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    Safe Boating Pocket Guide
    Safe Boating Pocket Guide
    Safe Boating Pocket Guide
    Ebook276 pages2 hours

    Safe Boating Pocket Guide

    By Dave Lemay

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    About this ebook

    In July 2015, two boys approximately 14 years old went out of the Jupiter inlet and were never seen again. Distressed at this, I offered this "Safe Boating Pocket Guide" ebook, free. I now set a small fee just to keep tabs of numbers read. This is a comprehensive safe boating course that includes all Coast Guard regulations. Carry the Ebook on your smart phone for quick and easy access and get the answers you need, anytime, anywhere, just by utilizing the specifically designed Table of Contents. Refresh your knowledge, know the rules and when in doubt, go to your phone. Written in simple to comprehend terminology for persons of all ages. If you are a boater, then this is "must read information." You'll also get lots of tips and info that you may not have expected. My background includes eight years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, followed by fifteen years as a Master Near Coastal 100 Ton Boat Captain.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLulu.com
    Release dateOct 30, 2014
    ISBN9781312638730
    Safe Boating Pocket Guide

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      Book preview

      Safe Boating Pocket Guide - Dave Lemay

      Safe Boating Pocket Guide

      SAFE BOATING - Pocket Guide                              By Captain Dave Lemay

      Introduction

      Text copyright @ 2014 Dave Lemay, All Rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form, or by any means, or stored in a database, or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher/author.  Anyone wishing to use this book as their text book for teaching purposes should first contact the author to make special arrangements.  ISBN - 978-1-312-63873-0  Recent Update 110514

      This course was designed for new to intermediate boaters and covers all of the basic safety concepts that you need to know.  It’s a great way to learn from scratch, or just to refresh your boating knowledge.  In addition, we have attempted to design this book, primarily as an E-book, that can be utilized as a reference source that you will carry with you on your smart phone, so that you can quickly refer to it, whenever in doubt, or in need.  The numerous Chapters were purposely constructed and titled to ease the burden of searching for information.  The physical book version is identical in content but is better suited for classroom environment, or home reading.

      Information herein was compiled from various sources, including but not limited to, Codes of Federal Regulations (CFR’s), Collision Avoidance Regulations (COLREG’s) and Florida specific laws.  Personal experience and preferences are also expressed, when stated as such.  Additional information on how and where to locate the source on Rules of the Road may also be viewed in the final chapter of this book.

      Aside from the legal aspects, we’ve also included artwork and photographs to make all of the points more real and comprehensible.  Students completing this course, or even just reading the book, are encouraged to follow through with additional courses, or readings, in Coastal Navigation, GPS and even hands on training and boat handling.  The more you know, the more pleasure can be had with the knowledge that you have gained.

      Bear in mind that State and Federal laws may be subject to change, so if in doubt, always check first because knowing the law is your responsibility.  In this book, I’ll go over such incidentals as, items that could be potentially harmful to the environment and I’ll attempt to make you aware of your responsibilities to your guests, yourself and others on the water.  In short, an awareness of what it means to be a proper boater and a common sense approach to safe and legal boating practices.  This applies to everyone on a boat, not just the skipper.  Most importantly, owning any boat and going out on the water makes you subject to knowing and abiding by the rules.  The Coast Guard and the  Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will treat all boaters equally and will enforce laws that are broken, so please know and obey the laws.

      If you are just visiting Florida, please check for issue of temporary certificates via the address below, or you may take one of the online Boating Safety Education courses. Once you have completed a classroom, or online boating safety course and would like your State of Florida Boating Education ID card, please mail a copy of your certificate to:

      FWC

      Boating Safety

      620 South Meridian Street

      Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

      Please make sure to include your name, address, date of birth, and telephone number.

      NOTE: Every person convicted of a criminal violation, non-criminal infraction resulting in a boating accident, or 2 non-criminal infractions within a 12-month period, is required to successfully complete mandatory education requirements as required by law.

      Until these requirements are met, they must refrain from operating a vessel. Any person who operates a vessel in violation of these provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      I was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 and want to operate a boat in Florida.  Do I need a license?

      In order to operate a motorboat of ten (10) horsepower or greater, Florida law requires anyone who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 to successfully complete an approved Boating Safety Course and obtain a Boating Safety Education Identification Card issued by the FWC.

      Florida does not have a boating license. The Boating Safety Education Identification Card is proof of successful completion of the educational requirements and is valid for life.

      I've heard there were some changes in the law regarding the requirements to operate a boat in Florida.  What were the changes?

      Effective Jan. 1, 2010, boat operators who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, must have a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card to operate a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more.  The requirement to take an approved boating safety course and to obtain an FWC-issued identification card did not change but the age threshold for the educational requirements is now be based on whether or not you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988.

      The new law also created an exemption from the educational requirements for an operator, if he or she is operating a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel and has available for inspection aboard that vessel, a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.

