From the Marina Manager
Greetings and welcome to the August 2007 Marina Village e-mail newsletter.

In this issue, we have an action packed set of interesting and informative articles - I hope you get a chance to look through them all, especially the one about the EPA and recreational boating permits.

Desktop Photo of the Month
Richard Benscoter's keen eye caught this romantic Mission Bay sunset one perfect July evening.

For step-by-step instructions to download this photo or one of our many other fantastic free photos to your PC desktop, Click Here.

A Word of Caution About Your Power Cords
With our summer season in full swing, many of you are now enjoying your boats on a regular basis. As such, you have probably placed equipment such as air conditioning units, televisions, microwaves, cooktops and electronics equipment in service that had been dormant for many months.

This resurgence of dockside electrical demand has resulted in a number of calls to the office regarding burned shore power plugs, receptacles, and other electrical issues. Most, if not all of the failures experienced, could have been avoided if a few basic policies and procedures had been followed. I've discussed these issues in the past but they warrant repeating, so here I go again.

All shore power cords should be rated suitable for Marine Use. If you buy a Marinco shore power cord from your marine store it will be compliant. Why try to save a few pennies by going on the cheap and making up your own cable from home improvement store components, only to lose your boat due to its failure and a potential fire?

Never use ordinary "outdoor use" extension cords to provide shore power to the boat or any equipment, such as a battery charger on the boat. These cords are not rated for, nor are they suited to the severity of a marine environment. They will deteriorate, which could result in an electrical shock hazard, a short circuit or fire.

All shore power cords should have male (plug) and female (connector) ends of the locking type. Make sure that the plug and connector are turned to the full locked position. Test, by pulling on them. If they are properly locked, they will not pull out. A plug or connector not properly locked will become loose, causing arcing (BIG SPARKS) on the contacts, resulting in a failure, and possibly a fire. I can't over emphasize this issue enough. Have you ever noticed that one of prongs on your cord is heavily pitted and the rubber is black and melted? That's due to arcing caused by a loose cord that is under electrical load. Remember, your boat is constantly moving, even in the slip. Unless your cord is locked in place with the screw adapter tightly fastened, it stands a chance of working itself loose and arcing.

Let me role-play as Mr. Rogers for a moment and give you a practical example. Have you ever run your home vacuum cleaner and pulled the plug out of the wall while the vacuum is still running? If so, you probably noticed the electric arc chasing the plug out of the wall! This same thing is happening to your shore power cord when your boat moves around and the cord is not properly locked in place.

Additionally, many times there is corrosive deterioration of the wires between the shore power connection point on the side of the boat to the AC distribution panel inside the boat and this too can become a source of an electrical fire.

I will be inspecting the cords on the docks for compliance and safety. If I find an unauthorized or hazardous cord, you will be asked to immediately remove the cord and/or correct the problem. If you have any questions about these issues or requirements please call me (Gerry) at the marina office.

Dinghies and Kayaks on the Docks
Many of you are storing a dinghy or kayak at your slip. This practice is acceptable as long as the dinghy or kayak does not encroach upon, or protrudes from, the confines of your slip.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few dinghies and kayaks that are extending over the main walkways and dock fingers. This situation presents a safety hazard and must be remedied. As a general guideline, if you stand at the head of the dock and look down the length of the main walkway, you should not be able to see any portion of your dinghy or kayak extending over the walkway.

The same holds true for the dock fingers and corner boards. If you are unable to adjust the placement of your kayak or dinghy to comply with these requirements then you must either store the item upon your boat or off-site. Please check your slip this weekend and make any necessary changes. If your dinghy or kayak placement does not meet the above standards, we'll give you a call to let you know.

That's it for now
Remember, if you have any questions or items you would like to discuss, please send me an e-mail. We would like to hear from you.

Gerry Charest - Marina Manager
Gerry@MarinaVillage.net

An Important Notice to All Recreational Boaters
For 34 years the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has exempted discharges from recreational boats from the Clean Water Act permit system. However, a recent court ruling cancelled this permit exemption. EPA is now required by that court decision to develop and implement by September 30, 2008 a national permit system for ALL vessels in the United States for a variety of normal operational discharges.

If this permit system becomes a reality, you will be required to pay for a state permit for each of your boats. EPA will be monitoring your deck runoff, grey water, bilge water, engine cooling water, and the use of copper bottom paints.

Fortunately, the Recreational Boating Act of 2007 (H.R. 2550) has been introduced by Representatives Gene Taylor (D-Miss) and Candice Miller (R-Mich) which would protect recreational boats from being swept into this unnecessary and expensive permitting system.

Recreational boaters are encouraged to contact their Congressman and Senators a.s.a.p. and ask that they co-sponsor or support H.R. 2550. Read more...

City Officials Lament Cancellation of Massive Chula Vista Bayfront Project
"We are extremely disappointed to hear about the decision by Gaylord Entertainment to withdraw its proposal to build a $1 billion convention center and hotel project on the Chula Vista bay front. It is regrettable and tragic. The Port of San Diego has worked for nearly four years with the City of Chula Vista and for nearly two years with Gaylord to build this project. Today's announcement is devastating to the Port, to the City of Chula Vista and to our region."

These were the strong words of Port District Chairwoman Sylvia Rios in her July 6th press release.

According to Rios, "The $1 billion Gaylord project would have provided a "jump-start" to the implementation of a balanced 550-acre land use plan providing open spaces, environmental preservation, visitor-serving businesses and economic benefits to the City of Chula Vista, the Port and the region."

Following talks with labor unions that were stalled since January, the company withdrew its proposal. The unions wanted a project labor agreement which would require the estimated 6,500 workers on the project to be union members, or to pay dues to be represented by the union. Gaylord offered to provide union wages and benefits, but said the company wouldn't sign an agreement with labor groups because a union agreement would limit competitive bidding and drive up costs.

Well, I'll Be a Son of a Gun!
Well, maybe not. Today, we use the expression to indicate surprise, but in the early days of sailing, it meant something else entirely.

Back then, sailors were permitted to keep their "wives" on board ship. Since gun emplacements offered at least a modicum of privacy, many children were conceived between the gun emplacements.

So calling a boy born afloat a "Son of a Gun" was tantamount to questioning his legitimacy, and therefore an insult.