Captain's Corner

Launching & Retrieving Boats Lake of the Ozarks has over 70,000 docks and over 160,000 boats that are here year round.  Add the number of visitors and tournament fisher men the number of boats greatly increases. as well as the congestion at the various boat ramps and marinas. When using a boat ramp, h ere are some steps to ensure that you have a smooth experience at the boat launch.. The first step is to get your boat ready away from the launch area itself. This will make sure that you aren’t blocking any other boaters who are waiting to use the launch—keeping everybody happy. Prepare your boat away from the ramp to avoid creating unnecessary delays at the launch area. Some of the steps you can take care of before approaching the ramp include: Removing all the tie-downs, with the exception of the;  winch  line. Loading any additional supplies and equipment into the boat; Inserting the drain plug; Disconnecting the trailer’s brake lights – so you don’t b...

So you want to cove out, or spend overnight on your boat, but not sure how to anchor.  Also is the anchor secure will I end up on shore. Do I have the correct anchor for my boat? What do anchors do?? Anchors dig into the seabed to hold a boat in position. They serve a safety role by keeping boats out of the surf or off the rocks. They also allow boaters to secure the boat temporarily while fishing, having lunch or spending the night. How do they work When an anchor penetrates the surface of the seabed, suction generates resistance, created by the bottom material plus the weight of the material above the anchor. As the boat pulls on the anchor rode, the anchor digs in deeper, creating additional resistance. In rocky bottoms, anchors can't dig in, but rather snag on protrusions and hold precariously. What part of the boat should you always anchor from? A proper method for lowering an  anchor  is from the bow.  Anchoring from  the stern could cause the  boat ...

I live at Lake of the Ozarks,  There are more than 1,150 miles of shoreline along the  Lake of the Ozarks  - more than the coast of California! , 93 miles of lake,  The  surface  of the  Lake  covers approximately 61,000  square  miles.  So how do you not get lost?  So as Captain Ron would say In the past it was with charting maps, Sexton and following the stars and what ever direction the wind blows.   But now with GPS, Goggle and other Apps, finding your way on many bodies of water is every easy. Now here at Lake of the Ozarks, and several other lakes, there are physical signs, such as 911 addresses.  On LOZ every dock as a 911 address, it will indicate the numerical property address, city and zip.  Most condominiums and on the water /lake side restaurants will have a name or address on the water side.  This is also true for sea stores/gas docks and marinas. Also at LOZ we have Mile Markers along the ...

Part of navigation is casting off and docking, both are essential skills to learn.   Casting off Casting off is just that, preparing to leave the slip or dock / pier.  There are some steps to occurs for a successful start to a day on the water. Boarding passenger and loading items on board: Loading items When loading bulky item, such as coolers, water toys, etc.  hand them to someone board, don't attempt to carry them/  Many people have slipped and fell off the dock or worst fell between the boat and walkway. This would be a disastrous way to start your boating adventure. Store your items so that they are secure and do not impede movement around the boat. As well as block any accessibility to emergency items. Boarding Passengers Ensure every one has a life jacket, or the life jackets is readily accessible.  Review your state laws regarding age limits for life jackets.   Missouri law  requires boaters to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved  ...

Before all of your friend and family get ready to enjoy a day on the water. There is a few things you should have. Some of this maybe common  sense, but in the rush to get out on the water, something is always over looked. Make sure you have required safety equipment on board.  Must-Have Safety Equipment for Your Boat Life jackets and wearable personal flotation devices (PFDs) An accessible, wearable PFD (Type I, II, or III) is a life jacket that must be available for each person on board. ... Throwable flotation devices. ...Throw cushion and or a life ring. Throw line Boat Hook Oar(s) Fire  extinguishers. ... Visual signaling devices. ...i.e. mirror Sound signaling devices. such as a whistle or hand held air horn First Aid Kit Charts and maps Boat registration Set of tools or Boating tool kit Fuses Fenders (2 to 4) Charging cord for cell phone I like to also make up a boating bag or go bag.   This is a backpack or water resistance bag that will carry some of th...

The United States Coast Guard reported almost 4,300  recreational boat accidents in 2017 . Surprisingly, most recreational boaters aren’t familiar with the boating rules of the road, which causes confusion and makes their boating experience less safe and more stressful. If you master even the basic principles of boat-passing rules, you’ll know how to behave in any situation and keep your cool. As the captain of your vessel, it’s your responsibility to maintain the safety of your boat and everyone onboard. The more knowledgeable you are about how to do that — such as by knowing and understanding boating right-of-way-rules and collision regulations — the less you have to worry about something going wrong. First things first — a few general tips for maintaining navigational safety: – Don’t go too fast.  If you can increase the overall safety of your vessel or a vessel nearby by slowing down, you should. Sometimes the conditions are right to go fast, and sometimes they aren’t. It’...

Buoys  -Are aids to  Navigation  floating objects that are anchored to the bottom. Their distinctive shapes and colors indicate their purpose and how to navigate around them. Buoys , Beacons and Marks. The IALA Buoyage System is a worldwide standard sea mark system used in  navigation  to mark the edge channels. ... These  buoys  and marks indicate where safe water lies and where you should  navigate  safely within a channel. Always refer to a local chart to identify where potential hazards may be. There are several types of Buoys,  Control area buoy, Danger Buoys, Exclusion Zone Buoy, Information Buoy, Channel Marker Buoy, Mooring Buoy  Controlled Area A white buoy or sign with an orange circle and black lettering indicates a controlled or restricted area on the water. The most common controlled area within Voyageurs National park is 'Slow-No Wake' speeds. ' Slow-No Wake' means operating your boat at the slowest possible speed nece...

The  Navigation Rules  are much like the  rules  of the road on the highway. They establish a consistent way to navigate safely and avoid collisions when two boats are crossing paths, are on course to meet head-on, or when one boat wishes to overtake another. There are only three ways boats can collide — meeting head-on,   overtaking, and crossing. As long as you know what to do in each scenario — as well as what to do when the other boater doesn't follow the Rules — you can be reasonably assured of avoiding collisions throughout all your time on the water. There's a beautiful quirk in the International Navigation Rules: They avoid the phrase "right of way." Instead, they refer to a "give-way" vessel and to a "stand-on" vessel. The give-way vessel yields to the other vessel.  The stand-on vessel continues its course and speed.    The  International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972  ( COLREGs ) are published by the...