This is a lovable little robot that will
help teach boating and water safety. A fully animated robot, he
moves, speaks, listens, plays audiocassette tapes and activates
his lights and horns all by remote control. He can wink and blink
and move his eyes, and will present a friendly image to young and
old alike. | |
Operators use the remote control console and have full operational control of Coastie. It is important to remember that you will always need to be able to see Coastie for safe operation. Sometimes you will need to steer Coastie by looking at his two flagpoles in a large crowd. When moving Coastie, always make sure the path is clear of children and any obstacles before you move ahead. Always maintain eye contact with the Director, as he is your safety observer while in a large crowd at a Boat Show. Coastie has many features that you will control that will maintain the children's attention. Operating Coastie in a safe manner is very important as injuries could occur during interaction and animation in close quarters. Coastie should always have some movement and be doing something active every 5 seconds so he will appear to be alive. This is where the magic of Coastie makes him so effective as the children experience a great deal of fun and gain educational value from their new friend. Bow microphone for hearing the children: There is a microphone in the bow so the Operator can hear what the children are saying. Coastie will need to be fairly close to the children so the operator can hear and reply. Children talk very softly and the Director may need to assist with their names and responses. Do not place anything over the microphone or let it become obstructed in any way. If children lean against the microphone the operator will not hear. Be careful to keep children from putting their fingers on the microphone since this will also reduce hearing and may actually damage it or push it through the hull. Headset microphone voice transmitter: Coastie's Operator has a microphone on the headset to transmit his voice to Coastie and then through a Voice Modifier. The Voice Modifier makes the Operator's voice sound like a cartoon character voice by shifting the voice frequency up one octave. The Voice Modifier must be adjusted when a female operator takes the controls. If not, the voice will be to high. It is important to talk slow and articulate your words. If you talk to fast the children will not be able to understand Coastie. Coastie's eye lids move up and down: The eye lids move up and down, independently, or together. Children always want to touch the eye lids so it is imperative that the Director protects Coastie's eye lids and, at the same time, tactfully tell the children, "Please don't touch Coastie's eyes because it might hurt him". Coastie's eyes move left and right: The eyes move left and right. For Coastie to be alive his eyes must maintain consistent movement. Coastie should look towards the person he is talking with. The eyes are another area of concern as they are fragile and could be easily damaged. The Director must maintain control of the situation by asking the children not to touch Coastie's eyes. Coastie's eyes light up and blink: The lights behind the eyes automatically blink to the sounds of music or voice. Running lights operate by remote control: You can turn the running lights on or off. There is a port, starboard, center cabin and stern light. The lights are not regulation although in this application it isn't important. Coastie has an operational horn: Coastie's horn is very loud. Before sounding the horn the Director should tell the children to cover their ears. Younger children can be very frightened so you must be aware of the age group of your audience. Coastie has a siren: You can sound Coastie's siren. Again, the Director should warn the children, especially younger ones, in advance so that they are not frightened by the sudden noise. Coastie can play music through his remote cassette player:You can play cassette tapes through Coastie using the remote control. Remember, however, that you can only play the song that is next on the tape. One advantage of the cassette player is that you can record your own tapes and establish a song list for events and parades. Coastie can also be equipped with a remote cd player: With the remote control CD player you can play prerecorded CDs and, using the CD remote, you can select any song you wish to play. This operation of the CD must be controlled by the Director since he is with Coastie. (This is an optional accessory although it is now part of the Coastie package) Coastie can also pump his bilge: Coastie can pump his bilge but you will have to open the value inside his hull and possibly change the horn switch position. Installation varies with each boat so read the special instructions in the operations manual. The Director should have one of the children hold the bilge bucket at the through hull fitting so water doesn't get on the floor. (This is an optional accessory) Coasties mobility allows diversified movement: Coastie is very mobile and can turn left, right, go forward or backwards, spin around and dance. The dancing is initiated by rocking him fore and aft. His flags will move back and forth during his dance routine. This takes some practice on the part of the Operator. Coastie