What to Do If the Captain of Your Boat is Incapacitated

When I was my son's age, and my father took me out on his boat, either for a day of fishing, or just a cruise, he would always tell me the same thing: "There can only be one captain, but you can be the first mate." Now that I have my own boat, I find myself saying the exact same thing to my son when we go out. After all, the last thing any boat owner needs is everyone on board telling you what to do, right? Well, not exactly.

While it may be true that there is only one Captain, that does not mean the rest of your "crew" should not be involved in your vessel's operation. In fact, it is the Captain's responsibility to ensure that everyone on board his or her vessel is well versed in exactly what it is that that the Captain does do, and would do in an emergency. Ensuring that everyone is prepared for an emergency is the best way to avoid one. By taking quick action, you and your crew might be able to prevent a minor problem from becoming a major one.

For that reason, it is vital that before getting underway the Captain should review everything that his or her passengers will need to know in case of an emergency or if the Captain should become incapacitated. It is a good idea to have some type of checklist for this purpose, a copy of which should be displayed on board your vessel in an easily accessible area. Before you get underway, you should go over it with all of your passengers.

Your checklist should contain (but not be limited to) the following:

PFD's - Everyone on board should know where they are, and how to properly wear one. In the event of an emergency, those not already wearing them should put one on immediately. Not wearing a PFD is the major cause of boating fatalities.

Fire Extinguishers - Their location and use should be explained before leaving the dock. If there is a fire, having someone on board who can use a fire extinguisher properly will let the Captain maintain control of the boat and keep the fire downwind.

Radio - Give everyone a tutorial on how to use the radio. How to turn it on, how to use the microphone, how to change the channel, and what channel to use to contact the Coast Guard. This may seem basic to a Captain, but most people have never used a VHF before and should the Captain become incapacitated, being able to call for help is vital.

Anchor - If you lose power and are drifting towards the rocks, dropping the anchor quickly may be all it takes to save yourself from serious damage to your boat and those on board. Everyone should know how to manually deploy the anchor or how to operate the winch.

Horn / Whistle - Signaling a passing boat can bring help quickly to a vessel in trouble. Everyone should know where the sound producing device on your boat is located and how to operate it.

Visual Distress Signals - The location of any flares or day signals should be known to all on board as well as how to use them. They should be up to date and easily accessible.

First Aid Kit - All passengers should know where it is and it should be well stocked with basic first aid supplies.

It is important to remember that should there be an emergency, everyone should be told to remain calm. This is often the most difficult thing to do and any panic will only make the problem worse. It is up to the Captain to keep everyone focused on the task at hand. In the worst case scenario, where the Captain becomes incapacitated, someone must be able to take charge and keep everyone focused. This person should be designated beforehand and should ideally have some boating experience. If not, however, just a few basic instructions before leaving the dock can give anyone enough knowledge and confidence to handle any situation that should arise.

Safety on the water is everyone's business. Today there are twice as many boats out there as there were when I went out with my dad, and with no mandatory boating education required in New York, every Captain and passenger shares the responsibility to ensure that everyone's day on the water is a safe and happy one, and taking the time to prepare your crew before leaving the dock is the first - and best - step.

Captain Richard Hoffer, of www.safeboatingnewyork.com, urges everyone to "Take A Boating Certification Course and Be Safe"