Ventilation
Backfire Flame Arrester
Sound Producing Device
Navigation Lights
45

Auxiliary Safety
Checklist (cont)

Visual Distress Signals

Fuel System
Anchor with Line
Paddle or Oar
Manual Pump or Bailer
Electrical Installation
Galley Installation
46

Summary

Registration Documentation
Numbering HIN
Ventilation
Required Equipment
Desired Extra Equipment
Skippers Duties
Pollution Control
Auxiliarys VSC Program
47