riverinamarinecentre - Tumblr blog

[riverinamarinecentre]

Get Wet and Wild This Summer! How to Swim Safely During Your Boating Trips

Anyone who goes near the water should learn how to reduce the risk of drowning. While it is a fabulous way to cool off, swimming from your boat does present its set of challenges, especially if you are responsible for young children or weak swimmers.  There’s a time and place for jumping off a boat for a swim, so practising caution is advisable. Here are a few things to check before diving in headfirst.

Choose a Spot That is Free From Potential Hazards

Be conscious of where you stop your boat for a swim. Avoid areas with strong currents or hazards like rocks and submerged materials. Check for rips by looking for water that is discoloured, choppy, or filled with debris. Never swim in a marked channel, as high boat traffic presents a dangerous risk. Marinas and slipway areas are no-go areas for swimming for this very reason. In addition to being run over by boats coming and going, there are usually nasty chemicals in the water and there could be the risk of electric shock from shore power. If you swim in an anchorage, stay very close to your craft and watch out for speedboats. Take note of local signage to determine a safe place for your dip.

 Kill Your Boat’s Engine

The very first thing to do before entering the water off a boat is to switch off your boat engines and disarm the ignition key or start buttons.  Keeping all engines off removes the danger of swimmers getting caught underneath the boat or suffering a propeller strike injury.  If you are offshore or out of sight of landmarks then you should drop anchor and establish a way to monitor whether you are drifting or not.

Check the Water’s Depth

When entering the water, make sure you have tested that it is deep enough before jumping in or diving headfirst by using boating equipment that measures the depth of the water below your boat such as a Depthfinder. Do not get too close to cliffs or other areas where there could suddenly be shallow water. If swimming in deep water, make sure everyone is a competent swimmer and can make it back to the boat.

Make Sure It’s Easy to Get Back on Deck

 Make it as easy as possible for swimmers to get back on the boat by having sturdy grab rails in reach for those in the water. It might be a good idea to provide a grab rope, a step ladder or other entry points to come aboard. Keep your swim platform dry to prevent any slips or falls, and keep the area free of ropes, sharp objects and obstructions that may cause injuries.

Use Floatation Devices

If there are people in your group that are not particularly strong swimmers, it is a good rule of thumb that they should wear a personal flotation device (PFD) such as a Jetpilot life vest, for example. A buoyancy aid will do the trick and is easier to swim in.

While not a replacement for PFDs, floatation devices such as lifebuoys, pool noodles and even foam mats can assist if a person becomes too tired to return to the boat and need a break from swimming. If you have access to an inflatable dinghy, attach it to a line and float it out the back of the boat as a second base for swimming.

There Should Always be at Least One Person Assigned as a Lookout

The skipper should be constantly vigilant, as they are responsible for everyone on board and in the water. Supervision means keeping everyone in your line of sight and scanning continuously for danger. In particular, you should actively supervise children even if they can swim. This is why the skipper should be sober and free of distractions.

[riverinamarinecentre]

The Importance of Using a Marine Compass

One of the most terrifying things that could happen to any boater at sea is to get lost. It’s different to getting lost on land since calling for help and looking for landmarks is not as feasible to do at sea. You could get stranded for a long time before help comes to rescue you. Aside from having a GPS handy in your boat, it’s also important to have a good old maritime compass in your boat always. A compass is a trusty device to give you directions on going from point A to point B without your Camero Vision boat going astray. Plus it doesn’t need batteries or electricity to keep giving you directions so this small item is still useful even with the widespread use of GPS trackers by boaters. 

What is a Marine Compass?

A marine compass is normally composed of a small card at the centre with line marks on the sides that point to a specific direction the moment you move or steer your boat. It’s drawn to Earth’s magnetic pull which makes it always point to the northern direction for reference no matter which direction your boat is situated.

Why is a Marine Compass Important? 

A marine compass is a handy device that boaters and sea travellers use to help them determine where they need to go regardless of the changes in weather conditions. This is why it’s also an indispensable tool in driving a boat. It leads you to the right path, especially when landmarks are nowhere to be found, the surroundings are foggy and you’re boating at nighttime when the sky is dark and the stars and moon are not visible. 

How to Use a Marine Compass

When using a marine compass, you need the compass itself and a maritime chart to plot your destination. A boat compass has three main parts: the compass card, bezel, and lubber line. The compass card is found in the middle with directional marks and rotates with the bezel, which has degree measurements. The lubber line is a pin that points to where you’re headed.

Choose a destination on your maritime chart. If you want to get to your destination, you need to consult this chart to avoid getting lost. The maritime chart will help you locate your destination. For example, you want to head to a marina, and trace a line from where you are to where you’ll be going. Take note of the marine compass reading; the line drawn from your point of reference to your destination creates an angle (measured in degrees). If you happen to be confused about getting back, just remember the direction opposite your destination (if you’re currently located in the south direction, you need to turn 180 degrees to get back to the east direction).

