South Australian Boating Safety Handbook

Introduction 5IntroductionCleatThe compartment at the bottom of the hull of aship or boat where water collects so that it maybe pumped out.A piece of wood or metal consisting of a barwith horizontal arms, around which ropes arewound to fasten them.Bitt/sCoastA strong post of wood or metal projecting—usually as a pair—above the deck of a vessel,which is used to secure cables and towing ormooring lines.In this handbook, for safety equipment carriagepurposes ‘coast’ refers only to the coast of themainland or Kangaroo Island. No other island’scoast in South Australia is used to measure thedistance out to sea, for the requirement to carrysafety equipment or for the operation of a vessel.Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)A measurement of alcohol in the blood. A BACof .05 means there is .05 grams of alcohol ineach 100 millilitres of blood.BoatAny type and size of water craft or vessel usedin South Australian waters. For the purposesof this handbook, a ‘recreational boat’ is onethat is being used for recreational or noncommercial purposes.Boat operator’s licenceThe licence that is required in South Australia tooperate a recreational vessel that is fitted withan engine, of any type or size, whether or notthe engine is being used.BomboraA shallow area where waves may break.BowThe front end of the vessel.CapsizeOf a vessel, to overturn.Cardinal pointsCOLREGSInternational Regulations for the PreventiingCollision at Sea 1972.A convention which sets out the “rules of theroad” for operating vessels on the water.CurrentThe horizontal movement or flow of water.Currents can be either tidal or non-tidal.Dead aheadDirectly or straight in front of a vessel’s bow.DeviceFor the purposes of this handbook, a device isan object that is attached by a rope or by othermeans, in or on which up to three people maysit to be towed directly behind a motorboat.Examples of devices include ski biscuits andtyre tubes, but not waterskis or kneeboards.Devices generally have little or no means ofcontrolling the direction in which they travel.Direct supervisionA navigable route through a body of water, ormarked waterway.A boat licence holder directly watching overand accompanying a special permit holder orunlicensed person while that person operatesa recreational motorboat. The licensed personmust at all times be able to take over the controlof the motorboat should the need arise.Chart datumDownstreamThe four main points of a compass, that is,north, south, east and west.ChannelThe lowest predictable level that the tide is likelyto fall to.In the direction of the flow or current of a streamor river; towards the sea.IntroductionBilge

Introduction6 South Australian recreational boating safety handbookDraughtGunwale (Pronounced gunnel)The minimum depth of water that a vesselneeds to float.The top edge of a vessel’s side.DPTIThe direction in which a ship’s bow points atany given time.Department of Planning, Transport andInfrastructure.Ebb tideThe falling or run out of the tide.EPIRBAn EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating RadioBeacon) is a radio distress beacon that, whenactivated, transmits a signal via satellite to aground station to assist emergency services tolocate a vessel in distress. In Australia, only a406MHz EPIRB is acceptable.FairwayNavigable water in a channel, harbour or river.Flood tideThe rising or run in of the tide.HeadingHeadwayThe forward motion of a vessel.Heave toTo steer into the wind and sea, makingminimum headway.HeelOf a vessel, to stoop or lean to one side, usuallyas a result of wind or wave action. Also, actionof a large vessel or smaller twin-hull vesselwhen changing course.HelmThe wheel or tiller controlling the rudder.Hire and drive vesselSea travelling in the approximate direction asthe vessel’s course.A houseboat, personal watercraft (PWC) orother vessel that is offered for hire under a hireand drive business. For more information referwww.amsa.gov.auForeHullSituated at or towards the bow, or front, of avessel.The main body of a vessel.FreeboardA unique set of characters that is permanentlylinked to the hull of a vessel and performsa similar function to a vehicle identificationnumber on a motor vehicle compliance plate.Following seaThe distance between the surface of the waterand the gunwale.Give wayStop, slow, go astern or change course to keepclear of another vessel.Go asternTo move stern-first, or backwards,through the water.Gulf of St VincentThe waters in that gulf north of a line drawnfrom Troubridge Point on Yorke Peninsula toRapid Head on Fleurieu Peninsula.Hull identification number (HIN)ImpellerThe rotating part of a centrifugal pump,turbine, etc.Inadequate flotationVessel flotation that does not meet ABPrequirements of either level flotation or basicflotation.

