Summer Beach Safety

A day of family fun can quickly head south if you’re not careful, so practice summer beach safety.

A day at the beach is a perfect family activity. But to make sure nothing spoils that fun day, remember that safety should always come first. Here are some things to have on your summer beach safety checklist.

Before you head out, check the beach forecast available from many media sources but usually derived from the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Surf Zone Forecast. Officially, the surf zone extends from the high tide level on the beach out to the seaward side of the shoreline’s breaking waves, typically the area for beachgoers.

There are certain weather hazards highlighted in the forecast. I have discussed thunderstorms, waterspouts, tropical cyclones, and even fog, but two of the more innocuous weather hazards present on seemingly great weather days involve the sun and the heat.

Not So Fun in the Sun

Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause a painful sunburn or even worse, skin cancer. The greatest risk occurs when sunlight is at its strongest, generally around
midday. Summer is the worst time for exposure. You can absorb UV rays even on days with a light cloud cover. The forecast will usually include the UV Index, which gives a
number to your risk. Values over 6 indicate a high risk of harm to unprotected skin, and values over 10, which are common in the summer, represent extreme risk with skin
damage likely within minutes.

For protection, use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) or sun protective clothing (UPF 30 or
more) with a wide brim hat and sunglasses. Heat alone can make you sick, sometimes seriously, and because the body cools itself by evaporating sweat, the amount of moisture in the air—the humidity level—is also important. The Heat Index combines these two factors into a “feels like” temperature. A heat index of 105 or higher is considered the Danger Zone and is often reached in summer.

Pay Attention to Conditions

To avoid heat-related issues, stay out of the sun as much as possible. It can be 10 to 15 degrees hotter in full sunlight. Limit outdoor activities during the warmest part of the day.
If you are active, take frequent breaks, wear light-colored clothing and always drink plenty of fluids. The beach forecast will also typically include water conditions, such as wave heights, tide information and water temperature. In terms of danger, the NWS may issue a High Surf Advisory or Warning.

An advisory signifies that “breaking wave action poses a threat to life and property within the surf zone.” Actual criteria for issuance vary by region. A warning denotes a “heightened threat to life and property within the surf zone.” The forecast will also include the risk of dangerous rip currents. Local beach patrol or lifeguards will post warning
signs if rip currents are present as will television and radio weather reports. Many popular beaches have beach cams which make it easy to go online and see conditions before you head out. For long trips, you may want to check local newspapers, etc., to find out if any unusual weather phenomenon is happening.

Know Your Flag

Beaches with lifeguards or those under supervision will display colored flags that depict water conditions. A green flag means it’s safe to swim. A yellow flag indicates moderate surf and/or currents. Weak swimmers should wear life jackets or stay out of the water. Better swimmers should still use caution. A red flag warns of high surf and/or currents. Any swimming is discouraged but not forbidden. A total beach closure would be indicated by a double red flag (or sometimes a sign showing a red circle with a line crossing through it over the image of a swimmer). If dangerous marine life is present (jellyfish, stingrays, sea lice, etc.), a purple flag will fly. Shark sightings would prompt a red or double red flag.

Awareness

Besides the wave or current action, sometimes the water’s condition is problematic. Pollutants or a harmful algal bloom can pose a health risk. Something as major as the red
tide will have warnings on various websites and beach forecasts. An advisory in these cases cautions people that they go into the water at their own risk. If conditions warrant,
a beach closure may be ordered for public safety.

If everything appears okay and you go in the water, you should still beware of “sneaker waves.” These are considerably larger waves. Sneaker waves occur along the beach or coast. They are actually quite common and remain small enough to just be a nuisance. Larger ones, however, can sweep people walking on the beach into the water.

Check Yourself

Suppose you are on a secluded beach with no lifeguard or signage. You must make the call if it’s safe. Surf and water conditions require observation and good judgment. Remember the tips for spotting rip currents: anything floating on the water, such as seaweed, foam or debris that is moving quickly out to sea, an area where the water color is decidedly different from its surroundings, an area where there is a break in the incoming waves or a noticeable channel where the water is churning and/or choppy.

Unfortunately, these indicators may not be readily apparent, or they might not exist at all.
Above all, never swim alone. If you can’t get the latest weather information, check the
skies. Look for the development of puffy cumulus clouds. This means thunderstorms may occur. See which way the clouds are moving to know if you’re at risk. Listen for thunder. If you see a lightning bolt, start counting until you hear thunder; every five seconds means a mile away.

The NWS recommends seeking shelter if a storm is within six miles. Always have a plan, a safe place to go or an exit strategy if bad weather threatens to avoid spoiling a fun day.

By Ed Brotak, Southern Boating, July 2019

Beyond Basic Safety Gear

Go beyond the basic safety gear. This is survival gear.

Safety on board is undoubtedly the most important aspect of boating. When something goes wrong, having the proper gear can keep you alive. Increase your chances of survival by going beyond basic safety gear.

