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(Just a Few)
Big Mistakes Boaters Make-and how to Avoid Them
These mistakes can:
 Embarrass the heck out of you
 Cost you a pile of cash
 And maybe even kill you.
By
Captain Tom Staadt
The Boat Coach
Beware of the Mistakes…
You‟ve just bought a big, beautiful new boat. Or maybe you‟re getting ready to buy. You‟ve
been dreaming of this for years. You‟re so excited you can hardly stand it. You feel like a little
kid again. Your friends and family can‟t wait to get out on the water. Let‟s go!
But wait! Before you go rushing off to make a purchase or shove off for a cruise, there are some
things you ought to know. I‟ve learned that what you don‟t know about boats, the water, and
navigation will hurt you—sooner or later. Boating mistakes can cause minor inconvenience,
extensive damage to the boat, severe injuries and even death.
I should know. I‟ve made a lot of mistakes myself, and I‟ve seen many people‟s dream boats
quickly turn into nightmares.
My First Boating Mistake Cost Me My Boat
It didn‟t take me long at all to make a BIG mistake after I got my first boat at age 16. I acquired
a used 14‟ wooden boat as a project for our Sea Scout troop. My buddies, who were also new to
boats, pitched in and helped me sand, paint, polish, and varnish the boat. It looked great. I
thought the girls would be so impressed and would love going out with us guys.
On the launching day, we took her out to the harbor on Lake Michigan. As it slid off the trailer, I
started the old Johnson 25 HP engine and backed her into the harbor. All the girls were on the
dock watching. I was cool. Then, water started seeping in fast through every seam. I wasn‟t
only cool, I was wet. I had just sunk my first boat.
My mistake? I didn‟t know wood swells in water and contracts when it‟s out of the water for an
extended period. After winter storage, it is critical to let a wooden boat sit in the water and swell
for a long while before taking it out on the water. Otherwise, the boat can start taking in water
and sink—like mine did.
I learned things the hard way, but I like to help others learn the easy way. I teach them how to
do things the right way before it costs them. There‟s an awful lot to know, and remembering it
all can be overwhelming, especially when you‟re under stress. Here are just a few of the many
common boating mistakes people make—and what you can do to avoid them.
MISTAKE #1
Not understanding your personal capabilities and the limitations of your vessel.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary and other organizations will provide classroom instruction on the
basics of sailing, seamanship, and navigation. But, as you remember from your Driver‟s Ed
classes back when you first learned to drive a car, it is one thing to learn in the classroom, and
quite another to apply what you‟ve learned behind the wheel when you‟re driving in snow or
with cars whizzing all around you on the freeway. Classroom instruction just can't teach you
how to react competently to real life situations and problems. That‟s why most Drivers‟ Ed
programs provide on-the road instruction.
As I said, what you don‟t know about your own capabilities, your boat, what the boat can and
can‟t do, how to deal with wind, speed, tides, currents, and hazards (both natural and man-made)
can--and will--hurt you (or someone else), sooner or later. Murphy's Law applies with a
vengeance when you‟re out on the water. When things go wrong, they often come in bunches.
Picture yourself trying to navigate your boat in rough weather: strong winds are whipping up
huge waves, the currents are pulling you off course, the rain is coming down in buckets, and one
of your passengers fell overboard--all while you‟re trying to dock the boat.
A new boater embarrasses himself
Here‟s what happened to one man, a prominent athlete, in weather conditions that weren‟t nearly
as challenging as what I just described. After purchasing a new 50+ foot boat, he proudly took it
out on Lake Michigan, filled with people he wanted to impress. After an enjoyable trip, he
turned back toward the dock. Unfortunately, he hadn‟t taken the time to learn some very critical
things—like how to dock the boat.
As he approached the dock at the end of the voyage, he encountered high winds and strong
currents, and had difficulty keeping the boat under control. Suddenly, he realized the boat was
going too fast and was out of control—it was heading straight for the dock. A crowd of boaters
standing on the dock saw him struggling and tried to help. Someone yelled, “Use the bow
thruster!”