can squirt water 25 feet: If Coastie is equipped with a water squirter system you can squirt water at least 25 feet, which the children just love in warm weather. If the children are too close they can easily be squirted in face and eyes so caution is very important. The floor can also become very slippery and someone could get hurt, so consider the surface before using the Squirter. Coastie's rotating beacon controls the class: Coastie's rotating amber beacon is remote controlled. The beacon is used to calm the children down when they get to noisy and are not paying attention to the Instructor and Coastie. They should be told that they must be very quiet when the light comes on or Coastie will become very quiet and take a nap. This works very well during the class room sessions. Coastie's search light can make you a star: Coastie's search light draws a large amount of voltage from the battery. It is advisable not to used it too often. One cute little routine that can be done with the parents or children and that always brings a smile follows: Coastie says, "I can make you a Star!" (Mom Dad or Child) Then he points the search light at the individuals chest (not eyes) and says, "You're a star!" The newer Coasties have a very high candlepower search light. Extreme caution should be taken not to shine the beam directly in anyone's eyes. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Remember that Coastie has the power to easily knock down a small 2- 4 year old child. As the Operator you must always be focused on the interaction taking place and not be distracted by other events going on around you. PROFICIENCY OF OPERATION COMES WITH PRACTICE Once you have mastered the operational aspects of Coastie it will be just like driving a car or riding a bike. Your control will be a natural reaction with smooth and precise results. This will come with time and experience. So, practice, practice, practice! | |
The Director plays a very important roll during all Coastie presentations. The person who fills this position should have a warm, friendly personality and be able to interact positively with children and adults. This person should also have a great deal of patience and be able to keep track of everything that is going on around Coastie. He/she must be in a proper, clean uniform and be neatly groomed at all times since he/she is representing the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary when performing with Coastie. The Director is the communications link between Coastie and the children since many talk very softly and cannot be heard by the Operator over Coastie's built in microphone. The Director may have to repeat what the children have said or simply make sure that the children are the proper distance from Coastie's microphone. The Director is also responsible for Coastie's safety. Small children are inquisitive and like to touch things. The Director must make sure that children do not touch Coastie's eyes or eyelids, lean on the microphone, or be in a position where they may damage Coastie. Additionally, the Director must make sure that the children are not in a position where they may get hurt by Coastie if he moves suddenly. The Director should remain close to Coastie's bow at all times. In this position he/she is ready to maintain control if the remote control system is overridden by stray radio frequencies. This is the easiest position to be in to protect Coastie and the children. The Director must know where the main power switch is if it becomes necessary to shut Coastie down quickly. The Director is also Coastie's guide in congested areas like boat shows or any event where the Operator has difficulty seeing Coastie because of large crowds. He/she may need to operate the CD remote and select appropriate music for Coastie to play and dance to and must insure that Coastie has room to turn in and move back and forth safely. Additionally, the Director must check the main battery power during long periods of use and return Coastie to his maintenance area for battery changes before all power is depleted. The Director must interact with Coastie and his audience to maintain interest and communications by prompting questions like, "What do you wear when you go boating?", sharing names with Coastie, and talking to Coastie as if he were real and alive. He/she may be required to help smaller children retrieve trading cards from Coastie's smoke stack. The Director should not be "on duty" (performing out in front with Coastie) for more than 90 minutes at a time. After that period he/she should take a 45-60 minute break before resuming the Director duties. This schedule may require that two or more Directors be available at public appearances. Remember, both the Director and Coastie are in the public spotlight when performing. Positive representation is very important to the Coastie program image, the Auxiliary, and the Coast Guard. | |
