- See Dan Plumlee for
- • Making reservations for boat use (at least two weeks in advance of trip).
• Training/certification for Geography department boat use.
• Access to the boat, accessories and keys.
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- Equipment to be brought on boat (stored in room 127, McCone)
- • The Boat Box (red cooler) with equipment and necessary documentation
• One lifejacket per person
• One throw-able blue floatation pillow
• 2 Oars
• 2 Anchors. The Danforth swivel anchor is used for anchoring in sand and silty beds, the most common anchorage in the bay area
• Extra rope
• Hose
(bring if you plan to clean boat and engines at the boat ramp versus at the Richmond Field Station. Please note: soap can no longer be used to clean the boat at the RFS.)
- Boat Box Contents:
- • 1 set of boat keys
• A set of documents including: boat registration, boating/trailering reference material, engine manual, local tide chart booklet
• A marine radio
• A flood light for console mounting
• Engine rinse hose adapter - to hold hose to engine water intake for cleaning
• Grease gun and grease - to lube trailer hub
• Miscellaneous tools
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- Gear stored permanently on Boat - Make sure to check that these items are on board!
- • Emergency flares and flare gun
• First aid kit
• Bailing bucket
- Individuals should bring:
- • Food and drinking water
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Warm jacket
- The use of this boat is restricted to inland waters: specifically bays, estuaries, lakes and the Delta!
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- At Richmond Field Station
- • Remove boat cover, roll and store with bungee cords in towing vehicle.
• Remove small items in boat that may fly out while towing on the highway.
• Ensure that the front and back of boat are attached securely to the trailer. Ensure that the engines
- are tilted up and resting on the engine support bar.
- • Use spotter to back towing vehicle slowly toward trailer. After trailer hitch is lowered onto the ball,
- check locking mechanism by feel, lower locking lever and secure with cotter pin.
- • Hook trailer chains on truck hitch in a crossed pattern.
• Connect electrical wiring from truck to trailer. Test trailer brake lights and turn signals.
• Check tire pressure. An air hose is available at RFS vehicle maintenance shop.
• Fill boat gas tanks. You will be billed for the gas at a later date.
- Gas Procedure - tank is located at E gate of the bone-yard.
- • Insert & remove square plastic key (found on RFS key-ring) into keypad face.
• Choose pump by pressing "1" on the keypad.
• Zero the pump counter with black knob on the pump face.
• Lift lever and pump gas.
• Record name, department, date, and gas amount in the gas log located in the boat box.
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- Towing Boat & Trailer
- • Just prior to entering freeway, inspect trailer hitch. Check trailer wheel hubs for overheating (saltwater will eventually dissolve away the grease in the bearings).
• Accelerate slowly, to avoid jerking boat & passengers.
• Allow extra stopping room. Boat and trailer may fish tail in an emergency stop.
• Give longer signal prior to changing lanes or making turns.
• Driver has a larger blind spot when towing boat. Ask passengers to assist spotting other vehicles when changing lanes.
• Allow extra clearance when changing lanes to clear the engines extending beyond the boat.
• Do not turn quickly & sharply, trailer requires a larger, slower turn.
• Always use a spotter when backing the trailer/boat! Remember that when in reverse, the trailer will turn in the opposite direction of the steering wheel.
• Never tow trailer with the tow vehicle tailgate down.
- At the boat ramp
- • Unhook electrical wiring from truck to trailer.
• Remove canvas cover from control console and the nylon belt from the back of the boat.
• Remove trailer strap at back of boat
• Install 2 rubber hull plugs; one at stern bilge pump area, one in the front deck storage.
• Hook up batteries. Place engine leads first, then accessory leads. All leads must lie flat to make a
- good connection. Clean terminals if necessary.
- • Check that breaker is pushed in (small black box by starboard battery).
• Loosen vent cap on fuel tank so fuel will flow properly.
• Hook up marine radio to antenna and power. Raise antenna and secure with bungee cord
- (found in console).
- • Load boat and field equipment. Avoid fuel lines when putting equipment in boat.
• Ensure that there are tie lines ready on the boat.
- Launching the boat
- • Back trailer into water keeping the tow vehicle out of water. Lower boat with winch.
• Use tie lines to secure boat to dock.
• Lower engine into water.
• Prime carburetor by pumping gas line bulb.
• Place the lanyard (red coiled cord) over the lanyard stop switch to the right of the ignition and flip
- the switch up into the plastic housing. Attach the other end of the lanyard to your person. When fully extended, the lanyard will throw the lanyard stop switch and kill the engine, to ensure that an ejected pilot is not abandoned by their boat.
- • Start engine by turning key.
• Put engine in neutral gear by pushing button at base of throttle. Push throttle forward to warm
- engine.
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- Boat Operation
The primary boat operator is responsible for the safety of all persons onboard!
- • Never operate the boat alone! 2 persons minimum on boat.
• The boat can hold a maximum load of 7 people. If hauling equipment, reduce the number of riders
- based on the weight of added equipment.
- • When coring, watch that corer extension poles do not pinch fuel lines.
• Props can get tangled in vegetation and lose all power. To unwind sea grass, try putting engine in
- reverse. If unsuccessful, kill engine before cleaning props by hand.
- • Note water depth at all times. If uncertain, use oar to measure water depth. Kill engines immediately
- if you think prop is hitting bottom as prop can be damaged and cooling water intake may suck dirt into engines.
- • When anchored, test your anchorage to ensure that the boat will not drift onto shore or pier.
• Use bumpers to protect side of boat when at launch ramp or other piers.
• Observe posted speed limits and be courteous to all vessels by not creating a wake while in a
- marina/harbor area.
- Loading boat onto trailer
- • Back truck down ramp, use winch to pull floating boat onto trailer. Do not winch more than
- necessary.
- • Drive slowly up ramp, have someone watch that the boat settles evenly on trailer pads as it comes
- out of water.
- • Secure boat by chaining tow eye to trailer
• Remove rubber plugs to drain boat, leave plugs next to holes.
• Disconnect battery.
• Tighten vent caps on gas tanks.
• Remove radio. Lower antenna.
• Replace rear nylon strap securing boat to trailer.
• Trailer boat with the engine in the down position.
• Remove equipment out of boat, especially items that may fly out during transit.
• Reattach the electrical wiring from truck to trailer!
- Cleaning the boat
- • Manually remove all detritus larger than a dime. It will not fit through deck drains.
• Rinse all sediment off deck. All but the front rubber mats lift up and off.
• Thoroughly hose out bilge pump area to remove rocks and sediment.
• Wipe mud and scum off hull. Rinse.
• Attach the hose attachment to motor's cool water intake. Turn on water to hose. Run engine.
- Water must flow out motor cool-water exhaust while running or motor will be damaged. Never run engine without water circulation!!
- • Rinse anchors, lines and soiled life vests.
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- Stowing the boat at the Richmond Field Station
- • Move boat to storage area, disconnect from tow vehicle, pivot jack into down position and jack
- trailer off hitch. Do not extend jack beyond what is necessary to free the ball.
- • Stabilize trailer by placing wood blocks under trailer tongue. Lower jack.
• Replace canvas cover over console, throttles must be completely forward for cover to fit.
• Replace boat cover, using boards under cover to keep cover from sagging into boat. Use bungee
- cords to attach cover securely to boat.
- • Lock gate to Bone Yard, if gate was locked when you entered.
• Coil all lines and store carefully.
• Inventory your gear, make sure nothing has been left behind.
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- Return boat gear and keys to Dan Plumlee!!!
Report all incidents or boat/gear operation problems.
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