Reel Angler's Fishing Club of Cape Coral,
Florida
Reel Angler's Fishing Club of Cape Coral,
Florida
This page is dedicated to the memory of Ray Williams
Remember - Safety First!
Stop to consider how well you are prepared by checking these points:
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Click here for the latest marina gas prices.
Simply enter your Zip Code and see the
list of local marinas and their gas prices.
When a crisis occurs on the water it is critical that captain and crew act quickly and confidently. Please take the time to review safety procedures with all on board each time you go out.
Quick Safety Check:
Take the time to tell a responsible friend or relative where you are going and when you plan to return. Make sure they have a complete description of your vessel and other information that will make identification of your boat easier should the need arise. Always contact the person you left your float plan with upon your return.
Leave a written float plan. Fill out this float plan template with the basic information about your boat, then keep it handy to give to a friend or family member telling them not only where you will be boating and when you will be back, but who else will be with you and any intended stops. Get a float plan template here; .FP Template
Give a detailed description of your boat. Include year, make, model, hull and state numbers, and any other distinctive descriptions.
Indicate whether you trailer your boat or keep it at a marina. If you trailer your boat, be sure to tell them where you intend to launch from, and give the color, make, model, and license plate of your vehicle. Otherwise, give the name, phone number and address of your marina.
If you go boating alone and do not have friends or family members nearby, you can still file a float plan. If you trailer your boat and launch from a boat ramp, leave the information in your vehicle. If the worst comes to pass, your vehicle will become suspicious and will most likely be reported to authorities. Your float plan will provide clues to your possible location. If you keep your boat in a marina, file a float plan with a fellow boater or with the dockmaster.
The sun gets pretty intense in SW Florida, so it is very important to insure that you don't get dehydrated.
A person's body loses approximately 2.5 litres of water during an average day in a temperate climate . This can be through the lungs as water vapor, through the skin as sweat, or through the kidneys as urine. Some water is also lost through the bowels. In warm or humid weather or during heavy exertion, however, the water loss can increase significantly through perspiration -- all of which must be promptly replaced. In extreme cases, the losses may be great enough to exceed the body's ability to absorb water from the gastrointestinal tract; in these cases, it is not possible to drink enough water to stay hydrated, and the only way to avoid dehydration is to reduce perspiration.Do you have a flotation device that is readily accessible?
We recommend that a hard styrofoam ring be hung on deck with easy access. The ring should have a length of floatable rope attached in case you have to retrieve it to re-throw. These rings are easier to throw accurately. Floatation cushions are more subject to being carried off by the wind.
Does each person on board know how to start the boat and maneuver it?
A man-over-board situation, especially in windy conditions or in strong currents, can quickly separate the boat from the person in the water. It is important that the boat be brought under control to be positioned for rescue activities.
Does everyone know where the anchor is stored and how to deploy it?
Sometimes the fastest way to get control is to stop. Make sure people know how to set the anchor and tie it off without pinching their fingers.
Is everyone on board aware of where the fire extinguisher is located and how to use it?
A fire onboard can spread quickly and reach explosive fumes. Fast, proper action is required.
Do you have a VHF radio on board and does everyone know how to use it?
The Coast Guard and responsible boaters monitor Channel 16. A "mayday" call on Channel 16 will have a higher probability of reaching help faster than any other form of communication.
| Boating in Fog |
Proceed at slow speed as long as you have information to direct you safely. Hopefully, you will have working instruments on board and that they are turned on and giving you correct data. If not - stop, turn on lights and make sure everyone puts on a life jacket. You may want to drop anchor, but not in the middle of a working channel. Under these conditions your VHF radio won't do you much good.
A GPS plotter will help to show you a map of the area you are in and the direction to proceed to a safe area. Be sure to turn on your running lights in fog or heavy rain. Place a lookout in the bow, go slowly, and give one prolonged blast of your horn every two minutes.
| Use of Running Lights |
The law requires them. Must have on from dusk to dawn, also in fog or heavy rain, or limited visibility.
| What to do when meeting another boat: |
The boat on right has the right-of-way.
| What to do when passing another boat: |
Pass on his starboard, or your port. Blast your horn once for passing on his starboard. If passing on his port, give two blasts of your horn. If he returns five quick blasts on his horn, do not pass.
| What to do in a "Man Overboard" situation: |
Immediately throw a buoy and attachment overboard. Raise the alarm by shouting "Man Overboard." If there are others on board, instruct a crew member to watch the person in the water and point continuously. If possible, note your position. Most GPS have a Man Over Board (MOB) function, and it may prove vital if contact is lost with the person in the water.
Ensure the propeller is not turning when you are alongside the person in the water. If you can see the person in the water clearly, a simple 180-degree turn is the quickest. If you cannot see the person in the water, send a mayday call on your VHF radio.
| How to place a "Mayday" call: |
Call placed on VHF Channel 16 when in danger of sinking or when life is threatened. Speak, "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" and give your location. Repeat every minute until you hear a response.
| Dealing with high wind-rain: |
Everyone don a personal flotation device (PFD), station a lookout forward, reduce speed, and attempt to get to shelter.
| Using an Anchor light: |
When at anchor, it needs to be on from dusk to dawn and be visible in a 360 degree circle
| Signaling when backing out or leaving dock: |
One long blast on horn, for two or three seconds
The environment in SW Florida - Pine Island, Sanibel, Captiva, etc.
