Spare anchor & tiller

All bareboats carry the main boat anchor and a spare. Often the spare anchor will be fitted with 2-3 metres of chain and 40-50 metres of 16-18mm nylon line. The attached chain is important as it helps keep the anchor horizontal on the bottom, which improves its holding power. Refer to Winching with your spare anchor

Emergency steering tiller

In the unlikely event of a steering failure a bareboat carries a "backup" tiller steering system and you will be shown how to use this backup system at your bare boat briefing.

Your bare boat depth sounder

Depth Sounder transmits pulses from the hull, which echoes back from the seabed, and is picked up by the receiver. The echo is timed to determine the depth of water under the bed.

Two factors must be borne in mind when using a depth sounder.

1. It cannot sound ahead of the boat and thus great care is necessary when using a sounder as you approach shoal water or navigate in an area with coral bommies.
   
   

   

2. It is quite possible (particularly on a yacht charter in the Whitsunday Islands) if you don't keep a careful lookout, for the depth sounder to be reading 10 metres and the boat's bow is hard aground.

   Your depth sounder does not sound ahead - there is no substitute for careful navigation and a proper lookout on all sailing and motor yacht charters.

3. When anchoring your bareboat, depth of water recorded on the sounder must be adjusted by the height of the tide at the time of the sounding.
   Refer to Boat Handling and Manoeuvring

Fire fighting equipment on a bareboat yacht charter

A bareboat is required to carry fire extinguishing equipment capable of putting out electrical fires...as well as flammable liquids (petrol, diesel, cooking oil etc.)...and ordinary combustibles (wood, fabric, etc.).

Not all types of extinguishers can be used safely on all fires. In fact, use of the wrong type of extinguisher can be dangerous and can make the situation worse rather than better - see below.

Fire Extinguishers and suitability for different types of fires

		Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Red with Black Band CO2 is a non-conducting inert gas extinguishing agent. Use for fires in electrical equipment, such as switchboards electronic apparatus and equipment being fed by live electricity. This gas can be lethal in high concentrations in confined spaces.
		Foam Extinguisher - Blue Use the smothering action of the foam to extinguish fires fuelled by flammable liquids or fuels such as petrol, diesel, kerosene, paint, cooking oil, etc. Remember a foam extinguisher is water based, and water conducts electricity, so do not use on live electrical equipment.
		Dry Chemical Powder - Red with a White Band This Dry Chemical type of extinguisher is suitable for use on all types of fires likely to be encountered - if possible restrict its use to fires fuelled by ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth and fabric. Dry chemical when used on electrical equipment is almost impossible to clean out thoroughly. -USE the CO2 Extinguisher, as this does not harm the equipment

Fire buckets

2 Fires buckets with rope lanyards attached are provided on bareboats for emergency use - they are not for general use.

Your bareboats navigation equipment

When operating offshore - navigation equipment such as Area charts and a liquid damped compass must be carried... Never become complacent and depend on satellite (G.P.S.) navigation alone.

A compass and chart will always indicate a course back to shore if visibility is obscured and will locate your position in case of emergency. For more on Navigation see Aids to Navigation

Horn

This is an important safety device on a bareboat that you can use to alert other boats in your vicinity to an emergency.

Continuous sounding of your horn is an accepted distress signal. Also refer to the range of standard marine horn signals. Be aware of sound signals and what action should be taken when heard.

1 short blast
......I am altering course to starboard (right).

2 short blasts
............I am altering course to port (left).

3 short blasts
..................I am operating engines astern (reversing or
................. stopping).

5 (or more) short blasts
..............................I am unsure of your intentions.

Tools

Most bareboats provide a toolbox for emergency repairs etc. Do not take this toolbox ashore or use tools for purposes other than provided. If the tools come into contact with salt water while being used, rinse them in hot water, dry, spray with WD40 or equivalent and replace in toolbox.