Supporting Resources – Boater Responsibilities

Vanessa Schmidt

2 Supporting Resources – Boater Responsibilities

Site:CPS-ECP Development Site

Course: Basic Navigation & Boat Handling V7 (2024) Book:Supporting Resources – Boater Responsibilities

Printed by: Janet Fraser

Date:Thursday, 1 August 2024, 11:28 PM

Transport Canada Resources

Office of Boating Safety

Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check – Transport Canada has authorized certain organizations to perform Pleasure Craft Courtesy Checks on its behalf. These include:

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary

The Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons The Canadian Lifeboat Institution

Speed and Impaired Boating

Trip Plans

Filing Trip Plans

Safe Boating Guide Trip Plan

Safe Boating Guide Pre-departure Checklist Sailing Plan Templates

CanBoat / NautiSavoir Trip Plan

Lifejackets & Personal Flotation Devices

Personal Flotation Devices

Children’s Life Jackets – Fitting and Securing

Passenger Safety Briefing

How to Safely Fuel a Boat

Further information on managing emergencies can be found in the links below.

Be ready for emergencies. Transport Canada

Common Onboard Emergencies and How To Avoid and Address Them (article)

Vessels wear flags: people fly flags.

Flying flags incorrectly is a sign of the ‘amateur’ seaman.

Although there are many locations to place the various categories of flags you might fly, they follow a logical pattern. Simply stated, the order of precedence follows from the highest organization to which you bear allegiance such as your country (example, Canada), and the precedence moves downward to you as an individual.

On the other hand, ‘points of honour’ relate to the order of importance of the various positions from which you might fly a flag. Obviously, the flag highest in the order of precedence should be flown from the point at which it is awarded the greatest honour. Flags are raised in order of precedence and lowered in reverse order.

The points of honour in descending order are as follows:

gaff (on a vessel or shore mast equipped with one) flagstaff at the stern

bow staff

starboard spreader (halyard) truck (top of the mast)

port spreader (halyard)

The highest point of honour on your boat is always reserved for the National Ensign (Canada flag . Every other flag should be worn at a lower point of honour, even when you are not flying the National Ensign.

For example, if you are flying only a club burgee, it should never be worn at the point of honour; this is where you would display the National Ensign.

Similarly, an officer’s flag should not be worn at the point of honour from which you would normally display your club’s burgee. So when you are not flying the National Ensign, the point from which it would fly normally must remain bare, even when you are flying other, lesser flags or pennants.

National Flag of Canada

The National Flag of Canada is the proper and preferred flag for all Canadian vessels.

Your boat should wear it from 0800 until sunset or always when under way, day or night, weather and rig permitting.

While in port, if you leave your boat and will not return before sunset, lower the National Flag before you go.

The Canadian flag is raised first and lowered last.

Provincial or other flags are not to be flown in the place of the National Flag.

The National Ensign should be displayed at the peak of the gaff, the outer end of the spar which extends aft from the mast of your boat, if your boat has a gaff. If it does not, fly it from the flagstaff at your boat’s stern. If your boat has an overhanging boom or an outboard motor, your flagstaff may be offset to starboard (preferably) from your boat’s centreline.

CanBoat / NautiSavoir and Other Association Flags

The preferred location to fly the CanBoat / NautiSavoir flag is the starboard yardarm or spreader halyard. It may be worn day and night.

Pennants and burgees may be worn at a spreader halyard. If your boat has two or more masts, fly your burgee at the truck of the forward mast. If your boat does not have a mast or is a single-masted yacht with a bow staff, fly your pennant or burgee from the bow staff. Boats without a bow staff should wear a burgee at the truck of a single-masted yacht.

Do not display more than one burgee or pennant at a time.

Flags of associations, example, a cruising club such as CanBoat / NautiSavoir, generally may be worn on a spreader halyard. If you have more than one halyard on each side of your boat, fly the superior signal from the outboard starboard halyard and fly other signals to its left, in order of decreasing dignity.

Officer’s Flags

The officer’s flag, like this Chief Commander flag, is flown at the masthead in place of the club burgee.

On motor boats without a mast, an officer’s flag may be flown from an antenna, preferably on the starboard side.

International Boating

When you visit foreign waters, your boat should display the flag of the country you are visiting whenever your Canadian flag is displayed.