What are the Two Types of Marine Compass

There are two popular types of marine compasses that boaters and mariners usually use:

Marine compass: Also known as card compass, this compass uses the boat’s movement to turn the needle on a rotating card to the direction it’s heading.

Gyro compass: This compass absorbs the earth’s gravitational force through a moving wheel so its fixed point is always in the northern direction.

Compass vs. GPS

GPS and a compass are quite similar when it comes to giving directions, however, there is an advantage a marine compass has over a GPS. A GPS needs to rely on satellite signals to obtain the information needed and they need the power to operate. Without power, it is basically useless. While a marine compass may not provide you with exact directions to a particular location, it doesn’t need any power for it to function so you can use it anywhere at any time. You can purchase both items in your local marine centres. 

[riverinamarinecentre]

Tips on How to Maintain the Quality of Your Wakeboard Gear

If your wakeboard isn't getting wet right now, there's plenty you can do at home to look after it. Waterski equipment maintenance requires little effort and can be completed anywhere you store them. Regular maintenance will ensure that you don't have any problems once you're back on the water. With our guide to wakeboard maintenance, you'll be completely prepared for your next thrilling ride out in the water!

Store the Wakeboard in the Shade

When you’re not riding your board, it will be best to keep it in a shaded area as much as away from direct sunlight. The sun’s ultraviolet rays can break down the elements that make up the material of a wakeboard resulting in discolouration, fading, and weakening of its materials by turning it brittle and corroding the metal parts.

Rinse with Freshwater

Just like boats, after you’ve used your wakeboard in salt water, rinse it right away with fresh water. Make sure to clean every surface, nook, and cranny of your wakeboard. Pay close attention to the metal or chrome fittings of your wakeboard; they can corrode easily once the minerals from the salt water settle there if you neglect to wash your wakeboard with fresh water. Corrosion can lead to loose fittings and costly repairs.

Always Check Bindings and Fins Before And After Use

Always remember to inspect your wakeboard’s bindings and fins before and after you hit the water. Boards can break either from going big or landing awkwardly. If you’re being irresponsible and don’t bother inspecting it, you may not notice that there are tears or cracks in the bindings and binding retention bolts have become loose which could result in bigger damage to your boards. Riding with even the smallest tear can completely trash the board.

While you’re inspecting the bindings, don’t forget to check your fins if they are securely attached to your board. Fins that are not bolted securely on your board can unfasten quickly, and once that happens, they can sink to the bottom of the lake or the sea and they will be hard to find and retrieve once they settle down there. Furthermore, fins are important parts of your wakeboard since you will need them to ride the water.

If you’ve noticed that these parts have come loose, it may be not a good idea to repair them by yourself if you’re not familiar with how to repair wakeboards. You don’t want to temporarily fix the problem, right? So, you need an expert to do this dirty job for you to fix the problem right away.

Get in touch with professionals who do repairs on watersports equipment. If you can’t get much of it, it’s perhaps time to buy a new wakeboard. If you don’t have any extra cash to buy a brand-new one, you can buy used wakeboards that are still in great shape and quality. You can get them at a great bargain. Just head over to your local marine stores and wakeboard shops and peruse their wakeboard stocks and choose which fits you best.

Wakeboards, just like any other gear, tools, and equipment, can age and deteriorate over time but you can slow this process down if you take good care and inspect your wakeboard regularly.

Store the Wakeboard in a Bag

Another practical tip for taking care of your board is to pair it with a wakeboard bag. The bag will serve as protection in storage and during travel. Bags may not seem like much. Yet they’re the first line of defence against bumps, jarrings, and scratches that may threaten the wakeboard’s surface.

Remember to wipe the wakeboard dry before storing it. In addition to this, look for a cool and dry place to have it sit in before you’re ready to take it out for a spin again. You won’t want mould and mildew to grow on your wakeboard because of the dark and damp environment. Not only do they make your wakeboard smell musty but they can also deteriorate your wakeboard’s quality.  

Keep Sunscreen Away

Sunscreen, lotions, and oils should be kept away from your wakeboard binding at all costs. These substances will deteriorate the rubber in your bindings fast and make them greasy and slimy. If the rubber bindings get deteriorated, your foot can easily slide out of the boots, making it hard for you to control the board with your body and risk getting injured when you crash.

Don’t Forget to Maintain Your Wakeboarding Rope As Well

Aside from your wakeboard, your rope is also essential while you’re doing the sport. Make sure to maintain its best quality so you can avoid buying new ropes often. Just like your wakeboard, store the rope out of direct sunlight since the UV rays can break down the fibres of the rope. If you’ve used your wakeboarding gear in salt water, don’t forget to rinse off your rope with fresh water after you’ve used it to prevent dirt and salt elements from seeping through the rope and causing weak spots. If you have extra cash, buy more than one rope so you can use it alternately. Over time wakeboard ropes stretch longer than their original length that will become permanent. Avoid this by purchasing two or more wakeboard ropes in wakeboard shops.