5000 N. Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
Telephone:
619-222-1167
Fax:
619-222-9387
E-mail Address:
kathy@sun-harbor.com
Web Site:
www.sun-harbor.com
Office Hours:
Monday - Saturday
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Important Numbers:
Harbor Police:
619-686-6272
US Coast Guard:
800-424-8802
Marina After Hours:
619-808-9518
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Nautical Trivia - "Chewing the Fat"
In olden days, salted beef was the staple food for the long journeys of seafaring men. This tough cured beef was inexpensive and would keep well, but it required prolonged chewing to make it edible.
One chunk of beef could last for hours - thus the origin of the term "chewing the fat".
Sun Harbor Marina Minute
Greetings Sun Harbor tenants and welcome to the November 2008 marina newsletter.
I hope you're all enjoying our great Fall weather and getting out there on the water.
Holiday Events Coming Up
Mark your calendar for Friday, October 31st for our annual Halloween Party with Jack-o-lantern judging beginning at 4:30 pm. Sun Harbor Marina will be providing meat for the BBQ plan on bringing your favorite side dish to share. RSVP by Oct. 27th.
Then on Saturday, December 13th, from 5 P.M.-7 P.M., Sun Harbor Marina will serve a roasted turkey as the main course at our Christmas Party and have a Christmas tree to decorate. If you can join us, please plan on bringing your favorite side dish or dessert and a Christmas tree decoration to share for the Christmas Party celebration.
For either event, sign up in the marina office, the laundry room, or email allie@sun-harbor.com or call him at 619-222-1167.
Holiday Planning
Need some ideas for those that are difficult to shop for? Here's some special offers to Sun Harbor Marina Tenants only from Sun Harbor Marina Tenants
Serenity Spa San Diego - 25% off all Services and Retail items good now until Christmas to SHM Tenants. Contact: Karen Gallagher at Serenity Spa at 858-369-4900 for an appointment and pamper yourself!
Uniquer! - One-Of-A-Kind Jewelry Designs and Fashion Statements. Custom Creations in Semi-Precious Stones and Sterling Silver: Earrings, Bracelets, Necklaces Starting at $20. Contact: Doug Mengers at 619-218-9724 or by e-mail:
On Board Chef Available - On your boat or Chez Nous (sailboat): provisioning, meal planning, prep, serving and clean up. At the dock, or while underway. Some ideas include: Romantic dinners; lunch while on the bay; brunch with your friends. Starting at $125.00 and up, depending on service and number of persons serving. Contact Chef Marcie for more details at 702-480-5897 or e-mail.
Tibetan Bowl Sacred Healing Sound - Sound healing is an effective and proven modality that uses vibrational sound to help reduce stress, alter consciousness and create a deep sense of peace, well being and better health. Amazing Laser Star Field. Return to OM or Sarasvati's Dream CD by Diane Mandle & Friends. Private Tibetan Bowl Sound Healing Sessions. GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE FOR SESSIONS. Call Diáne Mandle at 760-944-3441 for more information or an appointment.
Pizza Nova - Pizza Nova has great Dining Gift Certificates; T-Shirts and Hats and lots of great food waiting for you right at the top of the dock!
Preventing Marine Theft
The organized theft of small boats, personal watercraft (Jet Skis, Wave Riders, and similar craft), and marine equipment is rising. Regardless of the size of your craft, you are a target. If someone steals your boat or equipment, you're not likely to get it back. But you are not helpless; you can act to prevent theft and safeguard your property. Don't be an easy target.
Mark It: Marking your property discourages theft and enables authorities to trace lost or stolen items, giving you a better chance of recovering them.
Photograph It: Photographs of your property can help identify your goods and aid in their recovery. They also serve as documentation for your insurance company. Prepare notes identifying all items in each picture, but do not store the photos and notes on or with the boat where they might be stolen with the items.
Record It: Prepare a written inventory of your boat, trailer, personal watercraft, and all other marine equipment and gear. Be sure to record all available information, including the brand name, model and year, and serial number, registration number, and hull identification number.
Store It: The best way to keep thieves from stealing property from your boat is to not leave gear and equipment aboard the vessel. Take gear home, or if it is not practical to take gear with you, store it aboard in a cabinet or locker that has a reliable, solid lock. Chain dinghies or outboard motors to the boat and lock them securely. But remember that bolt cutters easily snip through most chains and padlocks. A secure boat cover can also help, keeping equipment out of sight.
