Seaforth Marina
1677 Quivira Road
San Diego, CA 92109
Office Hours:
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Tel: 619-224-6807
After Hours Security
Phone:
619-224-0283
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Are You "At the End of Your Rope?" or the "End of Your Line?"
That probably depends on whether you're on your boat, or at your local pub after three martinis.On your boat, however, rope is that stuff that comes from the marine store rolled up on a spool. As soon as you cut that rope to a specific length for a specific purpose such as tying up to the dock or for anchoring, etc., it then becomes a line.
Nothing exudes whispered sneers and pity among old salts than hearing a landlubber call a line a rope.
In olden days, sailors at Navy boot camp learned on day one from the Master Chief that there is only one rope on a navy ship, and that's the rope hanging down from the clapper on the ship's bell.
Technology and time have added a few other exceptions to the rule - If you tie a line to the bail of a bucket to pull some water up from the sea, it is called a "bucket rope". The invention of wire rope has led to the distinctions that fiber rope is referred to as line; wire rope is called wire rope, or just wire.
Make sure you don't get "roped in" to a faux pax next time you step aboard!
From Your Marina Team
The New Building Is Still On Track For June
Greetings Seaforth mariners! Welcome to the May 2008 newsletter.
Well, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we're still on track to take possession of our new building in June - just in time for the high boating season.
One of the great new things we'll have when it's finished are some indoor lockers. We're taking names now for people that are interested in renting one, so let the marina know if you want to put your name on the list.
Hazardous and Toxic Materials
With boating season on the horizon, please remember to comply with Coast Guard regulations. All flammable and hazardous materials must be kept on your boat and absolutely off the docks and out of the dock boxes.
Also, any equipment or containers, including power washers, outboard engines, fuel cans, etc. must be stowed on board your boat.
Mysterious Disappearance
Oh by the way - Has anyone seen Joan? She's disappeared from
D-Dock!!!
That's It For Now
We look forward to seeing you all at the docks and we're definitely looking forward to celebrating our new building and giving up our palatial trailer office!
Bob Buckman and John Rue
Seaforth Marina
From the Poop Deck - Doggies on Strike for Cool Treats on Hot Summer Days!
- By Madeline
Oh sure - "Here doggy! It's really hot today, so here's some water and a crummy dog biscuit for you!"
You, the person, meanwhile, are trying to decide whether to have a margarita, a mai tai, or some ice cream. Maybe you'll just have a tall glass of ice water, or a frosty cold beer.
Well I've had it! No more "man's best friend" nice guy treatment until I see some ice cubes in my water bowl and something to cool me off when the docks get hot.
Here's a clue! - They have a new frozen treat for dogs called "Frosty Paws". I'd like the peanut butter kind if you don't mind!
Editor's Note: Madeline is always on the lookout for boating animal stories. Click Here to send Madeline an e-mail about your animal story.
Coast Guard Auxiliary Tip of the Month -What's In Your Dock Box?
-By Bob Simons
The subject of what you can and can't store in your dock box comes up frequently, so I thought I'd research the U.S. Cost Guard's official position on the subject for you.
First off, the Coast Guard can inspect anything at anytime on or near the water; depending on what they are looking for. Standard "probable cause'" may or may not apply when inspecting private dock boxes or vessels.
Members of the Coast Guard's IMD (Incident Management Division) commonly do dock walks to look for pollution issues and/or vessel issues that aren't being reported, but they typically do not inspect docks/stairs/dock boxes for structural integrity or contents - The Port District does those types of inspections on an annual basis.
From the standpoint of dock boxes, they would only be interested in opening them with force or without permission for an inspection when they thought they were leaking some kind of contaminant into the water, or threatened to release something into the water. They will not hesitate to cut locks or do whatever they have to do to stop a discharge of oil/fuel/chemicals into the water, or to mitigate a threat of discharge of hazardous materials into the water.
Some marinas limit the items that may be placed in dock boxes as part of their lease/slip contracts. Also, some marinas require that liners be placed within dock boxes to ensure nothing gets into the water.
There is no federal or state law that I am aware of, however, that limits what can and can't be placed in dock boxes, but as I said, they are fair game if they are leaking/discharging.
The best policy - Don't store anything hazardous or toxic in your dock box. You don't even want to know what it will cost you if there's a problem!
Editor's Note: Bob Simons has been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for thirty years and owns a small sailboat as well as a small powerboat. He teaches classes in Boating Safety & Seamanship as well as Basic and Advanced Coastal Navigation. Bob is also the co-owner of Seabreeze Books and Charts in Point Loma. You can send an e-mail to Bob at bobsimons@BlueSkyNews.com.
