Scout Boats 300 LXF 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

Scout, certain other equipment is required by the

U.S. Coast Guard to help ensure passenger safety.

Items like a sea anchor, working anchor, extra

dock lines, flare pistol, life vests, a line permanent

ly 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 the required

equipment. You can also contact the U.S. Coast

Guard Boating Safety Hotline, 800-368-5647 or

800-336-2628 and 800-245-2628 in Virginia, 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 read-

ily 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 Scout

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).

Please note that most state laws now require that

children 13 years old and under must wear a PFD

at all times.

Visual Distress Signals

All Scout boats used on coastal waters, the Great

Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected

directly 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 float

ing.

• 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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