General

Channel 13, Channel 16, Sécurité, Pan-Pan, Mayday, DSC, MMSI. What are they for? Do you know how to make a distress call, and how to respond to one?

“Just because everyone has a cell phone in their pocket doesn’t mean the VHF radio is a quaint relic of past technology. Onboard, a VHF is an essential part of your safety kit. If you need help or want to broadcast critical information, there are established procedures depending on the urgency of the situation. Here’s what to do when you hear one and how to make an efficient call should you need to.”

Click to read “Working The VHF” from Soundings, written by Pat Mundus.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters with vessels that have a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation to be wary of any letter arriving by U.S. mail offering renewal.

BoatUS advises that while the Coast Guard does send official annual renewal notices by U.S. mail, other notices being received by BoatUS members are not from the Coast Guard but rather third-party companies whose name or return addresses may appear similar to that of the official U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).

BoatUS members have complained that these letters direct them to websites that may be mistaken for the actual Coast Guard NVDC located in Falling Waters, West Virginia, and appear to show a significant increase in the annual fee to renew Coast Guard documentation.

A 2017 Coast Guard issued bulletin says in part: “The NVDC is aware that there are commercial entities that offer to manage the certification/renewal process on behalf of vessel owners for a fee. The Coast Guard does not endorse any of these companies, and the companies do not operate on behalf of the Coast Guard in any way. Any fees charged or agreements offered by such companies are in no way associated with the NVDC certification process. In addition, these companies are not authorized to issue any form of documentation, including travel letters and/or permits that authorize operation of ANY vessel. Customer complaints can be made through the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website at www.ftc.gov.”

While third-party companies may legitimately provide services to assist with vessel documentation renewals, the Coast Guard’s own renewal process is simple for most vessels, and the price ranges from $26 for one year up to $130 for a 5-year expiration, which is often much lower than what third-party services may charge.

To renew, go to the Coast Guard National Documentation Center website at www.uscg.mil/nvdc and click on “instructions and forms,” then “Certificate of Documentation Application for Renewal.”

To be documented, a vessel must measure at least 5 net tons and, with the exception of certain oil-spill response vessels, owned by a U.S. citizen. Boats about 27 feet in length or longer generally meet the weight requirement.

Why do boat owners choose to federally document vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard versus the more common practice of state registration? The boat was purchased with a bank loan and the lender required it, or the boat has plans to travel beyond U.S. waters. A Certificate of Documentation is internationally recognized and makes it easier for American vessels to enter and leave foreign ports.

BoatUS also advises boaters who may have received mail that they believe is misleading or deceptive to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or through its website postalinspectors.uspis.gov.

A former Coast Guard rescue swimmer provides his views about PFDs, and his opinions may surprise you.

“When I was in the U.S. Coast Guard, I couldn’t say this; but I believe the phrase “Always wear your life jacket” is terrible advice. It’s not that wearing a life jacket while boating is in any way a bad thing, but the phrase oversimplifies a very complex problem and “always” – left undefined – is meaningless.”

Click to read “What Lifejacket To Wear, and When To Wear It” from Soundings, written by Mario Vittone.

Buying a boat on a budget of $20,000 is easy!  In this video the Practical Sailor team looks at a Pearson 31, a Hunter 31, a Bristol 29.9, and a Cape Dory.  They discuss potential problem areas including the mast and rigging, the boat’s deck core, it’s engine hours, and keel bolts.

Click to watch “How To Buy A Cheap Sailboat – $20,000 or less!” from Practical Sailor.

A former Coast Guard rescue swimmer explains how catchy phrases can perpetuate bad advice, especially at sea.

“I’m amazed at how long bad advice perpetuates when it’s given in a catchy phrase. An example: Don’t leave the boat until the boat leaves you. This might be the most misguided advice ever to cross the lips of otherwise sensible men and women. Another example: Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.”

Click to read “Staying With The Boat And Other Safety Myths” from Soundings, written by Mario Vittone.

There has been a lot of discussion and some controversy surrounding lithium batteries for boats.  In this excellent article from Practical Sailor, Drew Frye explains the positive and negatives of lithum batteries.

Click to read “Simple Lithium for Outboard-Powered Tenders, Daysailers, and Sport Boats” from Practical Sailor, written by Drew Frye.