He yelled back, “What‟s a bow thruster?” I think you can guess the rest.
It was an expensive—and embarrassing lesson. The collision with the dock caused extensive
damage to both the dock and his boat, and he looked foolish in front of the people he had
intended to impress. He received a stern reprimand from the dock master, who told him to find a
new place to dock his boat. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Since most minor accidents occur close to shore, especially during docking and undocking, I
insist that new captains practice in all types of conditions to make sure they have the basics down
cold so that when other factors/hazards arise, they can respond to them, instead of having to
worry about the fundamentals. I also teach the limitations of their boats and their own
limitations as captains.
Have you mastered the fundamentals of operating your boat so you can handle the
unexpected? Do you know what situations you can and can’t handle?
MISTAKE #2
Buying a boat that isn’t right for you.
Boats come in all different sizes, shapes, designs—and, of course, prices. They have many
different uses: sailing, pleasure, utility/work, and speed. They are made of fiberglass, steel,
wood, aluminum, and even concrete. Buying the wrong boat for your needs is easy, especially
for first-time boat owners.
Don‟t be like the man who bought a large cruiser to entertain his kids, but found out that the boat
was too big. They couldn‟t swim off it, climb in out of the water, or water ski behind it.
A woman made an expensive mistake when she bought a 50-foot powerboat, only to find the
boat didn‟t have the living space she wanted for long-distance travel and extended living aboard.
The next year, she bought a 65-footer, and is much happier. Fortunately for her, she is wealthy,
and never missed the substantial money she lost on the trade. Many of us can‟t afford to make
this mistake.
I recommend renting a boat for a weekend or even a week to try it out and react to it. You may
discover needs and wants you weren‟t aware of before you actually spend time on a boat. Here
are just a few factors to consider:
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Speed and maneuverability
Sticker price and costs to maintain, store, dock, fuel, and insure
The learning curve to competently captain the boat
Draft (depth at which the boat can safely operate)
The body of water where you plan to use your boat
Number of people you want to accommodate
Needs for cooking, sleeping, and entertainment
Suitability for fishing, water skiing, and other uses
TYPES OF BOATS
Utility boats: This group includes prams, dinghies, skiffs, and inflatables. You can operate
these boats around the harbor, to get from your (larger) boat to shore, and do work on your boat.
They are small, inexpensive, light-weight, very maneuverable, and are relatively easy to learn to
operate. They can‟t handle rough waters and don‟t have amenities like toilets or cooking and
sleeping accommodations.
Pontoons: These popular boats are platforms mounted on two or more cylinder type floats.
They are most often used as fishing boats, work platforms, and party boats. They have shallow
drafts (can operate in shallow water), and are relatively easy to operate. They are best used on
rivers and small lakes, since they are unstable and can‟t handle rough water or extreme weather.
Runabouts: Mainly used for day cruising, water skiing and fishing, these are sporty, small craft
that are fast and maneuverable and relatively inexpensive. They don‟t operate well in rough
water and most have no overhead cover.
Cruisers—These are motor boats with cabins, galleys (cooking facilities), plumbing and other
amenities for living aboard. They range from small, overnight vessels to large ones for extended
voyages and living (yachts are very large cruisers). When picking a size, consider the number of
people the boat can safely carry, sleep and accommodate. Larger boats have more draft (need
deeper water), and are slower and less maneuverable at slower speeds. The type of hull
(planning, displacement, or semi-displacement) determines if the boat will ride on top of the
water (faster) or lower in the water (more stable).
Personal water craft (PWC’s)—Most people know these as Jet Skis™. They are highly
maneuverable, power driven vessels operated by jet drive systems instead of propellers. They
can operate in very shallow water. PWC‟s are subject to all US Coast Guard legal requirements
and all state and local laws, like any other boats. They must be registered and carry fire
extinguishers and special impact-resistant life jackets.
Here‟s a personal example of my considerations in trading one boat for another. I owned a 40foot wooden boat, and sold it to buy a 34-foot fiberglass trawler. I lost a lot of speed, but gained
quality of living space and saved myself $10,000 a year on docking, maintenance, storage, and
fuel.
