Boating Tips

Doug and I were boating in the Bahamas for two months as you may have gathered from previous newsletters. It was a wonderful experience and we enjoyed life on the water in the Abacos during April and most of May. With our laptop on board, we were able to send and answer emails, make phone calls, send newsletters and look after our website.

But, like all holidays, it had to end so we headed to Florida, cleared customs in Lake Worth and headed north on the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway).

The unexpected

On the morning of May 24th, the unexpected happened–right out of the blue with no warning whatsoever. We were all on the bridge about to enjoy breakfast, while taking in the sights, as Doug followed the course we’d set out on the chart plotter.

Just as I was ready for my first mouthful of cereal, I felt faint, then hot, then had some tightness in my chest. A quick VHF call to Coast Guard with a medical emergency and minutes later, paramedics were on the bridge and confirmed I was having a heart attack. Within the hour, I was on the operating table undergoing angioplasty giving me two stents. I am on the mend and the cardiac surgeons in Florida said I should expect a full recovery–just have to go through cardiac rehab.

Other than being an extremely frightening experience for all of us, everything went like clockwork and very quickly–Coast Guard, Sea Tow, Ambulance, Paramedics, Hospital, Doctors, everyone. I was lucky.

But, when we explained what happened to boating friends, most said they wouldn’t have known what to do or hadn’t thought about it. They hadn’t discussed any emergency procedures.

We all hope it won’t happen, but we should all be prepared for the minor incidents like broken bones or sun burns, or cuts as well as the major incidents that could happen to us or a fellow boater.

What if something happens to your partner at the wheel? Could you take over the helm, get help and dock the boat? What if something happened to your First Mate? Could you look after him/her while calling for help, finding a dock and docking? Would you know how to use the VHF and who to call?

Your lifeline

There are so many “What ifs”, it would be frightening if I listed them all. But if you only have to deal with one life threatening incident, knowing what to do is so important. I encourage all First Mates to learn how to use the VHF radio–it is your lifeline. As neat as cell phones are, you can dial 911 but you need a physical address that you probably won’t be able to provide. You can call *16 and reach a marine operator who will transfer you to Coast Guard.

You can reach Coast Guard on VHF 16–24/7

On the other hand, you can reach Coast Guard on channel 16 on your VHF 24/7. They will co-ordinate with land emergency services for you, as they did for us in Florida. Just answer their questions and follow their instructions. As well, other boaters monitor 16 and may be closer so may be able to assist ahead of Coast Guard or other water emergency service. In our case, Coast Guard was 20 miles away but worked with Sea Tow who heard our call, was close by and offered to help. It was amazing how fast it all came together. When we pulled into the dock, the Sea Tow boat and the ambulance were waiting and the paramedics were on the boat in seconds.

Driving Lessons

I also encourage First Mates to take driving lessons; so that you can take over the helm, drive and dock the boat in emergencies. It will not only give you confidence, but also peace of mind knowing that you know — and it could also save a life.

Establish Emergency Procedures

It is a good idea for all Captains and First Mates to establish emergency procedures and review them will everyone on board. You never know, if you will have to deal with a medical emergency, man overboard situation, mechanical failure, or a minor or major accident, whether it is your boat or another boat you happen to be near.

Be Prepared

The important thing is to have emergency procedures and review them with all on board–just in case. Like the Boy Scout motto, it pays to “Be Prepared”.

After our recent glorious boating holiday in the Bahamas aboard a 41′ Symbol Motor Yacht, we prepared for the crossing from West End, Grand Bahama Island, to Lake Worth, Florida. It’s a stretch of approximately 60 miles and we had a chart plotter so it should have been a “piece of cake”. However…

The ocean was rough but it was the best it was going to be for a week or two, so we prepared for the trip, set our course on the chart plotter and headed out. Our top speed was 7-8 knots so the trip would take seven to eight hours. Doug had to work each wave for the whole crossing because once we got out there, we had waves coming at us from both quarters. They were 6′ - 9′ coming out of the northeast from a three week blow and the southeast from a 2 day blow creating a wicked cross chop that we had to handle as we headed west.

Computer Glitch

We compensated for the Gulf Stream and were headed straight to the markers at the Lake Worth Inlet according to the plotter. Then, we realized that the cursor on the chart plotter wasn’t moving. We were about three miles off the Florida shoreline and had no location on the plotter!

