NEW PRODUCTS - Australian Boating Manual
Author Capt Dick Gandy has revised the Australian Boating Manual to keep up with changes in maritime training requirements and released a fourth edition.
Apart from the revisions, Capt Gandy has also expanded the publication to meet the syllabus requirements of the Transport and Logistics 2007 marine training package (which came into effect last year) with chapter two of the new fourth edition a study guide for commercial certificates, listing chapters and questions that one needs to study to obtain various certificates.
At 968 pages, the fourth edition is 116 pages larger than the preceding edition and twice the size of the first edition (page three details the new instalments).
The publisher, Ocean Publications said Chapter Three has been expanded to include boat design and construction, watertight integrity and survey requirements, while codes of safe working practices have been added to chapters Four, Five and Six.
The book now covers hazardous materials and safety data sheets, deck machinery safety, ship and port facility security codes, safety management systems, onboard communication, conflict resolution, fishing vessels safety protocol, and ballast water regulations.
Chapters dealing with first aid and anchors have been revised; as are the sections on fast-craft regulations, crowd management, fire protection, passage planning, environment protection, EPIRBS, refrigeration, and steering systems.
In addition to a new section on automatic radar plotting aid, the author has looked ahead to include the Automatic Identification System (AIS) — a VHF broadcast device which recently became compulsory on large vessels and is fast making its way to small vessels. AIS exchanges ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore information such as vessel call sign, registration number and MMSI, manoeuvring information (such as position, course and speed) ship particulars, and cargo information.
The chapter on boat maintenance is said to include protection from galvanic and stray currents, care of sails, hull repairs and various types of paints, varnishes and anti-fouls. The publisher said the navigation chapter covers the full syllabus to the Master Class IV certificate level, making it also a complete navigation book. This chapter is large and has been divided into three sub-chapters: Compasses, Chartwork, and Tides & Currents.
Similarly, the OHS chapter is divided into five sub-chapters: First Aid, Fire, Survival, Work Practices, and Safe Operational Regulations. The First Aid section, which is regularly revised by a boating pharmacist, includes information on seasickness, surviving heart attack when alone, and marine bites and stings.
In addition to seamanship, electronics, communication, navigation, meteorology, regulations and engines, the book includes sections on buying and insuring boats, nautical terminology, cyclone protection, mooring lines sizes, winches, slings, onboard work practices, electronic fuel injection, four-stroke outboards, engine beds, exhaust systems, ventilation, soundproofing, solar power, electrical installations, pumps, valves, and plumbing.
The publisher said the Australian Boating Manual is the product of research into what boaties need to and want to know, with input from wide ranging experts and manufacturers.
“Whether you want to buy a boat, GPS, radar or sounder, this book tells you what to look for. It is a unique manual and textbook, with information easy to find and digest. It also contains 2687 self-test multiple-choice questions and answers at the back of the chapters,” said Ocean Publications.
The Australian Boating Manual has a recommended retail price of $89.95 and is available at bookshops and chandlers or contact the publisher, Ocean Publications, by phoning (02) 9986 0725.
For further information, email: dgandy@bigpond.com or visit www.australianboatingmanual.com