      Are some people who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 exempt from these boating safety educational requirements?

      Yes, there are some exemptions.  Below is a list of those exemptions.

      A person licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel.

      A person operating on a private lake or pond.

      An operator who is accompanied on-board by a person who is least 18 years old and possesses the required Boating Safety Education Identification Card, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.

      An operator who is accompanied on-board by a person who is exempt from the educational requirements, provided that person is attendant to and responsible for the safe operation of the vessel.

      A nonresident who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a NASBLA-approved boater safety course or equivalency examination from another state.

      A person is operating a vessel within 90 days after the purchase of that vessel and has available for inspection aboard that vessel a bill of sale meeting all the requirements as established in Chapter 328.46(1), Florida Statutes.

      A person operating a vessel within 90 days after completing an approved boating safety course, as required in Chapter 327.395(1), and has a photographic I.D. and a boater education course completion certificate showing proof of having completed the required boating safety education course.  The course completion certificate must provide the student's first and last name, date of birth, and the date the course was successfully completed.  (Effective Oct. 1, 2011.)

      I will be visiting Florida from another state and I want to rent a personal watercraft.  How will these boating safety educational requirements apply to me?

      As a nonresident, you must comply with the boating safety education requirements.  However, if you have proof in your possession that you have completed a boater safety course or equivalency exam that meets or exceeds Florida's requirements (usually in the form of a certificate or card), you would not need to have a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card.  In addition, you would also be exempt if you met any of the other conditions for exemptions listed in the previous question.

      I am an 18-year-old boater who just passed an approved online boating safety course and received a printed certificate of course completion.  Do I still need to get a boating safety card?

      Yes.  In addition to the requirement to successfully complete an approved boating safety course, you must also have an FWC-issued Boating Safety Education Identification Card - along with a photo ID - in your possession to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more.  Effective Oct. 1, 2011, a course completion certificate for an approved course - along with a photo ID - can be used for up to 90 days from date of issue to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more.  (See the last frequently asked question for more details on requirements for certificate.)

      I am 26 years of age and will be visiting Florida for a few days, but I don't have a Boating Safety Education Identification Card.  How can I rent a boat?

      If you are visiting from another state and you do not meet any of the conditions to be exempt from the boating safety education requirements, you can get a temporary certificate in order to rent a boat.  These certificates are issued by vendors around the state. A list of vendors is available.  The temporary certificate is valid for one year and is not intended to be a permanent replacement for the Boating Safety Education Identification Card.

      I received a temporary certificate from an FWC contractor.  Can I send my Temporary Certificate to your office and exchange it for a Boating Safety Education Identification Card?

      No.  The Temporary Certificate is a certificate that allows an individual to temporarily meet Florida's boating education requirements.  It is not a substitute for a Boating Safety Education Identification Card and is only valid for one year from the date it is issued.

      If I am required to have a boating safety ID card to operate my boat and I just completed an approved boating safety course, can I operate my boat while I am waiting to receive my card?

      Yes.  If you are required to have an FWC-issued Boating Safety Education ID card in order to operate a boat and you have completed an approved boating safety course, the course completion certificate (along with a photo ID) can be used as proof of meeting the educational requirement.

      To meet the legal requirement, the course completion certificate must have your first and last name, your date of birth and the date you successfully completed the course.  You must have the certificate with you (along with a photo ID) while operating the boat.  The course completion certificate can be used for up to 90 days and it is not a permanent replacement for the Boating Safety Education ID Card.

      Chapter-1-Terms for Boaters

      The following terms are found throughout the Rules of the Road and you should have a thorough understanding of their meaning.  Also, these terms will constantly arise in the world of boating, wherever you go.  Though boaters don’t have a language all of their own, they definitely utilize terminology that you don’t hear in the everyday world off of the water.  This method helps to give a more concise meaning and can actually improve understanding between persons on board.

      Vessel = Every craft of every description used or capable of being used on the water

      Power Driven Vessel = AKA motorboat – Any vessel propelled by machinery

      Sailing Vessel = Any vessel under sail without utilizing mechanical propulsion

      Underway = Not at anchor, not aground and not attached to the ground or shore

      Danger Zone = An arc of 112.5 degrees measured from dead ahead to just aft of the starboard beam

      Right of Way = The right and duty to maintain course and speed

      Stand on Vessel = The vessel having the right of way

      Give Way Vessel = The vessel that must keep clear of the Stand On Vessel

      Visible ( when applied to lights ) = Visible on a dark clear night

      Short Blast = A blast of one or two seconds duration

      Prolonged Blast = A blast of four to six seconds duration

      It is the skipper’s responsibility to take charge of and to ensure the safety of his crew and his passengers.  This means reviewing emergency equipment and procedures. Additionally, try to ensure that at least one person on board is capable of operating the vessel in the event of an emergency.  The life saved,

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