By Vincent Pica, Commodore, First District, Southern Region (D1SR), United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

If I told you that statistics on boats sinking showed that the dock is four times more dangerous than the open waters, you might tell me to check my calculator, amongst other things. But study after study show that four times as many boats sink at the dock than under way! Why is that???

© boatus.com

By Vincent Pica, Commodore, First District, Southern Region (D1SR), United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

When we were kids, it was all about readin,’ ritin’ and ‘rithmetic. On the sea, especially in cold water environments, it’s all about rescue, recovery and re-warming. I don’t expect many boaters are on our waterways now, but some are out there. And the waters will still be cold once April comes around. This column is about that.

By Vincent Pica, Commodore, First District, Southern Region (D1SR), United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

As an avid student of the sea, I am always amazed when I read that even some of the ‘round the world sailors get “mal de mer” – seasickness. While they get over it in a few days, which everyone will if they are just out there long enough, I wonder how they can put to sea knowing with certainty that they will be sick as dogs for two or three days. 

By Vincent Pica

Commodore, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

We’ve had some foggy mornings and as we make the “clubhouse turn” towards cool air and warm water, we will have more.  For those of a more scientific-bent, fog that forms when water is warmer than the air is called “steam” fog (fall). Think of that pot of spaghetti water you are boiling. Fog that forms when the water is colder than the air is called “advection” fog (spring). There is a third kind of fog called “radiation” fog. That is the fog that you see float in across the backyard or linger in a dip in a country road. But fog is fog. You can’t see the land or the buoys or, worse, the bow! What to do?

by VINCENT PICA COMMODORE, FIRST DISTRICT, SOUTHERN REGION (D1SR) UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

When I teach seamanship classes, inevitably somebody raises their hand and asks about how “flat” the boat should be. I ask, “By ‘flat,’ I am guessing that you mean relative to her waterline. But do you mean when she is sitting at the dock, going slowly forward but only at a ‘slow bell*’ or making all deliberate speed?” As their eyes glaze over, I know that we will have to take it by the numbers. This column is about that.

By Vincent Pica, Commodore, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Unlike any other law enforcement arm, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) may board your boat at their discretion — they need no search warrant, no provocation, and no reason other than ensuring your boat is in full compliance with all applicable federal laws and regulations.

The U.S. Coast Guard boards vessels to conduct safety inspections to identify any obvious safety hazards and ensure the seaworthiness of the vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle/ © northeast.coastguard.dodlive.mil

By Vincent Pica

Assistant National Commodore, Recreational Boating Safety, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

For many years, we referred to life jackets as “PFDs” – Personal Flotation Devices. Jeesh, can the lawyers get over it? OK, not everyone in a life jacket survives. Roughly only 14 out of 16. Conversely, for every 16 boaters that go into the water without a life jacket, only one comes out. The other 15 died. Life jackets save lives. This column is about that.

By Vincent Pica, Assistant National Commodore, Recreational Boating Safety, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Obviously, the most top-of-mind danger that all mariners face is drowning. We live, work and play in a marine environment – a hostile marine environment, if one is not careful. And, even you are careful, things happen. This column is about that.

By Vincent Pica, Assistant National Commodore, Recreational Boating Safety, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Many of us have heard of satellite systems hailing the USCG when a boater pulls the (cord, pin, string, wire – pick one). A signal goes up from the boater’s device to a satellite (in the old days it went up to planes that were, hopefully, flying by) and down to the Coast Guard’s Rescue Coordination Center (RCC).  This would start the “rescue clock starts now” clock at that point. The device is called an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon – an EPIRB (pronounced “ee-purb”).

By Vincent Pica, Assistant National Commodore, Recreational Boating Safety Directorate, US Coast Guard Auxiliary

A number of years ago, as I was doing a (free) vessel exam for the owner of a very substantial yacht, I got to the part where I ask to see the life jackets. He pointed me to a locker, which I opened to find the life jackets, stowed under an anchor, chain and additional rode. This column is about that.