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Safety

Boat related (issues, improvements, tips)

Member	Boat Model	Boat Age at issue	Description	Corrective Action
Dan Eisenberg	Journey 258	1yr	steering drifts in one direction when underway, engines don't stay hard over when turned full to one side during drifting	I was told that Grady is having an issue with improper grounding of the helm controls resulting in corrosion of the steering mechanism due to stray currents. The corrective action is to replace the defective steering mechanism and correct any improper grounding.
Frank Muller			fuel filters	Mechanic said it was a good idea to carry spares. Process for removing is to use a band wrench ( same as is used to unscrew oil filters on cars). If removing because you suspect a fuel problem, his advice is just to go ahead and replace it. There will be a small amount of fuel coming out which can be caught in a pan as opposed to allowing it to fall into the bilge. New filter really should be filled with gas before it is installed (screwed on) to remove air. He did say however that these 4 stroke Yamahas have a pretty powerful electric fuel pump and that running the engine at idle while pumping on the bulb after installing the new filter would probably work if you did not have gas to fill the new filter. In any event I bought 2 new 10 micron Yamaha filters for $40.00 total and will go to auto zone and buy a wrench just in case.
Cat Cox			misc. maintenance	Use Rain-X on the windshield After a run, when staying in a marina, flush the engines when you get a dock with water. The engines need to be raised when flushing while the boat is in the water. Store on-board bedding, etc. in large zip lock or Space Bags to prevent moisture. Periodically run your generator. Make sure you put a load on it. A good way is to turn on your water heater. Also, make sure you treat the fuel in the generator tank.
Cat Cox			communication	When boating on your own, monitor channel 72. Periodically hail “Tarpon Coast Grady Club” to see if any other members are out and want to hook up.
Cat Cox			Dry Tortugas supplies	five gallon collapsible water carrier for the trip can find one in boater's world catalog page 509 item 33 721 1163
Dan Clark			Spare parts list	Spare prop Cotter pin or prop hardware kit. Prop Wrench. 1 1/16”. Be sure to have a small piece of 2x4 as it is needed to remove the prop nut. Replacement wiper blade. They do not last very long. A whole new arm/rubber is about $20. Fuses for the motor. The motor has spares under the cap that covers the fuse box. Are your’s there? Replacement spark plugs A few light bulbs. Mainly the mast light (anchor) and the navigational lights. A qt. of oil and a qt. of hydraulic fluid. Fuel filters and strap wrench. You will spill gas in the bilge so an absorbent mat ($1.69 West marine)
Jerry Mroczkowski			Safety suggestions from the Coast Guard	Hi all you DT boaters....Since Linda and I are not in the Punta Gorda area we had a free individual Coast Guard Auxiliary inspection done on our boat here this week. It wasn't as much fun as the party with hot dogs and socializing would have been, but more convenient for our location. For anyone that wants to pursue this, check the white pages of your phone book for Coast Guard Auxiliary, or go online for nearest contact. We were able to schedule the inspection for a few days after we called, and it was done at our house. We passed! THE INSPECTOR HAD SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS FOR OUR TRIP: Size you life preservers ahead of time and mark them so that everyone onboard knows whose is whose. He said a true emergency may give you only a minute or less to prepare so you don't want to have to worry about getting the preserver to fit. Check the trigger on your flare gun periodically to make sure it is not corroded and still works. Apparently this had been a problem, especially with the older models also check the expiration date of the flares . In addition to the flares, orange stain, etc that we have onboard, carry a small bight orange towel. It is the universal distress signal if waved. The real ones sold at boater stores have a black square symbol on them but he said any orange hand towel would do. In addition to the life saver ring with the rope attached, carry a floatation cushion that can be easily thrown out to someone that can swim to it. You may be able to get closer to the person with that one. Carry a spare anchor light bulb.

Member	Date	Description
		Tarpon Coast Grady White Boat Club Float Plan
Fred Buchas	11-6-07	Fall 10-point safety check
Fred Buchas	8-28-07	A Sea Tow sponsored site that provides a wealth of information
Fred Buchas	8-28-07	U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Ben Knisley	6-20-07	Recommended list of contents for a ditch bag
Geri Basye-Bembry	4-24-07	Informative article on May 13 boating accident in Matlacha Pass regarding responsibilities and procedures while boating.