Boating & Navigational Aids

Do you know what those lights and markers mean?

Technically, Aids to Navigation refers to "devices or systems, external to a vessel, which are provided to help a mariner determine his position and course, to warn him of dangers or obstructions, or to advise him of the location of the best or preferred route." Included in this page however, are some other things that help keep us safe while out on the water.

Do you know how to determine what the lifejacket buoyancy rating means to your personal body weight?

If your lifejacket has a rating of 10lbs, it may seem like it couldn't possibly hold you up if you went overboard right? Wrong. Here's how to understand that label.

Assume a body weight of 200 lbs for ease of calculation

The human body is roughly 80% water. Water doesn't sink so we subtract that from our body weight.

The human body is a further 15% fat (approximately) so we subtract that too.

So:

200 lbs - 160 lbs (water) - 30 lbs (fat) = 10 lbs. The lifejacket will keep you above water!

Did you know?

The legal speed limit on the water is 10 kph (6mph) if you are within 30m (100') from shore? This does not apply if you are accelerating away perpedicular to the shore (as in pulling a skier behind you) but it does apply if you are travelling parallel to shore.

Did You Know that you can call the Canadian Coast Guard from your cell phone by dialing *16?

Last growth spurt on February 12, 2008