Before you buy: Do you know clearly how you will use the boat and which boats will give
you what you want?
MISTAKE # 3
Failing to maintain your boat properly
Many people take good care of their cars, but fail to properly maintain their boat‟s engine. Both
need careful attention. Your boat needs coolant, oil changes, clean air and water filters, and
transmission fluids. The steering and hydraulic systems must be regularly maintained.
Likewise, engine inlets must be washed and maintained. Failure to take these steps can be costly
and dangerous.
Maintaining your boat takes a lot of work. Certainly, you can hire someone to do a lot of the
work for you, but you can‟t always rely on someone else. You will need to know how to make
minor repairs yourself. Should you experience trouble in the middle of the lake or the ocean,
you will soon notice there are no service stations close by.
As captain, you should have a good basic knowledge of:
1) Keeping your engines in good running condition.
2) Properly winterizing and storing your boat.
3)
4)
5)
Taking the boat out of storage.
Maintaining the running gear, steering, rudders, propellers, hydraulics, etc.
Troubleshooting and performing minor repairs at sea.
It‟s important to be able to diagnose and fix simple problems. You‟ll need a good set of tools
and spare parts onboard, including sheer pins, spare impellers for water pumps, spare fuel and
water filters, washers, nuts and bolts, silicone sealant, electrical tape, duct tape, hose clamps, and
wooden dowel plugs to stop leaks on your boat.
Being prepared has saved me a lot of trouble. On one occasion, I was going through the locks on
the Illinois River outside Peoria. After waiting for over an hour, I was cleared to go through.
But when I put my 53-foot yacht in gear, nothing happened. As other boats passed me by, I had
to act quickly to resolve the problem. Nothing I did from the fly bridge or inside the main cabin
would get my starboard engine into gear. I didn‟t want to hazard maneuvering such a large boat
into a crowded lock on a single engine.
I had my crew man the bridge while I hurried down to the engine room. After checking the
transmission, which was recently serviced by the boat yard mechanics, I discovered the problem:
a leak in the transmission filter. The fluid level was very, very low. Fortunately, I had a few
extra quarts of transmission fluid on board. After adding transmission fluid, I was able to drive
through the locks safely and avoid a delay of several hours. After passing through the locks, I
pulled over and fixed the leak.
Someone who hadn‟t taken the time to learn a little troubleshooting might have either:
 Misdiagnosed this as a major engine or transmission problem, or
 Not addressed the minor issue in time to prevent a major transmission problem.
An often-overlooked maintenance issue you shouldn’t overlook
New boaters often overlook proper maintenance of toilets (called “heads” in boater lingo).
Heads should be maintained on regular schedules, including lubrication of key parts, applying
conditioners, and adding holding tank solutions to control the smell.
To keep your heads working, buy single ply, dissolvable toilet paper, and instruct all female
passengers not to dispose of feminine hygiene products in the toilet. Overlooking head
maintenance can create a big, smelly mess, spoil a trip, and create an unpleasant and expensive
repair job.
Do you know what it takes to keep your boat running smoothly—even if something
happens while you’re out on the water?
MISTAKE #4
Not Taking the Time to Learn the Proper use of a GPS, Radar and Radio
The marine Global Positioning System (GPS), radar and the radio are high-quality equipment
that can help you to find where you are and where you‟re going, help you “see” at night and in
fog, and alert you to changes in the weather. They can help identify man-made objects (oil rigs,
lighthouses), avoid collisions with other boats and allow you to communicate with other vessels,
bridge operators, people on shore, and the Coast Guard.
When you buy your boat, you‟ll probably get a brief explanation on how to use the GPS, radar,
and the radio. Then, they‟ll hand you a thick manual, and you‟re on your own. Hopefully, you
will either remember how they work from this short explanation, or you will actually get around
to reading and digesting the manual. In my experience, most of us will do neither. We‟ve
already got a stack of unread manuals at home, and this is just one more.
