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Do your part as a member of the Auxiliary; introduce your friends to the Auxiliary,
volunteer to staff our booth at boat shows, become crew or coxswain qualified,
teach a boating class, help with our patrol duties, become a Vessel Examiner,
and by all means: attend meetings. We have the opportunity to change lives
through our Boating Skills and Seamanship Course, patrols, vessel exams, and
other face to face contacts with the boating public. Let's embrace this
responsibility with enthusiasm. Wear your uniform with pride. Remember, we
are the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
DeAnne Rodenburg
Flotilla Commander
To protect your boat from damage during severe weather, check on your
boat's condition often and follow these tips:
· First and foremost, make sure you wear a life jacket when checking on your
boat!
· If your boat is moored, visit it often to check on its condition. The cost of
repairing a boat that has been underwater, even briefly, is usually about 40% of
its value. The majority of boats that sink do so in their own slips. Check to
make sure the bilge pump is working and that any thru hull fittings are not
leaking.
· Make sure there are a sufficient number of dock lines to keep you boat secure
to the dock. And make sure you have enough fenders to protect your boat from
damage.
· Water falling from the sky, either rain, snow, or sleet, accounted for a
whopping 32% of the boats that sank, according to the survey by BoatU.S..
Everybody has seen a rowboat or two awash, so this shouldn't be a surprise. What
may be startling is that all of the cases involved boats with so called
"self-bailing cockpits" that should have shed the water overboard. Check these
scuppers to make sure they will indeed allow the water to pass overboard.
· During severe weather, you may want to consider hauling the boat out of the
water, and storing it on high ground. Be sure to remove the drain plug when
doing so to prevent water from accumulating in the bilge.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary advises citizen to refer to the web site of its sister
agency - FEMA , for more advice on preparing
for floods and other natural disasters. You can also visit
The Department of Homeland Security web
site for more ideas on how to prepare for disasters.
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