It’s getting to be that time of year again, and that means that those of us in the northern states need to get ready for the snow, ice and generally lousy weather we know is coming.
For its part, the Coast Guard is stressing the importance of getting snow off your boat as soon as you can, and preventing any ice to build up on docked boats. The accumulation of snow and ice can reduce a boat’s stability, and even cause it to sink.
The Coast Guard also urges everyone to wear appropriate personal protective equipment if they’re boating in the winter, including at least a life jacket. A dry suit and an insulated life jacket can drastically improve the chances of survival if you end up in the water.
“Perform routine vessel checks and verify that your contact information is up to date with your harbor master or marina,” said Michael Folkerts, a Coast Guard boating safety specialist. “Ice and snow can clog cockpit drains, causing additional weight loads that can push the waterline over scuppers and through hulls.
“A common cause of harbor sinkings are frozen and then cracked hulls, and then failed fittings.”
The Coast Guard also encourages boat owners to notify their local harbor master if they are not able to monitor the condition of their vessel for any reason. Read more:
https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-stresses-importance-of-snow-removal-winter-safety/2021/10/25/
