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WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

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A little bit of knowledge an go a long way. Here are some ways to educate yourself before you go out on the water.

Subscribe to the U.S. Coast Guard Local Notices to Mariners, and update nautical charts and related information weekly. Safe navigaton is not an accident.

Monitor weather conditions. Use a NOAA weather radio, an inexpensive receiver that can provide instant access to weather forecasts and emergency weather information.

Recreational boaters should take courses in chart use, seamanship and navigation. Contact the United State Power Squadrons and the United States Coast guard Auxillary to enroll.

Participate in the volunteer cooperative Charting program through the U.S. Power Squadrons.

Smaller boats should avoid using deep-draft channels which are the only places large ships can travel. Small recreational boats in front of a ship's bow are often not visile from the ship's bridge. Be aware and considerate of large commercial vessels.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

NOAA WEB SITES	URL ON THE WEB
Office of Coast Survey:	www.chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov
Educational information about tides, tide predictions, water levels and currents:	www.opsd.nos.noaa.gov/about2.html
Weather radio:	www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr
National Data Bouy Center:	www.ndbc.noaa.gov
Marine Prediction Center Glossary of Weather Terms and Definitions:	www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/product_description/keyterm.html
U.S. COAST GUARD WEB SITES
USCG 14th District (including Hawaii)	www.uscg.mil/d14/civilian.htm
Office of Boating Safety:	www.USCGBoating.org
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary:	www.cgaux.org
United States Power Squadrons:	www.usps.org

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