Specifications

WPOperatingManual Page - 6 - Revised: August 12, 2009
(f) VHF Radio
Is set up to send an automatic position report and distress signal. See the section on operation of this
radio on page 22 for detailed instructions. A brief set of instructions is mounted on the bulkhead next
to the radio.
(g) SSB Radio
Coast Guard emergency channels are programmed into the radio as channels 6 through 11. You must
try each channel to see if the HF propagation conditions will allow a contact. Use the left knob to
change the channel by 10 and the right knob to change the channel by 1. Start with channel 6 and
broadcast your distress message then listen for a reply. If none is heard, move up one channel and try
again. Continue until you have tried all 6 emergency channels.
4. Life Raft
The life raft is mounted on the deck and may be inflated manually or will inflate automatically if
immersed in water to a depth of 10 feet. Make sure that the raft painter is tied to the boat before
throwing it overboard. Then yank on the painter to inflate the raft. The life raft has emergency
provisions for 6 people. Do not deploy the raft and enter it unless you are certain that the ship is
sinking. Many boats have been found abandoned and still floating while their crew were lost in their
life raft or were rescued after a very uncomfortable and dangerous ride. There is a yellow abandon
ship bag in the forward cabin that contains extra provisions and survival gear. If it appears that it may
be necessary to abandon the ship for the life raft move this bag to the cockpit so it can be placed into
the raft at the time that you abandon ship. If there is time, load additional water and provisions into the
life raft. The abandon ship bag contains a hand held VHF radio and a portable GPS. If it is necessary to
enter the life raft you should take the EPIRB into the raft with you.
5. Person Overboard Life Sling
A Life Sling is located on the port lifeline with its tether tied to the toe rail. To retrieve a person
overboard with this device you return to the vicinity where the person is in the water then throw the
life preserver that is in the Life Sling bag overboard to trail behind the boat. Then steer the boat at slow
speed in a circle around the person in the water. The person should then be able to grab the tether and
pull the life preserver to themselves. As soon as the person has grabbed the tether STOP THE BOAT
and slowly pull the person to the stern rail to retrieve them. The swim ladder should be deployed to aid
in retrieving the person.
6. Person Overboard Pole
A person overboard pole is located at the stern pulpit starboard side. It is connected with polyethylene
line to the horseshoe buoy and to a strobe light that activates when in the upright position. If a person
should fall overboard lift the pole to clear the stern pulpit and throw it with the horseshoe buoy and the
strobe light overboard as soon as possible. The pole has a flag that helps the person in the water to find
the buoy and helps the people on the boat to locate the person. The strobe light will provide location
assistance in bad visibility and at night.