Most boaters carry just the basics: navigational lights, air horn, PFDs, fire extinguisher, flare, and a bottle of water. But before you head offshore this summer, consider carrying an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), a personal locator beacon (PLB), emergency life raft, a night-vision camera, and high-powered spotlight.

I once was lost but now am found

An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is essential when planning your safety gear.

The most recent European Union launch of Galileo navigation satellites added second-generation search-and-rescue (SAR) transponders to the International COSPASSARSAT Medium-Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) constellation. The primary mission of the MEOSAR system is navigation. Its large footprint on the globe allows the use of Doppler measurements to calculate a distress beacon’s location, while the Low-Earth Orbit (LEOSAR) and Geostationary Orbit (GEOSAR) are primarily for gathering meteorological data. Both the LEOSAR and GEOSAR satellites, however, provide assistance when a distress beacon is activated. The MEOSAR array provides faster signal detection, greater reliability, and accuracy and will soon be the dominant system for COSPAS-SARSAT service.

This is the system that communicates with an EPIRB and PLB distress signal that transmits on the 406 MHz frequency. A GPS-enabled EPIRB can identify your location to as close as 164 feet. A PLB works the same way but only transmits about 24 hours (the EPIRB has a minimum 48-hour transmission) and is registered to a person whereas an EPIRB is registered to the watercraft.

There are a number of EPIRBs and PLBs on the market, such as ACR’s GlobalFIX V4 EPIRB which has an internal 66-channel GPS. It has a 406 MHz transmission to connect with the COSPAS-SARSAT system and also uses the 121.5 MHz signal for more accurate detection when rescuers are close by. McMurdo’s Smartfind G8 AIS (shown) is the first to combine 406 MHz transmissions with an AIS (Automatic Information System) locator. Ocean Signal’s rescueME EPIRB and Simrad’s EP70 are also highly rated.

Was blind but now I see

Fishing in the Gulf at night won’t be fun if an oil rig gets in the way. Coming into the harbor isn’t any easier. With obstacles like tidal currents and other boats that can get in your path, docking can be a challenge. What if there was a man overboard scenario? Hope he’s wearing a PLB along with a strobe light.

Having a low-light and/or thermal camera that links with your electronic display is a godsend in those situations. Infrared or thermal imaging captures temperature differences between the background and the foreground. It detects thermal radiation that is emitted by anything with a temperature above zero. Thermal imaging cameras don’t need light to see.

A night vision camera requires some ambient light (from the shore or even the moon and stars). The latest technology has cameras capable of returning an image with just 0.1 lux (a full moon with a clear sky is 0.05 to 0.3 lux) and some with a sensitivity of 0.0008 lux. Resolution size is a critical number with thermal imaging and night vision cameras, but the camera’s sensitivity mode is important as well. The higher the number, the more you can see. High sensitivity modes make the camera more sensitive to pick up changes in temperature, which is important when trying to locate a crewmember in a man-overboard situation.

As with most safety gear, there are a number of companies producing thermal and night vision cameras, such as FLIR, Raymarine, and The Yacht Group.

That Saved a Wretch Like Me

One of the handiest safety accessories is the spotlight. Not much needs to be said as most people understand the advantages of having a flashlight when it’s dark. ACR, FLIR, and West Marine are just a few of the manufacturers who offer spotlight solutions. Fully automated systems with cameras, such as The Yacht Group’s Yacht Cam Bright that combines the night vision camera with a searchlight are extremely helpful.

The Yacht Group’s Yacht Cam Bright is a combination night vision camera and searchlight.

Its extreme lowlight sensitivity of 0.0013 lux (color) and 0.0008 lux (monochromatic) distinguishes images with 2.13-megapixel resolution and 30x optical zoom. The wide spot beam, effective to 1,000 feet by 70 feet, can further illuminate an object seen in the camera’s all-in-one unit with joystick control.

In addition to these important safety products, keep in mind the location in which you’ll be cruising. Conditions on the water can change rapidly, so logically consider all possible scenarios prior to heading to the marina. Think about how far you’ll be from shore, the water temperature will be, and weather conditions. Make sure to have ample supplies of food and water in the event you’re out longer than anticipated. Even a ditch kit if you have to abandon ship. When it comes to boating, safety is always the first priority.

Useful Resources

ACR

FLIR

MCMURDO

SIMRAD

By Steve Davis, Southern Boating June 2018

Rip Currents

Rip Currents: Life or Death

If you’ve heard warnings of possible rip currents, take them seriously!

Last year in the United States, 62 people perished due to rip currents. That’s more deaths than caused by hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning. Furthermore, tens of thousands of people require rescue by lifeguards from these extremely dangerous situations each year. In fact, 80 percent of rescues performed by lifeguards are in rip current events according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association.

What causes a rip current?

When waves continuously come ashore along a beach, circulations are created in the water. Some of the water will move parallel to the coastline, and some of it will move back out to sea in a return flow. In calmer conditions, this return flow is fairly weak and inconsequential, but if waves are higher and the period between waves decreases (typically, but not always, related to a stronger onshore wind), this return flow can become concentrated like a jet stream in the atmosphere and produce a rip current.