Shy Children: Never focus attention on their shyness. Talk about their cute outfit. If they don't warm up tell them you will see them next year. Ask if they want a trading card. Whisper to them that you are just a little boat and you wanted to say, Hi! Say, "Bye, Bye. See you next year." if they become upset, then move on. Never force Coastie on a shy or frightened child. Many need more time to adjust. Often shy kids warm up to Coatie and become his best friend very quickly. Overbearing Children: Say to them that it was nice meeting them, and now you are going to meet some other children. Ask them a question about boating to distract them from whatever they are doing. Ask them to lead the group of kids in a song. Make sure they do not touch any of Coastie's moving parts like his eyes and eye lids. If they don't settle down or the parents do not take control, say, "I will see you next year." and then move on. If they try to climb on Coastie tell them they need a life jacket to go for a boat ride. That always works. Special Need Children: Ask you Director to help blind children touch Coastie. Children in wheelchairs focus 100% on the child. Mentally challenged kids are vey special to work with and they will generally ask Coastie very good questions. When answering their questions always call them by their name. | |
UNTRAINED OPERATORS: Never let an untrained person operate Coastie unless supervised by an experienced operator. Liability could be an issue if an accident occurs. OPERATION AROUND SMALLCHILDREN: Be careful when operating Coastie around small children. Young children, especially ages 2-4, can change directions very quickly or lose their balance and fall. This is why there must always be a director to protect the children from the boat and the boat from the children. REMOTE CONTROL LOSS DURINGOPERATION: Operators have experienced loss of remote control because of stray radio frequencies. These frequencies can come from a mobile unit, hand held radio's, and transmitter towers. When these incidents occur, you have only a few seconds to shut the main power switch off in the boat before the boat's entire system will start functioning independent of the remote. This requires immediate action on the part of the Director or other team members in close proximity of Coastie. To protect spectators and children, the Director has to remain between the boat and the audience at all times. It is possible for Coastie to "run over" people either because the Operator can't see the individuals or because Coastie does not respond to remote control signals. ROBOT OPERATION WITH TWO PEOPLE: At no time should the voice and operation of the boat be split between two people! This destroys the continuity of Coastie's animation and voice interaction. The operator and voice can not anticipate what the other will do and or say. Therefore, there should only be one operator/voice. OPERATION SURFACES: Coastie cannot operate on grass or dirt or any rough surface. He should be kept on smooth, hard surfaces or rugs with a very tight, short weave. Rough surfaces and thick carpet may affect his CD, draw excessive battery power, and/or possible damage the drive motors. ROBOT OPERATION DURING RAIN: Coastie is a very complex computerized electronic robot. He should never get wet internally which may cause circuits to short. If there is a short, the electronics box should be opened and the circuit boards carefully dried with a hair dryer. If you must operate Coastie in inclement weather you should have a clear, plastic tarp available to cover Coastie in the event of rain. ROBOT RECEIVER ANTENNA: Coastie's voice receiver antenna should always be fully extended up between the eyes in the cabin. If this is not done, the boat will sound erratic because of a poor signal. OPERATING AROUND THEWATERFRONT: When operating around the water, it is advisable to keep Coastie away from the edge of the dock. A safety leash made of heavy nylon would allow the operator to have a safety margin when operating near the water. If operation near the water will be frequent, it may be advisable to mount eye bolts on Coastie's stern to serve as an attachment point for the safety leash. | |
Coastie's Operator has a two-part mission. First, they are the voice of Coastie. Second, they control Coastie's animated features, that is, they keep Coastie ALIVE! The Operator can be an adult male or female. This person should stay "out of sight" as much as possible. They should speak in a clear and slow natural voice. Coastie will work the magic on your voice so you sound like a cartoon character or, in this case, Coastie. This is accomplished thourgh a voice synthesizer. The operator will be wearing two control boxes and a combination microphone and headset earpiece. One box is a transmitter for Coastie's voice and the other is a receiver so you can hear when the children are talking to Coastie. It is very important that Coastie interacts and maintains conversation with the children and audience. He must move his eyes and eye lids and turn from side to side. If this animated action fails to occur, the magic of Coastie is lost! The following comments that Coastie can say to children or audiences are from Coastie's Uncle John Wargo from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Watercraft Division. 1. "Hi! What is your name? My name is Coastie." 2. "How old are you? I'm five years old." 3. "Today is my birthday. Would you sing Happy Birthday to me?" (Everyday is Coastie's birthday as he is always 5 years old.) 4. "Are you enjoying the ______________?" (put in boat show or event name) 5. "Do you enjoy riding on a boat?" 6. "Let me ask you a very important question. 'What is the most important thing to wear when you go boating?'"