It‟s certainly understandable that few people want to read a thick manual, but you owe it to
yourself and your passengers to have someone show you how to use this equipment properly.
Many new boaters don‟t find out how critical the GPS, radar and the radio are (and how little
they know about using them), until an emergency arises. Much to their horror, they find
themselves struggling ineptly with equipment that could get them out of the jam, or even save
their lives.
Lost on Lake Michigan
Recently, a new boater‟s engine died in rough weather while he was out on Lake Michigan near
Chicago. When the Coast Guard asked his position, he kept repeating, “I‟m due east of the Sears
Tower.” That wasn‟t a lot of help, as there are many miles of water “due east of the Sears
Tower.” Fortunately, the Coast Guard located him through a process known as “triangulation,” a
procedure in which they traced the direction from which a signal is coming. He was lucky.
Don‟t count on being as lucky as he was.
Do you know how to use the GPS and the radio to tell someone your location?
MISTAKE #5
No Emergency Plan
Every boater should have a written emergency plan. Leave a copy on shore with someone who
cares whether you come back alive. This plan should include:
 A detailed description of your boat: the color, distinctive features, equipment, name of
the boat, size, and whether you have a radio. Be sure the description is adequate. There
are a lot boats with a white hull and blue canvas out there.
 Where your car is parked and your license number.
 Procedures in the event of a fire.
 What to do if your boat is taking on water.
 How to get emergency medical attention.
 How to help a person who falls overboard.
 Clearly explaining how to handle emergencies to everyone on board. After all, YOU
might be the one who falls overboard or has a heart attack. Brief people well before the
time you expect them to assist, particularly when you have inexperienced boaters on
board.
I learned a lesson about clear communications when I was docking my 50-year-old, 40-foot
Grebe Cruiser (The Robert Allen, built in 1936). My sons and their friend, Gus, were on board.
A strong wind was pushing me head on into the concrete pier. As we rapidly approached the
dock, I yelled to Gus, who was on the bow, “Push off!” As we got close, he inexplicably did not
push us away from the dock. Instead, he jumped onto the dock, just before the boat slammed
into it.
I couldn‟t believe it. I was livid. What in the world did he do that for? After my sons calmed
me down, I asked Gus why he didn‟t push us off. Gus replied, “I thought you said, “Jump off!”
What could I say? It was my own fault for not communicating clearly.
On another occasion when my sons brought friends, including Gus, I did communicate clearly,
and it may have saved Gus‟s life. I gave a safety briefing before leaving, and asked if anyone
didn‟t know how to swim. I said, “This is no time to be embarrassed—if you don‟t know how to
swim, please let me know so I can make sure you‟ve got a life jacket on.” Gus admitted he had
never learned, so I had him wear a lifejacket. As I was pulling away from the dock, Gus was
walking on the side of the boat. He lost his balance and fell overboard. He might well have
drowned if he wasn‟t wearing the lifejacket.
A sample emergency plan: What to do is someone falls overboard
Note the importance of teamwork and everyone being clear on their roles.
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Before leaving the dock, brief your passengers or crew on this emergency plan.
First, sound the alarm. Everyone on board should know that there is an emergency.
Second, try to throw a life preserver to the person.
Third, appoint someone to keep pointing to the person in the water, as you try to get
close to pick them up. Especially in choppy water, it is easy to lose track of where they
are, delaying the rescue. You also run the risk of hurting the person you are trying to
rescue by running him/her over with the boat.
 Fourth, appoint someone else be another set of eyes for you so you don‟t become so
preoccupied with the rescue that you run aground or collide with another boat or the
dock.
Lost…without an emergency plan
Here‟s a sad example that fortunately, didn‟t end in tragedy. Three men from Mexico set out
without an emergency plan. When their boat ran out of gas, they were lost for months at sea.
Since everyone assumed they were dead, the search was called off. Finally, a Japanese trawler
found them after they had drifted hundreds of miles.
