XN000022-1980-06-24 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1980

TYPHOON ADVICE TO PLEASURE BOAT OWNERS

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THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TODAY ISSUED A LIST OF PRECAUTIONS WHICH CAN HELP PLEASURE CRAFT OWNERS MINIMISE DAMAGE TO THEIR BOATS DURING THE PASSAGE OF TROPICAL STORMS.

A SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT EACH YEAR DURING THESE STORMS, A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF BOATS BREAK LOOSE AND DRIFT FROM THEIR MOORINGS. +SOME CAUSE DAMAGE TO OTHER BOATS THAT ARE SECURELY MOORED, SOME ARE STRANDED OR SINK, AND OTHERS BECOME SWAMPED BY RAIN WATER, + HE SAID.

THE FIRST ADVICE HE GAVE IS TO HAVE THE MOORING AND BOAT CHECKED ON THE APPROACH AND FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF A STORM.

+ IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, THEN MOOR THE BOAT FOR TYPHOON CONDITIONS EACH TIME IT IS LEFT UNATTENDED DURING THE TYPHOON SEASON, HE SAID.

OTHER ADVICE AND PRECAUTIONS ARE:

MOORING ROPES AND CHAINS

* MAKE SURE THE ROPES OR CHAINS ARE LONG ENOUGH

TO ALLOW FOR HIGH WATER SPRINGS PLUS A STORM SURGE OTHERWISE THE BOAT MAY LIFT ITS MOORINGS FROM THE SEABED-

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THE ROPES SHOULD PREFERABLY BE OF GOOD QUALITY MANILA OR NYLON. HOWEVER SOME TYPES OF SYNTHETIC ROPE DETERIORATE IN SUNLIGHT WITHOUT SHOWING ANY VISIBLE SIGNS. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A SET OF STORM ROPES UNDER COVER BUT READY FOR USE ON THE APPROACH OF BAD WEATHER-

IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE OF A MOORING ROPE CHAFING IT SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY FITTING FLEXIBLE PLASTIC TUBING, LEATHER OR CANVAS-

IT IS ADVISABLE TO USE TWO MOORING ROPES TO EACH MOORING BUOY, ONE FROM PORT AND THE OTHER FROM STARBOARD OR BETTER STILL, AN ADEQUATE MOOR ING CHAIN SHACKLED TO THE BUOY MOORING CHAIN, IF SHACKLES ARE USED, THEY SHOULD BE MOUSED TO PREVENT WORKING BACK-

MOORING ROPES SHOULD BE SECURED TO AT LEAST TWO POINTS ON THE BOAT SO AS TO OBVIATE THE DANGER OF CLEATS AND BOLLARDS BEING TORN FROM THE DECK WHEN A HEAVY STRAIN IS PLACED ON THE MOORING-

MOORING CHAINS USUALLY WASTE AT THE LINKS IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE BUOY AND ALONG THE LENGTH WHERE THEY REST ON THE SEABED. MOORING EQUIPMENT SHOULD THEREFORE BE INSPECTED BY A COMPETENT SURVEYOR AT INTERVALS OF NOT MORE THAN TWO YEARS-

/FENDERS