Between the Sheets - Making Your Boat Shine
- By Richard Benscoter
Some years ago I attended a training seminar presented by a manufacturer of consumer and commercial polishing and waxing compounds.
The thing I came away with from the seminar is that waxing and polishing a boat is not as simple as the technique my dad used to make the old Ford shine.
Here's the condensed version of the seminar points:
Myth #1 - My boat is so far gone, it will never shine again. Not true! Take a cotton swab; rub a small spot on the most faded area of your boat with denatured alcohol, and what you see is what the shine on the finish of your boat can be brought to.
Myth #2 - All rubbing compounds will work the same - just buy one. Not true! Rubbing Compounds are manufactured with different grits to cut and clean the surface at different rates - just like sand paper does on wood. You need to choose one that's right for your boat.
Myth #3 - After applying the rubbing compound, I just need to wax. Not true! All rubbing compounds leave swirl marks on the surface of your boat. You need to use a swirl removing compound to remove these before waxing.
Myth #4 - After applying the swirl removing compound, you should use carnauba wax; let it haze; and then wipe it off right away. Not true! Wax needs to form a bond with the surface to be effective. It takes a minimum of two hours for this to occur. Also, don't forget about the sun. You should never wax in direct sun. On a hot sunny day, apply wax after 4:00 p.m.; let it sit over night; and then polish in the morning before the sun is high in the sky.
One last item - When you wash your boat, you always remove some of the wax you just put on - this is of course not a good thing. To minimize this, use a biodegradable soap that is fortified with carnauba wax so that as you wash your boat, you also add some wax to the surface instead of just removing it.
Use these techniques, and your boat will shine like new - it just takes a little time. So get on out there and put you neighbors to shame!
Editor's Note: Richard Benscoter is a long time avid sailor. He's a member of the Silver Gate Yacht Club and owner of the Mariners Woodshop. If you have a sailing question for Richard, send e-mail to richard@BlueSkyNews.com.
e-Letters to the Editor
Marina Cortez boater Jeff Wakeford writes to ask - "I have a 42 foot sailboat that is documented with the Coast Guard. I use an inflatable with motor to get back and forth from shore when anchored.
The "old salts" around here tell me that since my sailboat is documented, my inflatable - showing the name on the documented boat - is considered a tender and does not need to be registered with the state. The 2008 booklet on the California boating law says my documented sailboat does not need to be registered, but does not talk about its tender.
Are the old salts' information corroded or do I need to register the inflatable with the state?"
Bob Simons replies: "Jeff, if the dinghy is used only as a tender between shore and boat, all you need to do is put the name of the documented vessel on it for identification. If you are seen anywhere else other than a direct shot between those two points, you're probably in trouble.
Personally, I'd blow the five bucks and register it and put the CF numbers on the boat. The numbers are a real security item because most dinghies that are stolen or "lost" have no identification, so they belong to whoever has possession.
Remember, you still have to have all the proper safety equipment on the dinghy because it is considered a powerboat. If you use it at night under power, you also need running lights and you must have a life jacket for every individual aboard. The harbor police love to give tickets to the little dinghies running around because they are an easy mark and usually have numerous violations ($$$)."
BlueSkyNews.com Fishing Report - Fish Are Still-a-Bitin' and the Water's Gettin' Warmer
- By Jason Coz
Greetings San Diego fishermen - and fisherwomen, of course! The fishing off the coast of San Diego is really good right now - we're seeing lots of ling cod, sculpin and very nice rock fish.
The water is starting to get warmer - As I write this today, the water temperature is 61.5 degrees and we're looking for that 62-63 degree water soon.
As an aside, I should mention that many people think Southern California, and they automatically think that means warm ocean water, but San Diego is under the influence of colder water currents year round. Ask anybody that has come here looking to take a dip in the ocean in the middle of summer, and being shocked at how cold our water is.
Anyway, our colder water is great for fishing. We're also finding lots of bait in the waters off La Jolla; anchovies, sardines and mackerel. Soon we'll be seeing the spring time calico bass and halibut.
It also looks like the bonita are coming up the coast, and they are starting to show up at the Coronado Islands .
See you on the water!
