A Touch on Boating Safety

Common Boating Safety Rules

Reckless behavior and ignorance for following boat safety rules are the culprits of recreational boating accidents and fatalities.

Fun in the sun on the water makes for a memorable day. Leaving common sense on the dock will usually lead to a problem. Protect your life and the lives of fellow boaters by following the boating safety rules set forth by the U.S. Coast Guard.

An alarming statistic such as this one should make all boaters think twice about their actions on the water. In 2011, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that a sickening 79% of drowning’s were because the victim was not wearing a lifejacket, which leads us to boat safety rule number one. 

• 1.      All person’s on the boat need to wear a lifejacket. All children under 13 years old are required by law to wear a flotation device.
• 2.      Avoid alcohol. Boating under the influence (BUI) carries strict penalties such as loss of driver’s license and jail time. A boat’s motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray can naturally accelerate a drinker's impairment.
• 3.      Proceed at a safe speed. When nearing another boat or swimmers, reduce speed to prevent collision. Bring the boat to a stop when approaching a crowded area to assess accessibility.
• 4.      Be watchful of branches or other fallen objects. It’s a good idea to have someone else watch the water while you’re driving. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.
• 5.       Enroll in a boater’s safety course to teach you the basics of how your boat functions and also what safety rules to follow.

It’s essential that all boaters prepare and check off a must-have list when planning a day on the water. Common needed items include:

• Lifejackets
• Navigation lights
• Fire extinguishers
• First-aid kit
• Water
• Visual distress signals
• Anchor and line

For a complete list, visit http://www.boatingsafety.com/boats/cgchecklist.asp.

Ensure your day on the water starts and ends without problems. Learn what to do and what not to do today.

Source- http://www.boatingsafety.com/boats/cgchecklist.asp, http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/safety/safety_tips/ and http://www.uscgboating.org/default.aspx).

3/11/2013

Volvo Penta – Official Volvo Ocean Race supplier

By Volvo Penta

Standard engines from Volvo Penta deliver diesel power to the world’s toughest and most extreme round-the-world races - the Volvo Ocean Race.

The 2014-2015 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is the fifth race with Volvo Penta as official engine supplier.

During a nine month journey that covers over 39,000 nautical miles, the Volvo Ocean Race boats, crew and engines will meet some of the toughest challenges in round the world sailing.

The Volvo Ocean 65 is a new generation of race boats with standardized and unique design - and with a new set up for the diesel power onboard.In previous races, all boats have been equipped with two diesel engines, but this time the boats will have only one engine for both auxiliary and propulsion, the Volvo Penta D2-75 with S-drive.

This puts high demands on both reliability and performance for the D2-75 engines.

“The main stress to the engines comes from the enormous G-forces induced by the very high speeds and violent motions of these race boats. These forces sometimes correspond to those that military aircrafts are exposed to. This is well above what sailboats and engines are normally exposed to”, says Jan Dahlsten, project manager of technical support to Volvo Ocean Race

The 75 horsepower Volvo Penta D2-75 will cover the following needs onboard the race boats:

Auxiliary
a. Electricity: Here the engine´s task is to produce electricity to the communication equipment, computers, lights and heating onboard. Electricity is also powering the “Water maker” that converts salt water into the life essential drinking water for the crew.

b. Keel movement: The canting keel, which is providing extra counterweight when sailing, is moved by powerful hydraulic cylinders which are powered by an engine driven hydraulic pump.

Propulsion
Here the engine is used in emergency situations or for motoring in and out of harbors or transporting the boat between venues.

Volvo Penta´s engines have more than well met expectations in previous races:

“All the teams evaluated our engines after the last race, and they were very satisfied with performance, reliability and service support”, says Magnus Gedda, Volvo Penta´s Service Manager for Volvo Ocean Race.

Since the engines and drives used in the race boats are all in Volvo Penta's standard range, the Volvo Ocean Race is a good opportunity to verify the product features of these under extreme conditions. This is valuable information that is used to make future products even better.

10 Simple Rules for Better Docking | Boating Magazine

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Changing The Propeller on a Volvo Penta Marina Engine

Changing a propeller is a moderately dangerous task, but it doesn't have to be daunting, difficult, and demoralizing. The trick is to use the resources you have at your disposal. Search online, or ask someone who is familiar with your engine. Knowing specifics will make the process much easier.

For example, on a Volvo Penta marine engine, you don't need many supplies and you can get it done easily. Changing the propeller consists of the same basic ideas and principles as self-building furniture- take things off and put them back on in the same order.

You won't need a wide array of tools, just some pliers, a 1 1/16 wrench, and some white marine grease. Set the tools aside, but not too far away.

• Turn the power on, but don't start the engine. Use the tilt to lift the engine up, and turn off the ignition. Keep the key close by, as you'll need it again.
• Use pliers to remove the cotter pin. Grab the wrench and remove the propeller nut. Slide it off the shaft, ensuring that you leave the thrust washer and bushing on the shaft.
• Clean the propeller shaft, removing any debris and apply marine grease. After you grease the shaft and the new propeller, you can put the new piece on.
• When you get the propeller on, tighten the nut to about 80 pounds of pressure, using a torque wrench. Install a keeper, turning it until it aligns with the shaft. This will keep the propeller in place.
• Afterwards, give the propeller a light spin, and check for signs of struggle. If you aligned the propeller properly, it will spin freely after your push.
• Now, undo what you did in the first step. Turn the ignition on, without actually starting the engine. Use the tilt to lower the engine back to where it was.

For more information and advice on changing propellers, visit volvopenta.com