Why they’re dangerous

Rip currents are more common where there is an obstruction to the water flow along the shore such as a pier, jetty, groin, or reef. One of the worst situations occurs when there is a sandbar just off and parallel to the shoreline, which will block the return flow of water. If a breach or break occurs in the sandbar, returning water channels through it, accelerating as it goes.

Rip current speeds are typically in the 1 to 2 feet-per-second range (.7 to 1.4 mph) but have been measured as fast as 8 feet per second (5.5 mph)—faster than Olympic swimmers. Rip currents vary in width from as narrow as 10 to 20 feet to several hundred feet across. They will extend out from the beach past where the waves are breaking, anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand feet where they will dissipate. Rip currents can and do occur on any beach where there are breaking waves, even along the shores of the Great Lakes.

The summer months see the most rip current incidents because of increased beach usage and the significant majority of victims are young men. With miles of inviting beaches and temperatures that promote outdoor activities much of the year, Florida leads the country in rip current fatalities with an average of nearly 20 drownings per year. The states of North Carolina and Texas follow. Puerto Rico also had 11 victims in 2017, according to statistics from the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS acknowledges that rip current fatalities may be underestimated.

Check before diving in

If you’re cruising in the U.S., check the rip current status in your area via the NWS, which includes a beach forecast on weather.gov as well as surf forecasts on ripcurrents.noaa.gov/forecasts.shtml. Local media outlets also typically carry beach forecasts and include the rip current risk forecast. Rip current forecasts are shown as Low (unlikely), Moderate (possible), or High (Life-threatening rip currents likely). Going to a beach area with lifeguards present offers the most protection; check with them to learn if rip currents are occurring or expected.

When visiting beaches without lifeguards, take extra time to assess for rip currents. For example, anything floating, such as seaweed or debris is moving quickly out to sea. That is an indicator that rip currents may be present. Another indicator is an area where the water color is decidedly different from its surroundings, such as a break in a sandbar, a break in the incoming waves or a noticeable channel where the water is churning or choppy. Unfortunately, these indicators may not be readily apparent from the beach or water level. Dangerous rip currents can go undetected by a swimmer, especially when they’re not looking for them.

What to do

If you are caught in a rip current, don’t panic. The danger of rip currents is not that they will pull you under, which is what undertow does. Rip currents will pull non-swimmers and weak swimmers out to sea and into deeper water where they will tire quickly. Even strong swimmers will be in danger if they try to swim against the flow. The key is to swim parallel to the shoreline. Rip currents aren’t that wide, and even if you are swept out beyond the breakers, rip currents don’t extend much further. A caught swimmer will eventually break free as long as they remain calm and just float or tread water while calling for help. (This is one reason to swim where a lifeguard is on duty.)

If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. When possible, get a flotation device to the person. If nothing else, try talking to them to calm them down while giving instructions for reaching safety. Never attempt to rescue someone unless properly trained. Numerous people have drowned while attempting to save someone else. Most of all, remain calm and swim on.

By Ed Brotak, Southern Boating June 2018

Man Overboard Drills

We hope it never happens to you, but here’s what to do in a Man Overboard situation.

It’s National Boating Safety Week, so it’s a good time to brush up on those Man Overboard (MOB) drills. A man overboard is ALWAYS an emergency situation and it is very important to locate and recover the overboard person as soon as possible. A man overboard is always dangerous. It doesn’t matter if it happens in a harbor, at the slip, or open seas.

The majority of cases do not involve bad weather, rough seas, or other extenuating circumstances. Additionally, the most common type of man overboard situation happens in relatively calm waters, on a small boat that’s not going very fast, according to the BoatUS Foundation.

Action must be swift.

The United States Coast Guard says that the first few moments of a MOB are the most crucial. The action taken in the first few seconds after a person falls overboard decides the success of the recovery.

An alert crew-member can do much to save the life of someone who might otherwise drown. First actions should be swift and certain.

The instant someone falls overboard, yell “Man overboard!” to alert the crew to the emergency and establish an unceasing visual on the victim. Point and do not look away. If you have enough crew, assign this job to one person and let nothing interfere with that person keeping the victim in sight and pointing at the victim from that first moment on.
If you’re unsure of where the person is or if there is a chance the props could endanger him, stop the boat and ensure that the props don’t injure the victim now or later.
Activate your GPS MOB button if you have one.
Throw MOB gear, life jackets, flotation cushions anything that will help the victim float and help you keep track of him, but not so much as to confuse a search.
Return to and attempt to retrieve the victim. Use the Williamson Turn. Be careful during your approach and proceed with caution.
If the situation is life-threatening, call mayday three times on VHF 16. Then say, “Man overboard,” and give your location, boat description, and the description of the victim. Do this three times in succession. Don’t hesitate to issue a mayday you can always cancel it if you get the person back aboard safely.

Here is a video demonstration of an ideal MOB situation, but remember: every case will be different.

Stay safe out there.

Need more safety gear? We got you covered.

Self-Activating Life Float

When someone is showing signs of distress in the water, time is of the essence. OneUp has developed a compact, Self-Activating Life Float.

