additional concepts and formulas 311
- Determine waterline length (LWL).
- Calculate waterline beam (BWL). Multiply .90 × boat beam.
- Multiply (LWL) × (BWL) × .75 = waterplane area (WPA).
- (WPA) × 5.3 = weight to immerse the waterline 1 inch.
Your boat has a 25-foot waterline (LWL) and a 10-foot beam:
.90 × 10 feet = 9-foot waterline beam (BWL)
25 feet × 9 feet × .75 = 168.8 waterplane area (WPA)
168.8 (WPA) × 5.3 = 895 pounds to immerse the waterline 1 inch
LASH AND STOW
Make sure your provisions stay in place. Use bungee chord, twine, Velcro, foam wedges,
sponges, towels, and fiddles. Shifting weights create danger to your boat and crew. In
extreme conditions they could lead to a capsize.
Coast Guard Coordination Centers
Coast Guard Coordination Centers (RCC) monitor, plan, and execute searches over large
regions. Th ink of an RCC as the mothership, with all of the CG stations, CG ships, CG aircraft ,
other military aircraft , and state and federal agencies within that area (see third column next
page), at their disposal. Manned 24 hours a day, RCC controllers stay in constant contact
with all units under their control.
Most VHF and USB radio calls from vessels in distress are received by the smaller
units. Th ese units monitor distress frequency channels 16 (VHF) and 2182 (USB) 24 hours
a day. If the small units need extra resources, they call the RCC. Within minutes, the
RCC can send planes, deploy CG cutters, divert merchant ships, and ask Air Force,
Navy, Marine, or Army units to assist in the rescue. Th e RCC plans all major off shore
searches and assigns rescue units to sea and air search sectors and maintains contact
with family members.
Overseas, Her Majesty’s Coast Guard (HMCG) covers inland, coastal, and off shore
waters of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Th is region is broken down into nine Search
and Recue (SAR) areas. Each area contains two Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers
(MRCC). Th ey monitor a broad band of distress communications, including VHF channels
16, 70 (DSC), 62A (land SAR), USB frequency 2182, and telephone number 999.
In all other areas, use channel 16 (VHF) or 2182 (USB) to place a distress call.
Th rough international agreement, those two frequencies are monitored by rescue units
worldwide.