Jason Coz is the owner/operator of the 85' M/V Dolphin half-day sportfishing boat operating out of Hyatt Mission Bay Sportfishing. Jason has his 100 ton captain's license and runs ½ day fishing trips twice a day, 7 days a week. If you have a question for Jason, you can e-mail him at jasoncoz1@msn.com
S.O.S. From the Galley
- By Monica Giobbi
Next time you're invited to one of those "bring your favorite dish" dock parties or entertaining on your boat, instead of running to the market for something blah, try making this tasty recipe for Italian Bruschetta (pronounced brus'ket'ta) and get ready for the accolades
Drain the can of stewed tomatoes. Chop tomatoes into small chunks. Finely mince red onion and garlic cloves. Put the whole shebang in a mixing bowl; combine olive oil, onion, garlic and tomatoes. Set mixture aside (ideally, if you have the time, letting it sit in the refrigerator overnight will add a zing to the flavor).
Slice baguette into ¾" slices, and toast bread slices until lightly browned. Cut the remaining clove of garlic in half, and rub on toast slices. Top with a hearty spoonful of tomato mixture and garnish with chopped artichoke hearts and thinly sliced fresh basil.
Makes 8 servings
Bon Appetito!
Monica is co-owner of BlueSkyNews.com, a professional meeting planner, and an avid cook with years of experience entertaining on board using the limited space of the galley. If you have a favorite boating recipe to share or ideas for future articles, send an e-mail to monica@blueskynews.com.
Sailing to the Telltales
- By Brad Poulos
No indicator has yet been developed that approaches the sensitivity and effectiveness of telltales along the luff of the jib. These yarns or "ticklers" monitor the flow of wind across the sail.
Telltales are used for fine-tuning your genoa sheet trim and to fine-tune the course you are steering. Telltales are only an aid when the sail has wind flow across both sides, i.e., when sailing angles between beating and beam reaching. When sailing lower than a beam reach, the sail is catching wind instead of working like an airfoil.
Telltales come in pairs, one on each side of the jib. The best set up is to have three sets evenly spaced along the luff so that you can see how the wind is flowing at different heights of the sail. Telltales should be anywhere from six inches to 18 inches aft of the luff, depending on the size of the boat - the bigger the sail, the further aft the telltales should be. Also, the farther forward they are, the more sensitive they are.
Most marine hardware stores and sailmakers sell inexpensive packets of green and red telltales that stick on to your sail. When applying telltales, always put the starboard one of each pair higher than the port one. This will help you figure out which is which when reading the telltales from the cockpit. The most basic way to read telltales is to get the yarns on both sides of the sail streaming straight back. If the leeward one stops streaming, head up and sail closer to the wind. If the windward one stops streaming, fall off. When the yarn streams straight back, it tells you that there is attached flow over the sail at that particular point. If a telltale stops streaming and hangs limp, there is no air flow and that side of the sail is stalled. If the telltale dances around, flow is turbulent.
By concentrating further on interpreting the telltales, you can get even more information. The following are four different "settings" for telltales:
1. Bow-down Speed-building Mode: Leeward telltale dances and wind-ward telltale streams straight back. This mode is used for building speed when coming out of a tack or when going through steep motorboat chop.
2. Max Speed Mode: Both telltales streams straight aft.
3. Pointing Mode: Leeward telltale streams aft, and windward telltale dances between straight back and 45° above horizontal. This mode is used when sailing to windward in flat water in winds over 10 knots.
4. Pinching Mode: Leeward telltale streams aft, and windward telltale stands straight up. To be used when trying to get over another boat or make it around a channel mark.
Telltale Perspective
When sailing to windward, the degree of course change between "Bow-down Speed-building Mode" and the "Pinching Mode" should be about 5 to 7 degrees. If the telltales go from one extreme to the other after a two-degree course change, put a bit more tension on the luff. The rounder entry angle will broaden the gap between stalled from sailing too high and stalled from sailing too low.
Remember not to sail with the telltales in the pointing or pinching mode in light winds or in wavy conditions. The boat will lose too much speed. In heavy winds when the boat is overpowered, you can reduce heeling by heading up into the pointing mode.
Use your telltales to fine-tune your lead position. With three sets of telltales along the luff, you'll be able to shape the jib like a trimmer on an America's Cup contender. In general, on a beat the lead is in the right place when the lower two sets stream straight back and the inside upper telltale dances about 45 degrees above horizontal.
Editor's Note: Brad Poulos is the General Manager at UK-Halsey Sailmakers and holds a US Coast Guard 50-ton masters license. Brad is also an ASA certified sailing instructor. If you have a question regarding the use or care of sails, send an e-mail to brad@BlueSkyNews.com.
