Every day on the water brings new challenges and new stories. I was on the water just last night and experienced a close call with another vessel that I just had to share. We all (should) know that the Navigation Rules are to be followed by all vessels while underway. They are unambiguous and specific […]
OK, just a brief warning up front…this is going to get a bit complicated. But it’s an important topic and one that many do not fully understand even through it’s a requirement for all OPFACs. The deviation card is a necessary item for all facilities and is simply the difference between magnetic and compass headings. […]
There’s probably no other single maneuver in boating that causes more anxiety than docking. For beginners or seasoned pros, it is docking that has the most potential for at least some embarrassment, and at worst an expensive repair bill or crew injury. It need not be that way. Sure, it takes a lot of practice […]
All USCG Aux facility owners know that they must submit their vessel for facility inspection by a Vessel Examiner each year, with the results documented on Form ANSC-7003. This ensures that they have all of the necessary equipment aboard to safely and effectively complete their missions. Included on the list are the following navigational documents: […]
Those who have operated a twin engine boat may know that it’s possible to “walk” the boat laterally or sideways. This is of course a huge boon for close quarters boat handling and docking a twin. So you try it on your boat and it doesn’t walk at all – you might think there must […]
Coast Guard Auxiliary boat crews receive excellent training and must pass their initial and requalification checkrides to demonstrate competency. While the vast majority of patrols are executed safely, there are those where mishaps occur and it’s no surprise that the worst of them occur at night. Many factors are at play – the skillsets of […]
Ahh, the USCG Navigation Rules. Every mariner’s favorite topic – NOT. They can be daunting to learn and remember and for many folks who use waterways they are completely unknown. However, anyone who ventures afloat on any vessel is responsible to know, understand and apply them. Even this last point is not known by most […]
Coast Guard Auxiliary surface facilities need to be inspected each year to confirm that all required items are in place. One of those items is an RPM table. What is that? Very simply, it is a table (or graph) that identifies the boat’s speed at various engine RPMs. For example, here is the RPM table […]
Operating a power-driven vessel is generally pretty easy. Push the throttle forward, and you get propeller discharge current which either flows across the rudder or is directed flow in the case of outboards and I/Os. The faster you go, the more control you typically have due to the increased flow over the hull and through […]
If you were to look at the narratives of past Auxiliary mishaps across the nation, you’d see a lot of them involve crew falling into the water. Not a good thing, especially in cold weather or at night. At a minimum you’ll have a wet and exhausted crewmember and some paperwork to complete. The worst […]