Safety on board of your boat
1. Check your life jackets
At the start of the season, there are a few things to consider, especially in terms of safety on board.
Nobody wants to get into an emergency situation. But if it does happen, it is important that you can rely on the rescue systems.
The first thing you should check is your life jackets. They may need servicing or have mechanical defects - this is something every skipper should check before the first trip of the season to ensure the safety of their crew.
2. Check the rescue systems on board
Before setting sail for the first time, here is a list of things to do to avoid any nasty surprises:
1. Check rescue loop/lifebuoys
2. Check hull for fatigue
3. Verify the line
4. Everything correctly reeled in and - importantly - is the end of the line connected to the ship?
5. Is the float intact or weathered?
3. Check lifelines
• Take out twists and small knots
• Examine carefully for material breaks or chafing
• test the picker for mobility and closure
• Check that the guideline is firmly seated
• Tighten the screws on the railing wire
4. Check signalling equipment
Check the expiry date of the pyrotechnical life-saving appliances, otherwise the function cannot be guaranteed. In the worst case, for example, a signal rocket could not be triggered at all. Or it could be that the signal shoots up but the parachute doesn't open. As a result, the signal would fall too quickly and the light would be too short for possible rescuers to see. In order to ensure the greatest visibility, signal rockets should burn for about 40 seconds and fly about 350 meters high.
Tip: In an emergency at sea, always use two rescue signals in quick succession. Then pause for a few minutes and trigger two signals in quick succession again.
5. Check electronic safety equipment
For electronic signaling devices such as AIS MOB, EPIRB or battery powered hand flares, please check the power source replacement cycle. The advantage of an LED hand torch is that small laser LEDs in the light head rotate at an irregular speed, increasing visibility. They are also salt water resistant, waterproof and buoyant. The lamp head stays above the water surface. Another advantage: there is no annoying smoke development.