143035_DBW Course_r3

Chapter 3 X Vessel Operation

Reckless or Negligent Operation California law says no one may operate a boat, water skis, an aquaplane or other vessel in a way that will be dangerous to people and property. Dangerous examples include: ƒ Riding on the bow, gunwale or transom of a moving vessel when you’re not protected by railings. ƒ Riding your vessel over the towline of another vessel or its skiers. ƒ Steering your vessel between another towing vessel and the skiers or freight it’s towing. ƒ Boating while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. ƒ Boating too close to swimmers. ƒ Boating too fast in a crowded area, or in thick fog and heavy storms. ƒ Speeding in restricted areas, “buzzing” or “wetting down” others, or skiing when or where you’re not allowed. ƒ Teak surfing, body surfing or platform dragging behind a boat. Docking ƒ Check the current and wind direction, the main factors to consider as you approach the dock, so that you can ease the boat into the dock. It’s easiest to land at a dock when you are heading into the current and/or wind. ƒ Check your docking skills. Practice docking to an anchored float in open water. This will help you understand how wind and current affect the handling of your boat. For a temporary low-cost float, use an empty plastic milk jug anchored with a line and small weight. Tips for Tying Up ƒ Check the tide level so you can make allowances when mooring your boat to a stationary pier. If the tide is high, remember to leave enough slack in the lines to adapt to low tide. ƒ Check the type of dock you are using. If it is a floating dock, it will rise and fall with the tides and water level. In this case, you should secure your boat tight to the dock. ƒ Check and secure the bow, stern and spring lines before leaving the boat. ƒ Check the fenders. Make sure they are placed properly between the boat and the dock.

KNOW YOUR LINES

Mooring lines are used to secure a boat to a dock. These lines should be long enough to allow the boat to rise and fall with the tide or flow of the water, but not so long that the boat strays too far from the dock. f Bow line. The bow line leads forward from the bow to the dock. f Stern line. The stern line leads backward (aft) from the stern to the dock. f Spring lines. The spring lines lead aft from the bow and forward

from the stern. You typically use spring lines in rough water conditions.

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California Course for Safe Boating