Owner`s manual

47
Running Aground
✸ If your yacht runs aground, examine
everyone on board for injuries and render
first aid, if necessary.
✸ Examine your yacht for damage to the
hull and running gear. If no serious dam-
age is noted, attempt to free the yacht by
shifting weight to the bow to raise the
stern and then reverse the engines and
back out of the shallow water into deeper
water.
✸ If towing is necessary, DO NOT attach
the tow line to the deck cleats. They are
not designed to take the full load of the
yacht under pressure.
Silverton recommends using a com-
mercial towing service for your safety
and to decrease the potential for addi-
tional damage to your yacht as a result
of removing it from the underwater
obstruction.
NEVER attach a tow line to a deck cleat
or anchor windlass. The cleat or wind-
lass may pull free from the deck and
cause serious personal injury or prop-
erty damage.
Hazardous Weather Conditions _
Storms
Storms rarely appear without some ad-
vance warning. Check the local weather
forecast before you leave port, but be
aware that weather conditions can change
rapidly. If you have a VHF radio, listen to
the continuous weather reports issued by
the National Weather Service. If you have
a portable radio, keep it tuned to a station
that broadcasts frequent weather reports.
If you are tuned to an AM frequency, listen
for static; it often means an electrical
storm is approaching. Many boating clubs
fly weather signals in the form of flags or
lights. Learn to recognize these signals.
Your surroundings can also be a good
indicator of changing weather conditions.
Watch for changes in wind direction or
cloud formations. There is no substitute for
a good understanding of typical weather
conditions and what to do when it takes a
turn for the worse.
Fog
Fog is the result of either cold air passing
over a warm earth surface or warm air
passing over a cold earth surface. You can
judge the likelihood of fog formation by
periodically measuring the air temperature
and the Dew Point temperature (tempera-
ture at which moisture in the air will de-
velop), which is given during a normal
weather forecast. If the difference between
these two temperatures is small, fog is
likely to develop. Always remember the
following guidelines if you encounter fog
conditions:
• Unless your yacht is well equipped with
charts, head for shore at the first sign of
fog and wait until conditions improve
before continuing your cruise. If you have
charts on board, take your present loca-
tion bearings as the fog sets in, mark your
position and continue to log your course
and speed.
• REDUCE YOUR SPEED.
• Be certain all persons on board are
wearing their PFD.