This flag is called a ‘courtesy flag’. Your courtesy flag may not be larger than the National Flag. If your vessel is mastless, it should wear this courtesy flag at the bow. If your vessel has one or more masts, display this flag single-hoisted at the outboard signal halyard of the main starboard spreader. Do not fly a foreign courtesy flag after you have returned to Canadian waters. It is not to be used as a badge of accomplishment for having cruised to another country.

Other Flags

A quarantine flag must be flown from the starboard halyard or spreader when entering a foreign port until you have been cleared by their customs and immigration department.

Until that time, only the captain may leave the boat, and only to report the boat’s arrival at the customs office. The crew may only leave the boat to make it fast and then must go back aboard until cleared.

The man / person overboard flag should be fastened permanently to the man overboard pole, which, of course, should be weighted at the bottom.

It should be sitting in a pocket at the stern or side of the boat and should be immediately tossed in the water upon discovery of a person overboard.

This flag may also have a stiffening rod or wire attached so it is visible, even when there is no wind.

Boating Etiquette

CanBoat / NautiSavoir Boating Etiquette

The Basics of Boating Etiquette: What to Know Before You Set Sail (a brief article)

END OF SUPPORTING RESOURCES – Click here to return to Boater’s Responsibilities

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Question 1Not yet answered Marked out of 4.00

Pleasure Craft have a Canadian Compliance Notice attached to the hull. The Notice provides safety information. Remember, these limits are for good weather only.

From the list below, select the four pieces of information that are contained in a Compliance Notice.

Select one or more:

Maximum speed of the vessel

Total weight the vessel can hold (kg./lbs.) Motor size (kW/HP)

Maximum wave height Year of construction

Passenger load limit Weight distribution

Manufacturer of the vessel

Question 2Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

What should be done prior to departure and include, at a minimum, the location of safety equipment and the actions to be taken by all crew members in the event of an emergency.

Select one:

An overview of the planned cruise Training on using the marine radio A safety briefing

Introductions which include information about the skill levels of all onboard

Question 3Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

Most boats are equipped with a vapour detector to detect fuel vapours, What other method can be used to detect gasoline vapour in the bilge?

Select one:

Sniff with the nose

Use liquid soap and watch for bubbles

Use a flashlight to highlight vapours in the air See if the engine will start

Question 4Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

When should a responsible boater file a trip plan? Select one:

After consulting with the Coast Guard

When the planned cruise is overnight or covering a long distance After listening to the weather forecast

Before going ashore in a unfamiliar port

Question 5Not yet answeredMarked out of 5.00

From the following list, which five items are included in the Transport Canada mandatory safety equipment list, and must be carried onboard, be in good working order and be easily accessible at all times?

A copy of the Safe Boating Guide Vessel safety equipment

Navigation equipment

Visual signals (example: flashlight, emergency flares) Personal lifesaving appliances

Fire fighting equipment Food and water

Question 6Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

What is the most frequent emergency experienced by boaters? Select one:

Sinking

Running aground

Colliding with floating debris Running out of fuel

Question 7Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

All onboard safety equipment must be Canadian-approved and clearly marked with the appropriate approval label. Select one:

True False

Question 8Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

What should you consider leaving with a responsible person, particularly if your planned cruise is expected to last overnight or longer.

It should include the details search and rescue. might need to find you. It is imperative to keep this document updated and the contact person fully informed if there are changes.

Select one:

A copy of the vessel’s registration papers Insurance papers

Emergency contact information A trip plan

Question 9Not yet answeredMarked out of 2.00

When underway the operator and crew share many responsibilities. Identify two of the most important navigational responsibilities they share?

The estimated time of arrival at the intended destination

An awareness of the vessel traffic and hazards that may impact the safety of the vessel. The comfort of the crew and guests

The location (position) of the vessel on the water

Question 10Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

How long MUST the bilge blower be run before starting the engine? Select one:

At least ten minutes At least two minutes At least four minutes At least six minutes

Question 11Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

A ski boat has maximum seating for four people. With the driver and observer aboard, how many skiiers can be towed?

One Three Two Five

Question 12Not yet answeredMarked out of 1.00

When doesn’t a boat operator have to assist a vessel in distress? Select one:

If offering asssitance may cause serious danger to the rescue vessel and/or the people onboard it. If it is after dark.

If it is a Coast Guard has been advised of the distress situation. If the distressed boat hasn’t asked for help.

Question 13Not yet answered Marked out of 1.00

If you know your vessel will consume 60 litres of fuel on the outbound and homebound legs of a planned trip, how many liters of extra fuel should be carried to ensure an adequate fuel supply?

Select one:

30 liters