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Trama Week day 5: Coast Guard Boat Safety

Mr. Murphy
877.now.vscg / gocoastguard.com

Terminology



- Bow: front of the boat

- Stern: back of the boat

- Gunwale: top sides of the boat

- do not sit, stand, or step on gunwales

- Starboard: right side of the boat

- Port: left side of the boat


- Mid ship: bow-stern or across middle of the ship

- Stern Light: white light on the end of the boat (anchor light)

- Bow Lights: red and green lights on the front of the boat

- Red lights: port side

- Green lights: starboard side

- Free board: water line up

- Draft: water line down


Required Equipment

Life jackets are required on all boats. All types of life jackets must be out of a bag or readily available but throw-able life jackets must be immediately available. There are two types of life jackets.

  1. Wearable life jackets:

- off-shore vest:

- The off shore vest is considered the best type of life jacket. They are

designed to turn you on your back and to keep you afloat of a long time.

They are designed specifically for durability.

- near-shore vest:

- The near shore vest is less expensive but they will not float for as long as

the off shore will.

- vest type:

- The vest type life jacket has mesh at the top and is required for coast

guards and is not publicly required to wear.

In the Vest

  • light

  • knife

  • PLB

  • rope

  • whistle

  • signal mirror

- inflatable vest

- The inflatable vest inflates by a blow tube or a inflatable tab. You must

be over 16 to operate one.

  1. Throw-able life jackets:

- cushion

- Throw and use as flotation, you must attack a line to it so it

will not fly away.

- ring type

- The ring type is more reliable throwing wise because of its weight.

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