What's the weather like today?
Before heading out in the boat, check the weather forecast for your
destination. The best source of information, it is far from perfect.
Environment Canada supplies the best information they can; but because
of the size and shape of the lake system and without having a manned
weather station near the lake their information can only be called an
educated guess. It's up to boaters to seek out their own information.
Here's an idea for you: Let's suppose you're planning a trip from
Sicamous to Seymour Arm. After checking the general forecast on the
radio, use this magazine for information and phone numbers. Then phone a
couple of places located near your planned route and ask them what their
conditions are. With that information you'll have some idea of what to
expect on the way. But remember, because of the mountains surrounding
the lake, conditions can change very quickly. So be prepared and
remember: If in any doubt stay at home. It's better to be safe than sorry!
FUEL RULE
What's the most common emergency that boaters experience? Running out of
fuel. To avoid this happening to you, check your fuel supply before
leaving the dock and make sure you've enough on board to complete your
trip. Think in thirds: One third to get where you're going; one third to
get home; and one third in reserve.
CAPACITY PLATE
Don't load your boat beyond its capacity. The Capacity Plate on every
boat was put there by the manufacturer for your safety. If your boat
looks overloaded. It probably is.
FLOAT PLAN
What would you do if you had a problem with the boat and had to spend a
rainy night on a strange beach? How would you get home and how would you
get help? A simple way to avoid this happening is to file a Float Plan
before you leave home. A Float Plan is a description of your boat, where
you're planning to go, and when you expect to return. Leave it with your
marina, a friend or neighbour. If you don't 'return as planned searchers
will know where to look for you.
WASH
There are speed limits on many parts of the lake system, but even where
there are not it is discourteous to produce a wash (or wake) that causes
other vessels to rock excessively. Just a reminder that the law holds
skippers responsible for any injury or damage that their wash may cause
to other people, other boats, or to the shoreline. So be courteous and
save yourself a bill for damage. Slow down in any area where your wash
may harm others.
ALCOHOL
Recently the Red Cross issued a study of boating drownings in Canada.
The study focused on boats less than 5.5 metres (28 ft.) in length. It
showed that nearly all the victims were male adults. The most common
circumstance associated with the drownings was the frequent consumption
of alcohol while boating. Seventy-one percent of the victims were not
wearing personal floatation devices (PFD's). The moral: Wear your PFD
and take it easy on the booze. Keep the hand that controls the
bottle off the throttle.
What can you do on a rainy day?
Go over your safety checklist and make sure you have the proper
equipment for your boat. Make sure you've got the right PFD's for your
family and that you've got all the equipment required by law for your
size of boat. If you don't already have a safety checklist it's easy
enough to get one. Pick up a copy of the Coast Guard's Safe Boating
Guide. You'll find copies of the guide at most marinas, boat dealers,
yacht clubs or call the Canadian Power & Sail Squadron at 1-888-CPS-BOAT.
QUICK GETAWAYS
One of my main boating concerns is l "Quick Getaways". This is the
boater that jumps into the boat, starts the engine and zooms away from
the dock. It's not a problem if the boat's an outboard, but if it's an
inboard of any kind, for safety's sake, run the blowers for four minutes
to clear fumes from the bilge before starting. This could save your life.
SMALL BOATS
There are always people fishing on the lake, and most of them are out
there in small boats. Just a reminder: Don't stand up in a small boat.
Falling overboard is one of the leading causes of boating fatalities.
Dress warmly; keep dry, and wear your life jacket because hypothermia is
the chill that kills.
LINES & FENDERS
It's distressing to see a $20,000.00 boat tied to a dock with about 35
cents worth of string. Boaters should know that the best type of line to
use for tying up is a double-braided nylon line big enough to handle the
boat. You should also use at least two fenders to protect the boat. What
size you ask? The fender should have one inch of diameter for every five
feet of boat, so if the boat is twenty feet long the fenders should be
four inches in diameter. Your boat represents a big investment; protect
it by using fenders and the correct lines.
CHILDREN'S PFD'S
If you're boating with children, PFD's or lifejackets are extremely
important, particularly for the little ones. Make sure that the jacket
properly fits the child and that it has straps that go from front to
back under the groin area. The jacket must have a grab strap at the back
of the collar, for if the child falls into the water you can grab him or
her quickly. Remember that the jacket must be Canadian Coast Guard approved.
THIEVES
Summer brings a lot of visitors to the lake but unfortunately some of
them are thieves. Here's a hint for those of you that have smaller
boats. Keep the outboard motor locked to the transom and the boat
chained to the dock or mooring buoy. This especially applies to personal
watercraft. Across Canada and the U.S. one in seven of these will be
stolen. Protect you boat just like your car: Lock it or Lose it.
WEATHER & SMALL BOATS
Weather on the lake can change very quickly and if you're in a small
boat it can be downright dangerous. If the weather starts to kick up
make sure that everyone is wearing their PFD's and are sitting in the
lowest part of the boat as close as possible to the centreline. This
increases the stability of the boat. At the same time reduce your speed
and try to quarter the waves instead of meeting them head on, it's safer
and easier on the boat.
NAVIGATION LIGHTS
Make sure that your boat is equipped with the operating lights required
by law and that you use them from sunset to sunrise and in times of poor
visibility. While their main purpose is to make your boat visible to
others they also are aids to navigation so find out what they mean.
You'll find that information in the Canadian Coast Guards Safe Boating
Guide.
VHF RADIO
This is about your marine radio. Do you know that you have to have a
license to use it? Do you also know why channel 16 lights up when you
turn it on? Channel 16 is the Emergency and Calling Channel and there
are strict penalties for its misuse. It's only to be used for
emergencies and contacting other boats, not for conversations. You
should only be on it for a few seconds while you contact another boat
and agree on the working channel on which you'll have your conversation.
So start thinking about getting a license - and in the meantime listen
to your radio and hear how experienced boaters use it.
WATER SKIING & TUBING
During the season we see a lot of water skiers and tubers on the lake
and many of them are being towed by personal watercraft. In a few cases
there's a spotter on the machine but what they were doing was still
illegal. The law is very specific: Any vessel towing a skier or tuber
must have a spotter and a seat for the person, or persons, being towed.
So if you're going to tow a skier or tuber with a personal watercraft,
you'd better have one of the newer three seat models.
USE YOUR BLOWERS
After you've used your blowers for 4 minutes, before starting the
engine, check the bilge and make certain no fumes remain. The best way
of checking is to open the engine hatch and use your nose. If you can
smell fumes, you have a problem. Every year at least one boat burns on
the lake because someone failed to follow that important rule. Remember,
run your blowers for four minutes. It could save your life.
REGULATIONS
All boaters in Canada are governed by seven acts, codes and regulations.
Those who contravene them are subject to penalties or fines. The list
includes: the Canada Shipping Act; the Contraventions Act; the Boating
Restriction Regulations; the Charts and Nautical Publications
Regulations; the Collision Regulations; the Small Vessel Regulations;
and the Criminal Code of Canada. So there's a lot more to boating than
just getting out there and doing it. Remember: an educated boater is a
safer boater. For information on boating courses near where you live
call the Canadian Power & Sail Squadron at 1-888-CPS-BOAT.
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