Sun Harbor Marina Minute
Greetings Sun Harbor tenants and welcome to the July 2009 marina newsletter.

We hope you all can make it to the marina for San Diego's 4th of July "Big Bay Boom". Our fireworks have been rated the best fireworks West of the Mississippi!

We will have our traditional pre-fireworks Potluck/BBQ gathering at SHM.
Gary Petty for nearly 14 years has coordinated the 4th of July event at the marina. While he is no longer a tenant at Sun Harbor Marina, we have it on good account that he will be dropping by to see how well we do holding the event this year.

We will also be holding a belated send off for Gary on the 4th of July. It's tradition, and besides we are looking forward to the stories he will regale us with of life on land.

Sign up sheets will be posted in the laundry room and office to help coordinate what we are all bringing to the Potluck/BBQ. Don't miss it!

Other Holidays in July
The 4th of July gets most of the attention this month, but there are many other July holidays you may not know about that can enhance your boating festivities.

For example, July is designated as National Baked Bean Month and National Hot Dog Month.

July 6th is National Fried Chicken Day and July 7th is National Macaroni Day - July 27th is Bugs Bunny's birthday.

To see a fun list or other July holidays you may not know about, click here.

July 4th- Some Little Known Facts
Presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe all died on the 4th of July; Coolidge was born on that day.

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

The 4th of July was not a legal federal holiday until 1941. At this time, it was made a paid holiday.

The "Father of American Music," Stephen Foster was born on July 4, 1826. His songs "Oh Susanna," "Old Black Joe," and others remain popular 200 years later. Other famous Americans born on the 4th include Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States; Neil Simon, Pulitzer prize winning screenwriter and playwright, and George Steinbrenner, infamous owner of the New York Yankees.

What You Can Do To Prevent Oil and Fuel Pollution From Entering the Water
(Part 3 of 4 parts)
In part three, we continue the discussion of what you can do to help spot and prevent oil and fuel pollution in the bay and ocean.

Report oil and chemical spills:
- If you see or cause a spill, DO NOT apply soaps to disperse the sheen (it is illegal)

- Report spills of oil or chemicals to the Marina Office and to (800) 424-8802

- Spill-proof your oil changes and recycle used oil

- If you change the engine oil yourself, used a closed system – a portable vacuum oil change pump drained into a container that can be closed to prevent spills during transfer of oil (available at West Marine )

- Do not mix used oil with other waste. Keep it segregated for recycling.

- Recycle used motor oil, oil filters, and fuel filters at a used oil recycling facility.

- Always keep oil-only absorbents on hand to wipe up spills.

- Saturated oil-absorbents are hazardous wastes and must be disposed of at the marina, the fuel dock, or at a hazardous waste disposal facility.

More About Car Theft
It's a good idea not to leave valuables in your unattended car, even if it's in the trunk, but certainly not out in the open.

We have unfortunately experienced damage and a theft in the lot recently where the car window was broken giving access to a Navigation/GPS and leather binder which were stolen. It is always recommended that if you have any theft or your property is vandalized to contact Harbor Police at 619-686-6272.

Also, a bicycle was stolen out of the back of a car. No signs of breaking in - so either the transmitter signal on the remote lock was intercepted or the lock may have not taken. Be sure to visually check that your locks are in fact all down and locked.

While the Harbor Police may not be able to recover the items, they do a great service keeping an eye on the property and have stepped up patrols when appropriate.

Also, after hours, please report any trespassing or criminal activity to the harbor police at 619-686-6272. The marina is not responsible for lost, stolen or vandalized property. Fortunately, we have a very low incidence of theft or vandalism at Sun Harbor Marina. We are lucky to have a great community of boaters here. It's great when we all look out for each other.

Parking Permit Enforcement
As we approach our first major holiday of the boating season, I think it's a good time the parking rules for the property are reviewed.

Parking in the marina lots is only for vehicles that have the Sun Harbor Marina Parking Permit. Permits must be adhered to the lower left corner of the driver side windshield to be valid. Parking is limited to 72 hours in a space. This policy will be enforced daily. Violators are subject to towing without notice.

