Safe, Happy and Sober Boating

BWI...no, that's not Baltimore Washington International Airport. The delays you'll face if you're found BWI are so much longer and more problematic, that you'll wish you were grounded in a snowstorm at the airport.

BWI is Boating While Intoxicated! Also called Boating Under the Influence. That means Alcohol, Narcotics or any Drugs, prescription or otherwise!

Let's face it, having a beer, or a cocktail ,or a few drinks, just seems to go along with a sultry summer day at the boat. The problem is when people have more than constitutes legal intoxication, which is .08 BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) in most states and then get behind the wheel of a boat and operate it. Some people, in fact, don't need to even have the legal limit to become unable to operate a boat safely, and even if they do not have that .08 limit in their system, thay can be considered "impaired" and still arrested if they are operating a vessel unsafely.

Most states now have a ZERO BAC tolerance for those under the legal drinking age. This pertains to BWI as well as the DWI laws. If a person under the legal age to consume alcoholic beverages is found to have alcohol in their bloodstream, they will be immediately arrested. In fact, some states now have a requirement that teens caught under the influence, and driving, will lose their ability to have a drivers license until they are 21! And, that goes whether they are caught in a car or a boat!

The costs of BWI or DWI (Called DUI or Driving Under the Influence) are astronomical. Estimates in California are that it can cost $10,000 for the first offense, considering legal fees, fines, etc. Your vessel could be towed or impounded by the Coast Guard or Marine Police, and, if you're involved in a collision and cause property damage, bodily injury or God forbid, a fatality while operating under the influence, you could be facing felony charges and huge fines as well as lawsuits. Lawsuits not only by persons on a vessel you might hit, but by people on your own vessel who are injured by your negligence.

If you think it can't happen, think again! In my career, I've responded to many incidents where the operator was "three sheets to the wind" and thought the damage caused by his vessel was minor. Inebriation tends to do that...make everything seem minuscule. Even backing over a swimmer seemed unimportant to one "captain" when he reversed his out drive as a swimmer was hanging on. Granted, the swimmer should never have been there; they both were intoxicated, but the operator never looked, and in his state, probably would never have seen the swimmer anyhow.

Please remember that safe boating is sober boating. Life is so precious that it makes no sense to waste it foolishly. Enjoy partying at the dock. If you drink, drink responsibly. Don't wander all over the docks while drunk, either. (We had a man fall overboard some years ago and drown after a night of heavy drinking; he was found the next morning). It might sound very funny, but if you've had a bit too much to drink and feel the absolute need to walk around on the docks, wear that life vest. Being tipsy on the dock with a life vest sure beats being cold and dead in the morgue.

My wish for each and every one of you is a safe and happy holiday season filled with love, happiness and that your new year is bright and prosperous as you look forward to a great boating season ahead.

Safe Boating!

MARINE ELECTRICAL SAFETY

In the harsh marine environment, electrical systems take a beating. Exposure to salt, fuel, ultraviolet radiation, strain, abrasion and overloading are a few of the reasons. You know how some of your 12 volt systems look after a few seasons; your shore power system is in the same environment.

Every year, we read of untold millions of dollars in marine losses, and occasional fatalities, due to faulty, or improperly installed. marine wiring. The facts are that 110 volts can kill; as little as 1/10 of an ampere is all it takes. And, talk about heat, a short circuit can generate well over a thousand degrees of heat, more than enough to ignite wood, fiberglass and most other boat building materials.

Some safety hints:

1. Use only a shore power cord set capable of handling your boats power load, and UL Listed for the marine environment. Marine cord sets are available in two common load ratings, 30 amperes and 50 amperes. If you have a 50 amp system, use a 50 amp cord set. A 30 amp cord set will overheat and will likely fail over time.

2. Use only plugs and connectors designed for marine service. Taped together wiring laying on docks, or on deck, is an invitation to disaster.

3. Don't use regular outdoor extension cords. These are subject to rapid deterioration, and expose you, and your boat, to significant danger of fire and electrical shock.

4. Check your shore power cord regularly. It should be free of knots, have no frayed areas, and the male and female connectors secure and weathertight. If it is damaged or deteriorated, replace it.

5. Keep your shore power cord out of the water. Rapid loss of zincs on your boat from stray electrical current reaching your hull is costly, but the danger to divers, and others who may be in the water, can be deadly.

6. Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's) on all 110 volt electrical outlets on your boat. If your boat didn't come with GFCI's, you can install them for about ten dollars each. They interrupt the flow of electricity when a ground fault (leakage) of electricity is far below the lethal zone.