Toss the float to the victim and it will immediately inflate upon contact with the water.

Available this summer, the can-sized tube is easy to throw, is MSDS and CE certified, and takes only two seconds to inflate. The Self-Activating Life Float holds up to 330 pounds.

MSRP $49;

oneupsaves.com

More Safety Gear

Life Cell Ditch Kit

When it comes to safety at sea, Life Cell is a ditch kit and flotation device in one. Life Cell Ditch Kit stores needed safety equipment in one place: EPIRB, flares, flare gun, safety flag, whistle, air horn, flashlight, and signaling device.

The molded frame with grab handles helps keep you afloat. Mounted on an exterior bulkhead or rail, the optional 316 stainless steel bracket releases when pulled or submerged. Four models assist two to eight people.

MSRP from $300 to $470

lifecellmarine.com

More Safety Gear

E-flares to the Rescue

E-flares are a safer alternative to pyrotechnic flares that burn dangerously hot.

When it comes to marine distress flares, compliance with current regulations might not be safe enough for some recreational boat owners. Current regulations call for recreational boats to carry three pyrotechnic handheld flares that can stay lit for 60 seconds. While buying a kit of three flares and stowing it in a locker makes the boat “in compliance” if the U.S Coast Guard inspects the vessel, it’s not the ideal plan. It’s the least expensive plan,
though, and too often that wins. It’s said that safety doesn’t sell, but that attitude may be changing, thanks to e-flares.

For example, Weems & Plath launched The SOS Distress Light in 2015, which is U.S. Coast Guard compliant to replace pyrotechnic flares. At a cost of about $100, that is three times more expensive than a three-pack of pyrotechnic flares, but it is safer, and thousands have been sold. Sirius Signal was the developer of the SOS Distress Light, and after engineering and testing, brought it to Weems & Plath to manufacture and distribute.

“It flashes the SOS light sequence only, and that is the sole purpose of the light, which was the requirement from the Coast Guard,” said Cathie Trogdon, VP of Public Relations and Advertising for Weems & Plath. “If the Coast Guard is to board you, make sure [the light is] working— that the batteries are in the unit so when the officer tests it, it works. People love the idea that they don’t have to go out and buy flares. Our product has a lifetime warranty, and while it is more expensive than some flares, you make up the difference quickly over time.”

SOS Distress Light’s LED flashes up to 60 hours and is visible up to 10 nautical miles out. When paired with a daytime distress flag, which is included with the purchase of an SOS Distress Light, it satisfies the Coast Guard requirements for day and night use in lieu of traditional flares. “These e-flares float and can be hand-held, tethered or hoisted aloft,” Trogdon said. “It operates with three standard C batteries [and] complies with all U.S. Coast Guard requirements for ‘Night Visual Distress Signals’ as found in the Code of Federal Regulations: 46 CFR 161.013.”

Building better e-flares is also the goal of Ocean Signal. The company also builds emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and personal location devices (PLBs) out of its Margate, UK, facility and is owned by ACR. “Electronic is just the smarter way to go,” explained Rich Galasso, National Sales Manager for Ocean Signal. “With the pyrotechnic flares, you are putting a 5,000-degree torch in somebody’s hand in a wet environment on an unstable platform. It’s all problematic. Plus, flares can quickly be out of date and not usable.”

Ocean Signal’s rescueME EDF1 is a perfect complement to the pyrotechnic kit of three e-flares that makes your boat Coast Guard compliant. The rescueME EDF1 is approved to replace pyrotechnic flares in specific circumstances in Finland and Latvia. “An electronic flare is something a child can use,” Galasso said. “It’s a product you are going to use if something really goes bad, and in the end, it will be the product that actually saves your life.”

The rescueME EDF1 is small enough to fit inside a ditch bag or life raft, and its lithium batteries offer enough power for 6 hours, whereas a traditional flare burns for about 30 seconds. The unit can be used repeatedly in any of its four modes ensuring continued visibility is maintained over a longer period. Those modes are Economy, High,Ultra, and Forward Beam, plus SOS signaling. It can be used with one hand, has a visibility range of up to seven miles and is waterproof to 10 meters. “Another big challenge with pyrotechnic flares is disposal of them when they are out of date,” Trogdon said. “People have a difficult time getting rid of pyrotechnic flares legally. In some towns, the city of Annapolis, for instance, the fire department will take them and use them for their own training. But they really have to go to specific incinerators for proper disposal.” Water-logged flare kits wedged in a boat storage compartment underneath the life jackets are common. Or people toss the old kits in their garage, hoping they never see them again. Others, like the reckless and inventive, will light them off on July 4th, which is crazy but true.

Because the SOS Distress Light floats, it can be constantly signaling even when you are in the water. Since a flare only burns from 30 to 60 seconds, the light is much more constant. In addition, because most people first send out a Mayday call by cell phone and VHF, the e-flare is an important way for a Coast Guard vessel to locate the distressed vessel when rescue is imminent.

