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SEAS- BERGEN CHAPTER 26’ RANGER: HI SEAS Keelboat Policy Manual Revised Nov 2005
Name of Boat
The name of the SEAS-Bergen Chapter sailing vessel shall be “Hi SEAS”. The current boat is a 26’ Ranger sloop-rigged sailboat docked at Haverstraw Marina in Haverstraw N.Y. This Policy manual shall serve as a general guide and if printed, may not be current. The most current manual will be on the SEAS website
Statement of Policy
A. There shall be a committee of SEAS-Bergen members who shall be responsible for facilitating and managing Hi SEAS. The Commodore shall appoint the chairperson of this committee. The committee will be in charge of policy making, financial management, maintenance, scheduling, education, and skipper qualification, subject to approval by the SEAS Bergen Executive Board. The commodore shall appoint a chairman of the Keelboat Committee. The chairman in turn shall approve committee members from the general SEAS membership. Keelboat subcommittee meetings shall be open to all members, but only committee members designated by the Chairman shall have voting privileges. The Club Commodore is by definition a member of the committee. The chairman shall schedule meetings as he sees appropriate with a recommended schedule of monthly except for the months of December, January and February.
B. An approved skipper must be at least 21 years old. Skippers are classified, “A”, “B”, “C” according to ability. With exception of “A” skippers, skippers must submit to a yearly checkout/refresh session each Spring as further outlined within.
C. There will be a SEAS-Bergen qualified Keelboat skipper on board at all times when Hi SEAS is underway.
D. Members of other SEAS chapters may qualify and become skippers of Hi SEAS. Rules for qualification are set by Keelboat committee
E. Members of all SEAS chapters may take training courses and sail aboard Hi SEAS.
F. All educational classes aboard Hi SEAS will be taught by Bergen approved skippers only, with all tuition fees being credited to the keelboat account.
G. It shall be the responsibility of the Keelboat Committee, with review by the Chairman to insure that all policy clarifications (such as current fee structures, reservation rules, skipper lists/contact information, designated maintenance days) are posted to the web in an expeditious manner and that all policy decisions reached of a more general nature be amended to this Keelboat policy manual if deemed appropriate.
H. The Keelboat committee shall be responsible for scheduling and organizing. Education & Training, moonlight cruises, Fall and Spring picnics, raft ups, and two mid season boat wash down parties. Other events can be scheduled at the committee’s recommendations.
I. The Ranger has a no smoking policy and 6 person (including children) limit. The only exception to the 6 person limit is within the confines of a Marina for education purposes such as docking practice or for rigging review/sail hoist review at the Marina entrance during skipper checkout.
-1- Hi SEAS Policy ManualPolicy on Education Procedure
1. The Keelboat Education Committee will formulate an orientation curriculum and conduct “meet the boat” courses according to demand.
2. The Keelboat Education Committee will establish basic criteria for approved skippers and skipper rankings. Such criteria will take into consideration the following factors: a) sailing skills, b) courses taken, c) sloop sailing experience, d) Hudson River experience, and e) Hi SEAS experience.
Policy on ReservationsPurpose
1. To provide a mechanism for scheduling educational and fundraising activities aboard Hi- SEAS. Dates and reservation policies will be published in the minutes and on the web site.
2. Reservations must be accompanied by payment if required. Payment schedules and procedures shall be posted on the SEAS website.
3. Course fees and suggested donations for fund- raising sails are based upon comparable courses offered by other SEAS chapters.
4. Efforts will be made to reschedule activities rather than refund money. Rain dates will be scheduled for activities canceled due to heavy weather. In the case of illness, or family or personal emergency, a refund may be made at the discretion of the reservations chairperson.
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Procedure
Scheduling In the Spring, a tentative calendar of the sailing events. training, and boat open availability will be prepared and posted on the internet at www.sailSEAS.com/Bergen. The educational sessions, fundraising sails, picnic, and moonlight sails will be listed on the calendar. The reservation chair will list all reservations as they are made with him, in order received.
