preventing and handling emergencies 273
- Crack the main tank valve about a quarter turn.
- Turn on the solenoid switch at the galley station to allow fuel fl ow from the
main tank. Light the stove or use the electronic ignition. Keep the fl ame visible
even at low levels. You don’t want a burner turned on with only gas vapor
pouring into the cabin.
Shutdown and Securing
- Shut off the oven. Keep one burner going with a medium fl ame. Shut
off all other burners. - Secure the solenoid switch and wait until the fl ame dies out at the burner.
- Turn off stove burner valve. Double-check that all other burners and
oven are off. - Turn off main tank valve.
SEA-CRET TIP
X While cooking underway, wear chest-high bib foul-weather trousers.
Shove a square cushion down the front of the bib to protect your
chest; then take the slack out of the top of the overalls. You don’t
want boiling liquid or grease pouring down the top or splashing up
against the thin front section.Overboard Recovery and Reality Checks
Remind your crew of the techniques that give them the best chance
of remaining aboard: crouch when moving fore and aft , crawl when
conditions warrant, grab and hold, then move...It’s nearing midnight on a blustery evening and you’re at the end of your watch. You
set the autopilot and go below to wake the crewmember taking the next watch. When
he gets to the cockpit, you agree to reef the mainsail to better balance the boat.
He moves forward to the mast to adjust the luff reef cringle, and you start
getting the clew cringle ready. Within seconds, a gust from nowhere heels the boat
to starboard, burying the rail in white water. You hear a shriek and twist around,
only to see your friend somersault backward over the starboard lifelines.
The loose-footed mainsail, partially reefed, blows wildly out of control
to leeward, blocking your vision of the lost crewmember. Now you’re alone
on deck, with one other crewmember still aboard, below and sound asleep.
Read on for tips on how to handle crew overboard situations.