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From Your Dockmaster
Changing Times Mean Boaters Need To Assist
with Homeland Security
Capt. Charles Strangfeld, Commander,
Coast Guard Sector San Diego reminds us that waterfront
security is not something that can be achieved by the Coast
Guard, Navy, or Harbor Police alone. “It is
essential that boaters stay aware of their surroundings and
report anything suspicious. Keep a sharp eye out for anything
that looks peculiar or out of the ordinary.”
To report suspicious activity, call the
National Response Center at 800-424-8802 or 877-24WATCH.
If there is immediate danger to life or property, Call
911 or call the Coast Guard on Marine Channel 16. For
more information, visit Americas'
Waterway Watch. Please
remember, do not approach or challenge those acting in a
suspicious manner. The Coast Guard or the Harbor Police
are trained to respond to these situations.
Finally, always lock your boat and take
the keys with you when not on board. This includes while
visiting marina restaurants, a friend's dock, or other piers.
Never leave your boat accessible to others.
The events of September 11th remind us
that our nation's security is not just the business of military
and law enforcement officials but must be everyone's concern.
Partnering with the citizens of our community is the strongest
defense we have against those that mean to do us harm.
The Coast Guard in San Diego stands ready and committed
toward that end.
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Thanks - I look forward to seeing you all
at the marina soon!
Pete Taliercio - Dockmaster
Kona Kai Boat Name of the Month
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Between the Sheets - What Will That
Sailboat Do Next, You Ask?
Richard Benscoter | |||||||||||
1. A vessel that is being overtaken.
2. A vessel not under command.
3. A vessel constrained in its ability to
maneuver.
(Vessels with a tow or over
100 ft. in length).
4. A vessel constrained by its draft
(Such as cruise
ships, tankers, car carrier,
most Navy ships and
submarines).
5. A fishing vessel (fishing or trawling;
but not
trolling).
6. A sailing vessel.
7. A power- driven vessel.
But what if you know the rules and the
other guy doesn’t? Unfortunately, since there is no
“I understand the navigation rules” pennant to fly,
in the last analysis, the navigation rules require you take
whatever action is necessary to avoid a collision. This means
that if the give-way vessel fails to act appropriately, the
stand-on vessel may actually be required to violate the rules
if that is what it takes to avoid a collision. If you skipper a
vessel and you’re not familiar with the navigation rules,
I hope you’ll Click Here to see the many excellent
courses given by knowledgeable Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel.
Remember, if it’s your boat, it’s your
responsibility. Besides, you’ll enjoy the classes and
you’ll feel much more confident on the water.
Editor’s Note: Richard Benscoter is
a long time avid sailor and can be seen frequently on the bay
sailing a 36 foot Catalina, El Marinero. If you have a sailing
question for Richard, send your e-mail to richard@BlueSkyNews.com.
Clif’s Chronicles - Did You Know?
Clif Oliver | |||||||||||
Clif Oliver, a San Diego Native, enjoys
learning more about the town in which he was raised. If you
have an interesting bit of trivia about San Diego's bay areas
you would like to share, please e-mail him at clif@BlueSkyNews.com.
e-Letters to the Editor
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David Neufeld and Son
Dustin
Kelowna, British
Columbia, Canada
Dear Editor - We really like our BlueSkyNews.com e-mail newsletter,
but when we try to print it out for future reference, the text
on the right-hand side gets cut off. Is there a way to stop
this from happening?
Debbie B.
San Diego, CA
Dear Debbie
We could write a whole book about
printing things from your browser like this e-mail newsletter,
but in general, if you want to print it without truncated
margins, go into Page Setup under your File Menu, set the Paper
Size to 8-1/2” x 11”.
eliminate the Header and Footer, and set all four Margins to the minimum setting (0.166”).
Uninsured Vendors Can Cost You Plenty
Do you check vendors that work on your
boat to see if they have current insurance? Common sense and
potential big dollar liability suggest you should. The failure
of a vendor to have insurance can leave you in the position of
insuring yourself. In some cases, lack of insurance can mean
that the vendor either lacks the assets to fix the problem or
there are other problems in their business practices.
Additionally, if the vendor doesn’t carry Workman’s
Compensation, you could possibly be liable for a
workman’s compensation claim. The bottom line? Make sure
your vendors are insured! It only takes a minute to gain that
peace of mind.
NEW - BlueSkyNews.com Desktop Photo of
the Month
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There’s nothing finer than sipping
champagne on a sunset cruise in Hawaii watching the sun go
down. We suspect there’s a bit of champagne flowing on
the sailboat in the photo too.
To use this photo on your desktop, click
on this link www.BlueSkyNews.com and follow the complete step-by-step
instructions on how to download.