Know Your Neighbors: Thieves often succeed because they look as if they belong in an area. Know your dock neighbors and dockmaster. Ask them to keep an eye on your vessel when you're away for extended periods. If you see a stranger in the area, politely introduce yourself and offer to help. Your interest will let thieves know that you and your neighbors look out for each other.
Lock it Away: If you leave your boat for any length of time, close and lock all hatches and windows. Also close the window drapes. If you don't have drapes, stow things out of sight - preferably in a locked area. Do not leave valuable equipment - such as televisions, radios, radar, fathometers, fishing gear and cameras - in plain view. And always take your keys with you when you leave.
Clutter Reduction
One person's trash can truly be another's treasure! If you did not get rid of or collect everything you wanted at the Oct 26th Nautical Swap Meet you might want to investigate FreeCycle.org or Craigslist.org.
FreeCycle.org
The Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grass roots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Membership is Free. To sign up, find your local community and then join. When you want to find a new home for something – you email the offering to the members. If you are looking to acquire something respond to an offer. You can even search the database with key words to see if an item is available.
Craig's List
For selling items you no longer use or want, post them on craigslist.org. Click on "san diego" - Post your items in the for sale area of the web page. It's free, easy, and a great way to let go of possessions that someone else could use and enjoy. You may even make money in the process. Or you can offer the items for free.
Grilled Tuna
Last, but not least, here's a great recipe for Grilled Tuna created by Chef Jesus Gonzales of the Culinary Team at Rancho La Puerta Fitness Resort and Spa, Recipe tested by the Sun Harbor Marina cooking & test team.
Mix all the ingredients except the olive oil in a shallow dish. Coat each piece of fish with some olive oil and then roll in the spice mixture to cover completely. Place the fish on a plate, cover and refrigerate at least one hour. To cook the tuna: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a sauté pan over high heat. Place the tuna in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, depending on how well done you like your fish cooked. Alternately - grill over a hot grill. - Bon Appetit!
That's it For Now
I hope you're all enjoy this month's newsletter, and I look forward to seeing you all at the marina!
Kathy OBrien - Sun Harbor Marina
kathy@sun-harbor.com
From The Waterline - How To Pick Up a Mooring at Avalon
- By Bob Sherman
The moorings at Avalon are assigned on a first come, first serve basis. Once the Harbor is full, which holds 350 boats, boats can moor outside at Descanso Bay and Hamilton Cove. There is more motion out there, occasionally uncomfortable, and it's a longer trip to the town by dinghy or shore boat. The water is too deep to anchor at Avalon, unless you own a small ship.
The mooring assignments are made just outside the harbor, roughly straight out from the green "Pleasure Pier". Look for the red Avalon Harbor Patrol boats. They will need to know the length of your boat, how many nights you want to stay, and your documentation number. The fee is usually paid by check, so have one ready.
Boats are moored bow & stern, so that they do not swing. The patrol boat will tell you which fairway to turn into. It will be tight, with lots of dinghies, sometimes swimmers, so go slow and careful. Have crew on the bow as lookout. Check your wind direction for drift when mooring.
When you are abeam your mooring, make your turn and aim for the floating pole. Stop with your bow right at the pole. The crew picks up the pole which is attached to a short lead line. Quickly pull the line until a big yellow line hawser appears, and slip the loop onto the bow cleat. The bow is now secure! Oh yes - Make sure you're putting the hawser on the cleat on the same side as all the other boats!
Now comes the tricky part, securing the stern. The boat may start to drift, so keep an eye on your position relative to the boats on either side, which are 10 to 20 feet away. Back away slightly if needed to make it easier to hook up the stern line.
To retrieve the stern mooring line, the crew should quickly pull along the weighted spreader line, walking aft as they pull. Gloves are handy, as the spreader line is slimy.
The skipper might use the engine(s) in moderation to hold the boat in position, taking great care that the engine is in neutral, if the spreader line is near the prop(s). It is safest to lay the slack spreader line on deck, so that it can't foul the prop, but then you get slime on your boat.