7. "Do you want to hear my siren?" 8. "Cover your ears and I will sound my foghorn. It is very loud. Are you ready?"
9. Coastie can share that his dad is a Coast Guard cutter and they go on patrols together. Coastie's dad is teaching him how to be a big Coast Guard cutter when he grows up. 10. "Do you know what I'm going to be when I grow up? A cutter like my Dad! What are you going to be?" 11. "I like to eat pizza, McDonalds, and peanut butter. What do you like to eat?" 12. "I sleep in the bathtub --- that's where all toy boats sleep. Where do you sleep?" (see no. 18) 13. "My dad is a Coast Guard cutter on Lake _______." 14. "My mom is a buoy tender on Lake _______." 15. When talking to aduls specifically ask them, "Have you taken a safe boating class? Please call the phone number on my trading card to sign up for a class so our waterways will be fun and safe for all." 16. "Do you want to hear my Coastie Jingle?" Have Coastie move fore and aft dancing to the jingle. 17. "Would you give me a big hug? I love hugs!" 18. "See my rubber ducky? I got him for my birthday!" or "That's my rubber ducky, I take him in the bathtub!" 19. During the summer and when outside, Coastie can squirt the kids with his squirter. This is something all kids love. Be very careful that they are not too close as the squirter can hit them directly in the eye. The floor can also become slippery and someone may fall. Use good common sense when using this accessory. 20. Tell kids jokes. "Why did the hippopotamus cross the road? -- Because it was the chickens day off!" Coastie giggles.
21. You can always play one of the many children's songs available on CD or cassette tape. Children love to dance, march, and sing along with Coastie. Most of all, Coastie must have a bubbly, outgoing, creative personality. But most of all, he needs to be 5 years old! He must always be animated and appear alive!!! | |
Coasties Public Relations events are a substantial part of the overall program. The events range from Safe Boating Week to Concerts, and also Parades. Special Children's events, such as visits to Children's Hospitals, and Kids Expositions are great fun with Coastie. Coastie requests include Grand Openings, and Boat Shows. The United States Coast Guard and the USCG Auxiliary request many events for which Coastie is the star attraction. Cities, School Districts, and Commercial organizations request Coastie for many of their local events. As your Coastie gains local and State notoriety the demands for Public Appearance will continue to grow. It is extremely important to remember that whatever the Public Relations event may be, the Boating and Water Safety message must be shared with all who come in contact with Coastie. The USCGAUX is in the spotlight at these events and professionalism is of the utmost importance. There are so many variations with these types of events that it would be impossible to share all the particulars for each one. Communications with the event promoter is the key to knowing what is expected from the Coastie Operations Team. PARADES Parades can be handled in two ways. Coastie can be operated on the street, if the street is dry and smooth. Distance is a factor as the battery life is only good for about 1 to 2 1/2 hours under continuous use. Accessories should be operated randomly as using all these power-drawing features will use battery life quickly. It will be important to have one or possibly two back up 12 volt, primary batteries ready to be changed when Coasties functions start to noticeably decrease. Coastie is placed out in front of the Operator who follows Coastie in a vehicle from behind that either can transport him internally or preferably tows a flat bed trailer to place him on, in the event of technical difficulties. The vehicle and trailer should be decorated or carry signs specifying the USCG Auxiliary or Team Organization such as the Division of Watercraft. The primary parades are July 4Th and Christmas Parades which are the most popular with the Children. Every District will be different and there may be multiple parades to support. The flat bed trailer is the second best way to present Coastie in a Parade as it allows for very little use of the primary battery. Coastie can be tethered to the trailer, which allows for movement but does not allow him to roll off the trailer. We have included some photos of Parades Coastie has attended and the use of the flat bed trailer concept. Coastie also has his own miniature boat bunk trailer that can be towed behind a yard tractor, golf cart, or vehicle. The only drawback is once secured to the boat trailer he looses the freedom of movement that is important as he interacts with the children and adults along the Parade route. PEN ENCLOSURES Once you experience the incredible popularity of Coastie you will experience the need for crowd/children