Safety & Training
SAFETY QUIZ Question: What is the single most important safety item you can have on your boat: Answer: Your life jacket. There is no excuse not to wear a life jacket on the water, especially on smaller boats that might be more vulnerable to a breach or capsize. Did you know that 86 per cent of all reported drownings have occurred when the person was not wearing a life jacket? Even on larger pleasure boats, where one tends to be less concerned about
Jim Rich
being ejected into the water, there is always the possibility of a fire, explosion, toxic fumes, or hull breach. At the very least, in any case, always have your life vest on or near you, properly adjusted, and accessible for immediate deployment. What is the best life jacket? The easy answer is, “the one you will wear”. However, there are actually several types depending on your particular boating habits. For instance, there are automatic inflatables, manual inflatables, belt packs, flotation aids, flotation vests, touring and whitewater jackets, and offshore vests. I personally use and recommend two types for any coastal or offshore boating: First, though slightly cumbersome, you will get the most protection from a Type I life jacket in offshore conditions. This jacket has the greatest required inherent buoyancy and turns most unconscious people in the water from a face down position to a vertical and slightly backward position, therefore greatly increasing one’s chance of survival. The other life vest I travel with, and wear in situations such as holding lines when maneuvering through a lock, is an inflatable vest. Though they require some maintenance by keeping the cylinder full and in working condition, they are very comfortable to wear and most adequate in the event one slips off their deck into a calm body of water. Remember, that having life jackets on board is not only for your safety and that of your passengers. It is the law! To meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements, a recreational vessel must have a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket for each person aboard. Also, other laws may apply, such as, under certain conditions, the Federal Law requirement that all children under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket when a vessel is underway. Congratulations! Having read this article, you have now passed my safety quiz! Until next time, happy and safe boating! Jim Rich, Safety and Training Officer
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