If your guests wish to park on the property, you must pick up a guest permit from the marina office. There is only one car parking allowed in the marina lots per slip per day, so by offering a guest parking pass to their guests, tenants forfeit their parking privilege for the duration.

The car can be yours or your guest's. Additional parking is available on the street or in one of the two ACE parking lots for $5.00 per day. Your cooperation in this matter will help to ensure there is maximum parking for you and your fellow Sun Harbor Marina boaters. Thank you for your assistance.

Joke of the Month
A sailor, ran aground on a sandbar. A passing fisherman offered to tow the sailor's boat off the bar for fifty dollars and the sailor agreed.

After he was off the bar, the sailor joked that at $50 a pop the fisherman could make a nice living pulling people off the sandbar day and night!

"Can't at night", replied the fisherman. "At night I haul sand."

Got a good boating joke? Send it in, you might have the joke-of-the-month!

Alternatives to Toxic Products
(Reprinted Courtesy of Vivian of the Changing Tide Newsletter)
The products you purchase to clean and maintain your boat can have an adverse effect on aquatic life, water quality and human health. Many of these products contain chemicals that are poisonous, corrosive, flammable and/or chemically reactive.

However, safe alternatives are available. You can minimize environmental impacts by using some of the following alternatives to toxic products:

General & Surface Cleaners:
· Make a paste of lemon juice and borax.
·Mix 1 quart of hot water, 1 tsp. vegetable oil-based soap/detergent, 1 tsp. borax and 2 tbsp. vinegar. Vinegar is used as a mild acid to cut grease, borax is used as a water softener, especially good with hard water, to prevent soapy deposits.
- Mix 1 cup of vinegar in 1 quart of warm water.

Degreasers:
- Make a paste of lemon juice and borax.
· Choose water-based products or citrus-based degreasers.
Avoid products that contain methylene chloride and gasoline.

Window Cleaner:
· Dilute one cup of white vinegar with 1qt. water.

Mildew Remover:
· Scrub with a vinegar and salt paste (equal parts) using a nylon scouring pad.

Head and Showers:
· Clean frequently with a mix of baking soda and water; brush thoroughly. ] Sprinkle baking soda around the rim of the toilet. To clean and deodorize the head, try a mix of 1/2 cup of borax per 1 gallon of water. For a more comprehensive list of Alternative to Toxic Products, click here.

That's it For Now
I hope you all have a great summer boating season and I look forward to seeing you at the marina!

Kathy OBrien - Sun Harbor Marina
kathy@sun-harbor.com

Selecting Underwater & Topside Maintenance Services
Speaking about summer, here are some great tips courtesy of Gerry Charest at Marina Village about selecting a professional maintenance service that will protect your boat and the marine environment.

Ask your boat maintenance services to follow the marina requirements as outlined in your lease, and use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to avoid damaging boats or releasing pollutants into marina waters.

Hire a professional! Ask to see the service's current business license and liability insurance. You want to be assured that if there is a problem, your vendor will stand behind the product.

Some maintenance services may belong to a professional association that uses BMPs. Get several references from a prospective maintenance service or other boaters who know their work. Ask if they were satisfied and try to see the completed work. Obtain and verify the service's business address and telephone number. You may need to contact them in case of incomplete work, illegal discharge or improper waste disposal.

Finally, explain your expectations. Let the contractor know what you need and how it should be performed. We welcome any feedback, good or bad, regarding how a particular vendor performs their service.

One If By Land ...
For a number of legitimate reasons, marinas like ours have tightened up security in recent years for marine service vendors working on boats at our docks.

Some of the new restrictions are to make sure vendors have liability insurance, but a lot of it has to do with making sure best environmental practices are being followed.

However, all too often vendors have taken to "arriving by boat" in order to bypass marina security.

Please make sure your vendors are cleared for work by your marina. This helps protect both the boaters and the marinas. Thank you for your cooperation.

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