Avoiding "Terminal" Illness on Your Boat
- By Brett Dingerson
This time of year always seems to bring a lot of calls concerning boats that won't start, and the problem is usually the batteries. Boats don't get much attention during the winter months. Batteries that were fine in November are now 6 months older, or 20 in battery years.
You don't really need any expensive equipment or tools to check the health of your batteries if you know a few simple things to look for:
1. If you go to your boat and smell something like rotten eggs, then either your refrigerator quit working or your batteries are fried. Its hydrogen sulfide gas and its nasty stuff.
2. Feel the sides and tops of your batteries while they are being charged. They should not be too warm to the touch. Run your fingers down the side and feel for a hot section, which could indicate a bad cell in that battery.
3. Battery terminals that are coated with a powdery looking substance are also an indicator of a problem.
4. Take the caps off unsealed batteries and use a flashlight (a plastic one) to look inside. Any cells that are excessively lower in water, relative to their neighbors, indicate a problem.
5. Batteries can, and will explode from sparks at their terminals, so one last tip. If you need to replace your batteries, remove all electrical loads from the system before you begin, and use only insulated tools. If you have to use a bare metal wrench to remove battery cables, wrap it in electrical tape from the unused end to the working end and remove the negative cable first. You can always remove the tape when you're done.
Have fun out there!
Editor's Note: Brett Dingerson has over 25 years experience as a marine electrician, with a specialty in marine galvanic corrosion protection. He has worked with a wide range of sailing and power vessels and is the owner of San Diego-based Marine Electric. If you have an electrical question for Brett, send e-mail to brett@BlueSkyNews.com
What Your Oil Can Tell You About Your Boat
- By Bob Sherman
Most boat owners are familiar with sampling of engine or transmission oil, as it is often part of the pre-purchase engine survey.
The samples are taken with a vacuum pump and sterile tubing, and are analyzed for wear metals and contaminants in a laboratory. The results are usually categorized as normal, reportable, abnormal, or critical - the latter meaning that something serious is imminent.
Companies with heavy equipment and large commercial machinery routinely utilize this technology. However, always weight a trusted mechanic's overall opinion more heavily, and discuss the results with him. If the oil is older than a year, or has high hours, it could have alarming test results- on perfectly sound machinery. Likewise, just because the oil sample is normal, doesn't mean that the unit is free of issues.
A single oil sample, taken at the point of sale, is normally not conclusive. It is not like a blood test for some infectious disease! To get what is considered a reliable result, the oil needs to be sampled three times, each time with fresh oil, ideally with 50 or more hours on it. Therefore, some mechanics believe that a single sample (when buying a boat) is a waste of money. Discuss it with your mechanic or broker.
In my opinion, a one-time test when you are buying a boat is always a good idea. If there are any "red flags", the mechanic can be on the lookout for any symptoms that are indicated by the test results. Also, there should never be salt water or coolant in the oil, even on a single sample. Since the sampling is relatively inexpensive (around $35 per kit), it is usually worthwhile, unless the oil does not have at least 20 hours on it. I recommend to sample engines, transmissions, and the genset, if the boat has one. But again, take it for what it's worth. There is often an explanation for some anomalies.
A boat owner can also have the oil sampled routinely, during the course of ownership - perhaps every other oil change, or every other year. If the unit suddenly had high wear metal levels of a certain type, you could be alerted to an imminent problem. The idea is to "nip it in the bud" before it becomes a serious problem. When it's time to sell, you'll have the "wear trend" reports, which are of great value when reviewing the overall "bill of health" of the machinery.
Editor's Note: 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, and scuba diver. You can send an e-mail to Bob at bobsherman@BlueSkyNews.com
Boating Skills and Seamanship Course
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Boating Skills and Seamanship Course is being offered on the weekends of May 17-18 and June 14-15 at the Mission Bay Boat & Ski Club facilities at 2606 Mission Bay Drive.
The 2-day courses start at 8:30 a.m. and end
at approximately 4:30 p.m. and are recommended for both the experienced and novice boater.
The course covers such topics as boat characteristics and structure, nautical nomenclature, legal requirements and necessary equipment, boat handling, aids to navigation, navigation rules, marine radiotelephone and trailering.
The Auxiliary stresses that many insurance companies offer discounts on boat insurance to individuals who successfully complete the course, and Individuals who successfully complete the course and exam are awarded certificates.
There is no prerequisite or charge for the class, but attendees must purchase and read the course book prior to the class, and homework is collected at the beginning of the each morning. Interested persons should contact Seabreeze Books and Charts in Point Loma to purchase the course book and for more information.
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