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| Preparation Means Survival
Even seasoned boaters can find themselves facing sudden storms on the open water, even after keeping a watchful eye on marine forecasts before and during their trip on the water. Being prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at you will increase your likelihood of successfully weathering a storm at sea. For example, make sure your vessel carries necessary safety equipment such as a lightning rod, working radio, a compressed air horn (fog horn) or whistle, working running lights and personal flotation devices. Another help is to treat your vessel's windshield with a quality rain shield to improve visibility during a storm. Premium rain shields are made with transparent polymers that create invisible barriers so that rain, wave splash and sea spray beads up and rolls from surfaces. If a storm is heading your way and you can't make it back to shore: Batten down the hatches, close windows and portholes to keep as much water out of the vessel as possible.
2. Stow all gear in secure areas. 3. Demand that all onboard put on personal flotation devices. 4. Ready emergency gear such as flashlight, sounding devices or horns, bailers, first aid kit and flares. 5. Get a new fix on your position and chart your course toward sheltered waters if possible. Monitor VHF Channel 16 for weather updates. 6. If extremely rough seas are at hand, make sure anyone above deck is tethered to prevent being thrown overboard. Tie the anchor to the boat. 7. Ready your sea anchor or drogue. A sea anchor is a floating canvas or nylon cone that attaches to the bow. It looks and works much like a parachute that, when the engine is off, reduces drift considerably, while keeping the bow of the boat in the wind. A drogue helps keep the stern perpendicular to the waves. The drogue is towed off the stern of the boat and is designed to limit the vessel's speed and the angle of yaw. CAUTION: Boaters need special training to understand the proper use of a drogue as the steering control gained by using a drogue can also mean a proclivity to capsizing Turn on navigation lights. Handling a Boat in Stormy Seas 1. Maneuver so the boat takes the initial and heaviest winds on the bow, not abeam. (The smaller the boat, the more important it is to head into the wind.) 2. Waves should be approached at a 45-degree angle. This will help keep the propeller underwater and reduce pounding. 3. In moderate seas, slow your speed so you can ride atop and over a wave. Avoid driving the bow into a wave or riding to the top of the wave and falling off the back, which could bury the bow. 4. Remember ... the heavier the seas, the slower your boat speed to minimize strain on the vessel and maximize steering control. 5. Continue to keep the bilge free of water to prevent the rolling effects of sloshing water below. Dealing with Lightning & Thunderstorms A thunderstorm more than a mile away from your vessel can produce lightning that can strike your boat. In fact, the National Weather Service reports that lightening can be generated as far as 10 miles away from a storm. The service recommends that mariners use the "30-30 Rule" when visibility of the storm is still good: Once you see lightning, count the seconds until you hear thunder. If that time is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within 6 miles of you and is dangerous. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning flash before leaving shelter. Within that time there could still be a threat of a lightning strike ... even if it is sunny and the sky is clear. Note the following storm survival tips: 2. Lower or remove radio antennas and other metal rod objects (unless they are part of a lightning protection system). 3. Disconnect and don't touch any electronic equipment, including the radio. 4. Stay in the center of the cabin or as low in the boat as possible to avoid becoming a human lightning rod. For the same reason, do not put each hand on any items connected to the electrical system at the same time.
A lightning protective mast will generally divert a direct lightning strike within a cone-shaped radius two times the height of the mast. Therefore, the mast must be of sufficient height to place all parts of the boat within this cone-shaped zone of protection. The path from the top of the mast to the "water" ground should be essentially straight. Any bends in the conductor should have a minimum radius of eight inches. To provide adequate protection, the entire circuit
from the top of the mast to the "water" ground should
have a minimum conductivity equivalent to a No. 8 AWG copper conductor.
If a copper cable is used, the individual strands should be no less
than No. 17 AWG. Copper metal or strips should be a minimum of No.
