The Wind in Your Face

When the wind is blowing in your face, you’re probably either hanging your head out of the car window with your tongue slapping your cheeks or on the water motoring at 25 knots plus (hopefully the latter).

Obviously, motoring comes with a huge responsibility considering the non-breathable properties of water and the other crazies out there who have not taken this course. A lot of associated words come to mind:

diligence – prudence – competence – vigilance – situational awareness

Here are some of the main points to constantly consider:

1. Maintaining Situational Awareness

Lookout: Maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing to be aware of other vessels, navigational hazards, and changes in sea conditions. Make early decisions when you see something unusual or a potential hazard situation. 

Monitoring Navigation: Continuously monitor your course using GPS, charts, and navigation aids to stay on track and avoid hazards such as shallow waters, rocks, and buoys.

Inside Your Boat: The fly that just flew in your mouth while you were hooping and hollering with the wind in your face at 25 knots has 5 eyes. To be an effective and safe skipper you also need as many eyes. You have to keep a lookout outside your boat but you also need to save some eyes for inside your boat. Mommy has taken little Johnny’s life jacket off, a cabin door has flung open, a line has gone overboard and dangerously near to getting sucked into the propeller, someone is leaning overboard and touching their hand into the water, a fishing hook and line has come loose from the rod and is swinging around in the air, a 747 is doing an emergency water landing and coming up behind you – whatever is it – there is always stuff to keep a diligent eye out for.

2. Speed Control

Appropriate Speed: Operate at a safe and appropriate speed based on the conditions, visibility, traffic density, and proximity to shore or other obstacles. Avoid excessive speeds that reduce reaction time and increase the risk of accidents.

Turning: Make safe speed turns – you’re holding on tight to the wheel but others might not be able to handle the g-force of the turn. Even a slight bump of injury is going to put a damper on your otherwise enjoyable day. You’re the skipper – you’re responsible for everyone’s safety AND enjoyment. Prior to a turn, alert everyone of your intentions and check to ensure everyone on board is in a position to handle the ease or severity of the turn you are about to make.

Adjusting for Conditions: Slow down in rough seas, congested areas, near swimming zones, or when visibility is reduced due to fog, rain, or darkness. Higher speeds can be dangerous in such conditions, making it harder to see and avoid potential hazards.

Your Wake: Your wake can cause harm to others without you seeing the results since you are long gone. Stay away from the shore as much as possible when operating in waterways. Your wake hitting others while they are enjoying the water is a sure way to send bad karma into the universe. If possible, cross behind other slow-moving boats. This means your wake hits their stern rather than their bow and at a much less relative speed. This is especially in the case of sailboats

Other Boats Wakes: Taking another wake at 45 degrees to the wave angle is a good idea and a better idea is to slow down and take it at 45 degrees. You might have a firm hold in your helm station with your bum jammed against the seat and your hands on the wheel but others in your boat may not have such stable holding points.

Obeying No-Wake Zones: Always adhere to no-wake zones to reduce wake damage and protect sensitive areas. Failing to comply can lead to fines and environmental harm as well as the loss of potential friends at the marina.

3. Fuel Management

Monitoring Fuel Levels: Regularly check fuel levels to ensure there is enough fuel to reach the destination (and back), including a safety margin for unexpected delays or detours. A good rule is the rule of thirds which simply states that you should use 1/3 of your fuel to go out, use 1/3 of your fuel to return back to port, and keep the final 1/3 of your fuel for reserve -especially for any unanticipated situations or opportunities to your departure/return plans.

Avoiding Fuel Contamination: Inspect fuel filters regularly. For vessels equipped with two fuel tanks, be conscious of whether those tanks are “in free communication” or kept separate – look at how the valve is arranged between the two tanks. If you choose to allow your engine to draw from both fuel tanks (free communication), make sure of your reasoning for doing so – especially consider the fact that a compromise in one fuel tank (such as water intrusion, condensation in the tank, or fuel contamination) could lead to a compromise of both fuel tanks if freely communicating.

Exercise Extreme Care When Refueling: Many a boater has been killed from heavy fuel vapors flowing down into the cabin and engine room while refueling. One insignificant spark and its curtains in a way that no one wants to die or live with severe burns for the rest of their life.