If you cannot reach the yellow stern mooring hawser, simply get the spreader line onto the stern cleat as soon as possible, and tighten when you can. Give the boat time to settle into position, then adjust if necessary. As Captain Ron would say, "it's time to kick back some cold ones" and watch the newcomers go through the same drill!
The tension on these lines can vary greatly during large tidal swings. You may need to adjust the stern line to avoid excessive strain at high tide, or drifting close to your neighbors at low tide. A dock line can be led through the stern hawser loop, if the spreader line appears unsafe.
Departure is normally easy. Simply release bow and stern lines, but wait for the spreader lines to sink clear of the props. Then pull forward and make your way out of the moorings and start your voyage home!
Editor's Note: Bob Sherman has over 21 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
The Dink
- By Frank Mowry
Ahhh, the cruiser's Lorelei. Tedious to live with and impossible to live without; providing transportation to and from the shore.
Dinks, also referred to as tenders, dinghies, barges, and other monikers that are less flattering, come in many sizes, colors, shapes and price tags. It's fair to say that one man's dink can be another man's cruiser with mega-yachts having tenders of 30 feet, dwarfing many admirals' barges.
In general, dinks are either inflatable, rigid inflatable, or hard sided. The choice seems to rest on your agility with hard-sided dinks being rather more tender and tippy. This characteristic comes dramatically into play when transferring in a roly-poly anchorage, enduring the wake of a fast moving power boat, or mounting your outboard motor (OBM) on the transom. (MOB can often mean outboard "motor overboard" in that situation.)
The current DOC (dingy of choice) is a RIB, a rigid inflatable craft which has good stability; is relatively easy to transport (vide infra); and can get on a plane with sufficient outboard power, and because of its fiberglass hull (to which the inflatable pontoons are attached) is trauma resistant.
The dink, much like the mother ship, needs a number of aftermarket additions. The painter, a line used for securing the tender, needs to be chosen with thought, and should not be the first piece of line pulled out of your "scrap" rope bin. Its caliber should be consistent with its mission and if you make an error in length, do so on the large side (you'll find out why later).
Braided nylon is a good choice for a painter. because dinghy docks are becoming increasingly crowded, and a long painter is essential, and if others also choose wisely, the number of dinghies that can be accommodated is dramatically increased.
Another essential part of dinghy paraphernalia is oars or paddles as a backup for an OBM which is obstinate, overboard or out of gas. To go without them is to ask for a long and wet hand paddle.
Perhaps the most important, certainly the most expensive of dinghy equipage is the outboard motor (OBM). The dinghy manufacturer will usually designate the horsepower deemed optimal. It is a good idea for the cruiser to go with the maximum horsepower recommended, especially if your cruising plans call for frequent beach landings. An underpowered dinghy is likely not to make it past the surf line when departing the shore.
Also, in many anchorages it's a long way to the beach and with a two horsepower OBM you are likely to grow old going in and out. That said, generally speaking, with increased horsepower, comes increased weight and increasing difficulty mounting and dismounting the engine. This variable can be managed by installing a lift hoist fitted with a 4:1 block and tackle. The hoists are manufactured by a number of companies, are reliable, inexpensive, and easy to mount. Without a hoist it's only a matter of when, not if your OBM goes in the drink.
There are many other dinghy accoutrements such as beach wheels, self bailers, and running lights which can be acquired based on the skipper's decision. What is not optional however, are PFDs for each person. These can be stowed away in handy under-seat storage bags when not in use.
That's enough waxing philosophic about dinks for now - next month we'll talk about how people haul the little buggers around.
Frank Mowry Editor's Note: Frank and Martha Mowry have enjoyed cruising southern California waters for 10 years aboard their 42' Island Packet sloop. Next month, they will talk about some of their favorite stopovers on the way to the Channel Islands. Click Here to send Frank and Martha an e-mail with your sea stories or questions.
e-letters to the Editor
Dear Editor: I read Frank and Martha Mowrys' article last month about cruising to the Channel Islands. One afternoon, as we were anchored in Cueva Valdez on the north side of Santa Cruz Island, the weather channel reported strong NW winds north of Point Conception but moderate winds South of there. We remained at anchor, but the wind and sea kept building. We eventually decided to leave before dark and managed with difficulty to raise anchor and exit the cove.
We headed downwind toward Pelican Bay, with the wind building the whole time. Pelican was completely calm inside, thanks to the high cliffs, but we heard distress calls on the VHF from boats still in the channel.
