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Voluntary Safety Inspections
The United States Coast Guard Axillary and
boating offi cials in many states offer courtesy
safety inspections of your yacht at no charge to
you. They will examine your yacht for compli-
ance with all safety standards and required safety
equipment. You may voluntarily consent to one
of these inspections and you are given suffi cient
time to make necessary corrections without fear
of prosecution for any discrepancies found.
Contact your local United States Coast Guard
Axillary or appropriate state agency for details
concerning these courtesy safety inspections.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Your 453 Motor Yacht is powered by diesel
engines. The levels of Carbon Monoxide gas-
ses produced by diesel engines are a very small
percentage of those produced by gasoline pow-
ered engines. However, many vessels around
you are powered with gasoline and the risk of
CO gasses entering your boat are very real. The
following section on Carbon Monoxide Safety
was written for gasoline powered boats but the
information still applies. Moreover, all of this
information is important to know as a respon-
sible boat owner.
Carbon Monoxide Gas (CO)
is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is highly
poisonous, endangering lives even at very low
levels of concentration. Mild exposure causes
headaches and fatigue, often resembling “fl u-
like” symptoms. Medium exposure causes
severe headaches, drowsiness, nausea and
rapid heart rate. Extreme exposure results in
unconsciousness, convulsions, cardiorespiratory
failure and death. If Carbon Monoxide Gas (CO)
is detected in your yacht, immediately contact
a qualifi ed technician to locate and repair the
source of the poisonous gas. DO NOT enter
your yacht until repairs have been made and
the Carbon Monoxide Gas (CO) is lowered to
an acceptable level.
Carbon Monoxide Gas (CO) inhaled into the
lungs combines with the blood to reduce the
ability to carry oxygen. Reducing the amount
of oxygen to the body tissue results in death of
the tissue. The presence of Carbon Monoxide
Gas (CO) requires the yacht operator’s special
and immediate attention. Carbon Monoxide
Gas (CO) in high concentrations is fatal within
minutes. The effects of lower concentrations
are cumulative and can be as lethal as high
concentrations.
The symptoms of excessive exposure to Carbon
Monoxide Gas (CO) concentrations may include
watery and itchy eyes, throbbing temples, ring-
ing in the ears, inattentiveness, headache, nau-
sea, dizziness and drowsiness.
Certain health problems, such as lung disorders
or heart problems and age will increase the ef-
fects of Carbon Monoxide Gas (CO) as does
consuming alcohol or high concentrations of
tobacco smoke.
Many variables affect Carbon Monoxide Gas
(CO) accumulation. Among these are the fol-
lowing:
Yacht layout and confi guration.
Location of hatch, window, door, and ven-
tilation openings.
Location of structures and other boats.
Wind direction.
Vessel speed.
This Owner’s Manual cannot identify or describe
every possible variable or combination of vari-
ables that may affect the accumulation of Carbon
Monoxide Gas (CO). The yacht operator must
remain aware at all times of the possibility and
prevention of its accumulation and the appropri-
ate action to be taken if it is detected.
Be certain to read and have a thorough under-
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