Preparing Your Trip


4.6 Refueling and Handling


Refuelling

The best place to refuel your pleasure craft is at your local marina. Staff are aware of the precautions that must be taken and are equipped to deal with any emergencies that may arise.

Their familiarity with your boat will ensure that refuelling is carried out safely and efficiently.

The following Refuelling Procedure, which was a recommended practice, is now the law.

  • Moor the pleasure craft securely
  • Shut down all engines
  • Ensure all persons not involved in fuellingthe craft are ashore
  • Extinguish all open flames, including pilot lights
  • Do not smoke in the refuelling area
  • Close all doors, windows, ports and hatches
  • Fill portable gasoline cans on shore
  • Ground the nozzle against the filler pipe
  • Do not overfill the tank to avoid overflow
  • Clean up spillage
  • Operate the ventilation system for four minutes before the ignition is switched on
  • Check for fuel vapors

You should also re-start the engine(s) before your guests re-board the pleasure craft.

Handling

Control of your pleasure craft is crucial for safe boating and enjoyment on the water.

Water passing over the rudder, or water passing over the outdrive and being forced astern by the propeller, allows a powerboat to steer.

On an inboard and an inboard / outboard, wash from the propeller provides some of that water. The boat moving through the water provides some additional water.

If the power is cut and the boat is still making way, (moving through the water) the rudder on an inboard, or the outdrive leg on an inboard / outboard, can still be used to steer until the boat comes to a stop.

Personal Watercraft operate in a different fashion.

Steering for a PWC comes from movement of water through the pump and the discharge nozzle.

When power is cut, there is no more discharge and the PWC can not steer. It does not have a rudder.

Handling

It is good practice to take a PWC operator's course before venturing out on your Personal Watercraft.

Next Page: 4.7 Laws and Courtesy