Reasons to join LHS&PS and/or attend Seminars.
From time to time, it is important to consider the possibility of a man overboard incident in your boat. How would you or your crew respond? With purpose or panic? If the skipper went overboard, would the crew be able to take over and maneuver the boat safely to the victim? Would they be able…
Is your cockpit truly self-draining? Some decks are well above the load waterline and appear to be self-bailing. Yet in truth the deck drains lead to hoses that drain into the bilge and not overboard. While this keeps you from having wet feet in the cockpit, this design is not actually self-bailing. Disaster awaits boats…
This is the first installment of a two part series on preventing sinking and swamping by water intrusion. The first covers topside water integrity, scuppers and repowering with heavier outboards. The second will cover safe drains and through-hulls, including inspection and maintenance. Owners blame sinkings on several factors: 1. The bilge pump failed 2. Rainwater…
If you own a boat, you’re going to face bilge pump problems sooner or later. Three years might be the average lifespan of a typical bilge pump before problems or obvious replacement needs arise. You can either spend the time off the water and money for the marina or dealer to fix it, or troubleshoot…
A recent experience I had while Coop Charting on the Tugaloo River brought home the absolute necessity of being covered by towing insurance. I and two crew members launched my 22’ Boston Whaler “Crawdaddy” at Glen Ferry below Interstate 85 and proceeded upriver checking navigation aids. After two hours or so we were nearing the…
The Lake Hartwell Boating Club℠ has received a letter of appreciation and certificate from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 2017. The Squadron’s contributions to the Cooperative Charting Program on Lake Hartwell during 2017 were the reason for the honor. Squadron Commander Jim Carroll said, “We appreciate this latest in an annual series of…
Would you like to learn more about Lake Hartwell and the importance of navigational aids to safe boating? If so, you qualify for a free 3-hour boat tour of a section of the lake. The Lake Hartwell Sail & Power Squadron (also known as the Lake Hartwell Boating Club℠) cruises the entire lake three times…
Six ways to prevent ESD While swimming deaths attributed to electricity fall into two categories, electrocution and electric shock drowning (ESD), both can be prevented the same way. Electrocution can happen in fresh or salt water when swimmers make contact with energized metal dock fittings, boats or other structures because of faulty wiring. The current…
A costly event occurred on Lake Keowee at High Falls Park public dock on the afternoon of the eclipse. Involved were the pontoon Big Easy and the cruiser Take Two. Damage to Big Easy was caused by a wake boat passing too close to a landing and public dock in a cove. As the Big…
Even in this era of safety regulations touching every aspect of modern life, no one should ever take water safety for granted…even on a unitized, self-contained vessel such as a Personal Watercraft (PWC). A recent event proves this and underscores the life-saving wisdom of wearing PFD’s and knowing how to swim. Chris Wilkins’ son had…