Page 6 - Mid America Boating - August 2023 issue

Boat Smart

Find out why
AUGUST 2023 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] 6

you should use

a SAMS

surveyor

at... A boat owner and

a good boat operator

www.marinesurvey.org are not always the same

By Capt. Fred Davis

Like us on Captain Fred Davis, who dedicated himself to decades of continously promoting boating safety, wrote hundreds
of boating columns for Mid-America Boating and other publications on the subject that were published during
Facebook his lifetime. Captain Fred passed away in 2019, but many of his discussions about boating safety remain
timeless. Here is one of his columns pertaining to the universal message about outfi tting and operating a boat
for safety before you launch.
1.800.344.9077 Boating education classes are available during off-season months when boats are laid up for
winter storage, but many vessel owners give little thought to boating once their craft is tucked
away. Many do not even check their boats during the winter, nor do they take advantage of this
time to make improvements or gain education. They just forget about boating until winter passes,

and at the first sign of summer, want to get their boats in the water and underway.
It seems obvious; winter months are the time to increase ones knowledge and ability through
education. The ones to learn from are most often other boater. U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and
U. S. Power Squadron instructors are boaters, too. Many are eager to share their vast knowledge
A D V ER T I S ER S I ND E X through boating classes. Unfortunately, many of these classes lack attendance.
A boat owner and a good boat operator are not always the same. Some very smart boating
American Power Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 enthusiasts do not even own boats and some very poor boat operators own very big boats. The
Bay Area Heating & Cooling. . . . . . . . . . . 15 latter becomes obvious as soon as a boating season begins…
Bay Point Resort & Marina . . . . . . . . . . . 14 I was listening to my VHF marine radio and heard a boater call out the name of his own boat, and
Brockway’s North Coast Marina . . . . . . . 14 then ask for directions. It was obvious he lacked boating knowledge, as evidenced by the improper
Budget Engine Rebuilders . . . . . . . . . . . 15 use of his radio. After a few calls, another boater answered. The caller asked for coordinates to a

Castaway Bay Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 specific harbor and the other boater responded with the numbers.
A knowledgeable operator would have acquired all numbers he could possibly need before
Cedar Point Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 14 starting his voyage. He would have aboard a current chart to verify these numbers and would have
www.midamericaboating.com Classi eds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-18 charted necessary courses to arrive at his predetermined destinations without incident.
PH 216.371.5750 A little later, I heard the same boater calling a nearby dock master. Once again, displaying
720 Radford Drive Davis Publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Richmond Hts., OH 44143 Dockage Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 his lack of knowledge regarding radio use, he asked how to get into the harbor. He said he was
between a grassy island and shore in six feet of water.
Published by Edgewater Yacht Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 I was out with a charter and my location, just two miles away, gave me good visual contact of
Recreation Press, Inc. Great Lakes Marine Surveyor . . . . . . . . . 15 a 35-foot cruiser. I noted immediately the boat was on a very dangerous reef. I responded on the
Editorial Manager Harbor Side Boat Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 radio advising the operator to stop his boat and then radioed the dock master explaining the
D. G. Meeker Honda East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 situation. The dock master said she could not see the boat at all and would clear the radio so I
Advertising Sales J & J Sales & Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 20 could talk to the boater and try to get him safely out of shallow water.
The boater was not aware of his danger but he was very lucky. He had not hit bottom and thus
Frank Kern Johnny K’s Powersports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 avoided damaging his underwater gear. I advised him of my experience with the reef and said
Design / Production Lakeside Yacht Service . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 13 I would attempt to help him get off. I told him if he did not use extreme caution, he could go
Recreation Press, Inc. Leverty Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 aground on rocks.

Contributing Writers Loadmaster Trailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 My first instruction was to have him put someone on the bow to spot the big rocks, then change
David G. Epstein Maple Grove Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 14 course 180 degrees to an east heading. I advised he should carefully, at idle speed, proceed on
Richard Martin the easterly heading until he reached 15 to 20 feet of water, then turn due north and, still slowly,
Megan Meisler Mike’s Dockside Service . . . . . . . . . 12, 13 proceed to a depth of 35 to 40 feet.
Norman Schultz North Coast Prop Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 As I watched the vessel turn and head east, I was hopeful he could pick his way off the reef.
Oasis Marinas at Battery Park . . . . . . 11, 18 Realizing it would take some skillful maneuvering and continued good luck, I was not sure it
MID-AMERICA BOATING is published eight (8) times yearly could even be accomplished. Many boats have been damaged beyond repair in this very same
by Recreation Press, Inc., 720 Radford Drive, Richmond Hts., PlasDECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
OH 44143. Articles and photographs are welcome, though Progressive Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 area. Watching and hoping, I could not believe my eyes when I saw the boat turn to a northwest
we cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited materials heading- right toward the lighthouse perched on top of the reef.
and we cannot guarantee their publication or return. Riverfront Yacht Sales & Service . . . . . . . 5 I quickly explained the danger of his position, saying he could not possibly get off the reef
SUBSCRIPTIONS: $10.00 for 8 issues. Subscribe online
at our web site, or call during normal business hours. SAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 without damage on his present heading. After considerable discussion, the operator turned back
ADDRESS CHANGE: Notify us by including the mailing Sandusky Yacht Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 to the east and slowly picked his way between the rocks.
address label from your most recent copy along with After three course corrections and an explanation of how to read a compass, the boat was out
your new address. Sawmill Creek Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
MID-AMERICA BOATING is a member of Lake Erie Marine of danger and able to continue to its destination. The captain said he had not hit bottom and I
Trades Ass’n. and is the official paper of Inter-Lake Yachting Sea Doo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 knew how fortunate he was. It took four or five more discussions on the VHF radio to help the

Ass’n and Greater Cleveland Boating Ass’n. South Shore Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 captain get his boat safely to the harbor. He arrived without further problem and I thought I had
heard the last of him. See Boat Owner on page 8