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BOATING TIPSTip on Navigating a ChannelUnlike a car, you should not always hug the right side of the road (channel) while navigating with a boat. Of course, in a heavily traveled channel with lots of traffic, you want to stay toward the right side and have oncoming traffic pass to your port side. But, if you have the opportunity, you would be prudent to stay toward the windward side of the channel. Current also should be a factor in the decision on where you should be steering your boat.Staying to the windward side, or the side from which the current is flowing, is very prudent and can be looked upon as "defensive navigation." You always want to anticipate what you would do if something went wrong with your power:
Ranges and TransitsPerhaps you have at one time or another used a navigational range for going up a channel. A "Range" is simply lining up two non-moving points and keeping them lined up as you cruise up the channel. Government ranges are marked on the charts and the closest range marker will be shorter than the one farther behind it.But, other than these obvious ranges, there are others that you can use on your own. Here are some good examples:
River NavigationUnlike open water or coastal navigation, rivers have a nearby shoreline all the time. Local lore often outweighs good piloting since the rivers beds and edges are constantly changing.Most rivers have very easily identifiable marks and landmarks, so knowing where you are is not all that difficult. The big problem is avoiding hazards. Problems: Water Level changes quite often in rivers – spring waters are usually much higher while summer and fall waters become low. Also, in the spring you need to be aware of flooded areas and debris that runoff waters brings to the river. The US Coast Guard maintains Aids to Navigation in most rivers. They use lights, buoys, daybeacons and ranges to keep you in deeper water. Right and Left Banks of a River are designated as such by a downstream direction. So, left or port is determined by your downstream direction. Still facing the direction of the stream, the right side is the starboard side. The exception is the New York State Canal System where the sides are determined when you are heading west. Mileage Markers are shown in many of the rivers and are very helpful in determining where you are. Unlike coastal navigation, usually the mile markers are in statute miles. The big thing to watch for is Floating Debris. If you are traveling at high speed a lot of damage can be done when you hit a floating refrigerator (and it has happened). Generally, when a River Bends, the outside of the bend is usually deeper water, while the inside of the turn will be shallower water. Springing On and Off a DockFor this scenario picture trying to get your boat into a mooring (parking) place that has just about enough room for your boat. Unlike what you learned in auto driving school for parallel parking, you do NOT pull alongside the forward boat and back in. Remember the Seinfeld episode where George was backing in and another chap was pulling in? They had a standoff for the whole show…blocking traffic, etc.Well, in docking a boat, George loses. Assuming you are landing port side to the dock, pull the bow in and use a spring line from forward on the boat to a cleat or piling aft of that point. Then the helm should be put hard right and given power. That will swing the stern into the dock. That is the art of springing your boat into the dock because you are using a spring line. To spring off the dock, use the same spring line from the forward on the boat (bow) to a cleat or piling aft. Now turn the helm hard left and apply power. Once the stern kicks out, release the spring line and back out. Steering by CompassWhen at sea or on a large body of water, steering is done by compass. But steering by compass is an art unto itself. Most newcomers to compass steering end up all over the place.Say you are trying to maintain a course of 200 degrees. You want to keep the lubber line (which is 1-degree in width) right on 200 degrees on the compass rose. But, suppose you get off course and steering 195 degrees. The helmsman must swing the boat’s head with right rudder to bring the lubber line back to 200 degrees. Think of the lubber line as the bow of the boat. The compass card actually stands still, while the lubber line swings around it. And magnetic compasses do not react quickly as do digital and gyro compasses. There is a delay and even a reverse movement of direction of the compass. In our case above, you turn right to get the lubber line back to 200, but initially the compass will appear as if going to the left, rather than the right. And once you get to 200, the compass may keep on going to the right before coming back and finally settling down to its actual heading. For the novice helmsman this can really drive you nuts. Often you will see a novice helmsman making a zig-zag course, yawing from side to side, trying to catch the compass. A straight course is the goal. To do this you make only slight movements and straighten the helm. Small changes in headings do not cause the radical reaction by the compass. Even experienced skippers find ways to make it easier. Once on a heading, find an object to steer toward and use the compass as a reference. If no land is in sight, you can use a cloud temporarily, or at night a star. Children and Boating SafetyThe U.S. Coast Guard provides great safety information for children. It has two online coloring books available - "Water 'n Kids" and "Coastie the Safety Dog" - that you can use to help educate your children on boating safety.Coastie is an animated robotic cartoon character in appearance, and is very mobile. He has navigation and searchlights, a rotating beacon, a siren, an air horn, and eyes and eyelids that move meaningfully. He talks, plays music, and interacts with the instructor and the children during the presentation. He is painted bright blue and has decals promoting boating and water safety from many boating safety organizations. Coastie teaches rules about what to do and not do in a water emergency situation.
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