QM-5

1. QM-5 Quartermaster Safety Instructors: George Crowl

2. Course Outline • a. Know the heavy-weather precautions taken aboard power, sailing, and paddle vessels when dangerous weather approaches, and demonstrate these precautions aboard the vessel used by your ship. • b. Know the special precautions that should be taken when limited visibility is encountered. • c. Teach Apprentice Safety 5a and Ordinary Safety 5a, 5b, and 5c requirements to a crew.

3. QM-5a a. Know the heavy-weather precautions taken aboard power, sailing, and paddle vessels when dangerous weather approaches, and demonstrate these precautions aboard the vessel used by your ship.

4. Heavy Weather • “The wise sailor avoids the storm he cannot weather, and weathers the storm he cannot avoid.” • 1. Make sure the crew knows the location and use of all safety gear. • 2. Make sure the VHF radio is on and working, and everyone onboard knows how to make an emergency call. • 3. Get everyone in their foul weather gearand life jackets. • 4. Assign tasks to the crew based on ability and experience.

5. Heavy Weather (2) • 5. The navigator should record the ship’s position in the log and check the chart for nearby hazards. • 6. Clear any unnecessary items from the cockpit and deck, and secure all gear and equipment below decks. • 7. Rig jacklines from bow to stern on port and starboard. Everyone on deck needs to be in a harness and attached to a jackline. • 8. Reduce your speed to steerage way and turn toward the wind if you are in a powerboat. If you are in a sailboat, reduce the sail to the minimum needed to maintain steerage and keep the ship’s head into the waves. Approach waves at about 45 degrees.

6. Jack Lines

7. How Can You Demonstrate? • Conduct a “heavy weather” drill • Make a simulated “Pan Pan” or “Mayday” distress call • Have everyone don raingear and life jackets • Make crew assignments • Determine position and best heading • Secure all gear • Rig jacklines • Point boat 45° to “swells”

8. QM-5b b. Know the special precautions that should be taken when limited visibility is encountered.

9. Limited Visibility • Primarily, but not exclusively, fog • 1. Know where you are. Take fixes regularly to determine if you are still on a safe course. • 2. Avoid collisions. Take every action to be seen and to see other vessels and hazards. • 3. The speed of a vessel should be reduced to the point where it maintains full maneuverability and can stay on course. • 4. Audible signals should be sounded to announce the vessel’s presence. Vary the rhythm of your signals occasionally in case your signals are in sync with a nearby vessel.

10. Limited Visibility (2) • 5. Post multiple lookouts. A lookout is required by the Navigation Rules, but two lookouts on the bow must watch for aids to navigation, other vessels, or hazards. They must listen for sound signals. A lookout aft needs to watch for overtaking vessels. Keeping silence onboard is recommended so all can listen. Fog has the unnerving capacity to distort sound in terms of both volume and direction. • 6. Use radar and radar reflectors. Even if your boat doesn’t have radar, hoist a passive radar reflector as high as possible to increase your chances of being seen. • 7. If worst comes to worst, and depth of water and other conditions allow, then anchor or lay to. Sound the proper fog signals, keep lookouts posted, and watch and listen for other vessels and hazards.

11. QM-5c c. Teach Apprentice Safety 5a and Ordinary Safety 5a, 5b, and 5c requirements to a crew.

12. Background • Teach each set of requirements separately • If you taught Apprentice safety when you were an Ordinary, you may be able to count that. • You don't have to be Able to pass any part or all of this requirement • You don't have to do it over a short time, you can spread it out over months or years

13. Equipment Needed • Offshore, near shore, sport, and throwable life vests • Probably don't need a specialized life vest • Worn out life vests can show construction • A PowerPoint is available

14. Teaching EDGE • Lacks two things – objectives, motivation • You have to supply both • Objectives – simply put – the requirements • Motivation – why should a Sea Scout want to pass an advancement requirement? • YOU have to provide the motivation – how it will be used, it may be fun to do, whatever will persuade the Scout to do it • Give a pre-test? You may be able to sign them off as complete with part or all of it

15. Teaching EDGE (2) • Four main steps • Explain • Demonstrate • Guide • Enable

16. Explain • Need to know how to wear and take care of life jackets • Why do we wear them? • Advantages? • Disadvantages? • Five different kinds • Care of life jackets

17. Demonstrate • Put each one on yourself • Discuss “not above the ears” • Put on all available life vests, showing the different ties

18. Guide • Everyone take a lifejacket, don it • Go around and check proper wear on everyone • Swap kinds of life jackets, do it again • Have them try to lift above the ears • Ask what happens if they get stepped on or punctured

19. Enable • Have the Scouts wear the lifejackets on the boat • They must wear them properly. • Check them. Do the “ear check” • When they have done so, you may pass them

20. When do You Pass the Scout? • Policies vary between ships • Author's opinion: Lifejackets are not ready to be passed until the Scout wears them properly on a boat and cares for them properly. • Other skills, perhaps rowing, can be demonstrated by the Scout and passed immediately

21. Questions?