Baja Marine Performance 245 - Manual (Page 21)

245 Performance ® 1.11
S
ection
1 • S
afety
D. f
looDinG
, s
WaMpinG anD
c
apsizinG
In the event of flooding, swamping or capsizing:
• Try to shut off engines, generators and blowers
before leaving the boat.
• have everyone put on Personal flotation Devices
(PfDs).
• account for all who were on board.
• If the boat is floating stay with the boat. Hang on, or
climb on the boat and signal for help.
• Only as a last resort should you attempt to swim to
shore - it is further away than it looks and you can
tire and drown.
e. c
ollisions anD
l
eakinG
In the event of collisions and leaking:
• slow down or stop to reduce water intake, unless
maintaining speed will keep the hole above water.
• switch on bilge pump.
• Operate manual bilge pump, if the powered bilge
pump can't handle the water flow.
• account for everyone on board and check for
injuries.
• have everyone put on PfDs.
• stay with the boat.
• signal for help.
• If a leak patch is attempted, it should be done from
the outside.
• In the event of a collision, you are required to file an
accident report. Contact a state enforcement agency
or the nearest Coast Guard office. If you are boating
outside of U.s. waters, consult the nation you are
visiting for accident reporting requirements.
• Try to approach heading into the wind or into the
waves.
• keep the victim on the right (starboard) side so the
boat operator has the victim constantly in sight.
• When almost alongside, turn off the engine in gear
to prevent propeller "windmilling."
Getting Back Aboard
• Try to reach the victim with a pole, or by throwing
a life preserver. Do not swim to rescue the victim,
except as a last resort.
• assist the person in boarding the boat. The person
should normally be brought in over the stern.
• If the person is injured or cannot get into the boat,
a rescuer should put on a PfD with a safety line
attached to the boat and enter the water to assist
the victim.
• handle the victim with care. spinal injuries may have
occurred.
c. f
ire
fire is a serious boating hazard. Boats can burn
quickly. Do not remain on board and fight a fire
for more than a few minutes. If the fire cannot be
extinguished within a few minutes, abandon the
boat.
Have fire extinguishers handy. A small fire can be
extinguished quickly with the right size and type of
fire extinguisher.
• Extinguish smoking materials, shut off blowers,
stoves, engines and generators.
• Throw burning materials overboard, if possible.
• If the fire is accessible, empty the contents of fire
extinguishers at the base of the flames.
• If the fire is in the engine compartment, wait 15
minutes before opening the compartment. have a
portable extinguisher ready in case the fire flares
up.
• signal for help.
• grab distress signals and survival gear. Put on
PfDs. Prepare to abandon ship.