From this experience, we've concluded that north-facing anchorages not within the wind shadow of Point Conception are likely to experience weather which the National Weather Service forecasts as North of the point only. Just thought your readers might like to know.
- Bob Gerecke, "Call of the Wind"
Hi there Frank and Martha - Saw your article on the Channel Islands in the recent BSN --- great stuff!
Here's a link to a supplemental - and frequently updated - cruising guide of the region.
Customs Reporting Requirement Clarified
If you take your pleasure vessel for a cruise out on the open ocean but you don't touch foreign soil or contact another vessel at sea, you are not considered to have made a departure for the purposes of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reporting requirements.
This clarification was recently issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials.
The master of a vessel must report their arrival to CBP immediately after arriving into the United States after having touched foreign soil, or after having had contact with any hovering vessel. Federal law requires that all U.S. Citizens and aliens seeking entry to the United States must report their arrival.
Currently, CBP has two reporting locations to serve the boating community. The Harbor Police Dock at 401 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106 and the Dana Launch Ramp Public Dock at 1800 Dana Landing Road, San Diego, CA 92109.
Boaters who have any questions about this information may contact Jay Duenas at (619) 685-4300 ext.312, during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Sales Tax Law Reverts to 12 Month Rule
- By Bob Sherman
On the evening of September 30, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 1452 effectively changing the sales and use tax law back to the 12-month test, effective immediately. For non-California residents, the 6-month test applies.
Boat buyers already under a "binding contract" to purchase, on or before September 30, are grandfathered in under the 90 day rule.
The "Repair, Retrofit and Modification Rule" applies as before, allowing work to be done in California during the test period, but with special conditions.
This proposal had been tabled indefinitely last June, and comes as a surprise to the marine industry. With California's budget deficit it is understandable, but it comes at a time when the marine industry is already struggling. Unlike September 2004, this time there is no window for Buyers to make their purchase before the law change. In 2004, there was a surge of boat buying activity prior to the law change on October 1.
Yacht Brokers are not qualified to advise you with certainty in these matters. Be sure to utilize the services of a qualified attorney. I refer my clients to two excellent attorneys in San Diego, who specialize in the area: Cris John Wenthur and Paul Trusso.
Editor's Note: Bob Sherman has over 21 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
From the ECO-Detective - Drinking Water Purifiers, Your Achin' Back, Your Health, and the Environment
- By Russ Grandinetti
Years ago when I was a full time mega-yacht captain, I bought a water softener for my apartment. It took about an hour to hook it up under the sink, and the water it produced was great.
I didn't think about it much back then, but the reason the water it produced was so good is that a reverse osmosis system has filters that essentially only allow those pure H2O molecules to get through. They filter out any chemicals, solids, organic matter, and salts - even tastes and odors are eliminated.
Years later I had a drinking water purifier installed on one of my client's boats, and he was so happy with it that the word spread and the next thing I knew I was busy doing nothing but recommending water purifiers on other boats. The local rep even offered to put me on commission.
The main reason to put a drinking water purifier on a boat is that fresh water holding tanks on boats have a lot more impurities than the water from even your tap on land. This is true even if you have a watermaker. The Galley-Mate, which we recommend at Knight and Carver for example, will take stored water produced by your watermaker to less than 10 parts per million from 150 PPM.
But what I didn't realize was that another major reason those skippers were interested in having a water purifier on board was that it eliminated the need to schlep heavy plastic drinking water bottles on board, and then have to dispose of them later.
So interestingly enough, a water purifier can save your achin' back, give you sparking fresh drinking water on board, and move your vessel one step closer to green by eliminating plastic from the planet; not to mention more healthier water.
Russ Grandinetti is a noted megayacht captain with a background in marine sciences and oceanography. He is now the Green Products and Services Manager for Knight & Carver YachtCenter in National City, Ca. For more information about the product highlighted in this article or other eco-friendly products, e-mail Russ with your questions and suggestions.
Between the Sheets - Just a Simple Trip to a Fuel Dock
-By Richard Benscoter
Now I don't want anybody to think I've gone over to the dark side (power boats), but it didn't take much persuasion for me to accompany a couple of power boat friends of mine on an overnight trip to Ensenada last week for a little fuel; a great dinner; some sampling of local wine; and a return trip home the next day.