control. At large events that are geared primarily for children Coastie is often overwhelmed by the children. They often feel the need to touch and hug Coastie and this can be overwhelming for the operator and the Director up front with Coastie. The easiest way to control this situation is to establish a pen area using four "heavy-duty" posts made of chrome steel of wooden posts with a smooth Finish. These posts are interconnected by rope with chrome clips, which create a barrier to maintain the distance required to keep the children from overpowering Coastie. SOUND AMPLIFICATION When attending outside functions that have interfering sound activity it is important to consider that in order for Coastie to be heard a secondary portable Public Address System may be required to offset his own sound system. HANDOUTS Our best give away for the Public Relations events are the Coastie Trading Cards. These cards are a favorite for all the kids as it is one of today's growing fads. The card is a colorful and certainly eye catching and has multiple purposes. First of all, it gives the children a way to remember Coastie. Second it helps to send Coasties special message to the children to "Always Wear Your Life Jacket When You Go Boating". The primary purpose is the card tells the parents whom to contact to take a safe boating course while it signifies our mission to educate the public in regard to boating safety. This will be one of your most expensive giveaways in support of Public relations events. The Cards are $30.00 per thousand and are best purchased in lots of 3000. COLORING BOOKS Coloring books are another item for giveaways, although they are only used in public education presentations at schools or public relations events where only small quantities are required. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a "Water Fun Book" which are easily acquired in large numbers on request from the Corp. The new coloring book "Boating Fun – Adventure on the Water" is available from the Auxiliary Supply Center and Coastie is featured on the front and numerous places inside. This book is also for educational presentations only. BOAT SHOWS As for mission related events, Boat Shows are very beneficial for the USCG Auxiliaries contact with the boating public. Boat shows can have a positive impact on our mission by having Coastie as an attraction at the Auxiliary booth, which draws the children, and intern also captures the adult’s attention. While the children are captivated with Coastie, Auxiliarist can take the opportunity to approach the adults and inquirer as to whether they have taken a safe boating course. Remember even adults fall in Love with Coastie. Coastie also can travel around the show interacting with children, adults, and Marine Dealerships. Coastie passes out the trading cards and tells the kids where he will be. This brings the adults to the Auxiliary booth and allows for interaction between the adults and the Auxiliarist. Another plus at Boat Shows is the effectiveness of PFD Panda and Coastie working together to draw attention to the Auxiliary. Coastie and PFD who give out Trading Cards easily captivate the children and PFD Panda certificates. The adults see the fun the kids are having with Coastie and PFD and this places the Auxiliary is in the spotlight. The opportunity for interaction speaks for itself. HOSPITAL VISITS Our most rewarding Public Relations effort is our monthly visits to Children’s Hospital. We spend about four hours going to each floor and to as many rooms as possible in an attempt to bring a smile to the children and parents who are staying at the hospital. Coastie travels along with his Director who talks with the children and try’s to get them to open up and smile. Coastie will sing Happy Birthday and tell jokes and riddles. He will give out coloring books and Coastie Trading cards. He also plays various songs from his CD player and if able the children dance and sing along with him. This effort does not come with out some heartbreak, as many of these Children are critically ill or injured. The parents, Doctors, and Nurses just love Coastie and see the tremendous value of his visits. The event is coordinated through the Volunteer Services Office and they normally supply 2 volunteer staff members to escort Coastie through the Hospital. The patient rooms are very difficult to maneuver in and through as they are cluttered with medical equipment and parent lounges. It is important that the Coastie Operator be experienced in controlling Coastie so as not to damage or interrupt any medical support that the patient is receiving. The escorts will verify with the parents or Nurse as to whether or not Coastie may enter the room. Oxygen is another issue to be aware of, as the Boat is not electrically designed for Hospital use. Sound volume can be a concern, as