There are many boating laws in the books, but one that ought to come readily to the minds of the boaters is that Federal, State and Local laws require that every vessel should have a Personnel Flotation Device (PFD) or life jacket for each person on board a vessel.  These laws are not to fill the pages in a book of laws, they are there to save your life! These laws emphasize that these PFD’s must be readily accessible, in case they are needed in an emergency.

It concerns us, those in the Coast Guard Auxiliary that conduct Vessel Safety Checks (VSC), what part of the concept of “readily accessible” is not understood by many boaters because we find life jackets in the oddest of places and still in their closed plastic bags when we conduct a VSC.  Readily accessible means that you can, in a flash, locate, remove, distribute and don your PFD’s in record time.

I like to think of the “10 Rule”. If you cannot locate and have a PFD in your hands, readily to be worn, in 10 seconds of less, then they are not “readily accessible”.  In an emergency, if you are not wearing a life jacket already, and you can’t get to your PFD’s quickly enough, and you end up in the water, here are a couple questions for you to consider:  If you’re a swimmer, how long can you thread water? Can you thread long enough, hours or days, before rescue arrives? If you can’t swim, you already know the answer.

Ideally, it would be better for all of us to be wearing a PFD while underway. These laws were not written for that one out of four that wears them at all times. It’s for the other three adult boaters that don’t. So to make it more comfortable for the boater and in order to comply with the regulations the law requires that your life jacket be “readily accessible.”

What is considered “readily accessible?” It is best if we look at examples of PFDs that are not considered “readily accessible.”  It’s not when stored in the bottom of a locker, or kept in its original closed plastic bag, down in the bilge, or any other place where it can become partially destroyed by lack of proper care. 

If one would look at statistics of drowning, the number one cause of death in boating fatalities, he or she would learn that 90% of those who drown were not wearing a PFD. One thing is for sure, without a PFD, your chances of survival decrease dramatically.  It’s too late to think of a PFD when you’re in the water and your boat, with all its safety equipment is on the bottom.

What else should you have attached to your PFD? How would you signal the rescuers? Here are some suggestions that could make the rescuing faster if not a life saving one. A signal mirror, which can be seen over ten miles on good days. Marine mirrors have a lanyard that can be attached to your PFD. If you drop it, you won’t loose it. A whistle, also attached to the PFD. It can be heard over a half mile. Marine whistles don’t have a pea, that little ball inside, and can be used even when slightly submerged.

Other items you may strongly consider, especially for night rescue, are a waterproof strobe light, which can be seen for miles all around, and wide reflective tape attached to the top of the back and the front of the PFD. It’ll make you shine in the dark! But don’t forget small personal flares. It can be used during the day, day flares, or night, night flares, to attract needed attention.

Only you can determine how much you want to spend for your and the ones you love safety on the waters. How much a life is worth?

SAFE BOATING IS NO ACCIDENT!

You can learn more about boating by attending a safe boating program offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.  For more information on the course call David McDonough at 283-2208.

TEST YOUR NAUTICAL TRIVIA KNOWLEDGE

Archie H. Schmidt

These questions and their answers are gleaned from the Jeff Crowell’s list of terms and phrases.

1. This way of nautical measurement is being in use since the times of the Greeks. It literally means “embracing arms”.

a.  Inch

b.  Foot

c.  Fathom

d.  Meter

2. Any dangling or loose thread on a uniform, or lines adrift or dangling from the upper rigging of a ship.

a.  Dog Pennant

b.  French Pennant

c.  Irish Pennant

d.  Bloke Pennant

3. Derived from the old Dutch word “mattenoot”. Loosely it meant two seamen sharing a hammock – one being on duty while the other slept in it. Still in used today.