An actual rescue on January 6, 2017, was aided by the SOS Distress Light. Michael Misianowycz and a friend were rescued by the Coast Guard after their 25-foot center console had trouble. They had departed out of Mobile, Alabama, and when they didn’t return as scheduled, a rescue was initiated. At about 10 miles out, the Coast Guard spotted a light blinking SOS and contacted Misianowycz via VHF handheld. The SOS Distress Light was turned on and the Coast Guard aircrew spotted it using their night vision goggles. The boat capsized almost immediately after the Coast Guard vessel, a 45-foot Metal Shark, picked them up.

oceansignal.com; weems-plath.com

By Doug Thompson, Southern Boating January 2018

U.S. Coast Guard Safety Check

If the U.S. Coast Guard boards your boat, it pays to be calm and ready.

The U.S. Coast Guard isn’t to be feared like Big Brother, though boat operators may feel like scofflaws who speed through school zones when the red and blueclad Coasties appear. It’s the same driver angst police officers elicit on the road: What will I get busted for now?

Anyone regularly navigating ports or waters near international borders will likely have an encounter with the Coast Guard. As one of the five branches of the U.S. military— along with the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy—the Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security and exists to enforce the law, not to teach it. In addition, when you launch your boat in U.S. waters, you relinquish your Fourth Amendment rights at the dock. The Coast Guard doesn’t require probable cause to board your boat, a provision which dates back to the late 1700s and the Revolutionary War.

“When the Coast Guard pulls up to a boat, often it’s [to say]: ‘Hey, we are just checking to see how you are doing today,’” says Jonathan Lally, a Coast Guard spokesman and Petty Officer 2nd Class, based out of the 7th Coast Guard District, Miami Public Affairs Office. “Our crews are not out there to hassle people. They are out there to make sure people are safe and prevent accidents before they happen.”

Making the Coast Guard’s job difficult when officers want to board your boat will only cause the stop to last longer and may increase suspicion. If you have a firearm or other weapons on board, let the Coast Guard officers know before they board. Once they do an initial safety sweep to their satisfaction and make sure your registration and identification check out, then they may look for drugs. If that happens, they will thoroughly search compartments and closets.

Heeding basic regulations will prevent a citation. The Coast Guard will ensure that all children younger than age 13 are wearing life jackets and that there is a flotation device for each person on board. Make sure you have a noisemaker and throw-ring with a line that is within easy reach. A lack of boat registration or fire extinguisher is a common error, as these are federal requirements. Again, the Coast Guard’s main duties are certifying that boats are secure from foreign threats, environmentally in compliance and, most important, that the boat and passengers are safe.

“Already having on a life jacket when you go into the water is going to increase your chances of survival,” Lally explains. “Not only does it help you float, but it gives us and other rescuers more to search for, because we are looking for basketball-size object in the water. Today’s life jackets are more comfortable than old-style life jackets, as well as colorful.”

Once the inspection is complete, the Coast Guard will issue a Report of Boarding Form CG-4100, a two-page document that consists of a white original and a yellow copy. The captain gets the yellow copy. Keep it handy, as you can show it to Coast Guard officers if you are boarded again soon.

If you are embarking on a long voyage, proper communication before and after the passage is crucial. “File a float plan with family and friends, the more detailed the better,” Lally adds, noting that your boat’s equipment and tools are also vitally important. Make sure your charts— electronic and paper—are up to date so that you can use them to navigate instead of visual aids. “If you do get lost or delayed and don’t make it to a certain marina you said you were headed to, the Coast Guard knows where to search.”

In addition, verify your marine-band VHF is working; the Coast Guard constantly monitors Channel 16. Don’t depend on a cell phone as cell towers are unreliable. You can use your
VHF radio to call for help even in spots where your cell phone has no signal. Also, Sea Tow offers a free Automated Radio Check system to ensure the radio is working properly.

Other tips include stowing extra gear—such as blankets and a tarp—to help protect you against the elements should a thunderstorm arise. Always have a dry bag with a change
of clothes. Staying dry is an essential part of survival. Finally, keeping a “weather eye” is invaluable, as conditions can change rapidly.

“Know how to use your flares if you are forced into using them,” says Lally, adding a caution to be careful not to fire them accidentally so that they’re not available when you really need to send a signal. “Nowadays, there are many boating classes out there where people can learn to be safe. We encourage everyone to take these classes and keep taking them to continue their safety education.” uscg.mil

By Don Minikus, Southern Boating Magazine November 2017

PHOTO: U.S. COAST GUARD

Hurricane Tips for Boaters

Ideally, you already have a hurricane plan in place for your vessel. But there are a few basic hurricane tips all boaters can use.

The most important tip for protecting your boat from hurricanes or any threatening severe weather is planning, preparation, and timely action.