It is important to realize that search and rescue doesn‟t begin until someone reports that you are
missing. You don‟t want your spouse to go to bed, thinking you‟ve gone to a party after your
trip, when, in fact, you‟re miles from shore in a terrible storm. Think through when you would
like your contact person to call for help, if you haven‟t checked in. Make sure to give explicit
instructions on what to do, just in case.
Have you written a thorough emergency plan and shared it with your passengers and
someone who cares about you on shore?
MISTAKE #6
Not knowing the Rules of the Water and Proper Etiquette
When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon and gave the “A-OK” sign to the camera, millions of
TV viewers in other nations were left scratching their heads, wondering what was wrong with
this crazy American. You see, in much of the world, the gesture we use to signify “A-OK” is an
obscene gesture. Anyone who‟s ever spent time abroad has had similar experiences in
miscommunication. It‟s easy to confuse and even offend others. This illustrates the importance
of learning the culture of boating.
Here are just a few examples:
Who has the right of way?
Just like with automobiles, there are rules of right of way. Learn them. For example, a boat in
front of you has the right of way to turn left, go straight, turn right, or whatever the skipper
wants. They don‟t have turn signals to let you know what they plan to do, so your job is to stay
far enough away to allow the skipper room to do whatever he has in mind.
A little while ago, a boater violated my right of way, and we nearly had a collision. I was about
to turn left (to my port side) to go into my slip, when he decided to pass me. He came speeding
by on my port side, and nearly clobbered me.
In a river system, a boat that is coming downstream has the right of way. They can‟t stop.
Sometimes, sailboat skippers on the Mississippi think they have the right of way just because
they‟re in a sailboat. That‟s not the case. A big barge may have the right of way over you.
Respect other boats and restricted areas
You must respect other boats. Many skippers with big powerful boats go zooming past other
boats, leaving huge wakes behind them. Sometimes, they will buzz by sailboats to see the girls
in their bikinis. First, this can outrage other boaters. As the waves from your wake rock their
boat, beer spills, dishes break, and people may fall over. You might even swamp their boat or
cause other damage. This can also subject you to liability (see mistake #8).
As we all know, enraging other people can sometimes be hazardous to our health. Some people
take the No Wake rules very seriously. When I was on the Mississippi on a trip to transport a
boat to Texas, a speedboat went by too fast and too close to a couple rowboats where some good
old boys were fishing. He nearly swamped their boats. They pulled out their rifles.
It is also important to respect restricted areas, such as swimming areas. One high-speed tour boat
operator in Chicago went speeding through a swimming area and cut off a person‟s foot.
Failure to comply with Inland Navigation Rules Act of 1980 can result in civil penalties of up to
$5,000.
Do You Know and Follow the Rules and Courtesies of Boating?
MISTAKE #7
Not Respecting The Boat And The Water
It‟s hard to find a better toy than a boat. It‟s sleek, it‟s beautiful. It impresses women. You can
throw great parties on board. The kids love it. It‟s fun. It can also lull you into thinking it is just
a toy, instead of being a potentially-dangerous machine.
A boat can kill just as easily as a car. Failing to respect the boat and the water get people in
more trouble than anything else. Have fun with the boat, but never lose sight of the dangers that
are lurking. Here‟s just a few ways people get into trouble.
Kids
Kids do a lot of dangerous things—often with Mom and Dad‟s knowledge and even
encouragement. Here are two of the many dangerous things your kids shouldn‟t do.
1) Ride on the bow, the seatback, or the gunwale with their feet in the water.
It‟s fun. They will love it—and it‟s dangerous. In fact, it is so dangerous that it is considered
grossly negligent operation, and is a criminal offense. You can be fined up to $1,000 or
imprisoned for one year--or both.
2) Driving the boat. As tempting as it may be to let little Michael (the 10-year-old) get behind
the wheel, don‟t let him do it without close supervision at all times. Remember that you are
liable for whatever Michael does while driving, and your insurance policy may not cover it (see
mistake #8).
Don’t overload your boat.
It‟s tempting to tell everybody to come aboard. Sure, we‟d love to meet the wife. You have a
couple friends? No problem. Your friends have three kids? Bring „em! But remember that an
overloaded boat doesn‟t steer well, can become unstable, and can take in water. Most smaller
boats have a capacity plate from the US Coast Guard stating its maximum capacity. You may be
cited for exceeding the capacity or overloading the vessel with gear and equipment.
