"Congratulations, Captain Bill"

We have a new lady on our local waters. Her name is "Blue Skies II". She is a Parker powered by a 150 Yamaha and proudly owned and operated by my good friend Captain Bill. Be sure to say hello to Bill and his new lady the next time you see them out on the water. She will be the pretty one. Captain Bill will be the one with a smile. Congratulations Captain! She's beautiful!

Be Prepared!

It is easy to write about being prepared and having back-ups in place. But until you find yourself in a position of needing a back-up, you really can't appreciate the words. This weekend we left our dock for a twilight trip to a local restaurant. After dinner and catching up with friends, we departed for home. As I have written before, electronics are man made and can fail. Almost immediately, my GPS stopped working. I thought, "Not a problem, I have my spotlight and I am very familiar with the channel." Then my spotlight failed. Usually when that fails, you still have the moonlight or lights on shore to follow. No such luck! No moon and only the treeline to follow. So I did the only thing left to do. I slowed down and slowly cruised home. I know what you are thinking. I should have been more prepared. You're right! However, in my defense, I was in a boat that I use mostly in the day time. Even though it is equipped with required safety equipment, I did not have back-up on board. ALWAYS have back-up systems in place, however, if you find yourself unprepared, DON'T PANIC!! Slow down and have your crew help guide you to safety. If you aren't sure you can safely navigate to your destination, stop and call for help.

Fire Extinguishers

All vessels are required to have a Type B fire extinguisher(s) on board if they have any closed compartments or permanently installed fuel tanks. This covers most boats but I suggest all boats carry at least one "Marine Type USCG Approved" type B on board. Always place the extinguisher in an accessible area so it can be reached immediately in an emergency. There are different requirements for different sizes of boats, so refer to your state boating laws for what you may need for your boat. Hopefully, most of you will never have to use the fire extinguisher. Therefore, it is vital that you include checking your fire extinguisher to make sure it is fully charged as part of your pre-departure check list. It might also be a good idea to buy a new one every two or three years and use the older one as a back-up.

"What are they thinking?"

Every time I venture out on a hot Saturday or Sunday, I am amazed at the lack of concern folks have for their children. I am always forced to slow or completely stop just to blend in to the channel. What is so frustrating about this is that people are pulling their children on tubes or skis in the main channel of the lake. Boats are flying in all directions creating monster wakes with the sole purpose of throwing the tube rider off of the tube. What are they thinking??? Buoys are placed to mark the navigation channels. These channels are to be used to navigate up and down a body of water. Some people must think the buoys are playground markers. There are plenty of coves and less traveled areas to have your tubing fun. Please leave the navigation channels for navigation.

Know Your Surroundings

Each time you go out on the water, you should pay close attention to landmarks and structures on the shore line. You never know when circumstances will cause you to be on the water after dark. All cell phone towers and water tanks have lights at the highest point. These lights are there to keep airplanes from hitting them. These lights also can be a beacon leading you back to your home port. Those of you that are familiar with nautical charts know that these landmarks are marked on the chart. However,if you boat on a smaller body of water and do not use charts, don't always depend on your GPS. They are man made and can fail. Knowing which light to follow will help you find your way. Finally, if you're not familiar with a body of water, get off the water before dark. It's a lot safer.

Don't Neglect the Trailer

I have written a lot about preparing your boat before you go for your next outing. It is equally important to make sure your boat trailer is in good shape. Even if you live on the water and store your trailer most of the season, it is still vital to service your trailer. For instance, when was the last time you greased your wheel bearings? Another problem that will sneak up on you is dry rotting tires. Most trailers sit out in the weather when they are not being used. You can prolong the life of the tires by putting a conditioner on and covering them to keep the sun from drying them out. If you take care of these two items on your trailer, you are less likely to be stuck on the side of the road with a blow out or worn out wheel bearing.

"Wait Out the Storm, You'll Be Glad You Did"

In my most recent post, I wrote about the importance of not venturing out in bad weather. However, sometimes we get to the ramp or dock just as the storm starts. It is still very important not to go out when there is a risk of a storm. But if you are patient and wait for the storm to clear, you may have an opportunity to experience your most wonderful day on the water. The air after a storm is so crisp and the sky is so blue. Most of the boats and rough water are gone. So we go slowly across the water listening to the boat cut through the water like a knife. Oh, what a wonderful experience. So don't give up on your day because of a passing storm. Trust me, it is well worth the wait!

"When in doubt, don't go out!"

If you are like me, when you make up your mind to go out on the boat, you let very little get in the way of your day on the water. And I am sure you have all been caught in a storm or two that has cut your day short. I know what you are thinking,a little rain never hurt anyone. This may be true, but you need to always check the weather before you leave the ramp or dock. There is a big difference in a brief shower and an electrical storm. Lightning kills so you should make sure you stay off the water when there is a chance of thunderstorms. The storm may go around you or never come. However, it isn't worth taking a chance. There will be plenty more days to enjoy the water.

Rules of the Road

Since the early part of the 19th century, governments have been developing different rules and regulations to improve the safety of passengers at sea. In 1972,a set of rules called the 1972 Collision Regulations, or The 72 COLREGS was adopted for all seagoing vessels. In 1980, the U.S. Coast Guard created a set of rules called the Inland Navigation Rules Act of 1980. This set of rules is called "The Inland Rules". Usually when you go in your local marine or book store to purchase a copy of the "Rules of the Road", you will find them in one book listing the 72 COLREGS with the Inland differences. All boats over 12 meters(40 feet) must carry a copy of the "Rules of the Road" on board. If your boat is smaller, I suggest you at least read a copy of the rules. Even though all states have their own boating laws, the basis of these laws are the 72 COLGREGS and "The Inland Rules". Knowing where the laws come from hopefully will give you a better understanding. Remember that the laws are for our protection.