One of the primary missions of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is boating safety through education.  Our goal is to make America's waterways safe by  bringing to you, the boating public, safety information through our boating safety classes, our on the water patrols, courtesy vessel safety checks, and Marine Dealer Program visits.  Please find on this page useful information to make         your boating experience more enjoyable.

Wait! Before Leaving.  A Pre-underway Check List

  • Float plan - let a friend know when you're leaving, where you're going, when you expect to return, what to do if you don't, and a description                      of your boat
     

  • Charts of the area and compasses
     

  • Registration certificate or documentation
     

  • Personal Flotation Devices (wearable and throwable) - Coast Guard approved, good condition, readily accessible, assigned and fitted
     

  • Fire Extinguishers - right number, size, and class for boat; charged, not corroded, nozzle clear, bracketed, readily accessible
     

  • Visual Distress Signals - current dates on pyros, proper number, batteries good if lights or EPIRBs
     

  • Anchors and Line - adequate anchor for bottom, adequate line for water depth
     

  • Dewatering device - bilge pump operable, alternative bailing device available
     

  • Watch or clock - operable
     

  • Boarding ladder (or other means of boarding)
     

  • Heaving lines - at least 30 feet with monkey fist
     

  • Mooring lines - bow, stern, and spring lines, preferably three-stranded nylon with an eye in one end and of adequate length for your boat                      and mooring conditions
     

  • Bright flashlight or searchlight
     

  • Navigation lights - tested and operable, spare bulbs
     

  • Batteries - fully charged, encased in plastic boxes or terminals covered, securely fastened down
     

  • Sound producing device - horn, whistle appropriate for boat
     

  • Alternate propulsion - paddle or oar
     

  • Boat hook (s)
     

  • FCC license - if VHF radio, radar, EPIRBs or other transmitter aboard and you plan to enter a foreign country
     

  • Oil discharge and trash placards affixed - if required by boat size
     

  • Bell - if required by boat size
     

  • First Aid Kit
     

  • Gauges - functional and reading properly
     

  • Ventilation - power ventilation operable (blower) and natural ventilations cowls open and clear
     

  • Tools and spare parts
     

  • Depth sounder, lead line, or sounding pole
     

  • Compass
     

  • Copy of Colregs (NavRules) - if required by boat size
     

  • Spare propeller and lock nut
     

  • Sunscreen and sunhat
     

  • Extra clothing...wool sweater, gloves, socks and other articles for warming if temperature drops or someone gets wet
     

  • Binoculars
     

  • AM radio...static on AM forewarns of nearby lightning
     

  • Drinking water
     

  • Personal needs like prescription drugs
     

Boating Safety Suggestions

  • Always wear your personal floatation device (PFD).
  • Alcohol and safe boating operation just don't mix.
  • Know how to swim.
  • Read the owner's manual for your boat.
  • Always maintain a good look at where you're going. Stay to the right of oncoming vessels.
  • Keep a whistle or horn readily available.
  • Stay away from tugs, towboats and large ships.
  • Stay away from swimming beaches, waterfront residences, jetties, dams and shallow water.
  • Don't cut in front of other boats or jump wakes.
  • Check the pressure gauge on your fire extinguisher.
  • Show consideration to others; be courteous and use common sense in the operation of your craft.
  • Be thoroughly familiar with the maneuvering characteristics of your craft.

    Always be considerate of other water enthusiasts. Be responsible. 

    Be safe.  Your life may depend upon it!

                                                                             

                                                                               U.S. VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies
    Channel Number Ship Transmit MHz Ship Receive MHz Use
    01A 156.050 156.050 Port Operations and Commercial, VTS.  Available only in New Orleans / Lower Mississippi area.
    05A 156.250 156.250 Port Operations or VTS in the Houston, New Orleans and Seattle areas.
    06 156.300 156.300 Intership Safety
    07A 156.350 156.350 Commercial
    08 156.400 156.400 Commercial (Intership only)
    09 156.450 156.450 Boater Calling.  Commercial and Non-Commercial.
    10 156.500 156.500 Commercial
    11 156.550 156.550 Commercial.  VTS in selected areas.
    12 156.600 156.600 Port Operations.  VTS in selected areas.
    13 156.650 156.650 Intership Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge).  Ships >20m length maintain a listening watch on this channel in US waters.
    14 156.700 156.700 Port Operations.  VTS in selected areas.
    15 -- 156.750 Environmental (Receive only).  Used by Class C EPIRBs.
    16 156.800 156.800 International Distress, Safety and Calling.  Ships required to carry radio, USCG, and most coast stations maintain a listening watch on this channel.
    17 156.850 156.850 State Control
    18A 156.900 156.900 Commercial
    19A 156.950 156.950 Commercial
    20 157.000 161.600 Port Operations (duplex)
    20A 157.000 157.000 Port Operations
    21A 157.050 157.050 U.S. Coast Guard only
    22A 157.100 157.100 Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts.   Broadcasts announced on channel 16.
    23A 157.150 157.150 U.S. Coast Guard only
    24 157.200 161.800 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
    25 157.250 161.850 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
    26 157.300 161.900 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
    27 157.350 161.950 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
    28 157.400 162.000 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
    63A 156.175 156.175 Port Operations and Commercial, VTS.  Available only in New Orleans / Lower Mississippi  area.
    65A 156.275 156.275 Port Operations
    66A 156.325 156.325 Port Operations
    67 156.375 156.375 Commercial.  Used for Bridge-to-bridge communications in lower Mississippi River.  Intership only.
    68 156.425 156.425 Non-Commercial
    69 156.475  156.475 Non-Commercial
    70 156.525 156.525 Digital Selective Calling (voice communications not allowed)
    71 156.575 156.575  Non-Commercial
    72 156.625 156.625 Non-Commercial (Intership only)
    73 156.675 156.675 Port Operations
    74 156.725 156.725 Port Operations
    77 156.875 156.875 Port Operations (Intership only)
    78A 156.925 156.925 Non-Commercial
    79A 156.975 156.975 Commercial.  Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only
    80A 157.025 157.025 Commercial.  Non-Commercial in Great Lakes only
    81A 157.075 157.075 U.S. Government only - Environmental protection operations.
    82A 157.125 157.125 U.S. Government only
    83A 157.175 157.175 U.S. Coast Guard only
    84 157.225 161.825 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
    85 157.275 161.875 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
    86 157.325 161.925 Public Correspondence (Marine Operator)
    AIS 1 161.975 161.975 Automatic Identification System (AIS)
    AIS 2 162.025 162.025 Automatic Identification System (AIS)
    88A 157.425 157.425 Commercial, Intership only.

     

    PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (Life Jacket) INFORMATION
     

     

    PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC) INFORMATION

     

    TENNESSEE BOATING REGULATIONS

     

US Coast Guard Auxiliary - Stones River Flotilla 08E1105
Last edited:  04.10.2008 06:23:34 AM
Copyright © 2000 USCG Aux. Flotilla 11-05. All Rights Reserved.