By Don Leutz, Northern California/Lake Tahoe Chapter
As you are most likely aware, there are certain rules and regulations that must be followed when piloting any boat. Much like the “Rules of the Road” that are necessary to follow when driving an automobile, boaters must follow the “Rules of the Road” set by the U.S. Coast Guard as well as State and local jurisdictions.
There are Inland Rules and International Rules, depending upon where you will be boating. Some of the rules will pertain mostly to commercial vessels and large ships, but many of the basic Rules are to be followed by all boaters.
The U.S. Coast Guard has developed a Boating Safety App that can be downloaded from the App Store, depending upon your mobile phone operating system. The App is free and contains a wealth of information that will help you boat safely and answer questions on the go while boating in your favorite waters.
The App allows you to input your vessel type, size, year built, color, hull material, type of propulsion, as well as other pertinent information. You can also input your contact information. After putting in the information, the App will let you know what equipment is required for your boat and what equipment is recommended for your boat. The App also provides for Safety Check requests.
In order for some of the services to be enabled, you must first activate location/GPS services. Once this has been activated, you can obtain the latest weather reports from the closest NOAA weather buoys as well as report the location of a hazard on the water. The Emergency Assistance button, once location services has been activated, will allow you to call the closest Coast Guard Command Center. The personal information is stored on the phone and is not sent to the Coast Guard unless you choose to send it. The Coast does not track a user’s location and the App does not track a user’s location unless the app is being used.
One of the most valuable parts of the App is the “Rules of the Road” and NOAA Buoy Sections. It explains what the most common Rules are and details what various Buoys mean and where they are located. The App shows what navigation lights are required for various vessels when traveling at night.
The App also provides Boating Information by State and allows you to request a Safety Check and File a Float Plan. There is also a provision in the App to report a hazard, suspicious activity, or pollution.
The App is meant to supplement the boater with additional information and safety resources in a compact and handy way via your cell phone. It is not meant to replace a boater’s VHF radio which is a highly recommended safety accessory to have on board your vessel at all times.
The Coast Guard App is meant to support the Coast Guard’s Safety Program by providing additional safety education so that boaters will be compliance with federal and state boating safety requirements while on the water.
The U.S. Coast Guard Mobile App is a “must have” on your mobile phone. I strongly recommend that you download the app, review it periodically, and use it while on the water to make your boating as safe as possible.
For more information on Safe Boating, visit: www.uscgboating.org.
See you on the Water!