April 30, 2008
Neighborhood Watch
Here's something I read this morning that I thought was worthy of passing along. We all should keep our eyes out for anything unusual on the water. As boating season approaches, the Bush Administration wants to enlist the country's 80 million recreational boaters to help reduce the chances that a small boat could deliver a nuclear or radiological bomb somewhere along the country's 95,000 miles of coastline and inland waterways. According to an April 23 intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press, "The use of a small boat as a weapon is likely to remain al Qaeda's weapon of choice in the maritime environment, given its ease in arming and deploying, low cost, and record of success." While the United States has so far been spared this type of strike in its own waters, terrorists have used small boats to attack in other countries. The millions of humble dinghies, fishing boats and smaller cargo ships that ply America's waterways are... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:04 AM | Comments (2)
April 28, 2008
Size Does Matter
When Choosing A Life Jacket, that is. There’s no doubt that life jackets save lives. In the United States an average of nine people a day die as a result of drowning - deaths that could have been prevented. But a life jacket that does not fit properly can put a person at risk of drowning. Proper fit is imperative for safety on the water. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has a few tips to follow when choosing a life jacket. Choose only a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved life jacket, and the correct size for the weight of the person. The USCG stamp of approval, size, whether it is for a child or an adult, and appropriate weight of the wearer should be listed inside the jacket. A person’s chest size and stomach size may come into play when selecting the right life jacket. Here are some helpful tips in "sizing" a life jacket: - Use the “touchdown” test... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2008
MOB – Man Overboard
Part of safe boating, regardless if you're the marine patrol, fire department, or even a recreational boater, is to always be careful on the water and take the necessary steps to be ready for anything that may happen. Today, I want to talk about things to think about should someone fall overboard and how to get a person back in the boat. Obviously, the easiest and best way to deal with a Man Overboard (MOB) situation is to never have someone fall into the water in the first place. As skipper, to prevent a MOB you must be sure that everyone onboard is seated and knows how important it is to always hold on even at slow speeds, you must drive the RIB in such a way that minimizes sudden unexpected movements and accidents, and that you never venture out in conditions that aren't appropriate for your boat or those on board. Surprisingly, most MOBs occur at slow speeds when... read morePosted by ribcraftusa at 01:01 PM | Comments (2)
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