20 AWG. Major metal components aboard the boat, within six feet of the lightning conductor, should be interconnected with the lightning protective system with a conductor at least equal to No. 8 AWG copper. It is preferable to ground the engine directly to the ground plate rather than to an intermediate point in the lightning protection system. If the boat's mast is not of a lightning protective design, the associated lightning or grounding connector should be essentially straight, securely fastened to the mast, extended at least 6 inches above the mast and terminate in a sharp receiving point. The radio antenna may serve as a lightning protective mast, provided it and all the grounding conductors have a conductivity equivalent to No. 8 AWG copper and is equipped with lightning arrestors, lightning protective gaps, or means for grounding during electrical storms. Most antennas do not meet these requirements. The height of the antenna must be sufficient to provide the cone-shaped zone of protection. Antennas with loading coils are considered to end at a point immediately below the loading coil unless this coil is provided with a protective device for by-passing the lightning current. Non-conducting antenna masts with spirally wrapped conductors are not suitable for lightning protection purposes. Never tie down a whip-type antenna during a storm if it is a part of the lightning protection system. However, antennas and other protruding devices, not part of the lightning protection system, should be tied down or removed during a storm. All materials used in a lightning protective system should be corrosion-resistant. Copper, either compact-stranded, concentric-lay-stranded or ribbon, is resistant to corrosion. The "water" ground connection may be any submerged metal surface with an area of at least one square foot. Metallic propellers, rudders or hull will be adequate. On sailboats, all masts, shrouds, stays, preventors, sail tracks and continuous metallic tracks on the mast or boom should be interconnected (bonded) and grounded. Small boats can be protected with a portable lightning protection system. This would consist of a mast of sufficient height to provide the cone of protection connected by a flexible copper cable to a submerged ground plate of at least one square foot. When lightning conditions are observed in the distance, the mast is mounted near the bow and the ground plate dropped overboard. The connecting copper cable should be fully extended and as straight as possible. The boaters should stay low in the middle or aft portion of the boat. |
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The United States Coast Guard recommends the following steps to prepare
a vessel for a storm:
1. If possible, store your vessel ashore as far from the water as possible. 2. If you are unable to store the boat in a garage or other shelter, secure the boat to strong trees or a "deadman" anchor and remove any objects that could be loosened by strong winds. (A "deadman" anchor is a buried object such as a log, pipe or rock to which you would attach the boat trailer. ILLUSTRATION: Depicts boat moored with four lines - 2 anchors set from the starboard side bow and stern - 2 lines attached to trees from the port side bow and stern. 3. Fill a trailered outboard boat with water to increase weight, and leave the drainplug in. 4. Place wood blocks between the trailer frame and springs to support the extra weight. If your boat must stay in the water you have three options: 1. Berth at a dock with sturdy pilings and reasonable shelter from open water and storm surge. Double up all mooring lines but provide enough slack so the boat can rise with the higher tides. Cover all lines with chafe protectors (double neoprene garden hose cut along the side) at points where the line is likely to wear ,and put out extra fenders and fenderboards (the more the better).2. Anchor the boat in a protected harbor where the bottom can allow
a good anchor hold. An advantage to anchoring is that the boat can
more easily respond to wind and water changes without striking docks
or other boats than when moored. Heavy and extra anchors are needed
for this option and enough line should be on hand to allow a scope
of at least 10:1 for each anchor. 3. Hurricane Holes are ideal locations to moor your boat during
a hurricane. These are deep, narrow coves or inlets that are surrounded
by a number of sturdy trees which block the wind and provide a tie-off
for anchor lines. The best location for a hurricane hole is one
far enough inland to avoid the most severe winds and tides, yet
close enough to reach under short notice. (You may want to scout
out a satisfactory hurricane hole ahead of time! ) ILLUSTRATIONS OF ANCHORING OPTIONS: Above, at left, moored in harbor with 3 anchors spaced from the bow. Above, at right, moored at dock with 6 lines - 3 on each side at the bow, stern and midpoint. Return to Top |
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| Radio
Channels and Uses
Marine VHF channels are divided into categories that are determined by the type of messages broadcast. The most commonly used channels include: Channel 16 - DISTRESS SAFETY AND CALLING - To get the attention of another station (calling) or in emergencies (distress and safety). Channel 6 - INTERSHIP SAFETY - For ship-to-ship safety messages and for search and rescue messages and ships and aircraft of the Coast Guard. Channels 96, 68, 69, 71, 72, 78, 794, 804, 677 - NONCOMMERCIAL - Messages must be about the needs of the ship. Usually, messages concern fishing reports, rendezvous information, and repair and berthing information. (Use Channels 67 and 72 only for ship-to-ship messages.) Channels 13 and 67 - NAVIGATIONAL - (Also known as the bridge-to-bridge channel.) Messages must be about navigation with other ships. Messages must be short. Power output must not be more than 1 watt. This is also the main working channel at most locks and drawbridges. Return to Top Fog Conditions If possible, finding a spot to safely anchor is the best way to ride out foggy conditions. Once anchored, however,, you must sound your compressed air horn (or whistle) for 5 seconds during every minute anchored. If you hear another vessel approaching, give the sound signal to alert oncoming vessels to your presence… One Short Blast and One Prolonged Blast. Should you find that you must operate a vessel in fog conditions immediately reduce speed and remember the proper following sound signals to avoid collision: Two Short Blasts: You are turning to port and will pass the other vessel on your starboard side. Three Short Blasts: This means that a boat is slowing or stopping to avoid collision.Five Short Blasts: This means danger. If you believe a collision is imminent or that there is confusion in the sound signals this is an appropriate signal. (A short blast is about 1 second. A long blast is about 5 seconds.) Treat your windshield with a quality rainshield product to reduce fogging and improve visibility. It's bad enough to be caught in a storm at sea and to worry about navigation, lightning protection and other safety measures. What's worse is having to struggle for visibility because of a foggy or rain-soaked windshield. A number of quality products are available to prevent your windshield from adding to your storm woes. Windshield rain guard products enable water to roll off the surface and prevent unnecessary fogging. Here is a short list of premium quality rainproofing products available at some of the specialty marine supply stores:
The following marine maintenance products will help you prepare your vessel for all weather conditions: |
The
National Fire Protection Association, Lightning Protection Code,
suggests the following ways that a boater can protect his boat and
minimize damage if it is struck or near an area where lightning
strikes:
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