Robalo 2012 220 Owner'S/Operator'S Manual Download

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stowed in a readily accessible location. Equipment having a date
showing useful service life must be within the specified usage date
shown. Both pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic equipment must be
U.S. Coast Guard approved.

Pyrotechnic U.S. Coast Guard approved visual distress signals and
associated equipment include:

•

Red flares, hand held or aerial

•

Orange smoke, hand held or floating

•

Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares

Non-pyrotechnic equipment includes an orange distress flag and an
S-O-S electric distress light.

No single signaling device is ideal under all conditions for all purposes.
Consider carrying various types of equipment. Careful selection and
proper stowage of visual distress equipment are very important. If
young children are frequently aboard, you should select devices with
packages which children, but not adults, will find difficult to open.

Sound Signaling Device

Your Robalo boat must have a device that can produce a sound sig-
nal when conditions require. For boats over 26 feet, the device must
be  able  to  produce  a  two-second  blast  which  can  be  heard  a  mile
away. For boats less than 26 feet, it must be able to produce a two-
second  blast  which  can  be  heard  one-half  mile  away.  It  can  be  a
hand,  mouth  or  power  operated  horn  or  whistle.  Refer  to  the  U.S.
Coast Guard’s publication “Navigational Rules, International-Inland”
for details about the appropriate signals.

RUNNING AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS

Your  boat  must  have  running  and  navigation  lights  for  safe  opera-
tion  after  dark.  Observe  all  navigation  rules  for  meeting  and
passing.  Do  not  run  at  high  speeds  during  night  operation.  Always
use common sense and good judgment.

SAFETY AFLOAT

Once your boat is launched and your excursion is underway, you
need to be aware of your surroundings and how they may affect your
safety and that of your passengers. There is no substitute for good
judgment and common sense.

Weather

Storms  rarely  appear  without  advance  notice.  Check  the  weather
forecast before you begin a day of boating. Be aware, however, that
weather conditions can change rapidly. If you have a marine radio,
listen  to  the  weather  reports  issued  by  the  U.S.  Coast  Guard  and
others. If you have a portable radio, keep it tuned to a station broad-
casting  frequent  weather  reports.    Many  boating  clubs  fly  weather
signals.  Learn  to  recognize  these  signals  and  listen  to  your  local
forecasts before leaving port.

Your surroundings can also be a good indicator of changing weather
conditions. Watch for changes in wind direction or cloud formations.
There is no substitute for a good understanding of weather condi-
tions and what to do when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Fog

Fog  is  a  result  of  either  warm-surface  or  cold-surface  conditions.
You  can  judge  the  likelihood  of  fog  formation  by  periodically  mea-
suring  the  air  temperature  and  dew  point  temperature.  If  the
difference between these two temperatures is small, fog is likely to
develop. Remember the following guidelines:

•

Turn on running lights.

•

Unless your boat is well equipped with charts, head for shore at
the first sign of fog and wait until conditions improve. If you have
charts on board, take bearings as fog sets in, mark your posi-
tion, and continue to log your course and speed.

•

Make sure all persons on board have put on their personal
floatation devices.

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