SAFETY JUNE 2008
Since this will be my final column prior to the start of the boating season I thought I
would combine a safety message with the practice of good seamanship.
In particular I'm referring to boats with low/cutout transoms. If a following
sea/wave over takes a boat, the pressure of water against the transom can push the stern
over and into a trough and cause the vessel to broach. If the transom is low/cutout, a
following sea can swamp the boat, especially if the hatches are open or the water has
easy access to the bilge. In a case like that, the bilge pump is overwhelmed and the boat
sinks.
Another situation where caution is advised - if you have a boat with a low/cutout
transom, do not tie up the boat with the stern exposed to open water, where waves are
possible to build up and splash into the boat, e.g. do not tie up the boat in the slip bow
first. Wind driven waves/chop could splash water over the transom and into the boat.
If no one is around and the bilge pump fails for some reason i..e a dead battery, clogged
hose, etc, you may find your boat on the bottom!
Another situation - running an inlet/following sea is having the power available to
keep the boat up on the back of a wave. Now we get into engine maintenance. Keep
your engine properly tuned, so that when you need extra power your well tuned
maintained engine will respond to the demand.
A WELL MAINTAINED BOAT IS A SAFE BOAT!
Have a good, safe summer
I Have Spoken
| SAFETY OFFICER’S MESSAGE P/R/C/ Harry J Kemp, SN |
| Bayside Power Squadron A Unit of United States Power Squadrons Sail and Power Boating |