Driving under the influence
Boats are a great place to party. Not surprisingly, drinking and driving in boats has become a
major problem. Marine law officials are cracking down. In fact, nabbing people who are driving
under the influence is now the number one priority. It is a federal offense if you are stopped by
the Coast Guard, and the penalties can be worse.
Learn and follow the rules
Some people think that when they put their boat on autopilot, they can go down and join the
party down below. Not so! You are required to keep a posted lookout watch at all times. You
never know what you might happen while no one is watching. One example says it all.
A barge on the Ohio River was pushing a tug at night, and went into an area where boats are
anchored. The skipper couldn‟t see where he was going, and had no lookout posted. Without
knowing it, he collided with an anchored powerboat and sailboat, pushed them both over, and
kept right on going. Finally, a man in a sailboat climbed up a rope onto the barge and over to the
tug to tell the skipper what happened.
Have you impressed on everyone in the boat (including you) the need to treat the boat and
the water with a great deal of respect?
MISTAKE #8
Not Knowing your insurance policy thoroughly
Insurance companies will happily sell you a policy, but remember, they‟re in business to make
money. They will protect themselves against fraud and negligence. Take the time to read (and
understand) the policy carefully.
One thing to realize is that there will be limits on coverage if you are negligent. The athlete I
mentioned earlier, who crashed into the dock because he didn‟t understand how to operate the
boat, can expect to pay for a substantial portion of the damages out-of-pocket.
It‟s important that you are careful about who you allow to drive the boat and making sure your
boat is stocked with proper equipment (such as fire extinguishers, emergency signals, and life
jackets). If you‟re not careful, you might be held liable for injuries, property damage, and even
death. Suppose you let someone take the wheel who doesn‟t know how to navigate (your buddy,
Fred or 10-year-old Michael), and they have an accident. Or maybe the boat runs out of gas
without emergency signals on board, and gets hit by a barge. Even if you aren‟t on board, you,
as the owner, can be held liable.
Other negligence that can be expensive is from damage done with your boat‟s wake. You might
capsize other boats, damage floating docks, or boats that are tied up at the dock, or even hurt
men at work under a bridge by knocking them off their ladders.
Many policies now exclude damage caused by hurricanes or have higher deductibles for those
types of losses. Northerners will find that their policies contain language that restricts them in
taking their boats south of the Mason Dixon line during certain parts of the year. Your insurance
company doesn‟t want to pay for damage due to hurricanes. So, if you take your boat south
during the wrong time of year, and it is damaged by a hurricane, you may be left holding the bag.
Do you know what your insurance policy will (and won’t) pay for—and how to ensure you
are covered?
MISTAKE #9
Creating fire and explosion hazards with fuel
Kaboom!
That‟s a sound you never want to hear on your boat. A couple years ago, a man in St. Augustine,
Florida heard that sound. He had to be flown to the hospital after he opened a hatch in the bilge
area and an electrical short ignited gas vapors that had accumulated in the closed compartment.
The vapors were likely from fuel that had gathered in the compartment from a pre-existing fuel
leak. Although the explosion quickly extinguished itself and did not cause the boat to catch fire,
it did blow out one hatch and separated the boat‟s hull (the boat‟s outer structure) and cap (the
layer inside the hull).
Fueling your boat is not as simple and routine as putting gas in your car. Those who think
otherwise will wind up like that man in St. Augustine. Doing it improperly can cause explosions
and dangerous fuel spills, as well as creating an environmental hazard risk for which the owner
can be held liable by the EPA. Protect yourself by taking a few precautions. There are three
stages: before, during, and after fueling.
Stage 1 Before fueling
Make sure to turn off the engines, any electrical devices, cell phones, and any heat sources or
open flames, including any cigarettes or other smoking materials. Close all cabin doors, ports
and hatches to prevent fumes from spreading. Have passengers go ashore while fueling.
