BoatU.S. provides marine insurance coverage to 250,000 American powerboaters and sailors, which makes its collection of claims reports one of the world’s largest archives of boating accidents. For more than 20 years, as writer and editor of BoatU.S.’s quarterly publication Seaworthy, Bob Adriance has sifted and analyzed this rich trove to discover and highlight the profound lessons it contains.

Here is the ultimate boater’s guide to preventing, responding to, and surviving accidents under power or sail, including hurricane damage, lightning strikes, collisions, fires, groundings, sinkings, crew overboard, dismastings, and more.

Experience may be the best teacher, but the lessons are a lot less painful when the experience is someone else’s. Here is a unique opportunity to use other skippers’ misfortunes to make your own boat and seamanship safer.

“A boaters’ guide as important and practical as any I’ve read. And if you can ignore the occasional frisson of guilty pleasure, one that’s as engrossing to read as The Perfect Storm.”�“Tony Gibbs, yachting writer, editor, and novelist

“Hair-raising disasters, hard facts, and helpful advice; Seaworthy is a compendium of no-nonsense information on avoiding problems that only a marine insurer could provide. Invaluable for the boater, builder, designer, and surveyor.”�“Dave Gerr, director, Westlawn Institute of Tecnology; author of The Nature of Boats and The Elements of Boat Strength

BoatU.S. provides marine insurance coverage to 250,000 American powerboaters and sailors, which makes its collection of claims reports one of the worlds largest archives of boating accidents. For more than 20 years, as writer and editor of BoatU.S.s quarterly publication Seaworthy, Bob Adriance has sifted and analyzed this rich trove to discover and highlight the profound lessons it contains.

Here is the ultimate boaters guide to preventing, responding to, and surviving accidents under power or sail, including hurricane damage, lightning strikes, collisions, fires, groundings, sinkings, crew overboard, dismastings, and more.

Experience may be the best teacher, but the lessons are a lot less painful when the experience is someone elses. Here is a unique opportunity to use other skippers misfortunes to make your own boat and seamanship safer.

“A boaters guide as important and practical as any Ive read. And if you can ignore the occasional frisson of guilty pleasure, one thats as engrossing to read as The Perfect Storm.”–Tony Gibbs, yachting writer, editor, and novelist

“Hair-raising disasters, hard facts, and helpful advice; Seaworthy is a compendium of no-nonsense information on avoiding problems that only a marine insurer could provide. Invaluable for the boater, builder, designer, and surveyor.”–Dave Gerr, director, Westlawn Institute of Tecnology; author of The Nature of Boats and The Elements of Boat Strength

Foreword by Tony Gibbs

Preface

1. Avoiding Collisions

Collisions Between Boats Underway • Collisions at Marinas: So Many Boats, So Little Room • Collisions Between Racing Sailboats • Avoiding Tugs and Barges • Avoiding Big Ships • Passing Under Drawbridges • What Should You Do If Your Boat Is in a Collision?

2. Preventing Fires

How Boat Fires Start • Troubleshooting 12-Volt DC Electrical Systems • The AC Electrical System • Poking Around Your AC Electrical System • The Problem with Portable Electric Heaters • Propulsion System Fires • Keeping Fuel Out of the Bilge: Gasoline • Keeping Fuel Out of the Bilge: Diesel • Galley Fires • Marine Dry Stack Fires • Your Boat's on Fire . . . Now What?

3. Staying Afloat

Why Boats Sink at the Dock • Why Boats Sink Underway • Why Fiberglass Boats Sometimes Fail • Sailboat Stability • Powerboat Stability • The Art of Securing Your Boat

4. Seamanship

Going Offshore • The Loss of Morning Dew • The Loss and Recovery of Grey Girl • Coping with Monster Waves • The Last Few Hours of Proteus • Coastal Cruising: Abandoning Ship • Entering Inlets • All About Boat Wakes • Minding Your Own Boat's Wake • Grounding and Ungrounding • The Question of Salvage • Overboard Rescues from Sailboats • Overboard Rescues from Powerboats • Boat Handling in Thunderstorms

5. Hurricane Warning

Where to Keep Your Boat in a Hurricane • Critical Points • Hurricane Preparation Worksheet

6. Be Careful Out There

Boats and Swimming • Waterskiing Safety • Wear Your Personal Flotation Device (PFD)! • Boats and Lightning • Boats and Carbon Monoxide

7. Winterizing and Spring Fitting Out

Winterizing • Winterizing Chores • Winterizing Worksheet • Spring Fitting-Out Checklist • A Few Final Words

Resources

Acknowledgments

Index