Dougherty Everglades 273CC Owner'S Manual Download

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Safety Equipment

Notice:

You should carry an extra stop switch lan

yard and instruct at least one other crew

member on the operation of the stop switch

and location of the extra lanyard.

1.5 Required Safety Equipment

Besides the equipment installed on your boat by

Everglades, certain other equipment is required

by the U.S. Coast Guard to help ensure pas-

senger safety. Items like a sea anchor, working

anchor, extra dock lines, flare pistol, life vests,

a line permanently secured to your ring buoy,

etc., could at some time save your passengers’

lives or save your boat from damage. Refer to

the “Federal Requirements And Safety Tips For

Recreational Boats” pamphlet for a more detailed

description of required equipment. You also can

contact the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety

Hotline, 800-368-5647, for information on boat

safety courses and brochures listing the Federal

equipment requirements. Also, check your local

and state regulations.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a “Courtesy Ex

amination.” This inspection will help ensure that

your boat is equipped with all of the necessary

safety equipment. The following is a list of the

accessory equipment required on your boat by the

U.S. Coast Guard:

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

PFDs must be Coast Guard approved, in good

and serviceable condition and of appropriate size

for the intended user. Wearable PFDs must be

readily accessible, meaning you must be able to

put them on in a reasonable amount of time in

an emergency. Though not required, the Coast

Guard emphasizes that PFDs should be worn at

all times when the vessel is underway. Throwable

devices must be immediately available for use. All

Everglades boats must be equipped with at least

one Type I, II or III PFD for each person on board,

plus one throwable device (Type IV).

Notice:

Many state laws now require that children

13 years old and under must wear a PFD at

all times.

Anyone being towed on skis, wakeboards and

other water sports equipment is considered

a passenger on the boat and must wear a

Coast Guard approved life jacket at all times.

Visual Distress Signals

All boats used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes,

territorial seas and those waters connected di-

rectly to them, must be equipped with Coast Guard

approved visual distress signals. These signals

are either Pyrotechnic or Non-Pyrotechnic devices.

Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals:

Pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be Coast

Guard approved, in serviceable condition and

readily accessible. They are marked with a date

showing the service life, which must not have

expired. A minimum of three are required. Some

pyrotechnic signals meet both day and night use

requirements. They should be stored in a cool,

dry location. They include:

• Pyrotechnic red flares, hand held or aerial.

• Pyrotechnic orange smoke, hand-held or

floating.

• Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute

flares.

WARNING

PYROTECHNICS ARE  UNIVERSALLY  RECOGNIZED AS
EXCELLENT DISTRESS SIGNALS.  HOWEVER, THERE IS
POTENTIAL FOR INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IF NOT
PROPERLY HANDLED.  THESE DEVICES PRODUCE A VERY
HOT FLAME AND THE RESIDUE CAN CAUSE BURNS AND
IGNITE FLAMMABLE MATERIAL.  PISTOL LAUNCHED AND
HAND-HELD PARACHUTE FLARES AND METEORS HAVE
MANY CHARACTERISTICS OF A FIREARM AND MUST BE
HANDLED WITH CAUTION.  IN SOME STATES THEY ARE
CONSIDERED A FIREARM AND PROHIBITED FROM USE.
ALWAYS BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND FOLLOW THE
MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY WHEN USING
PYROTECHNIC DISTRESS SIGNALS.

Non-Pyrotechnic Devices

Non-Pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be

in serviceable condition, readily accessible and

certified by the manufacturer as complying with

U.S. Coast Guard requirements. They include:

• Orange Distress Flag (Day use only)

The distress flag is a day signal only. It must

be at least 3 x 3 feet with a black square and

ball on an orange background. It is most

distinctive when attached and waved from a

paddle or boat hook.

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