Safety Boat Duty Checklist

GENERAL
  1.  Ensure you are familiar with the Club procedures available at the following link yorkshiredales.sc/club-information . If there are no special events on, the safety boat should be launched by10am until 5pm. Please remember the safety boat is providing cover for ALL water users and not just dinghy racing! This is particularly important as we may see more wind surfers, canoes, kayaks etc. using the water. At the end of your duty tell all water users still remaining that safety cover will no longer be available. At that point “Buddy Sailing” rules will apply.
KEYS
  1. If you do not have your own set of club keys to open the access vehicle gate and Club house, you will have to make arrangements to borrow keys or have someone open the club on your behalf. Be aware that the club house is alarmed and you will need to know how the alarm system works and the code to deactivate (reset) the alarm system. This needs to be done within 30 seconds of the front door opening/closing. For alarm codes and briefing on alarm use speak to a committee member prior to your duty. Unlock the bottom external door. (NOTE: Do you know the combination of the office and boat garage internal doors? If not check with a committee member prior to your duty)
  2. All RIB, Committee boat, Tow Vehicles and Fuel store keys are held in the office. They can be found on marked key hooks attached to the back of the door. Please ensure that all keys are accounted for and returned at the end of the day.
RADIOS
  1. Pick up a radio (Channel 37a) and carry it with you throughout your duty. Ensure main set radio in club room is switched on or someone onshore also has a radio. Always make sure that your radio is securely attached to your buoyancy aid.
  2. Before going afloat ask for a radio check;……. “All stations – all stations – this is <RIB name/your name> for a radio check please> Over”. This should do the trick.
  3. Press the <transmit> button about a second before you start to speak.
  4. Switch off and return it to its charging unit at the end of the day.
BOAT PREPARATION
  1. Open Garage Doors.
  2. A General Check of the RIB(s) and trailer(s) to be used on the day.
  3. Keys in RIBs
  4. Isolator on. (located behind seat on Zodiac, Console on Ruby and Orange Blossom and behind fore-hatch on Blue RIB).
  5. Raise engine.
  6. Check the boat(s) have all the relevant equipment securely stowed on board. (anchor and line, throw rope, tow rope, first aid bag, spare kill cord, rope ladder, sheath knife, fire extinguisher, paddle).
  7. Bungs in, external and internal. (internal forward facing in the rear sump in Blue RIB). Note: Orange Blossom (OB) bung is fixed with a brass nut . A spanner is attached by a cord to the stern of the boat. It is important that this bung is removed and the internal hull drained each time the boat has been used. It should be replaced and tightened afterwards.
  8. Make sure that the engine is fully raised. Manoeuvre RIB to Garage Door.
  9. Securely hook up to the boat you intend to use/launch to the towing vehicle, use safety chains/wire where possible and make sure jockey wheel is up.
  10. Have someone available to help you and slowly tow the boat out of the garage ensuring clearance at both sides.
FUEL
  1. Check fuel levels. Fuel gauges for Orange Blossom and Ruby are on the consol and both boats have internal fuel tanks. All other boats have removable fuel tanks.
  2. Fuel is stored in the fuel bund located on the far external wall of the equipment store. Hang the fuel store keys in the equipment store on the left hand side just inside the door.
  3. RED JERRY CANS ARE PETROL – DIESEL CANS ARE BLACK. USE PUMP LABELLED “PETROL”/ “DIESEL” as appropriate. (Note: use a drip tray where necessary)
  4. Refuel RIBs as necessary. All boats are petrol and should be refuelled using petrol from the RED cans. IMPORTANT: ALL RE-FUELING IS TO BE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE)
  5. Refuel towing vehicles as necessary. IMPORTANT: All our towing vehicles are DIESEL and should be refuelled using the BLACK diesel fuel cans.
  6. For the towing vehicles, perform a visual check of tyres. There is an air compressor located in the garage beside the Committee boat if required.
  7. Return empty/partially full jerry cans back to fuel bund IMMEDIATELY after refuelling is complete. If you notice the majority of red jerry cans require refill please notify a member of the Committee.
  8. Please do not use the GREEN JERRY CANS which belong to Bewerley Park.
PONTOON
  1. Attach the gang plank to the pontoon at the start of your duty. Make sure that the attachment pin on the gang plank is securely located to the docking plate on the pontoon.
