U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center Motorboat Operator Instructor Certification Course This Product is for Educational Purposes Only Some of the materials and images may be protected by copyright or may have been licensed to us by a third party and are restricted in their use. If in doubt, please contact your course leader for further information. Mention of any product names, companies, Web links, textbooks, or other references does not imply Federal endorsement. Table of Contents DOI Motorboat Operator Certification Course Chapter 1 Boat Orientation Terminology 1-1 Length Measurement 1-3 Boat Length Categories 1-4 Boat Capacities 1-4 Boat Hulls 1-6 Boat Motor Types 1-7 Propulsion 1-7 Steering 1-8 Types of Fuels/Fueling Considerations 1-8 Checklists 1-8 Chapter 2 Operating Systems, Maintenance, and Inspection Motors/Propulsion Systems 2-1 Motor Lubrication 2-8 Fuel Systems/Fueling 2-8 Cooling Systems 2-10 Electrical Systems 2-11 Throttle Control 2-11 Steering 2-11 Bilge Dewatering 2-12 Anti-Corrosion 2-12 Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 2-12 Maintenance and Inspection 2-13 Boat Logbooks 2-14 Startup/Shutdown Procedures 2-14 Troubleshooting 2-15 Chapter 3 Required Equipment and Agency Policy Requirements Registration, Documentation, Numbering and Agency Labeling 2-2 Required Equipment 2-4 Personal Flotation Devices 2-5 Visual Distress Signals 2-7 Fire Extinguishers 2-9 Ventilation Systems 2-11 Backfire Flame Arrestor 2-13 Sound Signaling Devices 2-13 Navigation lights 2-13 Pollution Regulations 2-16 Recommended Equipment 2-20 DOI Motorboat Operator Certification Course i Chapter 4 Navigation Rules – “Rules of the Road” Navigation Rules 4-1 Signals (sounds, day shapes, flags and lights) 4-2 Collision Course 4-4 Right- of-way 4-5 Maneuverability and Vessel Hierarchy 4-6 Overtaking 4-6 Head-on Situation 4-7 Crossing 4-7 Responsibility Rule 4-7 Lookout 4-7 Homeland Security Concerns 4-8 Chapter 5 Aids to Navigation (ATONS) Definitions 5-2 IALA-B System: U.S. Federal ATONS 5-3 IALA-B Lateral Aids and Waterway Markers 5-3 IALA-B Non-Lateral Aids 5-10 Intra-Coastal Waterway ATON System 5-12 Western Waterway Marking System 5-13 Regulatory and Informational ATON Markers 5-15 ATON Discrepancies and Hazards to Navigation 5-16 Chapter 6 Communications Definitions 6-2 Mission Readiness Communications 6-3 Risk Management Communications 6-6 Using the G.A.R. Model 6-8 Crew Briefing/De-Briefing Communications 6-11 Float Plans 6-12 Sample Float Plan 6-13 Radio and Tele-Communications 6-14 Navigational Communications 6-17 Chapter 7 Survival and Rescue Boating Accidents 7-1 Common Fatal Boating Accidents 7-2 Drowning 7-3 Cold Water Immersion 7-3 Hypothermia 7-4 Cold Water Survival 7-5 Capsizing 7-7 Man-Over-Board 7-7 Rescue Priority 7-8 Rescue Sequence 7-8 Self-Rescue 7-8 Victim Rescue 7-8 Victim Rescue Sequence 7-9 Accident Reporting Requirements 7-11 DOI Motorboat Operator Certification Course ii Chapter 8 Fire Suppression Fire Precautions 8-1 Fire Extinguishers 8-2 Fire Classes 8-2 Common On-board Fire Types/Response 8-3 Priority of Response 8-3 Types of Fixed Fire Suppression Systems 8-4 Chapter 9 Marlinespike Marlinespike 9-1 Materials 9-1 Line Selection 9-2 Line Stowage 9-4 Knots 9-5 Chapter 10 Trailering Capacity 10-1 Trailer Bed Types 10-2 Trailer Selection 10-2 Tow Vehicle Selection 10-3 Hitch/Ball Selection 10-3 Safety Chains 10-4 Electrical Connections 10-5 Preventative Trailer Maintenance 10-5 Preparing to Tow 10-5 Road Handling 10-6 Trailer Backing Tips 10-6 Launching 10-6 Retrieval 10-7 Chapter 11 Boat Handling Boarding 11-1 Boat Trim 11-2 Getting Underway 11-2 Undocking Plan 11-2 Docking Plan 11-4 Maneuvering Underway 11-4 Specific Local Hazards 11-5 Boat Handling 11-5 Factors Affecting Handling 11-6 Leeway 11-6 Chapter 12 Anchoring and Beaching Anchoring 12-1 Types of Anchors 12-2 Anchor Line 12-2 Anchor Scope 12-3 Selecting Anchorage 12-4 Anchoring Procedure 12-4 Getting Underway 12-4 DOI Motorboat Operator Certification Course iii Beaching 12-5 Beach Selection 12-5 Approach 12-6 Making Fast/Holding Position 12-6 Getting Underway from Beach 12-6 Chapter 13 Rendering Assistance and Towing Introduction 13-1 Risk Assessment 13-1 Responsibility 13-2 Rescue Priorities 13-3 Potential Tow and Do Not Tow Situations 13-4 Towing Equipment 13-4 Towing Safety 13-7 Tow Operational Plan 13-7 Tow Points 13-8 Types of Tows 13-9 Approaches 13-11 Hooking up/Disconnecting 13-12 Emergency Disconnect 13-13 Chapter 14 Weather Weather Forecasts 14-1 Weather Hazards to Boating 14-2 Clouds 14-3 How to Avoid Being Caught In Foul Weather 14-3 If you are caught in