SAME DAY QUOTES | NEXT DAY SHIPMENT ON IN-STOCK PRODUCTS
Just as highway signs are vital to safe driving, so channel markers exist to help boats travel the waterways safely. In this post, we will explore exactly what the channel markers look like and when to use them.
Understanding boat navigation lights is a basic safety requirement when you take to the water in your vessel. As a boat owner, it’s up to you to have the correct lights installed on your boat and have them colored and calibrated in the correct way. When all boat owners use their lights properly and understand the lights of other boats that they see, the safety of everyone on the water is protected. White Boat Navigation Lights White lights give you an overview of the vessel since they are either all around, mast or stern. All around lights. As the name implies, all around lights project a full 360º circle of light. They would be projected from the center of the boat and need to be visible for 2 miles. Masthead lights. They shine from 112.5º on the port side of the boat through dead ahead to 112.5º on the starboard side. Therefore, the arc of illumination is 225º. Masthead lights must always be located above side lights (which are colored). For boats less than 39.4 feet, visibility range is 2 miles; for those over 39.4 feet, it is 3 miles. Stern lights. These lights shine aft 135º (67.5º on each side). The visible range of illumination should be 2 miles. Red/Green/Bicolor Navigation Lights Colored lights are always sidelights and the different color indicates the side. Red lights are located portside, and green are starboard. The lights shine from dead ahead to 112.5º aft on either side of the vessel. On some boats, sidelights can be combined into one bicolor light. For boats less than 39.4 feet, the visible range should be 1 mile; for those over 39.4 feet, it is 2 miles. Sailboat Navigation Lights For sailboats that are less than 7 meters long, the general boat navigation lights apply. If, however, regular marine lights cannot be used or installed practically, there is another option. Your sailboat must have an electric torch or lantern that emits a highly visible white light that you can deploy in time to prevent collisions. Powerboat Navigation Lights Powerboats need to have a masthead light forward, sidelights and a stern light. Vessels less than 12 meters in length can have an all around white light and sidelights. Powerboats on the Great Lakes may carry an all around white light instead of a second masthead light and stern light combination. Sidelights may be combined into a single bicolor light fixed at the centerline of the boat. Boat navigation lights are required between sunset and sunrise, and at any other times of reduced visibility. These lights can indicate the size of the boat, what it’s doing, and what direction it’s going. Boat lights are an essential way for vessels to communicate with one another.
Getting out on the water is one of the best possible ways to relax and enjoy nature. Whether you’re fishing on a peaceful lake, kayaking through white water, or sailing from Maine to Georgia, your goal is enjoyment. And in order for that to happen, there are certain safety precautions that you need to know and follow. This summer, because of COVID-19, there may be additional safety strategies in place as well. In this post, we’ll examine 3 ways for you, your family, and friends to stay safe while boating this summer. Individual Actions for Boating Safety The single most important safety measure that you can take on the water is wearing your life jacket. Everyone on your boat should have a properly-fitting, US Coast Guard approved life jacket, and everyone should wear it. Simply having the life jacket on board doesn’t guarantee safety. When something goes wrong, it happens fast, and 84% of those who drowned on US waterways in 2018 were not wearing life jackets. If you’re the operator of the vessel, it’s crucial that you don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Other ways to ensure the safety of all aboard is to maintain a reasonable speed, pay attention to other vessels and people on the water, and know and follow boating rules, particularly those relating to meeting and maneuvering around other boats, and interpreting buoys. Vessel Safety Your boat needs to be in top-notch condition before you take it on the water. You should check that all lights are functional and correctly positioned. And make sure you have your boat’s registration clearly visible. Do you have an appropriate emergency kit on board? It should contain first aid supplies, 2 forms of communication that will work even if wet (like satellite phones), flares (and water if you are going to be in the ocean). If you have any concerns at all, you could schedule a Vessel Safety Check with your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons before you hit the water. Every Vessel Safety Check is conducted 100 percent free of charge. Special COVID-19 Precautions The COVID-19 pandemic has required a lot of changes to ordinary life. Now that lockdown is easing and we are learning what our new normal might be, you’re probably anxious to get out onto the water. Before towing your boat to your favorite boat ramp, look up your local regulations. They’ll let you know the regulations particular to the COVID-19 situation. Most ramps or boat docks are open, though you can anticipate the whole process taking longer than usual because of the social distancing. You’ll almost certainly need to stay at least 6 feet away from other boats on the water as well; no multiple boat tie-ups! Many places have restrictions on the number of people allowed on board a boat. In Maine, it’s 10. Be sure to wash your hands or use a high-alcohol sanitizer after fueling, and don’t share equipment. When you observe the special precautions put in place because of COVID-19, you make boating safer for everyone. When your boat is in good working order and equipped with all necessary safety supplies, you minimize the risk to everyone on board. And when you behave responsibly by staying alert and assuring everyone wears a life jacket, you create an atmosphere where your family and friends can enjoy their time on the water. After the lockdown, we’ll all be delighted to be back on our beautiful waterways; following these 3 tips will increase your pleasure by decreasing your worry.