Fees
Members are defined as dues paying members of any SEAS Chapter. Guests are non-SEAS members. Current fees are posted on the web.
-4- Hi SEAS Policy ManualPolicy on SkippersPurposeTo ensure that each teaching or fundraising activity aboard Hi SEAS is conducted in the presence of a competent, knowledgeable person who is familiar with the handling of this specific boat. Skippers acknowledge that they will abide by applicable Coast Guard policy for small craft including usage of life vests for children (12 and under) and non swimmers. Skippers acknowledge that they are responsible for insuring contact, via phone or email (with acknowledgement) for all discrepancies, mishaps, maintenance needs or similar issues at the conclusion of their boat usage. Information should be noted in the log and emailed/phoned to the chairman of the keelboat committee. The skipper is responsible prior to and after each usage to completing the log on board. This is not only a safety procedure but to insure that the boat is “shipshape” from fuel to housekeeping for the next usage. It is also designed to help ensure that important activities (such as mounting the man overboard sling) are performed prior to sail as well as ensuring that the boat is properly secured upon departure.
Policy The Keelboat Committee shall maintain a list of approved skippers (and their rating) who have demonstrated sailing competence and who are familiar with the equipment and operation of Hi SEAS. It shall be posted on the SEAS website.
Listing on the approval list does not designate one being competent to take others out “for hire”. All skippers shall be designated as “A”, “B” or “C” in accordance with policy designated by the Keelboat committee. “A” being the most experienced and “C” the least. In general, “C” skippers are required to maintain sail activities during daylight during relatively favorable sail conditions and limit their sail to the Tappan Zee bridge in the south and West Point to the north (while the current Haverstraw location is in use). “B” & “C” skippers are required to participate in Spring checkout for which a suggested voluntary fee will be posted on the website each year. Skipper checkout policy and schedule shall be posted each spring on the Keelboat website by the Keelboat committee. A skipper who has successfully participated in three consecutive yearly checkouts may exempt himself. All skippers shall indicate at the beginning of each season that they have read and understood the then current version of the Keelboat policy manual.
No sailing activity, whether educational or fundraising, will be permitted without a skipper aboard from the approved list. This skipper doesn’t necessarily have to be the educator or group leader of the particular sailing activity taking place.
The skipper should be aware that he/she is responsible for reimbursement to SEAS Bergen in case of damage to Hi SEAS and/or property damage. The crew responsibility should be explained to them by the skipper See page 5 – Policy on Liability.
Skippers donate their time; they do not receive financial remuneration.
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Payment
Payment is to be made by check payable to SEAS Bergen. Payments may be made in person at either a general membership meetings or executive board meetings. They may be presented to the reservations chairperson, or directly to the Treasurer, or at the Chapter’s post office box: PO Box 573, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410. Those mailing in their payment should contact the reservations chairperson first to determine availability of a space.
Policy on Liability Purpose
To determine who is responsible should personal injury or damage to the boat occur.
Policy
At the time of this writing, Hi SEAS has both hull insurance with a $500 deductible, and property damage insurance with a $1000 deductible. (Readers are advised to see the website, or read the website version of this manual for current information).
The skipper of Hi SEAS is responsible for these amounts in the event of such loss or damage (See Policy on Skippers).
During a chapter-sponsored educational activity, the sponsoring chapter is responsible for this amount.
Although not mandatory, it is recommended that skippers appreciate their responsibility by taking courses such as “Red Cross” first aid including being familiar with Cardiac life saving techniques
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Hi SEAS Policy Manual
Accounting
Purpose
The purpose is to work with the Keelboat subcommittees to establish an annual budget for the operation of the Keelboat. The members of the Keelboat Committee and Executive Board will develop a fee structure for classes and leisure usage. The SEAS-Bergen treasurer will be responsible for maintaining the records of donations, credit toward classes and/or usage of the keelboat. The treasurer will monthly prepare a Statement of Revenue and Expenditures.