some patients cannot deal with the noise level from Coasties voice or music especially in a confined area. Overall everyone loves Coastie and can’t wait for him to visit. Remember Coastie must be upbeat and spontaneous and promote a whole lot of fun! CONCERTS (Outside) Concerts can be a lot of fun with Coastie prior to the curtain rising. The most important thing to remember is not to compete with other presentations as Coastie can easily interfere, and this sometimes upsets the other presenters. As always crowd control is a must, as many children are not managed by there parents and if you don’t have enough Directors up front with Coastie he can be damaged very quickly. The best device for large crowds is the pen enclosure as you remain in control of how close the children can get to Coastie and interact with him under the watchful eyes of the Directors. Try to find out the theme of the concert as you can customize the tape or even the CD for these events and be a more in tune with the program. The best rule of thumb is to scope out any event in advance and know what you’re dealing with so you will be prepared to handle any issue that might arise. Have Fun! | |
The following Operational and Maintenance tips have been compiled from experience. Some are not covered in the Robot Operating Manual. It is advised that the Operations Manual and these additional tips be shared with all Operators and maintained by the individual on the Team who has agreed to take care of maintenance. TURNING C0ASTIE ON: To turn Coastie "on" always turn the remote on first then the main power switch inside the rear hatch.Reverse the procedure for turning him "off", turn the boat off first and then the remote.MAIN BATTERY POWER LEVEL: You may check the battery power level by turning on the battery volt meter indicator switch. On some boats the volt meter is on all the time during operation. Do not use Coastie if the battery level indicator needle is not in the green or falls to 12 volts or below. The boat will start to operate erratically and many features will not function correctly. Coastie can be operated while he is plugged into a 12 volt 10 amp battery charger using his shore power recharging connection. Coastie can operate for 2-3 hours on a single charge and sometimes as long as 4 hours. Always have your back-up batteries charged for quick replacement. COLD WEATHER OPERATION: If your Coastie is equipped with a bilge pump please use the special measuring device when filling Coastie's bilge water reservoir. Do Not overfill! Always turn off the water valve after each operation. In cold climates the water will freeze, remember to remove all water before cold weather if your Coastie is stored in a trailer or garage. This also applies to the water squirter system. You may use antifreeze to protect the system. Use only RV antifreeze which is safer if you happen to come in contact with it. Do not use the system during an event or classroom presentation if it is winterized! Disable the system by disconnecting the power source or turning the pump switch to center off position. When placing the unit back in service for warmer weather make sure you flush the system well to remove all traces of RV potable anti freeze. REMOTE CONTROL BATTERIES: Batteries should always be recharged after each use. Be very careful when disconnecting batteries from the remote as wires are fragile and can easily break the lead contact at the battery solder point. These breaks can be re-soldered if required. It is better to use the charging unit that plugs into the rear of the remote unless rotating batteries and charging two at one time. The super battery is perfect for long periods of operational time although it is much heavier and adds significant weight to the remote. It can be attached with Velcro to the "bottom" of the remote and lasts up to seven hours. If you install it on the back door of the remote the weight of the battery will pull the door off, therefore use the bottom of the remote. If you have more than one standard battery (yellow) it is advisable to number them 001, 002, for better rotation during charging. These batteries are good for 2-3 hours of operation on a full charge. Charging can take 14-16 hours. Low batteries cause erratic movement and response in the robot. Always start with fully charged batteries. REMOTE NECK SAFETY STRAP: The neck strap metal retaining clip has come unsnapped on many occasions. It is advisable that this clip be changed to a type that is more secure. The remote can be severely damaged as the case is plastic and the internal electronics are very fragile if dropped on the floor. The strap connection hardware point on the remote is plastic and has broken on two occasions. It is advisable to be prepared for such an event and keep both hands on the remote. Have at least two replacements in