Going out on the water is always a holiday, but preparing for it requires a serious approach. PVC boat Or a pleasure boat can get clouded if you don't have the right thing on hand, and many beginners, when they buy a floating craft, immediately think about the power of the engine or the comfort of the seats, forgetting about basic safety.
Presence is the presence lifejacket And anchors are often the deciding factor in an emergency, and GIMS statistics are relentless: most accidents happen because of the lack of basic defenses or misuse of them.
In this article, we will discuss what should lie in the kunduk of an experienced boater and what can be done without. We will not touch on specific fishing equipment, focusing on a universal kit, which is mandatory for any type of navigation on inland waterways.
Documents and legal requirements
The first thing to take care of before launching is that you have all the necessary paperwork, and the lack of documentation can lead to severe fines and the evacuation of the vessel to the parking lot, which will turn the rest into a long bureaucratic process.
You need to have originals or certified copies of documents with you. Digital copies in the phone may not be taken into account by the inspectors of the GIMS, although recently attitudes towards them are becoming more loyal, you should not risk it.
- 📄 Vehicle Passport (PTS) or boat data sheet.
- 🆔 Identity document (passport of the citizen).
- 🎫 Rights to control a small vessel of the relevant category.
- 🏷️ Receipt of payment of state duty for the use of a small vessel.
⚠️ Note: If the boat is registered to another person, be sure to carry a notarized power of attorney for the right to control and dispose of the vessel.
Pay special attention to the category of rights to the type of your engine. Driving a boat with a 10 hp and 15 hp engine requires different categories in the license. Also check the expiration dates of all documents to avoid getting into an awkward situation on the water.
☑️ Checking documents before departure
Means of individual and collective salvation
Safety on the water is paramount, and it is absolutely not to be neglected. Even if you swim well, getting into the water in clothes and shoes, especially in cold water or in high winds, can be fatal.
A life jacket must be sized and tall; a vest too large can slip off its shoulders; a vest too small can not provide the necessary buoyancy; and children must wear vests, regardless of their ability to swim.
In addition to the vests, the boat should be life-line This device allows a person to quickly throw it overboard without stopping the boat or coming close to the boat, which is especially important during the current.
- 🦺 Rescue vests by number of passengers (required).
- ⭕ Lifeline with a line length of at least 30 meters.
- 🔦 Waterproof flashlight (for light signals).
- 🚩 The flag is orange (to indicate a place of bathing or parking).
Modern vests are often equipped with whistles and reflective elements. Don't ignore these additions - in dusk or fog, the whistle is heard much better than a scream, and reflectors will help you to notice you from a boat passing.
Buy a vest with a pocket for your phone and a transparent window, which will allow you to keep in touch and see incoming calls without taking the gadget out of the water.
Anchoring equipment and mooring
Stopping on water requires a reliable anchorage of the vessel. Wind and current can quickly carry a light boat from shore or in shallow water, so having a serviceable anchor device is not an option, but a necessity.
The weight of the anchor is determined by the displacement of the boat. Inflatable boats with a length of 3-4 meters usually enough anchor weighing 3-5 kg, but in the current or wind this may not be enough, in such cases, use anchor-cats or homemade structures of pipes filled with concrete.
| Type of boat | Recommended weight of anchor | Type of anchor | Length of the falter |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC up to 3.2 m | 2-3 kg | Mushroom/Cat | 15-20 m m m m m m m |
| PVC 3.5-4.0 m | 4-5 kg | Halla/Denforth | 20-25 m m m m |
| Metal up to 5m | 6-8 kg | Plow/Denforth | 25-30m |
| * Data relevant for calm water and moderate current | |||
It is important to use not a chain, but anchor-lining The chain can damage the side of an inflatable boat and pull it to the bottom when a sharp jerk is made, the fall must be strong, not rotting from water and have a margin of length exceeding the maximum depth in the area of navigation by 3-4 times.
Also, remember the mooring end. This is the rope that you use to tie the boat to the dock or the shore, and the length of the rope should allow for fluctuations in water levels.
Navigation and communications
In the age of smartphones, it seems like navigation is solved, but relying on just one gadget is dangerous: a battery can sit down, a phone can fall into the water, and a GPS signal can be a chasm in a narrow canyon or dense forest.
For a serious launch, especially in unfamiliar places, you need to navigator It's a map that's preloaded, it's autonomous, and it's a good tone to have a paper map of the terrain that doesn't depend on battery power.