  2. If the pontoon needs to be moved in/out, turn the “T” bar ONE/ONE & HALF turns to loosen from the guide cable. The pontoon should then easily float in/out as required. Tighten the “T” bar when complete
  3. The cable guide at the far end of the pontoon should always be fully down and will not generally need adjusting, unless it is preventing the pontoon being moved. The cable guide ensures that the cable is below the propeller level of the power boats. It is adjustable for the change in water level.
  4. Remove the gang plank back to the shore line at the end of your duty. (Note: Make sure there is a small buoy attached to the ladder on a length of rope in case of rising water levels)
  5. If the water levels are likely to drop, consider pushing the pontoon further out to prevent it grounding as in the procedures outlined above.
LAUNCHING
  1. Drive SLOWLY to the water to minimise the ‘bounce’ shock to the boat on the rollers in transit.
  2. When launching, SLOWLY reverse the boat to the water line then STOP! Take into account the wind direction, water condition and double check the bungs are in.
  3. Reverse further in, ensure that the trailer’s rollers are in the water and then unhook ratchet strap and painter/safety chain. If the boat is unfastened from the trailer before this there is a risk that the boat may roll off the trailer unexpectedly…..eek!
  4. With your crew holding the painter, reverse further into the water and float the boat off the trailer. Crew should then to walk the boat to the pontoon and tie off to an eye rather than a cleat. In windy conditions this may require both crew members. (Note: There are alternative launching/retrieval methods involving the helm being on board the boat and driving on/off the trailer but these methods should only be performed if you are competent and experienced to do so)
  5. Tow the trailer out of the water when the crew is clear and park on the beach. Ensure that one vehicle is located near the pontoon and has a radio and first aid kit in it.
  6. The Committee boat, when launching, often has the RO on board. Reverse to allow sufficient water to lower the engine to half drive and get it started. Unfasten from trailer and, following a ‘thumbs up’ from the RO, reverse further to allow boat to be reversed off safely. (Note: Don’t forget the kill cord check and to confirm that the 4 bungs are in!)
RECOVERING BOATS
  1. When recovering boats, do it safely and take into account the wind direction and conditions. In difficult conditions please ask for assistance from other sailors. Ensure boat is securely attached to trailer, safety chain attached, and jockey wheel is up and secured.
  2. Make sure the engine is fully raised before towing the trailer out of the water. When recovering boats back onto the trailers make sure the boat is sitting correctly on the rollers. This is especially important with the Committee boat.
  3. When the boat is out of the water, but still at the water’s edge, remove all the bungs (internal and external) in order that the hull can drain of any water. Lower the flags on the Committee boat.
  4. Drive SLOWLY back to the garage to minimise the ‘bounce’ shock to the boat on the rollers in transit. Ask someone to help guide you when reversing into the garage. Trailer wheels should be located on top of the painted marks on the garage floor.
  5. Engines down. (NOTE: Once the engine is lowered, make sure the prop guard is not resting on the floor. Lower the jockey wheel, if needed, to create clearance between prop guard and garage floor). Switch isolators off and prop the seats up.
  6. Ensure all equipment used is returned and stored correctly.
  7. Park and lock towing vehicles, return boat/vehicle keys to the office, radios switched off and returned to charging cradles.
  8. If there have been any issues with the trailers, boats or vehicles please log the issue on the white board on the back of the garage door. The Bosun will then be able to action repairs as required.
LOCKING UP
  1. Check that all galley staff have finished, everyone has left the building and there are no cars in the car park. Make sure the club flag is taken down and stored just inside garage door.
  2. Secure all external doors/fire doors/garage doors, fuel bung and equipment store. In Club house/function room, turn off water heater, music system and all lights. (Note: The downstairs lights are all on sensors and will automatically switch on/off. However, the garage is not on this loop and lights need turning on/off). Check that all the showers in both changing rooms have been switched off.
  3. Close all internal doors and ensure those with combination locks fitted are secured.
  4. Activate the alarm system and secure the front door. Close and secure the green vehicle gate on exiting.

Note: Club members may still be present either in the club house or boat park after you have completed your duty.  If this is the case please check that they will take responsibility for locking up, have club house keys, are aware of the alarm code, how it works and have a key for the vehicle gate.