Owner`s manual

48
• Station a person forward as a lookout.
• Sound your horn or fog bell at the
appropriate intervals to warn other vessels
of your presence. Refer to the “Rules of
the Road” for information concerning the
proper duration and interval of the fog
signal.
• Listen for fog signals from other ves-
sels and be aware of their presence. If
possible, determine their proximity to your
yacht, but remember, sound carries a long
distance over water and can be deceiving.
• If there is any doubt concerning the
safety of continuing your excursion, an-
chor your yacht. Listen for other fog sig-
nals while continuing to sound your fog
bell or horn. Continue your cruise when
conditions improve.
FIRE
Fire aboard your yacht is always serious,
but it can usually be brought under control
if you are prepared and act quickly. Fire
extinguishers required by the United
States Coast Guard are the minimum
necessary. Silverton recommends exceed-
ing the minimum requirements by placing
additional fire extinguishers where they
may be needed. Inspect all fire extinguish-
ing equipment frequently and review
emergency plans on a regular basis.
As a yacht owner, you should develop a
Fire Response Plan and familiarize all
passengers with this plan before departing
on your cruise. The Fire Response Plan
will identify the type of fire you may en-
counter and the appropriate reaction to
quickly extinguish it before it gets out of
control. Having a Fire Response Plan in
place and the assignment of certain re-
sponsibilities to your passengers will result
in faster and more accurate decisions and
reactions in the event of a fire aboard your
yacht.
Important: All passengers on board your
yacht should know the location of your fire
extinguishers and be familiar with their
use.
In the event a fire does start aboard your
yacht, follow these guidelines:
✔ If you detect a fire or suspect a fire
aboard your yacht, immediately turn OFF
your engines and electrical power supply.
DO NOT turn OFF power to your VHF
radio.
✔ Be certain all persons on board put on
their PFD.
✔ If the fire is in the engine/generator
compartment, DO NOT open the hatch.
The fire will flare with the sudden introduc-
tion of fresh air.
✔ If you are able to get to the source of
the fire, aim your fire extinguisher at the
base of the flames and use a sweeping
action to extinguish it. Concentrating your
fire extinguisher in one location may cause
the fire to spread.
✔ If the fire becomes out of control, send
a distress signal and call for assistance on
your VHF radio. Be certain to provide any
potential responders with your location
and a description of your situation.
Deciding whether to stay on board your
yacht or abandon ship may be difficult and
depends on the extent of the fire and the
weather conditions. If you decide to aban-