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BOATING SAFETY
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Silverton believes your safety aboard your yacht,
whether cruising or moored at your dock, is
extremely important. A yacht operated in a safe
manner will provide you, your passengers, and
other boaters many pleasurable hours of cruis-
ing and piece of mind. This section discusses
the potential hazards that may be associated
with boating for your awareness so they may be
avoided, if possible. Be certain to read and have
a thorough understanding of this section.
Silverton recommends completing a safe boating
course if you are new to boating. Even if you
are an experienced boater, you should consider
enrolling in one of these courses as they will
provide you with updated information that will
prove to be valuable and enhance your cruising
pleasure. Your local United States Coast Guard
Axillary and United States Power Squadrons
offer comprehensive safe boating classes sev-
eral times a year. You may contact them for a
course schedule in your area or the Boat/U.S.
Foundation at 1-800-336-BOAT, or in Virginia,
at 1-800-245-BOAT.
Safety Equipment
Important: Federal Law requires you provide
and maintain certain safety equipment on your
yacht. As the yacht owner, you are responsible
for providing all required safety equipment.
Consult the United States Coast Guard and your
state and local regulations to ensure your yacht
is in complete compliance with all requirements
concerning safety equipment on board. Addi-
tional safety equipment may be recommended
for your safety and the safety of your passengers.
Be aware of its availability and specifi c use.
Minimum Recommended
Safety Equipment
Required life saving equipment, includ-ing
life vests and throwable devices.
Required fi re extinguishing equipment.
Required Visual Distress Signal Devices
(Flares).
First Aid Kit.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beam
(EPIRB).
Manual bailing device.
Anchor with suffi cient line and/or chain.
Flashlight with fully charged batteries.
Binoculars.
VHF Radio.
Navigational charts for your cruising ar-
eas.
Fog Bell.
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s)
United States Coast Guard regulations require
you to have at least one (1) approved Type I,
Type II, or Type III Personal Flotation Device
(PFD) for each person on board. The PFD’s
must be of suitable size for each person aboard
and must be maintained in serviceable condition
and readily accessible. A minimum of three (3)
PFD’s (two wearable and one throwable) are
required, regardless of the number of persons
on board. Each of these Personal Flotation de-
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