Boat Systems & Boat Familiarization

Familiarize your students with the setup and operation of today’s vessel.

Boat Checkout

Prepare the boat for sailing, including completion of the Skipper’s Log and Pre-Cruise List.

Review all aspects of boat systems covered in Basic Coastal Cruising. Refer to the BCC Instructors Manual for specifics. More complete training on boat systems will need to be provided in the following areas: information

Engine/Fuel Systems

Make sure participants can follow the raw water system from intake, thru the raw water strainer, into the coolant reservoir, and out via the exhaust.

Discuss the fuel storage and delivery system, including:

• Fuel Tank
• Fuel Pump
• Primary Fuel Filter (may include a separator)
• Secondary Fuel Filter
• Injector Pump (aka high pressure pump)
• Fuel Injectors

Participants should understand how to bleed the fuel system in the event air is introduced to the system.

Stove/Oven

The discussion of the stove/oven can be conducted on day 2 if desired.

Review the stove and fuel delivery systems, making sure to cover the following:

• Propane tank location
• How to check propane levels using the propane tank “Tare Weights”
• Electric solenoid location and usage.
• How to light and use the stove top burners.
• How to light and use the oven

Forces Impacting a Sailboat

Have a “white board” discussion of the forces that impact a sailboat, and what to expect from each.

• Rudder Control – Speed through the water produces current across the rudder. Current across the rudder is what provides rudder and turn control.
• Wind – Pushes the boat in the same direction as the wind is blowing. The bow “blows down” faster than the stern. Left alone, the boat will slowly turn away from the wind until it is headed directly way from the wind.
• Current – Pushes the boat in the same direction as the current is flowing
• Prop Walk – Prop walk is always present; however, it is generally only noticeable when in reverse. While in reverse, the back end will walk to either port or starboard depending on the direction of turn of the propeller. Direction of prop walk should be checked before an unfamiliar boat is moved.
• Prop Wash – Prop wash is the action of a propeller in forward pushing current across the rudder. While in forward, if you turn the rudder, the boat will turn in the direction of the turned rudder, even without sufficient speed to have rudder control.
• Inertia – A boat at rest wants to stay at rest … a boat in motion wants to stay in motion. Only an application of power will overcome inertia.
• Momentum – Once in motion, the boat will want to continue in the same direction it is traveling. item

Discuss how each of the above will impact the departure and return to the slip. Have each skipper apply these elements to the LOT plan.

Departures and Docking

Safety Note:
If you didn’t think about it 10 minutes ago you waited too long! Plan ahead.

Discuss with your students L.O.T. and how it impacts departures and docking

LOT

In discussing LOT, it can be beneficial to have a portable white board and markers on board that can be used to draw the departure sequence for the “skippers”.

LOT is an acronym for Location, Orientation, and Transition. Every major maneuver (departure from a slip, departure from a dock, return to a slip, docking at a side tie, fairway turn, etc.) should have a formalized LOT plan in place before beginning the maneuver.

Location – Where should be boat be located when the maneuver is started. For example, when leaving the slip where should be boat be located in relation to the fairway when the transition from reverse to forward is initiated? In this case, a possible answer would be to draw an imaginary line down the centerline of the fairway, and try to put the leeward beam of the boat on that centerline.

Orientation – When orientation, or direction, should the boat be pointing before initiating the transition. For example, to continue the above example, the boat is now located slightly to the windward side of the fairway. The orientation of the boat might be slightly to windward, so that the wind can “blow the bow” back to parallel with the fairway during the transition.

Transition – What are the steps to follow during the transition? Again, to follow the above example, the steps might be as follows:

1. Center the steering wheel when the boat is located slightly to windward in the fairway, with the bow slightly to windward.
2. Throttle down and place the transmission in neutral for a second or two.
3. Place the transmission in forward and throttle up to stop reverse momentum, bring the boat to a stop, and begin forward motion.

This same process may be used when returning to the slip to predetermine where in the fairway the approach should be made, when to commence the turn, when to go to neutral, when to go to reverse, etc.

Stress with the class the importance of planning maneuvers before beginning execution of them.

Maneuvering under Power

Each class member in turn will ask as “skipper/helms-person” during the maneuvers shown below. The skipper should assign job responsibilities for each crew member, as well as planning for the LOT.

