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Boating Safety
Abandon Ship
Indeed, so many variables and circumstances come into play when deciding if a vessel should be abandoned that no hard rules govern the choices.
Lieutenant Bob Kirk, inspector for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office in Miami, is not aware of any regulations that spell out what recreational boaters must do.
"If the vessel is in distress, such as on fire or sinking, then your options are limited by the amount of time you have to act," he says. "A fire that's out of control can quickly reach the fuel, so a prompt evacuation is a must. And if you're taking on water faster than you can get rid of it, then you of course have to leave the boat before it sinks."
Kirk says you should never leave a boat voluntarily unless the boat's about to leave you - i.e., lives are threatened due to fire or sinking. The Coast Guard requires that all small boats float even when turned over or full of water. It's usually best to remain with the boat unless it will carry you into a more dangerous area, or is on fire and might explode.
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