Carbon Monoxide: Practical Checklists

Carbon monoxide gas can be a danger to Missouri boat users. Don't operate your boat without doing the following:

Every Time You Go On a Boat Trip

•   Make sure you know where CO exhaust outlets are located on your vessel.
•   Inform all travelers about signs and symptoms of CO poisoning and where CO can accumulate.
•   When docked, or rafted with another boat, be aware of exhaust emissions from the other boat.
•   Ensure that water flows from the exhaust outlet whenever engines and generator are started.
•   Pay attention for any change in exhaust sound, which may suggest an exhaust component failure.
•   Test the operation of each CO alarm by pressing the test button.

Every Month

•   Make sure all exhaust clamps are positioned and protected.
•   Look for exhaust leaking from exhaust system components. Signs include rust and black streaking, water leaks, or rusted or damaged fittings.
•   Examine rubber exhaust tubes for burned, cracked, or deteriorated sections. All rubber hoses must be pliable and without kinks.

Once a Year

Have a qualified marine technician:

•   Replace exhaust hoses if breaking, charring, or deterioration is located.
•   Ensure that your engines and generators are adequately tuned, and properly maintained.
•   Inspect every water pump impeller and the water pump lodging. Exchange if worn out. Make sure cooling systems are in working condition.
•   Inspect all metal exhaust components for cracking, rusting, leaking, or loosening. Make sure they look at the cylinder head, exhaust manifold, water injection elbow, and the threaded adapter nipple from the manifold and the elbow.
•   Clean, inspect, and verify proper operation of the generator cooling water anti-siphon valve (if equipped).

Be sure to check out all of the items on this list off before you take your watercraft out. On Lake of the Ozarks, Mark Twain Lake, and a great many other locations in Missouri, it is important to be safe on the water.

Rules of the Water - A Guide for Safe Boating

Avoiding accidents on the water becomes more important as more folks take to the lake annually. On lakes such as Mark Twain and Pomme de Terre, there are thousands of boats on the lakes every weekend. Everybody that is the owner of a boat owes it to themselves and their loved ones to know how to avoid typical situations on the lake.

Boat on Boat Situations

Three typical situations where boats will come to navigation decisions when approaching each other are head-on, crossing, and overtaking boats.

The Head-On Rules

When uncertain, yield right. That'll avoid most common complications with boat on boat encounters. If you're approaching a boat coming at you head-on, both boats are to yield to their right. If due to navigation issues (shallow water), getting to the right as far as possible and shutting down will enable the other boat to navigate near you in safe water. In tight situations, decelerate and judge the safe area on the right. And utilize your horn signals (identified in the Horn Blows section).

Crossing Rules

When two vessels are crossing in front of one another, the vessel to the right is considered the Stand-On Vessel and the other vessel is considered the Give-Way Vessel. The Stand-On Vessel (vessel on the right) is to continue on a straight course. While the Give-Way Vessel yields and navigates around the right of the other vessel. Again utilize horn blows when needed.

Overtaking Rules

When passing another boat, sound a brief horn blast to indicate your presence and then give a wide clearance and pass the vessel on the right (starboard) if possible. If navigation will not permit passing on the right, then again sound the horn with a couple of short bursts and pass with a wide margin on the left (port). Use caution as boats coming head-on might be masked by the forward vessel. Do not put yourself in a scenario of passing and needing to yield to oncoming vessels.

Note: These guidelines pertain to two boats of power meeting one another on the water. The guidelines vary for other boats not under power like sailboats. The boat under power must yield to the boat without power and make maneuvers to avoid the boat without power.

Horn Blows

Turn Starboard (Right) - Short blast
Turn Port (Left) - Two short blasts
Going Astern (backing up) - Three short blasts
Danger (to warn other boats of hazard ahead) - Five short blasts
Backing up from Dock - One long blast

Navigation Markers

Red Buoys - Mark right side of channel when going upstream or coming back from open waters.
Green Buoys - Mark left side of channel when traveling upstream or returning from open seas.
Non Lateral Markers (normally on white buoy with orange lines)
A square means information (things like fuel, or docks).
A diamond means danger and steer clear of that area (shallow or rocks).
A circle means controlled area, use caution (such as a no-wake zone).
A diamond with a cross indicates exclusion area (no boats allowed).

Understanding the rules of the water are important for a safe boating experience for you and the ones that you love. Use these rules to stay safe on Mark Twain Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Pomme de Terre Lake, and all over Missouri.

Rippertail Fishing Lure Review

By Kevin Weber - Missouri Great Outdoors Staff

Vibrant Colors and Unique Tail

I love to fish for crappie so I was excited when asked to give Rippertail Fishing Lures a try.  Off to to my favorite crappie hole I went armed with several colors of these new lures.  I was impressed with the vibrancy of the colors and the unique tail.  The Rippertail bodies have a soft feel that gave me the impression the fish would hold on to them instead of quickly spitting them out. 