The seas were building as we approached the shallower shoreline and there was no room for error. From that distance, there was no way to tell where the opening in the shoreline was. Luckily for us, Doug never depends 100% on navigation software and he had been watching the shoreline closely, so had a pretty good idea of the approximate location of the inlet. He went totally to VPR (Visual Piloting Rules) as we didn’t have time and it was too rough to fire up the laptop backup system.

VPR to the Rescue

Doug stayed on the helm and while we were using the binoculars to locate the markers, we realilzed that an approaching ship was probably heading for the same inlet. Then it was confirmed when we heard the ship call the port authority notifying them of their desire to enter the port authority area dock. Quickly, we called the ship on the VHF and let him know we would follow him in.

From then on, it was relatively easy. We were still surfing down the waves coming in, and Doug brought her in beautifully. Of course, once inside, it was calm and that we were ready for.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

This experience certainly backed up the recommendation that boaters should always have paper charts as well as electronic and use VPR all the time.

You need to be prepared for the unexpected.

Working in galley sinks takes some practice. Most are small single bowls–some round, some square, some deep and others shallow. Mastering this comes with time and practice and a few tips as well.

Water doesn’t always land in the sink

The frustrating part can sometimes be the faucet. Because of the limited counter space in the galley of most power boats and sailboats, manufacturers often mount the faucet in the most convenient place for the installer–not the user. However, depending on the water pressure and also the length and angle of the spout, the water doesn’t always land in the sink–especially when rinsing the soap from your dishes.

The result is water all over the counter. All of a sudden “doing dishes” becomes frustrating and a real chore with lots of additional clean up.

Simple Solution

A simple solution is to purchase a double swivel faucet aerator. You can buy them from any hardware store for only a few dollars. The last flyer we saw, had them on sale for $3.00. Such a small investment will reap great rewards. It extends the spout closer to the middle of the sink and away from the edge. This aerator gives you a shower spray for rinsing or direct flow, and you can angle it to suit what you are doing. It rotates 360 degrees allowing easy rinsing of your dishes. You can even get them in black or white.

To alleviate some galley frustrations, put a double swivel faucet aerator on your shopping list this spring and take it to the boat with you for a more enjoyable boating season.

A relatively new feature to consider before you just buy another VHF radio is to consider getting one with a remote microphone (all the features of the radio are located on the microphone including a readout). These models of radio have a hard wired microphone that can be located convenient to your helm with the main unit mounted somewhere out of the way.

Sailboats, small power boats and flybridges

This concept works especially well on sailboats and small power boats with limited access and on flybridges. The remote mic is fully functional as were the old style of radio with all the functions on the main unit. The main advantage to the remote mic is that the unit and the controls are where you are, rather than mounted down in the cabin or under the dash out of the weather. These new remote mics are weatherproof so they can be left out from week to week.

Handheld VHF radios with their limited coverage are no substitute for a remote mic with the full power of the main radio attached a good antenna–approximately 5 miles versus approximately 30 miles.

VHF With Remote

I would highly recommend the new remote type of VHF so that you can drive and talk at the same time especially in bad weather conditions or in the event of a rescue effort. You don’t have to take your eyes off the waterway ahead to change channels or leave the helm to go down below to answer a question from the Coast Guard.

Some of the recent VHF’s are capable of being hardwired to the new remote mic. Ask you marine dealer if your current radio is new enough to just add a mic to it as opposed to buying a whole new radio with a remote mic.

For boaters who enjoy shore power, shore cords are a must. However, harbors are reporting a number of unsafe aspects and are asking boaters to take a few moments to review their cords.

Hazzards
It is important to use shore cords approved for marine applications. Unapproved cords are dangerous and should not be used. Also inspect for any damage to the cable and replace if necessary.

Sometimes, cords strung between dock sections can be pinched by the hinges or end up hanging in the water. Extra cable, if not coiled properly, can be hazardous to boaters walking on the docks.

Reduce Clutter
To reduce dock clutter, I like to tie my shore cord under the dock out of sight. The major safety benefit is that it’s not on the dock surface lurking for someone to step on it and roll out from under their foot or shoe.

We’ve seen people when docking, jump off their boat and step onto a shore cord. The shore cord rolls out from under their foot resulting in a serious fall. A shore cord on the surface is like stepping on a roller skate—it rolls out from underneath you.