Communication is another critical aspect. Mobile is not everywhere, so having a walkie-talkie or satellite phone (for long hikes) can save lives. Be sure to keep the emergency number (112 or the regional GIMS number) on your phone, even if the SIM card is blocked, emergency calls often work.
- 🗺️ GPS-navigator with offline maps.
- 📱 Charged mobile phone in a waterproof bag.
- 📻 VHF radio station (for communication with other boats and services).
- 🔋 Powerbank of large capacity for recharging gadgets.
⚠️ Warning: Before you sail, tell your loved ones or rescue team your itinerary and approximate return time.
If you plan to swim at dusk or at night, running lights become a must. For small boats, there are compact LED lights on suction cups or magnets that are easily attached to the board.
Repair kit and tools
A water breakdown can turn into a disaster if you're not ready for minor repairs. The toolkit needs to be compact but functional to fix most typical faults.
First of all, take care of the fuel system. Dirty gasoline, a clogged filter or a weakened clamping are common reasons for stopping the engine. Have a spare fuel filter and a set of clamps of different diameters.
For owners. PVC boat The puncture fixing kit is critical, and it has to include glue, patches of different sizes, and a degreaser, and wet surface repair is complicated, so it's better to have a special glue that works on a wet surface, or dry the damage site.
What to do if a water balloon is broken?
Don't panic. If the puncture is small, the pressure usually drops slowly. Try to get to the shore. If that's not possible, use a remix: clean and degrease the area (if you can), apply glue, press the patch and press the weight. In an emergency, you can plug the hole with a rag or finger before help arrives.
- 🔧 A set of screwdrivers and keys (including candles and a key for them).
- 🛠️ Passenger, knife, tape (blue and black), screeds.
- ⛽ Spare spark plug and fuel filter.
- 🧰 Remake for the boat (patch, glue).
It's also good to have a small axe, which you might need to cut a screw-tangled cable or a fishing net, and to get rid of the anchor if it gets jammed.
First aid kit and first aid equipment
The first aid kit in the boat should be not just a formality, but a real working tool. Standard car kits are often not suitable for water conditions, where there is a high risk of hypothermia, cuts on shells and fishing hooks.
It should include antiseptics, hemostatic harnesses, bandages and patches, and given the specifics, add sunburn remedies and insect repellents, which often attack more aggressively on the water.
It is worth mentioning separately hypothermic It's a thin foil that keeps the body warm, and if you fall into cold water, you have to warm it up as quickly as possible after you remove it, and it works better than normal things.
- 💊 Pain and antipyretics.
- 🩹 Hydrogen peroxide, iodine, chlorhexidine.
- 🌡️ Thermometer and scissors.
- 🧤 Sterile gloves and masks.
The first aid kit should be stored in a sealed container protected from direct sunlight and moisture, otherwise the drugs can become unusable in one season.
Additional comfort and useful little things
While the emphasis is on safety, comfort is also important for enjoying the walk: Little things that seem insignificant on the shore become essential on the water.
Bring spare dry clothing with you. Even in the heat after bathing or unexpected rain, wet clothing can lead to rapid hypothermia in the wind. Thermobry or fleece jacket take up little space, but warm perfectly.
Don't forget the garbage bag. Good manners and environmental regulations require you to take all the garbage with you. Plastic in the water is death to fish and birds, and a potential danger to your engine's propeller.
It's also good to have a scoop, and even in the driest boat, you can get water from splashes, rain, condensation, and you can scoop half a scoop of water out faster and safer than tilting the boat at the risk of flipping over.
Why are there scotch and screeds on the boat?
Universality. Scotch can temporarily seal a crack in a hose, fix a fix, or fix a sloshing wire, and you can fix almost anything with screeds, from the tranny mount to the bucket handle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to register an inflatable boat in GIMS?
Small boats weighing more than 200 kg (with an engine) are subject to registration, if your boat with an engine is lighter than this threshold, you do not need to register it, but you must observe the rules of conduct on the water.
Can I swim on a boat without a license?
Rights are required if the engine power exceeds 5 hp (for boats subject to registration) or 10 hp (for some categories of boats before 2012, but it is better to focus on the current 5 hp rules for safety).
Which anchor is better for PVC boats?
The best option is a folding anchor-cat weighing 4-6 kg. It is compact, holds well on most soils and is easy to store in a bag. For a hard bottom (stone, silt), Denforth anchors are better suited.
What to do if the boat overturns?
The key is not to panic or let go of the boat. The overturned boat keeps the boat buoyant. Try to climb on top of it or hold on to it while keeping the body warm. Signal with your whistle or your hands.