MIKE WHITEHEAD -- The Harbor Column

Ahoy.

It is time once again for all you boaters to start planning your

vessels’ decorations for the Christmas Boat Parade, which starts in just

a few weeks.

As you are planning the decorations, remember to keep safety in the

forefront of your mind, with the utmost importance being that the skipper

must be able to see -- the decorations cannot impede the view. A high

percentage of the collisions or near misses I have witnessed are due to

two primary things: skipper’s lack of visibility all around the vessel

and the skipper simply not paying attention to the duties at hand. Should

the skipper’s view be limited, then have someone be a lookout to watch

the blind areas. On some larger boats I skipper at times, I have had a

few lookouts helping me avoid any problem situations.

Over the years, I have seen some very hazardously decorated boats, and

on a couple of occasions, I have been zapped touching the metal railings

by a wet extension cord grounding out to the metal. All of the exterior

electrical cords should be for use outdoors with all the connections

wrapped with electrical tape to prevent grounding. We will experience dew

point during the parade and, in some years, it has rained, so plan ahead

now to prevent electrical hazards.

The decorations cannot obstruct or prevent the deployment of any

safety device aboard your vessel, including ring buoys, life rafts, life

jackets and fire extinguishers. For example, do not wrap a string of

lights around your throwable ring buoy, making that lifesaving device

useless if someone falls overboard.

Furthermore, the decorations cannot interfere with the vessel’s

navigational lights. An easy solution is to enhance your navigational

lights by putting red light bulbs in by the port light and green light

bulbs in by the starboard light. Technically, unless you are in a

sanctioned parade route, it is not proper to display your Christmas

lights if the lights distract from the navigational lights. However, the

Harbor Patrol and the Coast Guard are using their discretion in enforcing

this regulation during December, so cruise safely.

And even if you are on the water for only one night, register for the

parade with the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce to show your

support and help keep this tradition alive. In an upcoming column, I will

have tips for skippering in the parade and parade etiquette.

***

Recently, a reader sent me an e-mail asking if it was illegal to use

personal water craft inside the harbor. I thought this question might

help clear up a misconception aboard these PWCs.

Realistically, no vessel is barred from entering Newport Harbor as

long as the vessel meets the federal and state requirements for a vessel

of that size and type. The caveat to the last sentence would be vessels

that are a public hazard, like a ship loaded with explosives or a vessel

too noisy, like some of the high performance boats.

Which brings the question to my mind: how about a Hovercraft inside

the harbor?

Therefore, a PWC is allowed inside the harbor, but the vessel must

have the appropriate safety equipment, have the current registration on

board and not exceed the speed limit of five miles per hour in the

harbor.

Who knows when it is actually legal to exceed the speed limit inside

the harbor? E-mail me your answers and I will tell you next week.

***

Tip of week is to check the hoses and clamps to the engine, water

intakes and drain fittings. Look at each hose, especially those under

pressure, for signs of failing and, if in doubt, replace the hose. At the

same time, check the tightness of the clamps with the engine hoses having

two clamps on each end for double protection. Know where all your

thru-hull fitting are located and periodically open and close the shut

off valves (or seacocks) to maintain the valves in operating order.

If your vessel starts to flood, you can immediately find the leak and

shut off the valve by knowing where all the thru-hull fitting are

located. When you call for help, one of the first questions the Coast

Guard dispatcher will ask you is “Do you know where the water is coming

in from?” You better be able to answer “Affirmative, I have found the

problem and closed that valve,” that is unless you have run over a log

and cracked your hull.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send him

your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions via e-mail

to o7 [email protected] or o7 https://www.BoathouseTV.comf7 .