What to do if someone falls in the water
BOAT HANDLING
If after there is some damage and your boat begins to
take in water, go towards the nearest bank, try to reduce
the leak with towels, pillows or cloths (anything will do)
and call us. Remember that the bucket on the boat is
compulsory and can, in this case, be very useful as a bailer.
Turn towards the person in the water to keep the propeller
away from him then put the engine in neutral. Throw a line
or a life buoy. Move away far enough to be able to turn
round and come back on the windward side. Put the engine
into neutral as you approach; avoid going into reverse.
All our boats are equipped with swimming ladders but if
the bank is close enough, it may be easier for the person to
climb out on the bank before getting back on board.
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If one of your crew falls into a lock, you should first of all
ensure that they are not crushed by your boat or any other
boat in the lock:
tighten the lines fore and aft and ask the other boats in the
lock to do the same thing.
stop the motor.
throw a life buoy or a line to the person in the water.
in a manual lock, warn the lock-keeper and help him close
the sluice gates; in an automatic lock, stop the locking
procedure by pushing the red emergency button or pulling
on the red bar.
help the person out of the water via the ladder in the lock
wall or the boat’s swimming ladder.
The boat hook
Thanks to its plastic hook, the boat hook is used to pull your
boat towards a quay or a bank. If you use it to push yourself
away from a quay, a difficult and dangerous exercise, make
sure you do not place it in front of your body or in front of the
boat’s windows. Do not use the boat hook while the boat is at
cruising speed, it should be virtually at a standstill.
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