Semi-permanentize
For the majority of the summer, most boaters just take short jaunts of a few hours here and a few hours there away from the home marina; and for this period of time, there is no need to take your shore cord. Just unplug the shore end, then the boat end and go. Then, when you return from your outing, plug in the boat end first, then the shore end.

Most finger docks are high enough above the water and with enough framework that you can suspend your shore cord under the finger dock from a series of short pieces of light line. You can use light poly or light nylon, metal “S” hooks, bent coat hangers, shrink wrap cord, bungie cords, long wire ties—whatever works for you. Be sure the cord does not hang in the water. The only time it really needs to be removed is when you’re going on a long trip or for the winter. It’s neater and safer to secure it off the dock surface.

Loop the extra cord around the outlet post. If you find your cord is being disconnected by kids or other boaters, use a bungie cord or two to hold it into the outlet and discourage them. It gives the message, that it is to stay plugged in.

Support Your Cord
At the boat end, the weight of the cable should be supported and not hanging totally on the fitting. You can loop the cord through one of the rails, so the cable’s weight is supported by the rail or use a light piece of line to support the weight.

Larger yachts that run with two shore cords use various methods to reduce the clutter. Some boaters will join the two cables with intervals of either electrical tape or duct tape or nylon zip ties/wire wraps. I have even seen a long black nylon tube holding the 2 together that runs the full 50’.

Hidden shore cords are neater and less dangerous.

Boats that are outfitted with eight or more pieces of zippered canvas, create a confusing puzzle. With a looming summer thunderstorm closing in on you from across the lake, putting up the canvas can be a frustrating, nerve-racking, temper raising experience, as you try to sort out which piece fits where. Inevitably, you get the wrong piece of this puzzle zippered in place inside out then nothing else fits. You know the story.

How to Solve the Puzzle for FREE

My simple solution to the canvas puzzle (that I have presented to two major boat manufacturers and is being implemented), is to:

put red and green colored tabs on the zipper pulls when the canvas is still on…red on the left (port) zipper pulls and green on the right (starboard) zipper pulls.

Various materials can be utilized from colored ribbons to colored fabric.

But, the simplest and cheapest method that I’ve used for years, is telephone wire. Most houses and businesses have a few feet of spare telephone wire. Strip off the outside casing and inside are four coloured wires—red, green, yellow and black. Cut the red and green into 3” pieces. Thread them through the zipper pulls and twist. Voila! Now, your puzzle challenge has been reduced by 50%.

Make Canvas Even Easier

For boaters who want to simplify the puzzle even more, you can write on the clear vinyl with a ball point pen. If you number the pieces from bow to stern, write the number in the upper forward corner on the inside. Ball point pen numbers about ¾” to 1” tall are easily visible on vinyl when you are close up but invisible from a distance so guests aboard and passers by on the dock won’t see your puzzle short cuts. Similarly, the colored telephone twist ties have gone unnoticed by guests on our boat for years.

If you don’t have access to telephone wire, you can always use green garden/garbage bag twist ties on the starboard pieces and leave the port pieces unlabelled.

The ultimate step to solving the canvas puzzle is to tie the rolled canvas sections with red and green coloured cord that you can purchase from your neighborhood fabric shop.

This simple, free tip solves the canvas puzzle challenge. Reinstalling your canvas is now just a quick snap and zip. Your canvas puzzle is solved and your neighbors at the marina will be wondering how you do it so fast.

Have an Even Better Idea?

If you and your crew find this tip helpful the next time you have to put up canvas in a hurry, let me know. If you come up with a different labeling material than fabric, ribbon or wire, let me know and we’ll pass that on.

Share this tip and tell them where you got it.

Doug Dawson

Author “Buy A Boat With Confidence”

Boaters usually welcome guests aboard, but there are some uninvited guests you want to keep off your boat. Foodborne illnesses don’t take a holiday and could be a threat to your boating enjoyment. Take steps to eliminate this enemy and kill those unwanted, uninvited guests.

Reminders about washing hands before and after handling food are plentiful in the news and discussions about reducing bacteria. But, there are many other kitchen “smarts” that we often forget when on board. Although many people believe that they can tell if food might cause foodborne illness by looking at it or smelling it, most harmful bacteria are invisible and, therefore, escape the eye and nose.
Each spring is a good time to review and remind guests about the proper handling of food. This simple precaution could prevent you, your crew and your guests from becoming ill during your boating season.

Always Buy the Best Quality You Can

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