You may have been seeing headlines about boating laws changing for teenage boat drivers. Is the boating license age in Wisconsin getting stricter? Will young boat drivers be subject to more scrutiny? While the boating laws are changing, they are not becoming stricter nor do they increase requirements for teenage boat drivers. In fact, the opposite is true. There was a flaw in the law that the new legislation remedies, putting it in line with other sections. Current Wisconsin Boating Law Under current law, no person under the age of 10 may operate a motorboat. Anyone 10 or 11 years old can operate a motorboat when accompanied by a parent, guardian or person over 18. For 12 – 15 year olds, the same is true, though they may operate a motorboat on their own if they have completed an approved boating safety course and have the certification card. Anyone 16 and older must have successfully completed a boating safety course and have a certification card. So in Wisconsin, anyone 16 or older must have a boating safety certification card unless s/he was born before January 1, 1989. Boating Law Loopholes There are a couple of loopholes in this section that have caused difficulties. A fifteen-year-old could be out in a motorboat with her parents the day before her 16th birthday and could operate the boat without having completed a boating safety course. The next day, in exactly the same circumstances, she would not legally be able to operate the boat. That’s the biggest loophole that the proposed bill would eliminate. Also, the current law doesn’t specify that the parent, guardian or adult who accompanies the 10 – 15 year old needs to have their boating safety certification card (or have been born before January 1, 1989). New Proposed Boating Laws in Wisconsin The proposed changes to Section 30.678 simply make it consistent within itself. So, for instance, it specifies that the accompanying adult needs to have boating safety certification or be born before January 1, 1989. Then, it includes the provision that teens over 15 can drive a motorboat if they are accompanied by their parents, guardians, or adults over 18 who have their boating safety certification or were born before January 1, 1989. WI Boating Safety Certification We don’t have boating licenses in Wisconsin; we have boating safety certification cards. These act just like licenses, and you are required to carry your certification card with you when you go out onto the water. There are a number of different ways to attend and participate in boating safety classes. There are online courses and in-person sessions; they are offered by for-profit companies and Coast Guard auxiliaries; they can cost as little as $10 per person and take as few as three hours. But they must be approved or honored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Before signing up for your course, you need to acquire a DNR Customer Number. That number is unique to you and lasts for your lifetime. If the boating safety course you are considering does not ask you to get your DNR number, it is not an approved course. While the boating law is changing slightly, it just means that the law will correspond completely with common sense. And with so many boat safety courses around, it would be wisest for anyone over 12 to complete the course and get their safety certification card. So, there’s no need to worry, and it’s always a good idea to do a boat safety course.
In order to enjoy your time on the water, first and foremost you need to know that you and your passengers are safe. In addition to the usual safety procedures for boating, that means having the appropriate marine lights on your boat. The laws and regulations around boat navigation lights are detailed by the US Coast Guard and are designed to keep everyone on the water as safe as possible. Boat navigation lights are required between sunset and sunrise, and at all times of reduced visibility. Marine lights indicate the size of vessel, its activity, and direction of travel. Properly used boat navigation lights ensure that all vessels on the water can understand each other. General Rules for Marine Boat Navigation Lights On all vessels, boat navigation lights will have a specific color, location, range of visibility, and arc of illumination as required by marine light laws and regulations. The basic rules for boats under 65.6 feet are as follows: All around lights. As the name implies, all around lights project a full circle of light. They are white and provide 360º of white light. They need to be visible for 2 miles. Masthead lights. These are also white. They shine from 112.5º on the port side of the vessel through dead ahead to 112.5º on the starboard side. Therefore, the arc of illumination is 225º. Masthead lights must always be located above side lights. For boats less than 39.4 feet, visibility range is 2 miles; for those over 39.4 feet, it is 3 miles. Sidelights. Sidelights are red and green, and the color matters. Red lights are located portside, and green are starboard. The lights shine from dead ahead to 112.5º aft on either side of the vessel. On some boats, sidelights can be combined into one bicolor light. For boats less than 39.4 feet, the visible range should be 1 mile; for those over 39.4 feet, it is 2 miles. Stern lights. These are white lights that shine aft 135º (67.5º on each side). The visible range of illumination should be 2 miles. Navigation Light Rules for Powerboats Powerboats need to have a masthead light forward, sidelights and a stern light. Vessels less than 12 meters in length can have an all around white light and sidelights. Powerboats on the Great Lakes may carry an all around white light instead of a second masthead light and stern light combination. Sidelights may be combined into a single bicolor light fixed at the centerline of the boat. Navigation Light Rules for Sailboats For sailboats that are less than 7 meters long, the general boat navigation lights apply. If, however, regular marine lights cannot be used or installed practically, there is another option. Your sailboat must have an electric torch or lantern that emits a highly visible white light that you can deploy in time to prevent collisions. It’s the Operator’s Responsibility to Understand Boating Light Requirements As a responsible vessel operator, it is vital that you know how to interpret the lights that you see, as well as display the boat navigation lights you are required to have. The marine lights are the sole responsibility of the owner/operator, not the manufacturer, importer, or dealer. Some boats come with lights that do not meet legal requirements. It’s also important to remember that the angles of visibility must be met when the boat is underway, and you may need to adjust your lights accordingly.
We are proud to sponsor the new Recreational Boating Safety Instructor Network website, RBS In-Network, which will be a resource for trainers and educators for boating safety. Besides the benefits of collaborating with other professional boat safety educators, the RBS In-Network offers instructional strategies for face-to-face boating courses, plus training aids that will help with teaching. www.americancanoe.org
