Knowledge Check: Chapter 3

Boating is great fun for the whole family, but it’s important to remember that many kids have very little to no experience of what it’s like on the water. Additionally, they may have not yet learnt how to swim. Therefore, it’s the skippers responsibility to ensure all kids under the age of 12 onboard are wearing a lifejacket at all times. Remember, when underway, or when standing/sitting in an open area of a boat (i.e., on the bow), there is an enhanced risk of falling overboard. A smart skipper reduces this risk, and ensures all his/her the passengers are wearing a lifejacket!

Q: Under what age must all children wear a lifejacket in an open area of a powered vessel while under way?

Mechanical breakdowns can occur even on regularly serviced vessels and equipment. In the breakdown, you’ll need a second means of propulsion to get back to the shore, and this can be achieved with the use of oars. On smaller craft under 4.8metres, such as tinnies, kayaks, and canoes, oars are a mandatory part of the required safety equipment at all times.

Q: Is it compulsory for a power vessel less than 4.8 metres in length operating on all Victorian waters to carry two paddles or two oars fitted with rowlocks?

As with all safety equipment, it’s important that you know how to use your marine radio. Using a VHF radio means knowing the correct radio frequency settings for specific purposes, such as channel 16 for emergency/distress broadcasts. To be able to operate a marine radio requires, you’ll need to complete a marine radio course to obtain a Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency. This may seem like additional ‘red tape’, but emergency services, other boaters and even the vessels passengers depend on the marine radio user to immediately know the correct frequencies and procedures.

Q: You have purchased a VHF marine radio and fitted it to your vessel. Before you can broadcast over the VHF radio you are required to ensure that:

Boating alone is considered a condition of heightened risk. Why? Well if you fall in the water, no one is there to immediately assist you. In coastal or enclosed waters, rescue may be far away so a bigger lifejacket, such as a level 100, is needed, that’s why wearing your lifejacket is a no brainer. Therefore with heightened risk, regardless of your area of operation, you should wear a level 100 (type 1) lifejacket. This question again reiterates the importance of wearing your lifejacket.

Q: You are the Master / operator of a 5.5 metre powered vessel and you are planning a solo fishing trip in enclosed waters. What are the requirements for wearing a lifejacket?