Of course, each boat is different and requires a unique plan for weathering the storm, but keep in mind:

Before a hurricane threatens, plan to remove valuable equipment from the boat (GPS, radios, etc) and determine how long it will take.
Remove all movable equipment such as canvas, sails, dinghies, radios, cushions, biminis, or roller-furling, lifejackets, gear, etc.
Lash down everything you cannot remove, such as tillers, wheels, booms, etc.
Seal all openings (use duct tape or similar) to make the boat as watertight as possible.
Make sure the electrical system is off. However, if you plan to leave the boat in the water, leave the system on.
If removing the boat from water, remove the battery to eliminate the risk of fire.
If you are out of town during a hurricane, arrange for a reliable person to learn and carry out your hurricane plan.
Check your lease or rental agreement with the marina or storage area and make sure you know your responsibilities and liabilities as well as those of the marina or storage area.
Consolidate all pertinent documents including insurance policies, recent photos or video of your vessel, boat registration, equipment inventory, lease agreement with the marina or storage area.
Maintain an inventory list of both the items removed and those left on board. And remember, do not stay aboard any vessel during a hurricane. You should stay in a safe, protected place and ensure your family, home, pets, and other personal property is safe. Be sure to stay tuned to news broadcasts and weather advisories.

Stay safe out there, everyone.

WATCH: Safety Items for Summer

Safe summer ahead!

Memorial Day is just around the corner. While the holiday honors those who died serving in the country’s armed forces, the date is also considered the unofficial kickoff of summer.

This year, Memorial Day is right after National Safe Boating Week (May 19^th to 25^th). If you are planning to take advantage of the long holiday weekend by heading out on the water, be sure to have your safety gear in check. Make 2018 a safe summer with this new gear.

There’s no time like the present to see the newest safety gear on the market, ranging from life jackets and floats to flares and fire extinguishers. All are lifesaving and also necessary to pass inspection with the USCG.

Watch this video, as Wesley Strong of Baltimore Marine Centers highlights some of the important safety gear you’ll need for the long weekend at sea.

For more safety tips, check out our Top Six Safety Tips.

QUIZ: Are you a safe boater?

It’s Safe Boating Week! Are you a safe boater? Find out with our Safe Boating Quiz.

We all know that what looks like a perfect day for boating can quickly become hazardous if someone ends up in the water. That’s why safety advocates across the U.S. and Canada team up each year to promote safe and responsible boating during National Safe Boating Week. Their main focus is consistent use of life jackets. This year, National Safe Boating Week is observed May 19th through 25th.

We’ve created an unofficial quiz to test you on life jacket use and other boat safety rules. Will you pass the quiz with flying colors or are you just a nautical novice?

Take our (completely unofficial) safe boating quiz to see if you’re worth your salt!

Don’t forget that National Safe Boating Week starts May 19th and runs through May 25th.

Each year hundreds of lives are lost… thousands are injured… and millions of dollars of property damage occurs because of preventable recreational boating accidents on U.S. waterways. Too often pleasure outings turn tragic. You as a boat operator, passenger, or concerned individual can make a difference.

The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that life jackets could have saved the lives of over 80 percent of boating fatality victims. Accidents can and do happen with terrifying speed on the water. There’s rarely time to reach stowed life jackets.

As the boat operator, you are responsible for the safety of your passengers. The U.S. Coast Guard challenges you and your passengers to wear your life jacket all the time while underway.

Not sure what you need aboard your boat to comply with the law? You can schedule a vessel safety check through the USCG.

Oh, and did we mention that it’s free? Find a location near you.

Yacht Protector is your new Virtual Crew

Yacht Protector monitors your boat,
makes sense and saves cents.

Owners of large yachts typically employ crew to manage and care for their yachts and to ensure their systems are in good working order. Owners of boats less than yacht-sized, however, generally manage and care for their own. But if they don’t dock it right behind their home, short of hiring full-time crew, it’s nearly impossible to monitor their boat 24/7, or it was until recently.

Yacht Protector is an innovative, affordable and easy-to-install boat monitoring system designed for boats of all sizes. Now, before you envision your boat being dismantled to install the system, think again. Yacht Protector was designed to be a plug-and-play system, so no boat modifications are required. Here’s how it works.

Wireless sensors are paired with the CORE module then strategically placed and set throughout the boat. Owners download the Yacht Protector app on their phone, tablet or laptop that enables them to monitor essential onboard systems. The boat’s current position can be seen in map or satellite view, and a complete history by day, week and month can be viewed and pinpointed to within 3 minutes. If there’s any deviation from the system’s thresholds that have been designated by the user, the owner and up to four additional contacts are alerted via the app. Additional alerts are sent via SMS, email and even a phone call from the call center.

Yacht Protector is the brainchild of Gerald Berton, CEO and owner of the Yacht Group. “Boat owners of every size wonder what’s happening with their boat when they’re not there and wonder ‘Will my batteries be okay? Has anyone been on my boat?’” says Berton. “The idea was to come up with a very easy-to-install and intuitive system that allows a person to use their smartphone to access the boat and put a geofence around his boat so they know if it’s been used.” Berton adds that people are comfortable using their smart devices, and the Yacht Protector app provides all the information on the device including forecasted weather risks.

The Yacht Protector app is mobile and user-friendly.

