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Boating Safety
By Frank Rom
Before you even think of taking your brand new boat out for a
trip on the water it is in your won best interest to take a boat
safety course and have a boat safety inspection to check for the
mandatory safety equipment. The US Coast Guard can provide you
with a list of mandatory as well as suggested boat safety
equipment.
Life jackets, or personal floating devices as they are
officially called, should be readily available for every
occupant of the vessel. They should also be adjusted to the size
of the person who is intended to wear them in case of an
emergency. They should be in good working order with all the
straps and clips in place and operational. It is a good idea to
have them fitted to the persons so that if necessary they can be
put on without much further adjusting. In some states there is a
minimum age for which the wear of a life jacket is obligated at
all times.
As a large part of boating safety there should also be present
on board a recently inspected fire extinguisher. It should be
clearly marked so that anybody can spot it if necessary and get
to it in time. There are different types of fire extinguishers,
designed to extinguish different kinds of fires. For boating
safety it is advisable to get a Type B or C fire extinguisher,
these are designed for tackling fires originated or fueled by
oil, grease and gas, or electrical fires.
Sanitation plays his Part in Boating Safety
If your vessel has a certain size, most states will require the
presence of some sort of sanitation devices as a part of the
boating safety as well as for health purposes. Make sure they
are Coast Guard approved and are specifically designed for use
on board a vessel.
Flare guns, or visual distress signals are another thing that
most states will require as a part of the boating safety
equipment. In case of an emergency these can send a bright
signal in the skies, alerting the rescue forces to your
position. The flare gun must again be readily accessible for a
speedy use, but on the other hand they must be stored safely and
out of reach of children, as they can cause a lot of damage when
wrongly used.
As a final part of boating safety, especially for boats with
gasoline engines and specifically when the engine is mounted in
the vessel, good ventilation is cardinal. Not only to avoid any
buildup of carbon monoxide, endangering the cru with poisoning,
but also to prevent gasoline fumes from building up and becoming
a serious fire hazard.
About the Author: Frank Rom runs an information site about
boating and boating vacations. You should also stop at:
Government Auctions: Seized boats and vessels, up to 90% off the
retail value!http://www.boating-102.com
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