boating test Flashcards
what is a displacement hull and what is its function
move through the water by pushing the water aside and are designed to cut through the water with very little propulsion.
If you lower a boat into the water, some of the water moves out of the way to adjust for the boat. If you could weigh that displaced water, you would find it equals the weight of the boat. That weight is the boat’s displacement.
Boats with displacement hulls are limited to slower speeds.
A round-bottomed hull shape acts as a displacement hull. Most large cruisers and most sailboats have displacement hulls, allowing them to travel more smoothly through the water.
what is a planing hulls and what is its function
are designed to rise up and glide on top of the water when enough power is supplied. These boats may operate like displacement hulls when at rest or at slow speeds but climb toward the surface of the water as they move faster.
Boats with planing hulls can skim along at high speed, riding almost on top of the water rather than pushing it aside.
Flat-bottomed and vee-bottomed hull shapes act as planing hulls. Most small power-driven vessels, including personal watercraft (PWC), and some small sailboats have planing hulls, allowing them to travel more rapidly across the water.
how do planning hulls operate
Displacement Mode: A planing hull, when operated at very slow speeds, will cut through the water like a displacement hull.
Planing hull performing like a displacement hull - SPEED
Plowing Mode: As speed increases, a planing hull will have a raised bow, reducing the operator’s vision and throwing a very large wake. Avoid maintaining a speed that puts your boat in plowing mode.
Planing hull in plowing mode - SPEED
Planing Mode: Your boat is in planing mode when enough power is applied so that the hull glides on top of the water. Different boats reach planing mode at different speeds.
Planing hull in planing mode - SPEED
Descriptions of Hull Shapes
Flat-Bottomed Hull
hull type: Planing
Advantage:Has a shallow draft, which is good for fishing in small lakes and rivers.
disadvantage: Rides roughly in choppy waters.
Deep-Vee Hull
hull type: Planing
advantage:Gives a smoother ride than a flat-bottomed hull in rough water. disadvantage: Takes more power to move at the same speed as flat-bottomed hulls. May roll or bank in sharp turns.
Round-Bottomed Hull
hull type:Displacement
advantage: Moves easily through the water even at slow speeds.
disadvantage: Has a tendency to roll unless it has a deep keel or stabilizers.
Multi-Hull
hull type:Displacement
advantage:Has greater stability because of its wide beam.
disadvantage:Needs a large area when turning.
Measuring Length Overall
A vessel’s length overall dictates the equipment the vessel must have to comply with federal and state laws. Length overall is measured from the tip of the bow in a straight line to the stern of the vessel. Bowsprits; rudders; outboard motors and motor brackets; handles; and other fittings, attachments, and extensions are not included in the measurement.
Length Classes
Class Length
Class A: Less than 16 feet
Class 1: 16 feet to less than 26 feet
Class 2: 26 feet to less than 40 feet
Class 3: 40 feet to less than 65 feet
Outboard Engines
An outboard is a portable, self-contained package of an engine, gear case, and propeller that is attached to the transom of a boat.
A growing number of outboard engines are of four-stroke design, but many are still conventional two-stroke engines that burn oil as a lubricant along with the fuel. New-technology two-stroke outboards are direct-injection engines and burn over 75% cleaner than conventional two-stroke outboards.
Outboards have more power per pound of weight than do inboard engines.
Steering of outboard boats is controlled by a tiller or steering wheel that swivels the entire engine to direct propeller thrust.
Inboard Engines
An inboard is a four-stroke automotive engine adapted for marine use. Inboard engines are mounted inside the hull’s midsection or in front of the transom.
The engine turns a drive shaft that runs through the bottom of the hull and is attached to a propeller at the other end.
Many PWC have two-stroke inboard engines that burn oil as a lubricant along with the fuel. New-technology two-stroke PWC engines are direct-injection engines and burn cleaner than conventional PWC engines.
Steering of most inboard vessels, except PWC and jet-drive boats, is controlled by a rudder behind the propeller.
Stern Drives
Stern drives are known also as inboard/outboards (I/Os) because they combine features found on both inboard and outboard engines. Stern-drive engines:
Are four-stroke automotive engines adapted for marine use and…
Are mounted inside the boat and…
Are quieter and more fuel-efficient engines.
A stern-drive engine is attached through the transom to a drive unit (also called an “outdrive”) that is essentially the lower unit of an outboard. The engine turns a drive shaft that is attached to a propeller at the other end.
Steering of stern-drive boats is controlled by the outdrive, which swivels like an outboard engine to direct propeller thrust.
Jet Drives
Jet drives use an engine to power a strong water pump. The pump sucks up water and then forces a jet of water out the back of the vessel to thrust the vessel forward. Directing this jet of water steers the vessel.
PWC are the most common type of vessels that use a jet drive.
Jet drives also may power larger vessels (jet boats) and are used commonly for vessels designed for shallow water conditions. Jet boats can have inboard or outboard jet drives.
What Is a PWC?
Jet-propelled watercraft come in many sizes, but the most common for recreational boaters is the PWC. A PWC is a small vessel that uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than inside the vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard includes PWC in the group of inboard vessels less than 16 feet in length.
Important
A PWC is subject to all of the same laws and requirements of any other vessel plus a few laws specific to a PWC.
