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 Take
A Trip With A Trip Plan by
Mark King
With another winter
upon us, this is an ideal time to sit down and make a list of all
the important on board safety equipment required for next yearŐs
boating season.
But before you even start writing, keep in mind
to include a Trip Plan and be sure to place it high on your list.
For many boaters, Trip Plans are often underrated
as safety items. It isnŐt until a boat goes missing when people
begin to understand how important they can be.
Emergencies on the water happen suddenly and they
are often catastrophic. A fire, sinking, grounding, major equipment
failure etc. can all lead to a boat being lost and vanishing off
the surface of the lake or river.
Information about your vessel, your destination
and on-shore contacts should all be included in the trip plan.
This information is crucial and greatly aids search
and rescue authorities to locate you and your vessel. Trip Plans
are the first step in the recovery process and can mean the difference
between life and death. (Top)
In order to acquire your Pleasure Craft Operator
Competency Card you must know about Trip Plans. Unfortunately, it
is a new concept to many and itŐs something you may not be in the
habit of filing before a trip.
It is unlikely you will find one in stores or at
a boat show, but with the use of a computer and some basic typing
skills, you can simply devise your own. The Safe Boater Training
Program Study Manual or the Canadian Coast Guard Safety Manual provide
good examples to follow.
To ensure you have all the correct information,
let take closer look at a properly prepared Trip Plan.
Route Information
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Describe your Boat in Detail
...
Contact Information
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Filing a Trip Plan
...
(Read full article in the magazine.) (Top)
Lifeline
is produced through the Safe Boater Training Program, a certification
program for recreational boaters.
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