1. Check your boat ·thoroughly and never leave your mooring until you have done so.

2. Never over-load your boa† and at all times be especially careful about non-swimmers and children.

3. Carry a life preserver for every person on board. Be sure they're worn when doing deck duty in rough weather.

4. Carry filled fire extinguishers, according to Taw.

5. Exercise extreme caution when filling fuel tanks — no smoking — turn off all fires and electric accessories— hold filling nozzle firmly against fill pipe (ground it) — wipe up spillage — thoroughly ventilate engine compartment and all enclosed spaces before restarting motors.

6. Observe carefully weather, wind, tide and current conditions before starting. Plan emergency harbors on long hops.

7. Keep to the right when meeting another boa† and give the right-of-way to vessels approaching in your danger zone on the starboard (right) side.

8. Always be Courteous, Careful and Competent. Watch your wash! Slow down to 4 mph in harbors. Keep away from large vessels, which are not as maneuverable as smaller craft. Keep away from all sail boats — small ones may be swamped by the wash from a motor boa† and large sailing yachts do not have the maneuverability of a motor boa†.

9. Never make a turn at high speed. Small craft can easily be and have been swamped by their own wash.

10. Approach dock or mooring slowly against the wind or current, whichever is strongest.

The contents of SEAMANSHIP is based largely on that of the more complete book by the same author, Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling, the text-book used for many years by the United States Power Squadrons and more lately by members of Coast Guard Auxiliary and others interested in the various branches of the Navy and Merchant Marine. Much of the material in Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling has been condensed and parts omitted to keep this book elementary in scope and small in size.

For those who desire a more complete treatise on the subject, we recommend Piloting, Seamanship and Small Boat Handling, also published by MoToR BoatinG.

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