7. Don't "jerry rig" electrical wiring. If you can't handle the job, have a qualified electrician, competent in marine wiring, do the job. It will be a lot less costly in the long run.

If you have a 110 volt generator on board, the electrical system should be carefully monitored for deterioration. The generator is usually in the engine room, where the marine elements can damage and corrode components without being noticed. If you have any reason to suspect an electrical problem, have your systems checked out as soon as possible.

Routine inspection and maintenance of your shore power electrical system is not difficult. All it takes is a little time and care, to extend the life expectancy of your electrical system, and YOU!

Safe Boating.

Mosquitoes and Other Annoying Buzzing Things

Many of us are annoyed at small things that buzz, and cause us to flinch and shake our heads in disbelief. Yet, all such things cannot be eliminated simply with a flyswatter or a large can of Raid. Yes, I am talking about Personal Water Craft or PWC. Sometimes better known as Jet Skis, water bikes, Sea-Doo's or similar, although I have heard them, and their operators, called things I won't mention here!

PWC's, ridden responsibly, are great fun. They provide a relatively inexpensive means for tens of thousands to enjoy the water, and unfortunately, for a few to be careless, irresponsible and, in some cases, downright negligent. As a result of such carelessness,often on the part of other riders, some have died, and many others have suffered serious injury.

PWC's are not toys. They are high performance, high speed water craft that should be handled as seriously as one handles a high performance boat or car. There is a time and place for speed and fun, and a time to operate slowly and cautiously. Launching areas, marinas, mooring areas and high boat traffic areas are NOT the place to operate at high speeds.

Many of the new models are multi-rider capable and have high-horsepower engines. Although manufacturers agreed to limit speeds of to 65 miles per hour, tuners have brought the speeds way beyond that and, in many cases, far beyond the safe handling capacity of the vessel, or the operator.

PWC operators, like any boat operator, are responsible for the damage done by their wake. Running too fast in a marina area can result in boats at berth being damaged. Running in or close to swimming areas can result in injury or even death to swimmers. And, jumping wakes too close to the stern of large vessels can have catastrophic results. At that point, the PWC operator cannot see approaching vessels, and may easily run into, or be run over, by a vessel moving in the opposite direction.

All craft, whether larger vessels or PWC's, need to observe the rules of the road, and use common sense in operating their craft. Failure to do so will result in injury, death, and the one thing we all dislike most, more regulation. The move has been afoot for years for operator licensing for boats, and some states have enacted laws that require a permit to operate a boat. Due to the proliferation of personal water craft, and the carelessness of some operators, even some boat owners are calling for licensing, or at least mandatory safety education, for PWC operators.

There are a lot of responsible boaters, and PWC owners out there. It's up to each and every one of us to operate our craft in a safe, responsible manner. If we don't, restriction, regulation and laws will hamper everyones enjoyment of our waters.

So, like mosquitoes, PWC are not likely to go away any time soon. We must learn to live with them. But, keep that flyswatter and can of Raid handy, anyway. It won't help with the PWC's, but it might help if you decide to head for the bush to rid yourself of the incessant drone of those PWC's!

Safe Boating!

BREATHLESS

Interesting how we take so many things for granted. Sunshine, warm breezes, summer nights, breathing. Wait a minute, what's this breathing all about? It's a fact that we all breathe. Without life sustaining oxygen, we'd all be at Davy Jones' Ball.

Our air is comprised of about 21% oxygen. That's what it takes to breathe naturally. When the percentage goes down to 16% or so, breathing gets to be a chore. And as the oxygen percentage gets lower, so do we, until we are rendered unconscious, and ultimately lifeless, by a thing called anoxia, which means lack of oxygen.

On a vessel, air is not usually a problem. There's plenty of it, and it all contains about the right amount of life giving oxygen. But, there may be a sinister figure waiting to sneak in and take your breath away. It is called carbon monoxide. Tasteless, colorless and odorless, it silently steals into your living spaces, and infiltrates your body through your lungs and into your blood stream. There it inhibits the blood from carrying oxygen, and if not caught in time, sends you to shake hands with Davy Jones and other long lost sailors.

At mooring or anchor, and on deck, is no guarantee that carbon monoxide poisoning won't pay a visit. Adjacent boats, running their engines, can send your carbon monoxide levels sky high. Generators running, with the exhaust reentering the vessel through hatches, ports, or other openings has resulted in death. A group of boaters, happily rafting up off Catalina, were enjoying a day of fun and sun. Maybe too much fun in the sun, as a number of participants complained of headache, nausea, dizziness, mental confusion or fatigue. One of the boaters recognized that something was very wrong, much more than too much beer and sun. Suddenly, the droning of the generators on the rafted up boats made her realize this was carbon monoxide poisoning! Had there not been a combination of her sharp observations, a fast run to Los Angeles, ready paramedics and the availability of a hyperbaric chamber, this trip would have had a tragic ending. Luckily, all survived.