The system has a built-in GPS, so if you’re in a mooring the geofence can be set for a perimeter around the boat. You can receive an alert if someone is on or approaching your boat, and you can also adjust for drift. For larger boats, the geofence can be set to also monitor tenders aboard. The alert system can be muted when desired, and customization options include language, sensor names, alert thresholds, geofence settings, avatars, and much more. “The alert system is really user-friendly. You get an email immediately and also a push alert. If you don’t accept it, you’ll receive one every minute for the first 10 minutes, then at the end you get a text message,” explains Berton. “If there’s something going on, you want to know about it right away. If you don’t answer those, you’ll get a phone call from the call center. You can also list whomever you want as a contact—marina, person who cares for the boat, neighbors, etc. So marinas can have a little cottage industry, too, by providing service and being named as a contact.” The main keyfob is programmed for the boat owner, and additional keys can be programmed for authorized persons.

Dave Sell and a business partner took delivery of their 2016 Azimut 66 Fly in early August and each has his own keyfob. “I don’t live aboard the boat, which is the main reason why I installed Yacht Protector,” says Sell, who lives in Newport Beach, California, about 20 minutes away from Marina del Rey where the boat is docked. “I wanted some indication of the systems at all times.” Sell installed the system himself with some assistance from a marine service company who was doing work on his yacht at the time. Both Sell and his partner have the app on their phones, and their keyfobs are programmed so that when either one of them goes on the boat, the motion sensor is muted on the other’s keyfob so that no alerts are sent.

According to Sell, the Yacht Protector system has already paid for itself. “Just last weekend we got an alert that the shore power was cut. We called the marina, they sent their person to the dock and found out the power receptacle was not functioning properly,” says Sell, who added additional sensors to the standard unit. “That malfunction would have caused problems for all the boats on the dock, but Yacht Protector on my boat prevented it.”

The Yacht Protector system costs $1,295 and includes a one-year subscription and a two-year warranty. So how does it save you money? In addition to peace of mind, since you’re able to monitor your boat 24/7, the risks of theft and other kinds of damage are significantly reduced. Consequently, boat or yacht insurance may be discounted, and some carriers even pay for the alert/service center fees and a substantial portion of the actual system’s cost. According to Berton, NOVAMAR gives discounts of up to $500.

INFORMATION:
yachtprotector.com

— By Liz Pasch, Southern Boating Magazine October 2016

Hurricane Hermine: a look back

Hurricane Hermine damaged many marinas and public ramps that dot Florida’s shallow west coast between Homosassa and the Big Bend. Like many Labor Day storms of decades past, Hermine intensified as it approached the coast. Most of the resulting damage was due to tidal surge rather than wind. For nearly 24 hours, the Coast Guard restricted vessel movement with the issuance of Port Condition Zulu along the coast until the 80-mph winds had passed.

The brunt of Hermine was felt on the southern and eastern sides of the storm, which pushed debris inland, eroded waterfront roads, filled marina ships’ stores with water, and decimated inventory. From a recovery standpoint, most marinas were able to limp back to business within a few days, although the normally busy Labor Day weekend was reserved for front loaders and trash trucks—not cruisers and anglers. The worst of the storm damage occurred in Horseshoe Beach located in Dixie County, where a 12-foot tidal surge destroyed the well-known Shrimp Boat Restaurant. Furthermore, Steinhatchee-based marinas all reported surge-related damage, including the municipal docks at the public ramp that were twisted upward by the surge and severely damaged.

At River Haven Marina, a nine-foot storm surge pushed mud, water and debris inside the ships’ store but didn’t cause any permanent damage to the floating wooden and steel docks. Despite inventory losses, the marina was back up and operating within a week of the storm’s passing. At the nearby Sea Hag Marina (Marker 47) the floating wet slips had plank damage yet remained intact. Storm surge lifted several boats from bottom racks and pushed them inland, where they settled on the hard. Before the storm hit, Sea Hag was nearly finished with construction of a new steel building intended to provide covered dry storage for 100 vessels up to 38 feet in length. The building was designed to handle hurricanes and easily handled the 80-mph winds.

Cedar Key sustained heavy structural damage to waterfront motels, cottages and the city marina. Cedar Key Marina II, its phone lines out, took to Facebook to post: “There was a lot of water damage, no boats that are stored at the marina were damaged, but operations took a major hit. Right now we are trying to recover and pick up the pieces that were spread across the marina floor. Please give us time to get back on our feet, so we can best serve you and make your boating/fishing experience as pleasurable as possible.”

Crystal River, known for its manatees and diving, also reported flood damage. Several vessels were ripped from moorings and tossed up onto shorelines or carried inland by the storm surge. “At one point we had about three feet of water in the middle of U.S. 19 in downtown Crystal River,” says Commander Buddy Grant of the Citrus County Sheriff’s office. Twin Rivers Marina at the mouth of Crystal River was without power for several days. The ships’ store was heavily damaged by flooding, but the marina docks themselves held up reasonably well even though they were underwater for hours. Resilient and laid back, all of the marina operators expect to have repairs completed by winter in time for the annual return of northern visitors.

