I had our USCG Inspection performed today. All went well apart from two brief discussions on us having just one fire extinguisher on board and not having a life raft.
For a boat 26 feet or less the requirement is for having at least one. The inspector had to dig out his booklet in order to confirm this. 😉
For the life raft aspect I told the inspector that our unsinkable Portland Pudgy served us as a life raft and explained the Pudgy's attributes. He was suitable impressed. 🙂
I always learn a thing or two during these annual inspections.
1)
The inspector was discussing the Maritime law that makes us all responsible for aiding another boat in distress. This was something I knew about, but he went onto say that some boaters do not respond and simply pass on by in such circumstances. I just cannot imagine a boater doing this. The inspector went on to saying that boater's that don't comply with this law are now being prosecuted. With this discussion I later did a quick search on the web to see if this behaviour was being noted. Here's the first item I came across... http://www.cruiserlog.com/forums/f12/coming-to-the-aid-of-boats-in-distress-6274.html.
2)
We discussed the issue of fuel/oil spills and how to deal with such circumstances. The inspector told me something I did not know. He told me that the white fuel/oil spill soak-up pads that most fuel docks have handy are an excellent way to collect and soak up fuel/oil that has been spilled onto the water. Simply throw one of these pads onto the water where the fuel/oil is and you will be amazed how the pad quickly consumes the fuel/oil. Just use the boat hook to move the pad about to collect up the fuel spill. :roll: In fact, some fuel docks have long handle mops with the soak-up pads attached that can be used to quickly for dealing with small fuel spills. He had a technical term for how/why the pads perform this act... some word/term that meant the pads hate water but love fuel and oil... I think it may have been the word "hydrophobic". 🙂
Some refs I found later were
http://www.boatus.com/foundation/cleanwater/drops/products.asp
Question: Do others use these type absorbent pads in their bilge to collect and soak up accidental oil/fuel leaks ?
I always pickup a handful of these pads at my fuel dock and stow them away ready for use when needed.
What new thing(s) did you learn from your recent USCG Inspection ?
For a boat 26 feet or less the requirement is for having at least one. The inspector had to dig out his booklet in order to confirm this. 😉
For the life raft aspect I told the inspector that our unsinkable Portland Pudgy served us as a life raft and explained the Pudgy's attributes. He was suitable impressed. 🙂
I always learn a thing or two during these annual inspections.
1)
The inspector was discussing the Maritime law that makes us all responsible for aiding another boat in distress. This was something I knew about, but he went onto say that some boaters do not respond and simply pass on by in such circumstances. I just cannot imagine a boater doing this. The inspector went on to saying that boater's that don't comply with this law are now being prosecuted. With this discussion I later did a quick search on the web to see if this behaviour was being noted. Here's the first item I came across... http://www.cruiserlog.com/forums/f12/coming-to-the-aid-of-boats-in-distress-6274.html.
2)
We discussed the issue of fuel/oil spills and how to deal with such circumstances. The inspector told me something I did not know. He told me that the white fuel/oil spill soak-up pads that most fuel docks have handy are an excellent way to collect and soak up fuel/oil that has been spilled onto the water. Simply throw one of these pads onto the water where the fuel/oil is and you will be amazed how the pad quickly consumes the fuel/oil. Just use the boat hook to move the pad about to collect up the fuel spill. :roll: In fact, some fuel docks have long handle mops with the soak-up pads attached that can be used to quickly for dealing with small fuel spills. He had a technical term for how/why the pads perform this act... some word/term that meant the pads hate water but love fuel and oil... I think it may have been the word "hydrophobic". 🙂
Some refs I found later were
http://www.boatus.com/foundation/cleanwater/drops/products.asp
Question: Do others use these type absorbent pads in their bilge to collect and soak up accidental oil/fuel leaks ?
I always pickup a handful of these pads at my fuel dock and stow them away ready for use when needed.
What new thing(s) did you learn from your recent USCG Inspection ?