Well, the heat of the summer will start fading soon and that means cooler temperatures and higher potential for condensation on boat surfaces especially in the morning or evening.     Most boats have non-slip surfaces in places where one would typically walk, however stepping outside of those areas could mean slippery surfaces and the perfect conditions for a slip and fall.  If you plan to be on such surfaces, wear appropriate footwear such as water shoes that will provide good traction on your boat surfaces.  This is especially important if you plan to wash your boat in the early morning.  Otherwise, the best prevention is to stay on your non-skid surfaces.

 

Remember….Being aware of your surroundings/environment is key to your personal safety.

 

Should you have any comments, questions or issues regarding safety around the club, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Steve Bosse, Safety Director

If this past weekend is any indication of the summer ahead, then we are all in for a treat!  There’s nothing better than a relaxing day on the water and a couple of juicy cheeseburgers on the grill that evening.   That said, I wanted to put out a reminder of this month’s safety topic – Safe Grilling. 

Many of us have a propane grill on the back of our boats that we use while on the water.  There are several things to remember about grilling on the water:

• Store your propane bottles outside of any enclosed area and away from any source of ignition.  Don’t stow them in a place where fumes could accumulate.  Propane bottles can be stored in a special bag (available at West Marine) that hangs on your bow rail (one option).
• Keep your grill away from fuel vents!   Gasoline vapors near a grill could lead to disaster!.
• Follow the instructions for starting your grill.  The manufacturer usually has a prescribed procedure.
• Be sure that you have the correct mounting for your grill.  This will prevent potential damage to your fiberglass hull.
• Do not grill with an open flame in your slip or at the party dock.   One small mishap could lead to a catastrophe.   The only approved grills to be used at the club are those at Gossip Hall.

On a different note, I would like to assemble a group of 4-5 individuals that would be interested in taking a couple hours to perform a safety walk around our slips, docks, clubhouse and grounds.  The intent is to raise our club’s collective safety awareness and bring opportunities for improved safety practices to our members.  If you’d like to participate, please email me at Stephen.bosse@kbr.com.   I would like to target the 3rd week of May for the walk through.  Your participation would be appreciated!

Until next time!

Here are a few tidbits of information from our safety Guru, Steve Bosse:

 

It’s that time of year when we look forward to waking up our boat engines and taking advantage of Lake Guntersville’s beautiful scenery.  BUT, before we do that, let’s take the time to check a few things: 

1.       Shore Power Cords and Sockets:  When is the last time that you inspected your shore power cords, end connections and sockets?   Over time, the connections from your shore power cords to your boat can get loose, corrode or pick up moisture that will compromise the connection.  Loose connections get hot and increase the risk of fire or electrical short.   So take a few minutes to check them out and replace/repair them if you suspect an issue.

 

2.       Fire Extinguishers and Safety Gear:   Are your fire extinguishers and safety gear expired?   If you don’t know, the time to check them out is now!   Aerial and hand held flares have expiration dates and should be replaced every few years.   So do the ointments and creams in your first aid kit.   If you’re unsure of your fire extinguishers, replace them.    Take 10 minutes to check these out.

 

3.       Check your bilge pumps:   Do you know if your bilge pumps actually work?  When is the last time that you checked them out?  Most bilge pumps have a manual/auto switch somewhere on the boat.  If you have a switch, It’s a good practice to operate the pumps every once in a while to ensure that they work.  If you don’t have a switch and your bilge pump has an automatic float, you can test the pump by filling the bilge sump with water and letting it pump out.   If your pump doesn’t work, it’s time for some maintenance or replacement.

Until next time,

Steve