Section 5: Safety and Safety Equipment
What is the most important piece of safety equipment on a boat? I’ll give you a clue: it’s not what you might think; safety doesn’t come from safety equipment but from careful planning and from vigilance and awareness whilst at sea.
However there are ways that things should be arranged on a sea going boat and equipment to deal with disaster situations that should be carried on board, and this section deals with this subject.
This section covers the following:
Stability and general seaworthiness
Maintaining propulsion - storm sails and
engine/electrical routines
Anchors and anchoring
Detection equipment - ensure you are seen & heard
Bilge pumps and watertight integrity
Fire, fire fighting equipment and fire prevention
Pyrotechnics (distress flares)
Personal safety equipment
Man overboard recovery equipment
Liferaft
Radio
General - dinghy, tools and spares, check lists and maintenance etc