Page 9 - Experience Oregon Boating Handbook

PR E PARATION

Weather 7. Fuel tanks expand as they warm. Do not fill tanks
Before you head out, check the local weather and completely, because overfilling can lead to spills.
sea conditions. Weather information is available by
listening to local radio stations, U.S. Coast Guard radio, 8. Wipe up any spilled gasoline from around the boat.
or the National Weather Service VHF/FM broadcasts on Discard the cloth in a safe manner. The bilge pad will
frequencies: 162.400, 162.425, 162.475 and 162.550 MHz soak up any overflow or spills while protecting the
in areas where available. Along the Oregon coast, tune water.
in to 1610 AM for local weather and coastal bar crossing
information. 9. If your boat is equipped with a power ventilation
system (blower), turn it on for at least four minutes
Storm warning flags are displayed at selected coastal after fueling, prior to starting your engine. This will
locations such as U.S. Coast Guard stations, marinas, help eliminate gas vapors in the bilge.
public piers and yacht clubs. These signals are a
prediction of potentially dangerous wind, or in the case 10. Before restarting the engine, sniff the bilge and engine
of small craft warnings, winds and seas dangerous to compartments for fumes. Periodically check the entire
small boats. Boaters should know the signals and heed fuel system for leaks.
their warnings, especially at coastal bar locations. Some fuels contain alcohol (ethanol-blended fuel),

WEATHER DISPLAYS which can cause rubber gaskets and hoses to deteriorate,
resulting in fuel leaks and clogged fuel filters. Be sure to
Daytime winterize your boat each season, so it runs well.
Signals
Float Plan
Night Boaters who plan a trip for more than a
Signals day should complete a“Float Plan”and leave
it with a friend or neighbor. Then, if you
SMALL CRAFT GALE STORM don’t return as planned, the proper agency
Winds 21 to Winds 34 to Winds 48 knots can be notified. The float plan will provide the necessary
33 knots 47 knots or greater information including where you are going and when
you’re expecting to be back. Be sure to tell people when
Fueling you return. 9
Most fires and explosions happen shortly after
fueling. To prevent this type of accident, follow these Boat Capacity

rules: • Do not exceed either the stated maximum weight
1. Fuel before dark. capacity or the maximum number of people indicated by
2. Don’t smoke or strike matches. your boat capacity plate.
3. Shut off motors. Turn off electrical equipment.
4. Close all windows, doors and openings. • The maximum weight is the combined weight of
5. Take portable tanks out of the boat and fill them on passengers, gear and motors (including ballast tanks or
other devices).
the dock.
6. Keep the fill nozzle in contact with the tank rim to • It’s a violation to exceed the boat capacity.
If your boat does not have a capacity plate, use the
prevent a buildup of static electricity, which could
produce a spark. following formula to determine the number of people the
boat will safely carry, and do not exceed that limit.

Number of people = Length of boat (in feet) X Width of boat (in feet)
15

The results give the number of persons (150 lb. average)
that can be put aboard without crowding, in good
weather conditions. Overloading a boat is not only
dangerous, it’s illegal.

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