Consider also protecting yourself: wear gloves to prevent skin irritation/rashes occurring from direct contact or absorption of fuel to your hands when refueling. Prior to fueling place a piece of fuel “absorbent” pad nearby. This is helpful to instantly wipe any fuel that may spill, drip, or “burp” onto your vessel, and run into the water during fueling.

Fuel Spills: This is simply disrespect to the planet that you are presently enjoying. Karma will follow up later. There are plenty of ways where you can take precautions to avoid even the tiniest of spills.

Fumes: Be aware of your engine fumes in terms of others. Do you really need to leave your boat idling? 

Back off that throttle: As you saw in the module on engines, high throttle use is much less fuel efficient for the same distance. If you’re truly enjoying the wind in your face, slow down and make it last a little longer.

4. Engine Monitoring

Engine Gauges: Continuously monitor engine gauges for temperature, oil pressure, and RPM to detect any abnormalities early. This can help prevent engine failure or damage while underway.

Listening for Unusual Noises: Be attentive to any unusual sounds from the engine or drivetrain, which could indicate mechanical issues that need immediate attention.

5. Navigational Rules and Other Boating Rules

Following the Rules of the Road: Understand and constantly refresh your knowledge of the navigation rules. The foremost rule is to not get into a close-quarters situation – even if you feel the other vessel is the giveaway vessel – the rules clearly state that you have the responsibility of staying clear. 

Signaling Intentions: The biggest signal to another vessel is to change course early and make the course change obvious. This is the best form of communication to another vessel. Even if you are the stand-on vessel, an early and obvious change in direction is allowed and encouraged under the rule. Have a sound horn readily available. Have a flashlight ready and available. 

Restricted Areas: Be aware of restricted areas marked on charts and situational restricted areas such as military ships, commercial ships, and port areas. Follow homeland security rules and rules of your own country’s security rules or a visiting country’s security rules. As a boater, you are also required to report suspicious activity to the authorities.

Drugs and Alcohol: It is illegal to operate a boat with illegal drugs on board or to operate a vessel under the influence of drugs or alcohol in all countries. Boating under the influence (BUI) is a serious offense that can result in fines, imprisonment, and loss of boating privileges. In the U.S., federal laws enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard prohibit the operation of a boat with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, similar to road vehicle DUI laws. Many countries have similar limits for alcohol and zero-tolerance policies for illegal drugs. Always follow the boating laws of your country, state, or province to ensure compliance and safety. To find the specific laws in your area, consult your local government’s maritime or boating authority or check websites like the U.S. Coast Guard’s or Transport Canada’s safety regulations.

Rendering Assitance: Unknown to many – it is a global maritime law that a boater must render assistance to another boat that is in distress to the ability that they can assist.

6. Passenger Safety

Seating and Stability: Ensure all passengers are seated or have a stable foot and hand hold. Sudden changes in direction or pulling quickly back on the throttle will likely send things and people flying.

Avoiding Overcrowding: Do not exceed the recommended passenger capacity. There is an engineering reason for the person-capacity plate. Overcrowding affects stability and safety, especially in rough waters.

7. Emergency Preparedness

Life Jackets: Ensure that all passengers have easy access to life jackets and know where they are located. Children and non-swimmers should wear life jackets at all times while underway. BIG NOTE: Get comfortable wearable life jackets for children. The USCG determined that the year comfortable life jackets were invented, annual drownings of kids significantly decreased. Here’s what happens: little Johnny starts whining and crying that his orange neck life jacket is uncomfortable. Mommy takes it off, and …

Emergency Procedures: Be prepared for potential emergencies, such as man overboard situations, or medical incidents. Practice man overboard procedures and establish (with specialized equipment kept onboard if necessary) how to get a heavy unconscious body back on board your boat. Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR course – do it with some friends and make it a social event.

8. Weather Awareness

Monitoring Conditions: Continuously monitor weather conditions while underway and be prepared to adjust course or return to port if conditions worsen.

Preparing for Storms: Have a plan in place for sudden storms or changes in weather, including knowing where the nearest safe harbor is located.