Small-boat seamanship manual - United States

Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary Practices for: Boat Handling; Navigation; Weather and Oceanography; Marlinespike Seamanship; Communications; Boat Design and Construction; Watchstanding; Crew Comfort and Safety; First Aid; Survival Equipment; Search and Rescue; Towing; Firefighting, Rescue, and Assistance; Engine Troubleshooting; Heavy Weather Procedures; This book contains the U.S. Coast Guard's approved methods and procedures for every aspect of navigation, seamanship, and boat handling under power. These are the practices taught to all Coast Guard boat crews and coxswains, available to the boating public for the first time. In 1998 the Coast Guard updated and expanded this information and at the same time combined two previous volumes - "The Boat Crew Seamanship Manual" (which was specific to Coast Guard boats) and the "Coast Guard Auxiliary Boat Crew Seamanship Manual" - to create the new "Boat Crew Seamanship Manual," which is applicable to all boats operating under power, including auxiliary sailboats. (The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a national organization comprising recreational boaters who receive Coast Guard training and assist the Coast Guard in its missions.);This manual receives restricted circulation to Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary members in a 1,200-page loose-leaf, two-volume format with a desktop page design that wastes space and is unattractive and at times difficult to follow. It is also available as pdf files from the Coast Guard Auxiliary website. (Don't even attempt this download unless you have Very broadband access!) The U.S. Coast Guard Seamanship Manual will contain all the same information in a trade book format that is much more space-efficient and attractive. We will also reorder the chapters for broad appeal - e.g., moving "Patrols" and "First Aid" to follow rather than precede "Boat Handling" and "Navigation." We will enhance some of the illustrations, add photos, and rename chapters where appropriate (e.g., change "Crew Efficiency Factors" to "Crew Care and Safety"). But no information will be left out or altered. This book represents a rare opportunity for recreational boaters to access the highest standards of seamanship evolved in the U.S. Coast Guard. This is an authoritative compilation from the United States' ultimate boating authority.;It covers all the topics of basic seamanship but is also a unique chance to peek over the Coast Guard's shoulder at standard practices for assessing and managing risk; conducting search and rescue missions; towing; firefighting; controlling vessel flooding; righting capsized boats; conducting air operations; and handling boats in surf.