Introduction 7IntroductionLevel flotationAny navigable waterways or bodies of waterin the State that are not tidal; for example, theRiver Murray and Lake Eyre (when filled withwater) are inland waters, but not the Coorong orPort River because they’re tidal.Vessel flotation that meets ABP requirements,meaning that the boat will continue to float in alevel position if swamped and will be preventedfrom capsizing in calm water. This will allowyou to remain in the boat and bail the vesselto remove the water. Level flotation does notprovide a self-righting capacity.IsophaseOf a navigation light, to flash on and off in equalmeasure; i.e. for the light and darkness periodsto be of the same length.KnotA measurement of speed applied to wind or tovessels. One knot equals one nautical mile perhour (1.852 kilometres per hour).LanyardA short rope or cord for securing or holdingsomething, such as a bailer to a vessel.LeadsMarks used in channels and entrances which,when in line, indicate the centre of the channel.Lee shoreThe shore onto which the wind blows.LeewardThe side of the vessel opposite to that fromwhich the wind blows; the downwind side.Length of vesselThe hull length should be measured from the pointof the bow to the transom (the flat stern of thevessel), excluding bowsprits, outboard motorsand other attachments. Any part of the vesselthat extends beyond these points and contributesto the vessel’s buoyancy should, however, alsobe included in the vessel length, for example,pontoons on inflatable vessels or houseboats.LifejacketSouth Australian legislation (the Harbors andNavigation Act 1993 and associated regulations)refers to the level of buoyancy provided by alifejacket. These devices may also be referred toas Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) or buoyancyvests, Level 100 or higher (PFD Type 1), 50 (PFDType 2), 50S (PFD Type 3).LockAn enclosed, gated chamber on a canal, river, etc.for raising or lowering a vessel from one waterwaylevel to another. Most commonly associatedwith weirs and barrages on the River Murray.Making wayA vessel underway and moving through thewater, using sail or motor.Marine radioA radio designed for two-way communicationon approved marine frequencies/channels, forexample, VHF, MF/HF or 27 MHz.Masthead lightA white light placed over the fore and aft centrelineof the vessel showing an unbroken light over a225 degree arc of the horizon and fixed so as toshow the light from directly ahead to 22.5 degreesabaft the beam on either side of the vessel.MoorTo secure a vessel to the shore, a buoy, wharfor jetty, or to anchor with two or more anchors.IntroductionInland waters

Introduction8 South Australian recreational boating safety handbookMooringPile/PilesA pole, jetty, anchored chain or other structureto which a boat or vessel can be securely tiedor anchored.One or more poles or posts driven into thebottom of a waterway to serve as support foran aid to navigation or for a dock.MotorboatPlaningAny boat or vessel that is being propelled byan engine (irrespective of size), whether or notthe engine is the main means of propulsion.A sailing boat being propelled by an auxiliaryengine is regarded as a motorboat or motorvessel.A vessel is said to be planing, or ‘operating onthe plane’ when it is essentially moving overthe top of, rather than through, the water. Theprocess of planning starts as soon as yourspeed over the water provides some lift (ie thebow starts to rise).Nautical milePort sideThe international unit of distance over water.One nautical mile is equal to 1.852 kilometres.Looking forward from the stern, the left side ofa vessel. A red sidelight is displayed on the portside when the vessel is operating at night or inpoor visibility.Navigation rulesThe regulations governing the movement ofvessels in relation to each other, otherwiseknown as steering or sailing rules. The ‘rules ofthe road at sea’.OccultingOf a navigation light, to flash on and off, lightingfor longer than the period of darkness; similar toa lighthouse light.OperatorThe person in charge (control) of a recreationalvessel that is underway or at anchor, but notwhen the vessel is moored. Sometimes alsoreferred to as the Skipper.Personal watercraft (PWC)A device that: is propelled by a motor; has afully enclosed hull; is designed not to retainwater if capsized; and is operated by a personwho sits astride it or stands or kneels on it.PWC are often more commonly known by theirbrand names, including Jet Ski , Sea-Doo ,and WaveRunner . The minimum age foroperating a PWC is 16 years of age and theoperator must hold an appropriate licence.Power-driven vesselRefer ‘Motorboat’.Protected watersIn South Australia, all inland waters excludingLake Albert and Lake Alexandrina.Recreational boatFor the purposes of this handbook, a recreationalboat is one that is being used for recreational ornon-commercial purposes, or for purposes thatare not industrial or scientific.Sailing vesselA vessel that is operating only under the powerof sail.ScopeThe ratio between the length of anchor line letout and the depth of water.Sea anchorAnything that can act as a source of drag in thewater, to stabilise a boat in heavy weather oroffset the effects of wind, eg. a bucket or life raftdragged behind the vessel.