By Alan Wendt, Southern Boating Magazine November 2016

World’s First Four-Frequency EPIRB

McMurdo announces new EPIRB distress beacons that can support each of the four frequencies used in search and rescue.

We are in a day and age in which new technology and products are announced on nearly a daily basis that are designed to keep us safe, whether we’re traveling on land, in the air or on the water. Yet, emergency situations still occur. Search and rescue responders are depended on to react to distress calls, locate persons in life-threatening situations and bring them to safety. All of those actions, however, depend on the responders having received the distress signal in the first place. Many times, the distress signal is dispatched by emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs), which use specific frequencies.

McMurdo, a provider of emergency readiness and response products and part of the Orolia Group, now offers a new line of EPIRBs that combines multiple frequencies into one product, which speed up the search and rescue process. McMurdo’s SmartFind and Kannad SafePro EPIRBs will be the world’s first distress beacons that can support each of the following four frequencies and converges them into one beacon: 406MHz and 121.5MHz for beacon transmission, GNSS for location positioning and AIS for localized connectivity.

The multiple-frequency capability enables quicker detection, excellent positioning precision, better signal reliability, and consequently, people or vessels in distress can be rescued sooner. Company spokesperson Justine Heeley was quoted in a press release as saying “With this announcement, we continue our long tradition of market leadership and product innovation in the maritime industry. From GMDSS shipsets to AIS man overboard devices to personal locator beacons, and now with these latest EPIRB advancements, we are dedicated to developing state-of-the-art technologies that keep people safe while navigating our world’s waterways.”

Most EPIRBs use 406MHz and 121.5MHz frequencies via satellite communication to provide location and positioning data to search and rescue personnel worldwide whose location could be several hundred miles away. Extra AIS channels on McMurdo’s new EPIRB products—SmartFind G8 AIS and Kannad SafePro AIS—will send position signal information to standard AIS electronic equipment on nearby vessels for complementary local tracking and rescue capabilities.

Additional benefits include expanded satellite connectivity since the EPIRBs have a multiple GNSS satellite constellation receiver supporting the Galileo constellation (when it is completely operational), GPS and GLONASS. The benefit of advanced GNSS data processing produces earlier position recognition and improves emergency site accuracy.

The McMurdo SmartFind and Kannad SafePro EPIRBs are part of a comprehensive search and rescue ecosystem the company offers—distress beacons, satellite ground stations, mission control and rescue coordination systems, and rescue response products. McMurdo builds, integrates and tests products as part of a live search and rescue system. This safeguards greater cohesion between distress signal transmission and reception so that beacon owners are assured that their signals reach search and rescue authorities quickly in order for help to be dispatched.

The McMurdo SmartFind and Kannad SafePro EPIRBs are designed to be 100 percent compatible with the Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue System (MEOSAR), the next generation of the Cospas-Sarsat international search and rescue satellite system that has helped to save over 40,000 lives since 1982. MEOSAR will increase the speed and accuracy of beacon signal detection and location with new MEOSAR ground network infrastructure and additional MEOSAR satellites. When fully deployed, a MEOSAR-compatible beacon can be located—within five minutes of signal deployment—to within 328 feet an estimated 95 percent of the time, all without reliance on GNSS. McMurdo currently manufactures about half of the world’s MEOSAR infrastructure and is also leading the design of additional MEOSAR-capable beacons under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program’s HELIOS project.

According to Bruce Reid, CEO of the International Maritime Rescue Federation, McMurdo’s new EPIRB products contribute significantly to accomplishing a unified search and rescue vision. “The convergence of products and systems whether AIS and 406MHz or maritime domain awareness and search and rescue, respectively, will require a comprehensive understanding of the entire search and rescue ecosystem. I look forward to seeing more McMurdo solutions and innovations that will shape the search and rescue industry for years to come,” said Reid in a press release. Airbus, Boeing, the British Royal Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, NASA, and others are among the hundreds of aviation, fishing, government, marine, and military customers around the world that rely on McMurdo products.

INFORMATION:
mcmurdogroup.com

Crewsaver Liferafts

New Crewsaver® recreational liferafts feature the most advanced specifications on the market today. Three models—for coastal use, under 24-hour ocean use, and over 24-hour ocean use—are available in sizes to accommodate 4-12 people. The 24-hour models are Lloyds Class ISO Approved. A 12-year fabric and seam warranty and an extended service period of 3 years reduce ongoing maintenance costs.

• High-volume water pockets ensure maximum stability when inflated.
• Simple-to-close canopy is manufactured to the highest SOLAS standards providing added protection from the elements.
• Semi-rigid boarding ramp allows for quick, easy and safe boarding.
• Interior lifelines help occupants stabilize themselves during heavy seas.
• Exterior pressure relief valves ensure excess CO2 is not released into the liferaft.
• Greater than 24-hour liferafts include a waterproof buoyant and sealed grab bag packed inside.
• Two packaging options are available: weather-resistant valise or a tough, lightweight low profile container.

MSRP from $1,500

crewsaver.com

Southern Exposure April 2015