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. It has no warning properties. High concentrations may cause only transient weakness and dizziness before death. Longer term exposure results in one or more of the symptoms described above. Carbon monoxide poisoning is cumulative, meaning lower concentrations over hours or days can result in poisoning.

Prevention is much better than cure. The first line of defense is a good carbon monoxide detector. There are a number available, but those built to withstand the marine environment are best. Good cabin and bilge ventilation with fresh air, and an exhaust system, free of leaks, that disperses the exhaust well behind, or off to the sides of the vessel, are other safeguards.
Stop the silent killer on your vessel before he stops you. Be aware and be prepared.

Safe Boating.

DISTRESS SIGNALS

I know how some people think of distress signals. This is what your stomach tells you after a big night at the club, or after a holiday weekend. OK, I'll buy that, but what about the ones you have on board. You know, the ones back there in the cockpit or lazarette, or somewhere? Right, the ones you'll need a lot more than Alka-Seltzer, when you're in distress someday.

During my Coast Guard years, I saw a lot of people in distress, some of whom would likely have never made it, had it not been for the sharp eyes of a crewman on lookout. I never cease to be amazed at the lack of good quality distress signals on vessels. Folks, no matter how you look at it, these things are as important as your PFD in an emergency. No matter how long you stay afloat, if no one comes to get you, the final result is the same, just slower. Yes, that's a chilling thought, but no more chilling than 24 hours in the cold offshore waters.

Why are there dating requirements on aerial flares and other pyrotechnic devices? Old flares appear to be good, and there is a good chance they will work even if outdated. But dating requirements were established to help assure the distress signals will work every time they are needed. The "shelf life" of these signals is predicated on the average user, and the handling that user will likely give the signals. If everyone kept their signals in air and water tight containers, they would probably last much longer than the three years between manufacture and expiration. If you leave them sloshing around in bilge water, I can guarantee a shortened life span. Keep your distress signals in a dry area, free of unusual heat, and you'll be able to keep your outdated signals for spares.

Smoke canisters and hand held smoke devices must also meet dating requirements. Same with fusees, or hand held flares. They need to be within date and maintained in good condition. Ordinary road flares are not acceptable, since they are not dated and do not bear a USCG label. And, most road flares are subject to deterioration due to their construction, which is not meant to stand up to the rigors of marine storage.

It is wise to carry more distress signals than required; remember USCG requirements are just minimums. And, for voyages far offshore, SOLAS listed distress signals may be a prudent buy, since they are designed not only to meet, but to exceed all USCG standards. Whistles, PFD lights or strobes, signaling mirrors and a hand held VHF radio are important safety items as well.

Since 1982, over 22,000 people have been rescued using the COSPAS-SARSAT system which uses satellite tracking of distress signals. For those of you who purchased the older 121.5 MHz EPIRB's, as of February 1, 2009 ,the signal will no longer be picked up by satellite. You will need to purchase a new 406 MHz Category I or II EPIRB to assure you will be able to be found in an emergency! For offshore voyages, a reasonably inexpensive, (considering what a life is worth?) a 406 Mhz EPIRB, with its multiple frequency signals, and "signature" transmissions to SARSAT satellites, is a wise choice.

Incidentally, the old EPIRB's may still have their signal picked up by commercial aircraft, but that does no good unless there is one in the area. Plus they don't look for your signal specifically...it's just the luck of the draw!

Request a copy of the US Coast Guard and your specific State requirements, and be sure your equipment meets the minimum standards. A no-cost Coast Guard Auxiliary inspection each year is one way to be sure you exceed the minimums for safety.

If, in over forty years of boating, I have learned one lesson well, it is that the key to survival is you. You and your crew, and the preparations you have made, are the only things you can count on in an emergency. The best safety and distress signals will not work unless you take the time to learn their correct storage and deployment techniques, and when to use them to their best advantage. The time for that is now, not when the distress call identifies your vessel.

Safe Boating.

CHANCES ARE

All of us take chances. Some are small and others require that you literally "bet your life". It's those major chances that are likely to result in serious injury, or even death.