stock. They can be purchased through the local hobby shop or Robotronics. The strap should always be used as it allows for free movement, control and comfort for the operator. It certainly will protect the remote from being damaged when properly upgraded. RECEIVER HEADSET PHONO JACK: The headset phono jacks internal connectors have broken on numerous occasions. This is noted by not hearing any voice transmission from the microphone on the bow or intermittent voice when the wires are moved. The wires take a great deal of abuse through movement during normal operation. They are very fragile and can be easily broken although they are easily repaired. This connection should be inspected before each use so the loss of hearing won’t occur during a presentation. Simply unscrew the Jack cover and check the wires for secure attachment at the solder points. RECEIVER HEADSET AND VOICE TRANSMITTER CASES: Both these units have weak tabs at the battery connector points and sometimes lose contact. This problem occurs when the batteries are installed and the metal tabs bend inwards creating bad contact with the battery positive and negative terminal points. To eliminate this problem take a small screwdriver and carefully bend the tab out to regain solid contact with the tab and battery. If you have electronic talent you can replace the metal tabs with the 9 volt snap on connectors and never experience this problem again. BATTERIES FOR RECEIVER AND VOICE TRANSMITTER CASES: These 9 volt batteries become very expensive if you purchase retail as their life span is short and it is not advisable to use for to long a period of time. You should locate a wholesale source and purchase these batteries in bulk. We purchase from a company called Batteries Plus, a whole sale retail battery chain that has very reasonable prices. The batteries are Duracell Procell, Professional Alkaline Batteries, 72 per case, P.N. PC1604. Their life span is hard to calculate and it is advisable that at any formal event or presentation you start with new batteries. You may want to purchase a Radio Shack Multimeter, Model 22-802 for checking battery power levels when required. This unit is good for all batteries that are used in support of Coastie operations. ROBOT TOP CABIN SECTION RETAINING PINS: The top section of the boat is retained by port and starboard, fore and aft retaining pins. These pins, especially in the front, are very difficult to remove and sometimes reinstall. This problem can be eliminated by drilling a small hole in the end of the pull pin and attaching a small nylon lanyard to assist with pulling the pins open, to release the top. When removing the starboard forward pin be very careful not to touch the voice modulator control knobs as this will change Coasties voice. REMOTE ANTENNA EXTENSION: The remote antenna does not need to be fully extended and will operate the boat almost fully retracted in close proximity. Remember that the antenna can easily injure someone’s eye and therefore it is much safer to leave retracted unless there is distance between the operator and the boat. It is suggested that you do not exceed 100 feet from the boat for safe operation. INTERNAL ANTENNA RECEIVER: The internal antenna "does" need to be fully extended and will cause voice loss and marginal operation. The antenna should be fully extended up between the eyes for better receiving. Take some plastic tubing split it down the length and place it around the metal rod supporting the eyes to eliminate interference. When removing the top always retract the antenna so it does not get damaged. It is suggested that you do not exceed 100 feet from the boat for safe operation.FIRE EXTINGUISHER:
The Fire extinguisher serves two purpose. One it adds to Coastie’s on board boating safety equipment and it can also serve as a functional Fire Extinguisher if there is an on board electrical fire. The safety seal to denote that the extinguisher has been used should be changed from tape to a plastic type that is more difficult for a child to release, although not a problem for an adult. We have experienced dry chemical powder discharge loss do to child activation. The extinguisher we advise is the KIDDE, Model PKG 200, Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher, Classification 2-BC, Weight 1lb, 1 oz. These are not available any more although they can be found in some Home Depots and Lowes stores. If you can’t locate one you can contact the following company they may have some in stock. This unit is the perfect size for Coastie. KIDDE Fire Extinguisher Co., 1394 South Third Street, MEBANE, NC 27302-9199 (919)563-5911 READ THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL SUPPLIED BY ROBOTRONICS, AS THERE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT OPERATION AND CARE. | |
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