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Personal Flotation
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on the Colored Text Below For Definitions !!!
Boat Flotation and Capsizing Go To Top All sailboats can
capsize
and without adequate flotation they will sink. There should be enough
flotation so when the boat is righted it will float high enough to keep it from
being swamped with water and allow you to bail it out or “sail” it out using the
self-bailing
scuppers.
A boat's flotation
It is important for small boat sailors to know if their boat has sufficient flotation. One sure method of determining this is to capsize it in water that is deep enough for the boat, but shallow enough for you stand. Push down on one side until the boat starts to take on water, and then hand over hand up the shroud to the top of the mast to pull the mast down to the water. After the boat is capsized on its side, bring it upright again. How high does the boat float? How much water is in the cockpit? How long does it take to bail out the water? It shouldn’t take longer than several minutes. Bailing equipment is also part of standard safety gear. While few small boat sailors carry a pump, a small bucket or a large plastic bottle with the bottom cut off works well. Attach the bailer to the boat with a length of cord to prevent it from floating away during a capsize. A large sponge (the kind used to wash cars) can be used to finish the bailing
In a small sailboat, the most important safety equipment is PFDs (which should be WORN, not stowed). The US Coast Guard also requires that you carry an efficient sound-producing device, and distress signals if in coastal waters or the Great Lakes. While a fog horn can be used only as a daytime distress signal, flares are approved for both day and night. If you carry flares, make sure they are not out of date and they are stored in a watertight container. You should also have a bailer or two, fresh water, warm dry clothes in a waterproof bag (in case it becomes cooler), and water resistant sun blocking lotion with a SPF of 30 or higher. It is useful to have a knife and some basic tools and parts in case you have to cut a fouled line or make some repairs. Your repair kit should contain pliers, screwdriver (s), a roll of duct tape, a spare drain plug, some extra cotter rings/pins, and a short piece of light line. It can be kept in a small ditty bag or waterproof box secured to the boat or inside one of the compartments. It’s also a good idea to carry a first aid kit. If there's any chance you'll be sailing between sunset and sunrise, you are required to have appropriate lights. If the length of your boat is less than 23 feet, a flashlight will satisfy this requirement.
Lights
at Night and Sound Making Devices.
Go
To Top All boats traveling at night
(between the hours of sunset and sunrise) or in areas of restricted visibility
are required to display lights. There are different light configurations
depending on whether a vessel is under power or only under sail, or whether it
is restricted in its ability to maneuver or is engaged in a particular operation
such as towing or trawling with nets. If your sailboat is less than 23
feet in length and does not have
running lights,
you will need a flashlight and be prepared to turn it on in sufficient time to
prevent a collision with another boat.
Hypothermia & Heat Stroke Go To Top Hypothermia occurs
when the body is subjected to prolonged cold, and can be life-threatening.
It can be tricky to spot in others but also in one's self since it impairs
judgment. Care must be taken, especially when you get wet, to look out
for the signs of hypothermia, which can include shivering, dizziness,
weakness, numbness, and again, impaired judgment. Since the likelihood
of getting wet while sailing small boats is high, care must be taken to
dress properly, by wearing enough layers of clothes, including a waterproof
layer to protect against spray and rain (often referred to as foul weather
gear). Some small boat sailors also wear a wetsuit or drysuit as an
extra precaution in conditions that could result in hypothermia after a
capsizing. Choosing garments made of cotton is not recommended, as
cotton does not retain heat when wet. Wool and fleece are both good
choices for layers under waterproof jackets and pants. The time period a person can survive in various water temperatures is shown below. (Adapted from US Coast Guard Auxiliary 8th District.)
70 degrees - 18 hrs with PDF, 13
hrs treading water, 10 hrs swimming
The diagram on the right is an immersion survival chart from
the USCG Office of Boating Safety.
(Click on chart to enlarge )
Tides (the vertical movement of water) can have a major effect on plans to go sailing. A boat left on the beach at low tide in an area with extreme tides is going to be gone in a few hours. Tides greatly affect current (the horizontal movement of water), especially at the mouths of harbors where a lot of water comes in and out. In some areas the force of the tidal current on a boat is equal to that of the wind and you must account for both of these forces in order to get to your destination. This means on an ebb (going out) current you might get out of the harbor quickly, but not be able to come back in until the tide changes. Also, if you are sailing in the back of a bay or inlet in the tidal flats, you have to time your sail for high water, to make sure you have enough water depth to avoid going aground. On the east and west coasts of the USA, there are typically two high and two low tides each day. Tides along the Gulf of Mexico can range from two highs and two lows a day to one high and one low a day along with unequal tides. Tidal charts are available at marinas, and online at NOAA. A similar situation exists if you are sailing on a river
with current. You do not want
to sail down river with the current and have the wind subside, preventing your
return.
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Webpage Last Updated
12/22/2007
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