SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/boat-overboard-spotter

Right after someone falls overboard, what job should one passenger take on?

Spotter, pointing at the person the whole time.

  1. Spotter, pointing at the person nonstop ✔
  2. Calling a friend on the cell phone
  3. Bailing water out of the boat

Why: A head in the water is easy to lose sight of. NASBLA says to shout 'Man Overboard' right away and assign one person to keep pointing at the person, or their last known spot, while the operator turns back.

Huh, didn't know that: Toss the person a throwable flotation device or any other floating object that is immediately available.

The dad joke
What do you call a man floating in the water? Bob.
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Sources

  1. NASBLA ESP TR 103-2022, Technical Report: Basic Boating Knowledge Core + Plus Power https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NASBLA/76594a34-f3a1-4916-95ac-1e9c872170cc/UploadedImages/education/national-education-standards/ESP_TR_ESP_103_Core_Plus_Power_2022_06_01FINAL.pdf
  2. NASBLA ESP TR 103-2022, Technical Report: Basic Boating Knowledge Core + Plus Power https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NASBLA/76594a34-f3a1-4916-95ac-1e9c872170cc/UploadedImages/education/national-education-standards/ESP_TR_ESP_103_Core_Plus_Power_2022_06_01FINAL.pdf

Test yourself in the game

Boating & WaterSomeone falls overboard. How does the Coast Guard say you should go back to pick them up?Boating & WaterFederal rules say a recreational boat must carry how many wearable life jackets?Boating & WaterAt what boat length does federal law add a throwable flotation device to the wearable ones?

That's stuff everyone should know.