Boating Safety Tips

Safety: the life you save may be your own. Be prepared.

Make a float plan for any water vessel including Kayaks, canoes, jon boats, and personal water crafts (PWCs). Stick to your plan

• Wear life jacket. Equip it with reflective tape, whistle, light, signal mirror
• Carry the 10 essentials in addition to your other boating equipment
• Carry the following items on every boating outing:
  • Life ring equipped with floating line, reflective tape, boat name
  • Hand-held spotlight
  • Food and water
  • Sun protection: sunscreen
  • Extra clothes and a hat
  • Rain gear

Did you know:

• In Washington State, children 12 years and younger must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets on boats less than 19 feet while the boat is underway, if the children are on an open deck, or if they are in an open cockpit. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or life vests are required to be carried aboard for every occupant of any type and size of boat.
  
• Vessels 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry at least one Coast Guard-approved throwable flotation device, such as a life ring or cushion.
  
• Half of all recreational boating deaths in Washington result from capsizing or falls overboard from boats less than 16 feet. 

9-1-1 Calls Using Your Wireless Phone

Who will I reach with my wireless phone?

Wireless phone service may not be available on all waters. If service is available, your 9-1-1 call for assistance will be picked up by the nearest cellular tower in the most direct line of sight to your location. The 9-1-1 center receiving your call has no way of knowing from where you are calling unless you tell them. Be prepared to provide your location. Call 9-1-1 only in an actual emergency.

When using a wireless phone to call 9-1-1, be sure you know the following:

• How your wireless phone works. Your phone may be pre-programmed to dial 9-1-1 with one button. You could accidentally call 9-1-1 and not know it. Handle your phone carefully to prevent the automatic misdialing of 9-1-1.
   
• How to increase the phone's signal strength. Point antenna up; turn your body--you may be obstructing signal; find a clearing. Move from behind a mountain or island. Get on the boat's highest point.

Please be sure to convey this information:

• Your name and your wireless phone number
• From where you are calling: on a boat, island, or shore
• The emergency situation
• Condition of vessel/name of vessel
• Number of people on board
• Condition/health/ages of people on board
• How long you can stay afloat if sinking
• Your location or last known location
• Time and point of departure from dock
• Your destination
• Weather condition
• Identify the survival equipment available

Wireless 9-1-1 phone calls in the San Juan Islands

While 9-1-1 phone service is available in the San Juan Islands, it is not recommended for wireless phones. Instead when using a wireless phone to place a 9-1-1 call to summon help, dial 306-378-4141. If you contact a 9-1-1 calltaker, emphasize that you are on a boat in the water and provide your last known location. Ask for Coast Guard assistance.

When carrying a wireless phone aboard your boat, remember to:

• Start with a fully charged battery
• Carry an extra battery and/or a power source
• Instruct all crew how to use phone
• Place phone number on the phone (include area code)
• Be ready to provide complete information about the nature of the emergency. Yo may be able to make only one call
• Establish a call schedule to receive calls
• File a float plan with a friend.

A Marine Radio Is A Must!

Do I use my marine radio or wireless phone when calling for emergency help?

Wireless phones may be used to call 9-1-1 during a boating emergency. A wireless phone is an excellent backup communications' device. However, a wireless phone is not a substitute for a VHF-FM marine radio. A marine radio has several distinct advantages over a wireless phone. With the relative low cost and compact size of a marine radio, any boater on any size craft (including canoes and kayaks) should carry a radio.

A marine radio:

• Is waterproof
• Provides immediate notification of distress to any vessel listening on that channel which means faster assistance
• Allows for rescue units to home in on transmission

Emergency Radio Boating Procedures

• Make sure radio is on and turned to VHF Channel 16
• Press microphone button and clearly say: "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, THIS IS…" (give the following information: vessel name and/or description - type, color, length)
• Position and/or location
• Nature of emergency
• Number of people on board
• Release microphone button briefly
• Wait for 10 seconds. If no answer, repeat the MAYDAY call
• Follow directions and provide information requested by the rescue agency. If situation permits, stand by the radio for further communication with the Coast Guard or another vessel

The 10 Essentials!

(some items are not required on some vessels)

1. VHF-MARINE RADIO: Test the radio prior to departure. Carry a fully charged battery and extra battery for hand-held units. If a wireless phone is also carried, be sure it too is fully charged, and pack an extra battery.
2. Approved Life Jacket for every person on board
3. Throwable Floatation Device: With floatable line attached to boat
4. Sound Producing Device: Horn, whistle, bell
5. Visual Distress Signals: Flares or distress flag and SOS signal light
6. Compass and Chart of Area
7. First Aid and Survival Kit
8. Anchor and Anchor Line
9. Bilge Pump and Manual Pump or Bailing Device
10. Fire Extinguishers: Fully charged

Pre-Departure Checklist

• Fuel tank and oil levels checked:  1/3 Out, 1/3 Return, 1/3 Reserve
• Drain plugs installed
• Battery fully chaged: batteries secured; terminals covered
• Navigation lights working properly
• Vessesl properly loaded: People and equipment
• Paddles / oars
• Tool kit and spare parts
• Marine weather forecast checked
• Float plan left with friends
• Documentation: Numbering on vessel; registration on board; placards ppsted; radio licenses; EPIRB registered
• Food, spare food, water, clothing
• Passengers briefed on emergency procedures, equipment operation and location 

Float Plan

Leave a float plan with a friend or relative. It is designed to help find you in case of an emergency. Instruct your family or friends to notify the U.S. Coast Guard or local county sheriff if an emergency arises.

Type of boat:

• Outboard
• Inboard
• Sail
• Canoe
• Kayak
• Jon Boat
• PWC
• Other

Boat number/Name:

• Size
• Make
• Color
• Number of engines
• H.P.
• Fuel: Gas / Diesel / Fuel capacity
  

Number of persons on board:

• Adults
• Children
• Names/Addresses
  

Equipment:

• Marine Radio
• Citizen Band Radio (CB)
• Channel Monitored
• Wireless Phone
• Wireless phone number (with area code)

Survival Equipment:

• Flares
• Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
• Life raft
• Survival Suits
• Wet Suit
• Dry Suit
• Other

Trip Plan:

• From
• Departure time
• Via
• To
• Estimated time of arrival
• If not at destination by this and this hour
  Notify proper agency: Coast Guard / Sheriff
• Car parked at:
• License Number
• If plans change, we will notifythe following person(s)

Sign and date the Float Plan