From the Poop Deck
Madeline
Editor, Poop Deck
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Editors Note: Once again - We do apologize
for Madeline. We keep trying to smooth out her rough edges. If
you have a pet question or photo to send to her, please e-mail
it to Madeline@BlueSkyNews.com
Dear Flo-tilla
Flo Tillatm | |||||||||||
The other day my husband and I were
coming in for a smooth docking after a wonderful bay cruise
with friends, and a good Samaritan on the dock offered to catch
a line. I was on the bow so I tossed him the bow line, and
before I had a chance to say anything, this idiot proceeded to
yank on the bow and spin what would have other-wise been a
perfect landing into a bumper boat fiasco. Then after we
recovered, this “person” didn’t even know how
to tie the line to a cleat! What would make someone offer to
help if they don’t know their “you know what”
from a hole in the ground?
Sincerely,
Feeling Duped
Dear Duped,
Your good Samaritan probably pulled on
his uncle’s finger too when he was a kid!
Why would you toss a line to a total
stranger when you didn’t have to? Even if the person
offering assistance is someone you know, never toss a line to
someone unless it’s the line you want tied down first.
Even then, you should give verbal instructions as to what you
want done with the line after you toss it.
Yours Truly,
Flo-Tilla
Have a question you’d like
Flo-Tilla to answer?
Docking Your Boat - “A Mini
“Crash Course”
Bob Sherman | |||||||||||
1. Take your
dock lines with you. When
returning to your slip, it is much safer to have dock lines
attached to your boat rather than trying to place the loops
back on the boat from lines secured to the dock. Serious injury
to fingers can occur by trying to loop dock lines onto mooring
cleats of a still-moving boat…don’t risk it!
2. Secure your dock lines so as not to
foul your prop. Also known as
a “high speed underwater winch”, wrapping a line
around a prop can rip the prop shaft loose.
3. Plan and prepare early for docking. If your regular “crew” is not
aboard, choose capable line handlers. (Often it is better for
friends NOT to help, especially if they know nothing about
boating or have been drinking!) Turn down the stereo & VHF;
ask noisy kids and guests to quiet down so you can concentrate!
For “double” slips, position fenders below
the toe rail or wherever the boat is likely to touch your
neighbor’s boat. If you have extra crew, position them so
that they can “fend off” without endangering
themselves. Instruct line handlers to step onto the dock only
when they are certain they can make it. If short handed or
single handing, drape the end of your bow line over the rail or
lifelines so that it can be grabbed from dockside and not be
tangled.
4. Check wind direction and strength
before entering the fairway. Handling
in wind is fairly predictable. When docking, I usually check
the relative wind angle on the masthead wind vanes on the
sailboats sitting in the slips. Think about which way
it’s going to push you as you make your approach and
final turn. You may need to turn early or late to compensate.
When the wind is light or calm, enjoy the luxury of a slow
approach.
5. Anticipate what the boat is likely to
do, once stopped, but not yet tied up. Once in the slip, wind or current may continue
to help you or hinder you, depending upon the speed and
direction. Trying to dock on a single side-tie (such as a fuel
dock or “double” slip) with the wind blowing you
away may require a faster approach, the use of more power, and
expert line handling. Sometimes, tossing lines to someone on
the dock is necessary even for the best boat handlers...but be
careful of overzealous helpers and give clear instructions as
to what you want the person to do with the line.
6. Practice makes perfect. If dockings are uncomfortable for you,
take some lessons with a qualified instructor-captain. You
spent a lot on this toy…why not invest a little more to
make docking the fun part instead of the stressful part? Next
month, we’ll talk about what it takes to be a good crew
member.
Bob Sherman has over 19 years of
Yacht-sales experience and is the owner of YachtSource. He is also qualified to instruct on all vessel
types, and has held 100-ton Captain’s license since 1982.
He is an avid sailor, scuba diver, and enjoys many outdoor
activities when he is not selling boats.
Certification Program Offered for Hull
Cleaning Divers
Bill Rocco | |||||||||||
The California
Professional Divers Association has announced that it now offers a Certification Course for hull cleaning divers. In 1998, the CCC (California Coastal
Commission), SWQCB and RWQCB (State and Regional Water Quality
Control Boards) and the State EPA authored and adopted a Non
Point Source Pollution Control Program which was designed to
require different entities to voluntarily reduce non point
source pollution. Underwater Hull Cleaning was designated as an
activity which caused non point source pollution, so in order
to reduce the effects of this pollution, the NPS plan called
for divers to regulate themselves with a BMP (Best Management
Practices) training program. CPDA’s new course will be
held at the Southwestern Yacht Club
on Saturday, October 26th. For
more information, call 619-222-3483.
Editor’s Note: Bill Rocco is the
President of Aquarius Yacht Services. If you have a boat maintenance question for Bill,
send your e-mail to bill@blueskynews.com.
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