If you are not familiar with the term "skinny water", you are in for an adventure. There are huge expanses of water in this area that are less than one foot in depth. Acquire up-to-date charts and study them well. Also be aware of the tides and wind. If you look around while you are out on the water you will notice that there are a large number of "flats" boats and other shallow draft vessels. It is advisable to take a course or two in navigation and safety from our local Power Squadron.
"Inland Rules" apply in many areas; the "red, right, return" rule for reading channel markers can be misleading. For example, you keep red on your right when you are going "out" to Charlotte Harbor north of the Matlacha Bridge but keep red to your left if you are going "out" to the Caloosahatchee River south of the bridge. Slow down if you are not sure and check your depth gauge often.
We are blessed with the State's second largest population of the West Indian Manatee. Most areas where the manatee are found or congregate are "no wake" zones. The manatee makes an obvious pizza pan depression in the water when its tail wags.
We have from one to four tide cycles per day; your tide clock will not work here or anywhere in the Gulf of Mexico. Highest tides occur in the late summer months, lower tides in the winter; however, wind speed and direction play a huge part in our water depths in the passes and Charlotte Harbor. Lower tides and winds can change the water depth dramatically.
Assess what you want to use your boat for most often. Fishing the inland waters is great for boats with drafts of 14" or less. If cruising in the Gulf is your thing then deeper draft V-hulls work better.
There are a lot of vacationers down here renting boats. Don't assume that they know what they are doing.
Storms can pop up at anytime of the year but are particularly more prevalent in the summer. This area is the lightning capital of the United States. Typically, summer thunder storms build throughout the day with the downpour occurring in late afternoon or early evening. Visibility can drop severely. If you hear the thunder and are in an open boat, seek sheltered land immediately. The lightning storms are violent and often accompanied with gale force winds.
Be Wary
Check your registration document:
Is it current? Is the state sticker up to date? While checking this, look at
the display of numbers. They need to be at least 3 inches tall and in a
contrasting color to the boat's surface. they need to be located on each
side of the forward half of the boat. A space or hyphen must separated the
letters from the numbers. For example: FL 1234 AB or FL-1234-AB. The state
sticker goes on the port side only, but the letters are to be affixed to
both port and starboard sides.
Personal Flotation Devices (PFD): They need to be coast guard approved and
it is required that you have one for each person on the boat while underway.
Children sizes go by weight Also be aware that children 6 and under must
wear a PFD when underway if they are on deck. Children below deck or in
staterooms do not need to wear a jacket. The vessel examiner will check to
see that all PFDs are in good condition.
Visual distress signals: Make sure
the running and anchor lights are working. There are different requirements
for various size boats and for sailboats and small boats without power.
Sound producing devices: You need to be sure you have a noisemaker —
whistle, horn, siren etc. capable of a four second blast audible for one
mile. Boats more than 39 feet are also required to have a bell.
Fire extinguishers: they also need to be coast guard approved. A letter and
number symbol classify extinguishers. The letter indicates the type of fire
the unit is designed to extinguish. (Type B for example is designed to
extinguish flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease fires). The
number indicates the relative size of the extinguisher with the higher the
number, the larger the extinguisher. Boats without power or with no fuel
below decks are not required to carry extinguishers.
It is recommended the extinguisher
be mounted in a readily accessible position away from the areas where a fire
could likely start such as as the galley or the engine compartment. The
indicator needs to be in the green area. About every six months you should
shake it or use a rubber mallet to break up the material inside the
extinguisher.
Check the bilges: They need to be clean and not full of grease or oil. The
boating stores all sell a bilge cleaner if you need to clean them. All
gasoline inboard/outboard or inboard motors must be equipped with an
approved backfire flame control device. Boats with gasoline engines in
closed compartments must have a power ventilation system.
First aid kit: An examiner will not
check the dates on your items, but you should check the expiration date and
replace those that are outdated.
Pollution placard: The examiner will also want to see a pollution placard,
MARPOL trash placard and marine sanitation devices. While not required by
encouraged items are marine radio, anchor and line for your area, inland
distress signals and capacity certificate of compliance. Your boat should
also be equipped with nautical charts, navigation aids and insurance papers.
Anchor: An anchor is not a requirement, but no skipper should leave the dock
without the proper size anchor for the area where he will be cruising. It is
important to have adequate anchor line (rode) for anchoring. The line needs
to be 5 to 1 and as much as 10 to 1 in bad conditions. For example in 5:1,
with 10 feet of water depth plus 5 feet from the water level to the deck
equals 15 feet times 5 equals 75 feet of rode or 7:1 ratios is 15 times 7
which equals 105. 10:1 ratio is 15 times 10 which equals 150 feet of line.
Practice the "One-Third Rule" by using one-third of the fuel going out, one-third to get back and one-third in reserve. If you plan on staying eight to 10 hours, make sure you have adequate food, water, and sunscreen for those on board.
Do not use automotive parts to replace such items as starters, distributors, alternators, generators, carburetors, fuel pumps etc. because they are not ignition protected and could cause a fire or explosion.
To improve your boating skills take
a Boat Smart course offered by the Cape Coral Power Squadron. The squadron
is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Saturday and is located at 917 S.E. 47th
Terrace.
For more details, call 549-9754.