Stage 2 During fueling
Vapors can constitute a major hazard. Minimize them. Be careful not to spill fuel. Know your
fuel tank‟s capacity and slow down when it‟s nearly full to avoid overfilling. Consider
purchasing air-fuel separators or whistles for the fuel tank vent line. These warn you when the
tank is nearly full. Never leave the boat unattended while fueling.
In case there is a fuel spill, wipe it up immediately and remove the rags legally to a safe place on
shore. Don‟t keep them on boat. Thoroughly air out the bilge. If it‟s a lot of fuel, report the
spill to the Coast Guard or National Response Center in Washington, DC 1-800-424-8802.
Ground the fuel nozzle to a metal part of the boat before you start refueling. Keep the fuel nozzle
in contact with the fuel pipe to avoid generating a spark.
Stage 3 After refueling
Improper ventilation or use of blowers is a major cause of explosions, during or after refueling.
Make sure the cowling on your vents is positioned the right way so that air can come in.
Otherwise, your vents are keeping air in, leading to the buildup of fumes.
Before starting the engines, open all hatches and doors and operate the blowers for four or five
minutes to suck out the fumes. Make sure any spilled fuel is cleaned up. Check all
compartments, using the sniff test to detect fuel vapors in the bilge or other confined spaces on
the boat. Have a fire extinguisher on hand, just in case.
Remember to routinely check fuel systems, including lines and connections for leaks.
An added caution
This is something most people never think of—until it happens to them. Be very careful when
filling the engines at night and visibility is low—or if one of your guests is filling the tanks.
People have filled their toilet holding tank or the fresh water tank with fuel, creating a potentially
hazardous and expensive problem. They now have a tank full of hazardous waste that must be
disposed of properly. Since most fuel docks don‟t have the capacity to pump our hazardous
waste or fuel, you‟ll have to call the proper authorities for this.
More Mistakes
As you might suspect, there are a lots more mistakes boat owners make. There are too many to
discuss in this short paper, but I hope I‟ve impressed upon you the need to learn about your boat,
the art of navigation, and the water. I love boating. There‟s nothing like it. The more
knowledgeable you become, the safer and more enjoyable it will be.
About the author
Captain Thomas Staadt is a boating instructor who delivers boats to any American destination and provides hands-on
nautical instruction that develops confident and competent skippers and owners.
He has moved vessels on long-distance voyages on the Great Lakes, Mississippi River, Erie Canal, Tenn-Tom
Waterway and Intercoastal Waterway as well as the Eastern Shore and Gulf Coast.
A licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain with a Masters License for 100-ton vessels, Staadt is a long-time member of
the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He has taught sailing and seamanship courses for the Auxiliary for more than seven
years and serves as a Vessel Safety Examiner.
He is a certified advanced open water scuba diver and has completed extensive training in survival with the U.S.
Navy. He has owned and operated many different sized vessels, including 50+foot motor yachts, and is a skilled
boat mechanic. Staadt began his boating career when he was 16, working at a boat dealer and then as a mechanic in
boat yards.
His teaching experience dates back to the 1970s when, as a young Army Captain, he disseminated newly discovered
information about hypothermia and how to survive it. He gave popular presentations to thousands of high school
students across America, developing an enthusiastic following and receiving a commendation from General William
Westmoreland, Chief of Staff of the US Army, for his work.
Staadt also is an expert in emergency response and highly respected for his work as an Emergency Preparedness
Liaison Officer, coordinating the work of various government agencies and branches of the military. He currently
serves on the board of directors of a national search and rescue association.
A retired Colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve, Staadt flew combat helicopters alongside the Royal Australian Navy in
Vietnam.
Outside the military, Staadt became a highly successful insurance executive, developing new territories and gaining a
reputation for outstanding sales, customer service and support.
Captain Staadt is the first international member of the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, Newcastle, N.S.W. Australia.
He also holds an FAA Commercial Pilot’s License for both helicopters and airplanes.
To reach Tom:
www.theboatcoach.net
[email protected]
847-507-3330