Parts of a PWC From a Front View
safety lanyard
Short cord for attaching the engine cut-off switch (ECOS) to the operator’s wrist or personal flotation device (PFD)
starboard
Right side of a vessel
steering control
Means of controlling the steering nozzle
port
Left side of a vessel
fuel cap
throttle
Parts of a PWC From a Side View and Operator’s View
bow
Front of a vessel
draft
Depth of water needed to float a vessel
drive shaft
The long stem connection between the motor and the impeller
steering nozzle
Device used for directing the stream of water to the left or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC
stern
Rear of a vessel
speedometer
Engine Cut-Off Switch
safety lanyard
Parts of a Sailboat
head sail/jib
main sail
sheets
boom
halyards
rudder
keel
hull
mast
The Capacity Plate
A boat operator should never take a boat on the water with too many people or too much gear on board. Boats loaded beyond their capacity will swamp or capsize more easily and will be more difficult to control.
Look for a capacity plate near the operator’s position or on the transom of the boat. This plate indicates the maximum weight capacity and/or the maximum number of people that the boat can carry safely in good weather.
You should not exceed either the stated maximum weight capacity or the maximum number of people.
Maximum weight is the combined weight of passengers, gear, and motors.
In many states, it is a violation to exceed capacity.
Federal law requires single-hull boats less than 20 feet in length to have a capacity plate. (However, PWC and sailboat manufacturers are not required to attach a capacity plate.) Always follow the recommended capacity found in the owner’s manual and on the manufacturer’s warning decal. Never exceed these capacity recommendations.
Important
On outboard boats, the capacity plate also will display the recommended maximum horsepower rating of the boat. Your boat’s motor should never exceed this rating.
Example of a Capacity Plate
Although federal law requires capacity plates only on boats less than 20 feet in length, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) requires a capacity plate on all boats less than 26 feet in order to be certified by NMMA.
Calculating Your Boat’s Capacity
On boats less than 20 feet in length with no capacity plate, use the following rule of thumb to calculate the number of persons (weighing 150 pounds each, on average) the boat can carry safely in good weather conditions.
Number of people =
(boat length (ft.) × boat width (ft.))
÷
15
For example, for a boat 18 feet long by 6 feet wide, the number of persons is 18 times 6 (or 108) divided by 15, which equals seven 150-pound persons (or a total person weight of 7 × 150, or 1050 pounds).
File a Float Plan
Before going out on a boat or PWC, it is always a good idea to tell someone where you are going and ask them to take action if you fail to return on time.
Float Plan for Short Outings
Contact a responsible person before you go out and tell him or her where you will be boating and when you plan to return.
Give your contact the phone number for local authorities in case you fail to return when expected.
Contact this person again when you return or if you decide to extend your time out on the water.
Float Plan for Extended Outings
For extended outings on the water, leave a float plan with a relative or friend, or at least a local marina. You should leave a float plan that:
Describes the vessel, including its registration number, length, make, horsepower, and engine type.
Includes the description and license plate of the tow vehicle and trailer.
Gives the number of passengers, their names and addresses, and a contact in case of emergency.
States where you are going, the detailed route, your planned departure time, and your expected return time. Include the location of all stopping points, dates, and times.
Gives the phone number for local authorities in case you fail to return when expected. If boating on waters under U.S. Coast Guard jurisdiction, give the phone number of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Before Fueling Your Boat
Serious accidents can occur when fueling. Never fuel at night unless it is an emergency. If you must refuel after dark, use only electric lights. To protect the water environment, try to refuel away from the water or on a commercial fueling ramp. Follow these procedures in order to fuel safely and responsibly.
Before beginning to fuel:
Tie the boat securely to the fuel dock.
Ask all passengers to leave the boat and go onto the dock.
Do not allow anyone in your group or others at the fuel dock to smoke or strike a match.
Check to see that fuel lines, connections, and fuel vents are in good condition.
Turn off anything that might cause a spark—engines, fans, or electrical equipment.
Shut off all fuel valves and extinguish all open flames, such as galley stoves and pilot lights.
Close all windows, ports, doors, and other openings to prevent fumes from entering the boat.
Remove portable fuel tanks from the boat and fill them on the dock.
Make sure that your fire extinguisher is within reach.
While Fueling Your Boat
While filling the fuel tank:
Keep the nozzle of the fuel-pump hose in solid contact with the tank opening to prevent producing a static spark.
Use caution and fill the tank slowly to avoid spilling fuel into the boat’s bilge or into the water. Use an oil-absorbent pad to catch drips or spills.
Never fill a tank to the brim—leave room for fuel to expand.
Wipe up any spilled fuel, and properly dispose of the used paper towels or rags on shore.
After Fueling Your Boat
After fueling:
Put the fill cap on tightly to prevent vapors from escaping.
Open all windows, ports, doors, and other openings.
If your boat is equipped with a power ventilation system (exhaust blower), turn it on for at least four minutes before starting your engine. This will help eliminate fuel vapors in the bilge.
Before starting the engine, sniff the bilge and engine compartment for fuel vapors. Continue ventilating until you cannot smell any fuel vapors. Consider installing a gas vapor detection and alarm device.
Start the engine and then reload your passengers.
Important
Evaporating gasoline creates vapors or fumes that are heavier than air. These fumes settle to the bottom of the boat where they could explode if enclosed areas, such as the bilge, are not ventilated properly to remove fumes.
