| Author | Message | ||
     Ted Lavino Senior Member Username: tlavino Post Number: 461 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hi David, I thought this topic might deserve its own section, so my response is in All Aspects of Sailing » Vessel Management Underway » Logs | ||
| David Sheriff Board Administrator Username: admin Post Number: 83 Registered: 01-2004 |
Cool. Ted, what about the advisability of recreational boaters keeping a log. What form should it take? What's the minimum that should be recorded, if anything. | ||
| Ted Lavino Senior Member Username: tlavino Post Number: 459 Registered: 01-2004 |
"Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision." One question is the definition of a "proper lookout", particularly with respect to recreational boaters? One poster on this board in the past had opined that the only proper lookout was a separate crew member stationed forward, i.e. the helm alone would not satisfy the requirement. In OCC's USCG Captain's License prep class, Merrill Keys made the following points: 1. Every vessel must keep a proper lookout at all times any time the vessel is underway (i.e. not aground, at anchor or tied to a pier or mooring). 2. The lookout must not have any other duties, ex. pulling dock lines or fenders. 3. The lookout must have 360 degree view around the vessel, which may require more than one person to achieve this. 4. The lookoout must always be able to communicate with the steering station. 5. The lookout must be stationed as far forward and as close to the water as possible. 6. If the vessel is equipped with radar and the watch does not know how to properly operate it, a proper lookout is not being kept ("as well as by all available means...". 7. The lookout must have experience in performing the duties of a lookout. 8. On smaller vessels (<100GT), the helmsman may also be the lookout if he can see 360 degrees AND must have entered the harbor at least 5 times and once at night (Merrill suggested keeping log entries documenting this fact). |
