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HMS BOATING SAFETY REVIEW:
17' WHALER / TRAILER

HMS boat rules:

• Recreational use of HMS boats is not permitted.
• Solo use of boats between dusk and dawn is not permitted.
• Proposed uses of the Whaler outside of the HMLR must be submitted to the HMS Boat Committee for approval.
• The skipper must be checked out to the level of boating being conducted.
• Whaler users must take the California Boating Safety Course test or document equivalent knowledge, and must crew on this or similar boat under local conditions or equivalent, before being checked out to skipper.

WHALER PROCEDURES:

Important: Check the boat the day (or a few days) before you plan to use it (including gas, battery charge, and radio charge) to avoid last-minute aggravation.

Hooking up the Whaler trailer:
- Use the black drop-hitch with 2" ball (in cabinet in garage).
- Make sure the coupler is fully seated on the ball, then lock latch in "down" position.
- Crank up the wheel jack, swing it up securely into horizontal position.
- Cross chains under trailer tongue and hook to truck with "S" facing back.
- Connect trailer-light cable, and check to make sure the lights work.
- Make sure the outboard motor is up and resting on the brackets.
- Check that bow/safety line passes through hook on trailer and back to bow cleat, bow tie-down is securely fastened, and winch ratchet is set properly.
SAFETY CHECK: walk around trailer, and do a final visual check before driving it anywhere.

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Prior to trip:
- Get Whaler keys from garage.
- Check that the plugs are in the bilge and in the anchor well.
- Connect the battery leads securely (smaller bilge pump/nav. lights wires too).
- Check oil under the console; oil pump should have pressure.
- Make sure there is sufficient gasoline for the planned trip.
- The Whaler must have the following items on board:

• Whaler box (stored in back cabinet in dive lockers) containing functional flares, radio, fire extinguisher as well as tools
• One life jacket per person plus one throwable flotation device
  
• Paddles, bailing device (small bucket is in console), horn (in console)
• If diving: DAN emergency oxygen box containing O2 equipment and first aid kit; dive flag
• Anchor (check to make sure it is properly stowed and attached at the bitter end)
• Kicker motor (secured well in "down" position for trailering), safety cable attached to boat,
  50:1 pre-mix fuel and fuel line.

- Load weight belts, tanks, or other heavy gear towards the bow for trim.
- Stow gear so that safety equipment and dock lines are accessible.
- Fill out float plan in dive lockers and tell your plan to someone who will be around to notice if you're not back on time.

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Launching:
- Raise kicker motor, lock in "up" position with tiller raised and prop tilted to starboard to avoid hitting motor mount.
- Unhook bow tie-down strap.
- Back down the ramp so that the kicker motor is away from the dock, if possible.
- When truck rear wheels are just above the highest reach of the surge, undo bow/safety line, unhook winch hook, have someone take both bow and stern lines, and back the truck a little further, using the surge to help lift the boat off the trailer.

Start-up:
- Check that the 'auto' kill switch is connected (on console).
- With the engine fully lowered, pull throttle lever into neutral, push key in (i.e. choke) and attempt to start it with throttle ~3/4 open. It may need two pumps (throttle fully open), but no more.
- Warm the engine up until it runs smoothly at idle (~2-3 minutes).

Motoring:
- Throttle can be sticky, so brace heel of hand on throttle mount.
- No wake in harbor - go slowly. Once outside harbor, get on a plane.
- Watch for excessive bouncing of kicker motor. Look for constant stream of water from motor.
- Match speed to conditions, and avoid porpoising.

Retrieval:
- Turn off engine; raise the motor and rest it on the brackets.
- Float boat onto trailer, winch remainder of distance.
- Hook bow line onto trailer safety hook and make fast back to bow cleat.
- At top of ramp, attach bow tie-down, pull all plugs, drop kicker motor for trailering, walk around trailer and visually inspect before trailering.

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Clean-up:
- Lower motor, flush with fresh water for 3-5 minutes, watching for steady stream of water from motor. Raise motor and lower onto brackets, remove key. Turn motor to starboard to protect greased steering rod. Disconnect the battery (both terminals).
- Rinse the motor, boat, and trailer THOROUGHLY. Rinse the trailer springs and the insides of the wheels. Soak the carpeted boards. Rinse anchor and line. Unwind, rinse, and rewind winch strap if necessary. Rinse truck springs, wheels, brakes.
- Fill out the boat log (in plastic container in console).
- Park the trailer properly and cover the boat after letting it dry; put keys and hitch back in garage.

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