Procedure
1. The annual budget, drafted by the Keelboat Committee will be submitted to SEAS Bergen Executive Committee for final approval prior to the April general meeting. The committee shall report budget progress at each general meeting throughout the summer months and prepare a year-end statement and outlook for the Commodore each Fall. 2. All revenue will be deposited into the SEAS Bergen general treasury and all expenditures will be paid from the SEAS Bergen general treasury. 3. At the conclusion of each sailing season, a portion of surplus operating funds, determined by the Keelboat committee, shall be transferred to a “new boat” fund to protect our future. The intent of that fund is to provide for the longer-term contingency of securing a Ranger (current boat) replacement. In the unlikely event that repairs or other unforeseen contingencies create a deficit, the chairman of the Keelboat committee shall solicit approval of the Commodore to reclaim funds from the new boat fund as required for emergency usage.
Maintenance Committee
Purpose
The purpose of the maintenance committee is to ensure that Hi SEAS is maintained in a safe and “ship shape” condition at all times. The ranger committee shall have a designated member as Maintenance Chair.
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Policy
The responsibilities of this committee include the following:
1. The recommendation to the SEAS Bergen Executive Board of dry dock and anchorage facilities. 2. The organization and scheduling of all repairs and maintenance. 3. The purchasing of parts, materials, supplies, and equipment. 4. The contracting of outside services when necessary and applicable. 5. Maintenance of a shipboard log which includes a checkout list which the skipper must fill out before and after each sail, and be signed by all persons aboard, and the incident report forms which the skipper must fill out in the event of any incident, damage or injury. 6. Submission of requests for appropriations to cover major repairs, which exceed the Annual Budget.
NOTE: Repairs or alterations to the keelboat can only be made upon approval by the Maintenance Chairman; emergency repairs being the exception.
Revised 2/15/02 -8-
Hi SEAS Policy Manual
COMMITTEES Education Committee
Purpose
The purpose of the Education Committee is to develop and operate a curriculum designed to teach SEAS members coastal cruising skills utilizing the keelboat.
Policy
The responsibilities of this committee include the following:
1. Developing a curriculum. 2. Assignment of instructors to teach classes. 3. Coordinating the class schedule with the Reservation Committee. 4. Developing a price structure of available classes in conjunction with the Accounting Committee and other members of the Keelboat Committee and Executive Board. 5. Interfacing with Bergen SEAS Vice Commodore to minimize conflicts with Basic Sailing Courses. 6. Maintaining records of students’ test and certification levels.
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Season Passes
The keelboat committee shall offer a number of season passes for fee with rates and quantity set each spring by the keelboat committee. In addition to a financial consideration, a holder of a season pass shall be expected to volunteer his or her time in a manner subject to the approval of the keelboat committee. This obligation can be met by supplying a minimum of 8 hours of maintenance help during the Spring or Fall preparation periods, or supplying assistance during club activities such as water training at the discretion of our commodore
Unlimited pass – usage anytime the boat is available, skipper to be supplied if pass holder is not checked out. Fee posted on Web
. Weekday pass – all weekdays except holidays, skipper to be supplied if pass holder is not checked out. Fee posted on Web
Educational pass – entitles holder to participate in structured classes with other students. Fee posted on Web
Skipper annual check out – all skippers to be checked out by one or more of SEAS Bergen check-out skippers using the skipper check out forms. (fee is voluntary). As part of the checkout all skippers will be required to indicate they have read and familiarized themselves with the Policy manual.
All boat usage by reservation is via the web and subject to current reservation rules as posted on the web. While rules may vary slightly from year to year depending on prior year experience it is the intention that multiple concurrent reservations are not permitted without the approval of the keelboat committee to insure that all members with passes can get fair access to the boat.
A list of Season Pass holders (full or weekday) shall be available on the public website.
A Season Pass can be revoked without remuneration by the chairman of the Ranger committee after discussion with the executive board. Such causes could be (but not limited to) violation of Ranger Policy, unsafe usage of the boat, and blatant disregard for the shared status of the boat which could include such items as leaving the boat unsuitable for usage by the next skipper .. (dirty, low/no gas, with unreported damage etc).
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