We all cheat a bit when we use hazardous products. Remember when you sprayed touch up paint on your engine, down in the bilge? Wow, pretty good high, huh? Unfortunately, your lungs, kidneys and especially your liver, didn't enjoy it at all. And how about that little fiberglass repair you did. The fumes were really heavy. Again, your internal organs suffered. What about washing up with solvents? Lacquer thinner, acetone or MEK work great in dissolving that sticky resin. Too bad it's doing the same to your liver. Remember how your hands turned white when you cleaned them off with lacquer thinner? It defatted your skin; think about the damage it was doing internally!

Let's talk about solvent safety for a minute. You've all heard that alcohol use frequently results in liver disease. That's because alcohol, which is a solvent, attacks the liver and destroys it. So we all hoist a few now and then, and our livers are doing fine, right. Yep, most likely so. But remember, the degree of damage is dependent on three distinct factors, time, total and toxicity.

For example, having a few drinks every weekend spaces out the time, the total amount is low, and the toxicity of drinkable alcohol is relatively low on the solvent scale. Now if you wash your hands with a few ounces of industrial solvent, like methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or methylene chloride twice daily, you're in big trouble. The time factor is much more frequent. the total amount is far greater, and the toxicity is extremely high. In fact, you can lose over 50% of your liver function and may never know it, unless you contract hepatitis or otherwise have a liver function test.

When you work with any material containing solvents, or the solvents themselves, give your liver a break. Work in well ventilated places. Induce ventilation if needed, but not with ordinary fans that may spark and ignite the fumes. In some cases a respirator may be needed. Use suitable gloves and/or a barrier cream for your skin.

Occasional contact with most solvents is not overly harmful, unless you come into contact with a solvent such as phenol. Washing your hands in that will almost surely result in death. So take precautions whenever you use solvents. The life you save may be your own.

Plus. solvents are harmful to the environment, so use and dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way. Never flush them into the water or allow them to collect in your bilges. Most solvents are flammable, increasing the risk of fire, as well as damage to materials they contact that you didn't plan on.

Safe Boating!

FIRST AID

When you are far from shore, and an emergency medical situation arises, how will you handle it? Will you panic, not knowing what to do, or will you be able to provide life saving care until professional help is available? The difference between the two may be a simple first aid course, and a well equipped first aid kit. This applies whether you are a coastal cruiser or plan to circumnavigate the world.

Many injuries are minor. Scrapes, scratches, small lacerations, minor burns and bruises are easily treated. But fractures, deep wounds, severe burns, heart attack, stroke and other serious injuries and illnesses, require immediate medical attention. A trained first aider can stabilize an injury or illness, and provide a window of time for paramedics or other professionals to respond. Often, a victim would die without prompt, proper first aid.

While there are some excellent commercially packaged first aid kits, your boat first aid kit should not be an impulsive purchase off the shelf. You need to put much thought into what you and your crew will need in an emergency.

Medications,for example, need to be fresh and in moisture tight over wrap, like small freezer bags. Be sure there is enough to last for the expected length of your trip, plus additional if your return is delayed. For longer voyages, get an extra copy of your prescription from your doctor, so you can have it filled when visiting a port with a pharmacy. Be aware that you may not be able to have all prescriptions filled at every pharmacy, particularly in sparsely inhabited areas or foreign ports, so carry enough for the trip. Also, don't carry drugs in unlabeled containers. It will be difficult enough to explain to authorities why you have controlled substances on board without a prescription or pharmacy labeled container, but it can be deadly to take the wrong drug.

First aid supplies should be carefully assembled to meet your needs and that of your crew. Consider medical histories, current health problems, allergies and sensitivities. Is anyone allergic to bee or wasp stings? Kits are available to prevent anaphylactic shock for those severely allergic to such stings, but you need to make preparations before you leave port. Splints, rescue breathers, bandages, eye wash solutions and other supplies are readily available. Depending on your voyage, you may also need a suture kit, and other supplies, to perform minor surgical procedures underway. Pain medications may also be needed for emergency use, and can be prescribed by your physician. You should discuss, with your physician, his or her recommendations for specific drugs, preparations and supplies when assembling your medical kit.

A first aid course should be mandatory for all cruisers, and is highly recommended even for the day sailor. Knowing what to do when an emergency strikes is critical to survival. The American Red Cross offers basic and advanced first aid courses. Other organizations offer courses on emergency medical procedures at sea, extremely worthwhile for the long distance cruiser. Several books are available on first aid afloat; obtaining a copy and reading it thoroughly, before you have an emergency, is smart.

I hope you never need to use your first aid kit in an emergency. But, being prepared for any emergency will make your trip more relaxed. Remember, the life you save could be your own.

Safe Boating.