CARE OF EQUIPMENT When  boats  are  removed  from  the  water,  propellers and sea suction should be checked and all deficiencies corrected. Engine oil should be changed after every 100 hours of running time, or as required by the Planned Maintenance  System  (PMS).  Gear  housings,  steering mechanisms, and all moving parts must be kept well lubricated. Avoid spillage of fuel or oil; fumes from these are especially dangerous. The loads supported by gripe pads should be distributed as evenly as possible, to  prevent  hull  deformation/damage. BOAT  CREW  DUTIES LEARNING OBJECTIVE: List and explain the duties of the boat crew. All members of a boat crew must know their duties and be qualified second-class swimmers to ensure safe handling of the boat. This section covers the duties of the coxswain, the bow hook, the stern hook, the boat keeper, the boat engineer and the boat officer. The duties of the boat engineer are outlined in the latest Fireman TRAMAN.  The  duties  and  responsibilities  for  boat operation are outlined in the Ship's Boat Bill. The coxswain  must  know  the  bill  and  its  contents. DUTIES  OF  THE  COXSWAIN As the coxswain of a boat, you must assume many duties and responsibilities. It is your duty to be familiar with all details relating to the care and handling of your boat. As a coxswain, you must know the boat’s physical characteristics,   draft,   and   cargo   and   passenger capabilities  in  both  fair  weather  and  foul.  These capacities  are  stamped  on  the  boat  label.  It  is  important that the limits not be exceeded. Subject to the orders of the officer of the deck (OOD) and the commanding officer, you, as the coxswain, will have full charge of the boat and its crew. WARNING Boat crews entering or leaving the boat via the  boat  boom  must  wear  inherently  buoyant (kapok)  life  jackets. The coxswain is responsible for making sure the boat  crew  and  personnel  embarked  comply  with  all safety regulations. (Passengers, regardless of rating, must obey the coxswain's orders if they concern the operation of the boat or the safety of personnel aboard) All boat passengers and crew must wear life jackets when  weather  conditions  are  hazardous. Before operating the boat, the coxswain must inventory  the  personnel  safety  equipment  and  other equipage in the boat equipment to make sure it is all on board. The coxswain must record courses and en route times, in the appropriate log, to all landings visited under various  conditions  of  tide.  The  compass  course  and navigation aids, upon entry to a port, are verified in company with the navigator and/or quartermaster during the first boat run. The coxswain is responsible to the OOD and the division officer for the boat's cleanliness and readiness for service. Coxswains and boat crews are representa- tives  of  the  ship  and  should  take  pride  in  their appearance and in the image presented by their boat. The ship's regulations frequently require, for example, that crew members wear clean white sneakers. This is primarily a safety factor, but also aids in keeping boats looking neat. Supplying  oilskins  or  rain  clothes  for  the  boat's crew is the coxswain's responsibility. The gear should be all of one type, if possible, and should be kept in the boat when not in use. Wearing foul weather gear is strictly  prohibited  for  boat  crews  unless  severe  weather requires its use. Usually, the senior officer present afloat (SOPA) issues instructions that set the uniform for boat crews. If you are not familiar with these instructions, check with the OOD before reporting for boat duty. Then inform your crew of the proper uniform so that all crew members will be dressed correctly before being called away. When called away, man your boat promptly. In the absence of a boat officer, the coxswain receives orders from  the  OOD. When the boat is underway, the coxswain should station the bow hook in the forward part of the boat to act as a bow lookout. This requirement is of major importance  in  boats  such  as  LCMs,  where  the coxswain's  vision  is  severely  limited. A  boat  coxswain  must  see  that  the  crew  and passengers sit in their proper places and that the crew outside the canopy conduct themselves in a military manner  when  salutes  are  exchanged. Coxswains  of  powerboats  should  pay  particular attention  to  canopy  curtains.  When  curtains  are  not required, they should be rolled and stopped up. When in 5-6