foul weather 14-3 Chapter 15 Special Items National Association of State Boating Law Administrators 15-1 Aquatic Nuisance Species 15-1 Locks 15-6 Dams 15-7 Bridges 15-8 Vessel Traffic Service 15-8 Law Enforcement Boarding 15-8 NOAA Guidelines for Viewing Marine Mammals 15-8 Appendix A 485 DM 22 Safety Policy Appendix B 241 FW 1 Fish and Wildlife Service Safety Policy Appendix C Accident Reporting Appendix D State Boating Law Administrator Contacts DOI Motorboat Operator Certification Course iv Chapter 1 – Boat Orientation Purpose: Learning the parts of the boat and proper nautical terminology is important for all types of boating. The importance for using descriptive terms can easily be translated to increased safety and crew efficiency. Most importantly it prevents misunderstandings during emergencies and complex evolutions and can often save precious seconds that can be the difference between success and failure in a very dynamic environment. Performance Objectives: By the end of this unit, the participant will be able to: 1. Use common nautical terminology. 2. Describe how boats are classified by the US Coast Guard. 3. Describe hull materials, design and uses with advantages and disadvantages of each. 4. Orient themselves with the boats which will be used during the practical portions of the MOCC Terminology Boating has a language all its own and just like any language which is foreign to our native tongue it requires practice and repetitious use to master. The parts of a boat are a good place to start. Each end and side of the boat has a special name. Its height and width also have special terms to describe them. For additional term definitions please see the glossary. 1 3 5 3 4 2 6 15 12 16 11 10 14 7 13 9 8 DOI – Motorboat Operator Certification Course Chapter 1 - 1 1 All around light - A light showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 360 degrees 2 Cowl - Topside duct of the vessels ventilation system 3 Cleat - A stationary device used to secure a line aboard a vessel. 4 Chock - Hole or ring attached to the hull to guide a line via that point 5 Combination light - Red/green light on bow of vessel 6 Bow - The front of a vessel 7 Bow eye – “U”-bolt mounted through the hull for maximum strength 8 Overall length - Refers to the length of a vessel, not including motor or attachments 9 Keel - The central structural basis of the hull 10 Chine - An angle in the hull 11 Waterline – The water level around a vessel's hull when afloat 12 Gunwale - Upper edge of the hull perpendicular to the sides of the vessel 13 Draft - The depth of a ship's keel below the waterline 14 Transom - The flat surface across the stern of a vessel 15 Stern - The rear part of a vessel 16 Freeboard - From waterline to gunwale DOI – Motorboat Operator Certification Course Chapter 1 - 2 Relative Bearing • Forward - toward the front of boat • Aft - toward the rear of boat • Bow - front of boat • Starboard - right side of boat looking forward • Port - left side of boat looking forward • Beam - the greatest width of boat • Abeam - at right angles to the keel of the boat, but not on the boat • Quarter - sides of a boat aft of amidships • Amidships - in or toward the center of the boat • Astern - in back of boat, opposite of ahead How to Measure Length Length is measured from the tip of the bow in a straight line to the stern. This does not include outboard motors, brackets, rudders, bow attachments, or swim platforms and ladders that are not a molded part of the hull. This measurement is called the length overall (LOA). You may also hear the term length of waterline or load waterline (LWL). This is the length of the boat, parallel to its centerline, at the line where it meets the water. DOI – Motorboat Operator Certification Course Chapter 1 - 3 Boat Length Categories A vessel’s length class determines the equipment necessary to comply with federal and state laws. Vessels are divided into length classes: o Less than 16 feet o 16 feet to less than 26 feet o 26 feet to less than 40 feet o 40 feet to 65 feet Boat Capacity Plate Under the U.S. Coast Guard Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, boats less than 20 feet powered with an inboard, outboard, or stern drive engine manufactured after November 1, 1972, must display a capacity plate defining the safe load limits. This plate must be mounted where you can see it when preparing to get underway. This plate displays three important items: (1) The maximum number of passengers allowed or maximum weight of persons on board in pounds, (2) The maximum carrying weight of the vessel in pounds and (3) The maximum horsepower recommended for the boat.