I paired them with a Hook Set Slab Master jig head and at once noticed the unique design where the body meets the tail, allowing them to be easily threaded on the hook.  

Had Success Vertical Jigging As Well As Casting

I started off with a three tone grey color and had fish immediately.  We worked  the Rippertails casting around brush and stumps and  then worked them verticle jigging with success.  I was happy with the variety of colors that were offered.  In this picture I was using a red/white combo that is always a favorite of mine in the spring.  I have not fished much with a jig of this tail design but was pleased with the action and found the crappie tore them up.

One of the things I look for in a good jig is how well they hold up as you are catching fish.  It is a fine line between a jig being soft enough to feel real to the crappie and firm enough to hold up to bit after bite.  I was pleased to see that they stayed on the hook well even after sever fish were caught.

Final Thoughts

Keep one of that great color to match up to order more.  In fact once you figure out which colors work the best for you - you better double up your order.   This is a great product made local in Missouri. . I look forward to many more trips to my favorite crappie holes using Rippertail Fishing Lures.
We found them at http://www.rippertaillures.com/

A Cure for Cabin Fever

As I sit here looking out over the 6 inches of snow that fell last night, I found myself wishing I was out on my boat as I wonder if winter will ever leave.  Not being a fan of cold weather I have never embraced the ice fishing thing, opting instead of sitting by a warm fire.  Deer season is behind us and it just seems as if nature is dead.  I know however as in many years past, that mother nature will awake in all it's splendor in just a few short weeks.  So how do I survive until she decides to appear?

The answer is simple - Get Ready.  Get your guns cleaned and ready for spring turkey season. Get out and do a little rabbit hunting.   Get to the gun range and get some practice in.  

Photo Courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation.

If fishing is more your speed, get out your tackle box and empty it on the table.  Take stock in what you have to work with once the ice clears your favorite lake or river.  It's a great time to fix broken lures, throw stuff away, and make that list of restock items for your next trip to your favorite outdoors store.  It is also a great time to find out what that smell is in your box.... yikes.

I personally have been doing all the upgrades, repairs, and changes to my boat I didn't have time last year to complete.  The last thing you want to do when the fishing is hot, is to be at home working on your boat.  Get a heater, build a fire, or just bundle up and get out there in your shop or garage and take the time to maintain that boat so it is ready when you are - that first warm day this spring.  It is also a great time to take it to your favorite mechanic for a tune-up.  They aren't as busy now and you can usually get it in and out quickly - while you are watching it snow outside or watching fishing shows on TV.

Another great thing to do when you are stuck in the house is to plan a trip to a new lake or stream you have never been to before.  Maybe you are looking to go on a bow fishing some crystal clear water or take in a hog hunt in the southern part of the state.  In developing Missouri GreatOutdoors we have learned so much about some incredible areas of the state that we haven't visited either.  It made me realize how fortunate we are to live or visit this great state of Missouri (I pronounce "Misery" sometimes in the winter).   

There are so many places to explore, hike, hunt, fish, or just have a family outing here.  That's why we are so passionate about what we do at Missouri Great Outdoors.  We want to make it easy to plan trips to those far away places and take the guesswork out of the next trip or outing.  Explore an area through the site when the snow is too deep to get there.  

 Learn more about what Missouri has to offer.  It's easy to use, full of information all in one place, and it's free.  Once spring and summer finally gets here don't forget to take MissouriGreat Outdoors along on your smart phone to help navigate to your favorite spots and find new ones. 

It's another great way to get ready for spring - but it may make the cabin fever worse. 

Missouri Fishing and Hunting Licenses Online!

For years, fishing and hunting permits constantly looked to be one of those “Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em” kind of things. I usually forgot to get mine until the very last second and then I’d have to make a special trip to the shop in order to buy one. Then after I got it, I’d generally have difficulty remembering to carry it along with me the next time I went to the lake.

Now that is not a problem! With Missouri Great Outdoors, it's easy to get Missouri tags directly from the internet! All you need to do is follow the link on their website and type in the information for the tag. For payment they accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, but the coolest part is yet to come!

You do not even need to wait for them to ship it to you! Simply print it off of your computer and you’re set for a new MO hunting or fishing adventure. One cool side benefit: you can print multiple copies . Put one inside your truck, one in your boat, and so on.  No more worrying - do I have my license with me?

So if you’ve dealt with the same hunting and fishing tag problems that I’ve experienced, Missouri Great Outdoors has the answer! Visit the website today to get more info.