Review and practice each of the following learned in Basic Coastal Cruising.

• Departure from the slip.
• In clear water, transition from forward to reverse, while maintaining a steady head to wind orientation.
• Fairway Turn – Note: Do NOT refer to the Fairway Turn as an “Emergency Turn” to section
• Return to the slip

Docking & Motoring

Review and practice each of the following docking maneuvers learned in Basic Coastal Cruising.

Additional docking maneuvers/practice may be learned as time allows.

• Windward side docking
• Backing into a windward side tie (use the D Dock pump out station)
• Leeward side docking using an aft midships spring “stopping” line
• Departures using “aft facing bow spring” and “forward facing stern spring”

Anchoring

If time allows, have each participant set a single anchor off the bow, then convert it to a two anchor method. To save time, have one participant anchor using a single anchor off the bow.

Each participant can then convert the single anchor into one of the two anchor methods.

• Anchor off the bow and anchor off the stern
• Two anchors off the bow
• Forked anchors

At a minimum conduct a “forked” anchoring.

Conduct a Mediterranean Moor if time allows. If Vested Interest is the boat being used for day one, consider doing a Med Moor at the end of the day at the pump out station. The waste outlet is most easily reached in this configuration.

Lunch

If you can time it right, while at anchor is a good time to have lunch. and is an opportune time to discuss meal assignments for days 2 and 3.

Charts and Plotting

Finding Latitude and Longitude on a Chart

Using Chart No. 18649 (Entrance to San Francisco Bay) calculate the latitude and longitude of an easily located object. As an example:

• The location of the “STACK” on the Ford building is 37°54’35”N, 122°21’27”W. Another way of writing it is 37°54.57’N, 122°21.45’W
• The location of R “6” Fl R 4s (the red buoy at the entrance of the Point Potrero Reach Channel) is 37°54’20”N 122°23’38”W (or 37°54.33’N 122°23.63’W)

Distance/Speed/Time calculations (D St wheel)

Distance, Speed, or Time can be calculated when any 2 of the 3 are known. Using the “D Street” Wheel can be a great help.

• The horizontal line means divide
• The vertical line means multiply
• Time is expressed in hours and tenths of an hour (e.g. 2.4 hours equals 2 hours and 24 minutes)

Examples:

• Speed = Distance/Time
• Time = Distance/Speed
• Distance = Speed / Time

Locate and Discuss the Compass Rose

• Outer Ring indicates direction based on True North
• Middle Ring indicates direction based on Magnetic North
• Inner Ring indicates direction based on an archaic 32 point compass that is no longer used for navigation.

The difference between True North and Magnetic North is called variation and is expressed in degrees “W”est or “E”ast. West is added to True to become magnetic. East is subtracted from True to become magnetic. In San Francisco Bay, is approximately 14° East; therefore, True North is approximately 346° degrees magnetic.

Always use the correct compass rose when doing chart work.

If time allows, discuss TVMDC + W

Have the class plot a course to Pier 1½ providing only the latitude and longitude of the destination. (Instructor may use alternative destinations at his/her discretion.)

• Pier 1½ = 37°47’56”N 122°23’33”W

Request a desired ETA of 12:15, with and estimated boat speed of 5 knots.

Need to know … time to depart the dock in addition to showing the plotted course on the chart.

Plotting and labeling a course

• Demonstrate and discuss how to plot a course to a given location.
• Plot a course the day two lunch destination
• Course should be noted above the plotted course line as follows:
• C 170 T or C 156 M using True or Magnetic as appropriate.
• Distance is noted below the course line as follows
• D = 4.5 distance is assumed to be in nautical miles, and does not need to be marked as such

Obtaining a fix

• Use a hand held compass to obtain bearings to two objects.
• Plot a two bearing fix on the chart

Discuss plotting and Maintaining a DR

• Use the course and distance notational conventions indicated above.
• Speed is noted below the course line, after distance (if noted) as follows: S 5.5 (speed is assumed to be in knots, and does not need to be marked as such

Navigation Aids

Finding Latitude and Longitude on a Chart

Discuss the following publications with the class.

• Local Notice to Mariners
• Light List
• Coast Pilot