Introduction 9IntroductionSpeedOf a vessel, to be adequately and safelyconstructed and equipped to meet seaconditions, including safety equipmentappropriate to where it’s being operated.Speed is measured in knots. One knot equalsone nautical mile/hour, or 1.852 kilometres/hour.Semi-protected watersWaters inshore of a line 2 nautical milesseaward of the low water mark of the coast ofthe mainland or Kangaroo Island, or the banksof Lakes Alexandrina and Albert.Shore/coastThe terms ‘shore’ or ‘coast’ in this handbookrefer only to the coast or shore of the mainlandor Kangaroo Island. No other island’s shore orcoast in South Australia is used to measurethe distance out to sea for the use of safetyequipment or the operation of a vessel.SidelightsLights to be used at night when underway,showing an unbroken light over an arcof 112.5 degrees from directly ahead to22.5 degrees abaft the beam.Skier/waterskierA person who is being towed in any way behinda powered vessel, other than a person on adevice.SOLASAcronym for ‘Safety Of Life At Sea’.SOLAS lifejackets are those designed for usefar out to sea.SparA stout pole such as those used for masts, andupon which buoyage marks may be placed.Special permitThe special permit authorises a person aged12-15 years to operate a recreational vesselfitted with an engine, under certain conditions(except a personal watercraft) (refer Chapter 1,Licensing & registration).Spencer GulfThe waters north of a line drawn from CapeCatastrophe on Eyre Peninsula to WaterhousePoint on Thistle Island and then to Corny Pointon Yorke Peninsula.SquallSudden, violent wind often accompanied by rain.StandardsAll equipment listed in this handbook mustmeet the standards listed in the Harborsand Navigation Act 1993 and associatedregulations.Stand onTo maintain speed and course during ameeting, crossing, or overtaking situation.Starboard sideLooking forward from the stern, the right handside of a vessel. A green sidelight is displayedon the starboard side when the vessel isoperating at night or in poor visibility.Stem the tideGo forward, against the current.SternThe back or rear of a vessel.SternlightA white light placed as near as practicable tothe stern, showing an unbroken light over a135 degree arc of the horizon and fixed to showthe light 67.5 degrees from directly aft on eachside of the vessel.SupervisionRefer ‘Direct supervision’.SwampingSinking or filling (a vessel) with water.IntroductionSeaworthy

Introduction10 South Australian recreational boating safety handbookTell-taleVesselGenerally outboard motors—as well as someinboard motors—use the water through whichthe vessel is travelling to cool the motor andstop it overheating. The ‘tell-tale’ allows fora stream of water to be seen trailing (in mostcases) from the engine as a sign that water iscirculating through the engine cooling system.Any type of transportation on water, includingsmall boats, large ships, sailboards, surfboards,surf kites, waterskis or other similar devices onwhich a person rides through the water.TenderA ship or boat used to attend a larger one,especially to supply goods and provisions,convey orders, or carry passengers to andfrom shore.TransomThe stern cross-section of a square-stern boat.TrimThe difference between the draft forwardand the draft aft. For example, if the aft draftis greater, the vessel is described as beingtrimmed by the stern, if the forward draftis greater, she is trimmed by the bow.UnderwayNot at anchor, tied to shore or a buoy, oraground. If you are drifting you are underway.Unprotected watersWaters offshore of a line 2 nautical milesseaward of the low water mark of the coast ofthe mainland and Kangaroo Island, or the banksof Lakes Alexandrina and Albert.UpstreamIn the opposite direction to the flow, or current,of a river or stream; towards, or in, a higher partof the stream; towards inland.V distress sheetA fluorescent orange-red coloured sheet(1.8 metres by 1.2 metres) with a large black‘V’ printed in the middle. Used for signallingdistress.WakeThe track left on the water’s surface by amoving vessel.WashThe swell caused by a vessel moving throughwater.WhistleAny sound signalling device capable ofproducing the sound signals as prescribed bythe legislation.WindwardThe side of a vessel that is facing into the wind;the upwind side.YawTo swing, swerve or steer off course.

Port Vic toria Vivonne Bay Cape Jervis Venus Bay Port Noarlunga Smoky Bay Border Vill age Port A dela i . South Australian recreational boating safety handbook Contents 7. Buoys, marks, beacons, signals & signs 65 Buoyage and navigation marks 67 . and harbor facilities, movement of shipping and cargo, jetties and wharves and use for .