You might check with schools like Florida Youth Maritime Training. They use a USCG Approved Commercial Fishing course that has all the components and they donate the training
We all need this a lot more than we think. Remember it is not only you and your crew, but also anyone you come across, in trouble on the water. Great article!
I am lucky to live in the Portsmouth NH area where a local boating organization has hosted an evening every year or so to test fire flares. I have been boating for over 50 years and last year was the first time i ever shot off a flare. the gun based flares are pretty simple to operate, but the hand held flares are surprisingly scary and hard to light.
If you sail with a crew, a serious safety consideration is to learn and practice Crew Overboard Recovery! Just this afternoon I taught and practiced the maneuvers with my sailing students and having gone overboard twice on San Francisco Bay I can't emphasize enough how serious it can be. We teach the Figure 8 Rescue technique which eliminates a potentially dangerous jibe. Luckily, with lower freeboard, getting crew back aboard is simpler than on a larger boat, but don't underestimate the added weight of a drenched person. Learn it, practice it, and possibly save a life!
You might check with schools like Florida Youth Maritime Training. They use a USCG Approved Commercial Fishing course that has all the components and they donate the training
Very good article; but I would add a fourth opic of "seamanship" to avoid trouble in the first place. Thanks for the article.
We all need this a lot more than we think. Remember it is not only you and your crew, but also anyone you come across, in trouble on the water. Great article!
Great advice in a concise article!
I am lucky to live in the Portsmouth NH area where a local boating organization has hosted an evening every year or so to test fire flares. I have been boating for over 50 years and last year was the first time i ever shot off a flare. the gun based flares are pretty simple to operate, but the hand held flares are surprisingly scary and hard to light.
When my beloved and I teach small boating with one of our clubs, two mandatory exercises bring the messages home:
Get into the water and put on your PFD. This make it clear why it should always be worn.
Right a capsized boat and get aboard fully clothed. While demonstrated with Sunfish, it creates a strong incentive to keep the dirty side down.
We also teach the art of looking out as step one of collision avoidance.
If you sail with a crew, a serious safety consideration is to learn and practice Crew Overboard Recovery! Just this afternoon I taught and practiced the maneuvers with my sailing students and having gone overboard twice on San Francisco Bay I can't emphasize enough how serious it can be. We teach the Figure 8 Rescue technique which eliminates a potentially dangerous jibe. Luckily, with lower freeboard, getting crew back aboard is simpler than on a larger boat, but don't underestimate the added weight of a drenched person. Learn it, practice it, and possibly save a life!