With passport in hand; sub sandwiches and chips and lunch fixin's for both ways, we three amigos headed about 70 miles South for the marina at the Hotel Coral just North of Ensenada, Mexico.
This trip was a great getaway. The setting at the Hotel Coral is fantastic - a beautiful pool and spa and fantastic food; not too close but not too far away. Of course, fuel at about half the cost of what it is here was no small attraction either.
There are fifteen tuna pens just to the east of the Coronado Island that extend from the island lea shore extending eastward a good half a mile. These pens show up on your radar as round circles and should be avoided.
Continuing South, the coast line is erupting with new high rise buildings as you approach the fuel refinery with Pt. Descanso off your port bow. As we passed the refinery there were three tankers laying at anchor and one offloading. These anchorages are not on any chart and this area should be transited with caution.
As you approach Pt. San Miguel you will see the new LNG receiving station under construction, and around the next point you'll arrive at the Hotel Coral Marina.
After tying up to the fuel dock we begin fueling and get cleared into Mexico. The marina staff performed these tasks in a matter of minutes, and we were assigned a slip for the night.
Dinner at the Hotel Coral exceeded my expectations with wonderful food, excellent service and the local wine was impressive.
The next morning we were greeted by pea soup fog. After visibility cleared to a quarter mile we headed North back home with our trusty radar as a guide. Almost three hours later, we emerged from the fog with our ears ringing from our boat's blasting horn.
After we left the fog behind, we encountered two pods of gray whales heading South in their annual migration.
Clearing customs back into the U.S. at the Shelter Island Police Docks was very easy and efficient; although I would suggest arriving during normal business hours to avoid delays due to off hours staffing.
One final note - Although I've portrayed this getaway as a whole lot of adventure and fun (which it is), If you decide you'd like to make this trip, here's a few precautions. Pick up a good chart of the area and a good cruising guide to Baja. Check the chart to make sure the Hotel Coral is shown on it, because even though the hotel has been there for several years, many of the Mexican charts have not yet been updated.
Also, even if you don't plan to fish on the way, if you have any fishing equipment (even a piece of string in the bottom of your toolbox), the Mexican authorities will be upset if they pull you over. To be safe, get a Mexican fishing permit for everyone on board at your local tackle shop before you go. Also, a passport is now required on both ends of the trip.
That's it for me this month - See you on the water.
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.
Desktop Photo of the Month
Our thanks to Will Shelton who caught this fantastic high resolution desktop photo at the Chula Vista Marina.
It answers the age-old question - What's at the end of the rainbow? Answer - Of course! - Boating!
Click here for easy to follow instructions to download this or one of our other fantastic high resolution free desktop photos.
Coast Guard Auxiliary Tip of the Month - Which Flares Do I Really Need?
- By Bob Simons
Technically and legally you need three day/night flares that are current if your pleasure boat is 75 feet or less. They can be pyrotechnic or hand held. Flares have an expiration date printed on the side that indicates the month and year they go out of date; usually three years after you buy them.
Now in reality, what should you have for boating in Southern California? If you are strictly a bay cruiser, the minimum standards are probably O.K., but if you go offshore fishing or cruising, you should consider going beyond the minimum legal standard. Some day your flares might be your last hope of rescue, so "minimum" really is a direct reflection on how you feel about you, your family, your friends, and your boat.
When I do Vessel Safety Checks for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, I recommend a couple of Orange Smoke flares be added to your emergency kit. The orange smoke is visible for miles during daylight as opposed to the regular flares that do not put out smoke, and they are more suitable for night.
For larger vessels, I recommend at least one parachute flare - they are incredibly bright, and can be seen for miles at night. They reach a height of 1,000 feet and theoretically have a visibility of 41 miles!
Many of the popular flare kits have the small 25mm flare gun with three shells. It is very important to remember that these flares go up about 300 feet and come right down in less than six seconds. Unless someone was looking directly in your direction, they probably wouldn't notice them, so use them when you have your rescue vessel in sight and they are facing you.
SOLAS emergency equipment is what is required for larger and commercial vessels. These flares are of superior quality and brightness and are considered the highest benchmark for safety internationally. They are more expensive than the safety equipment usually used on pleasure boats, but if you are venturing far offshore you should definitely consider this upgrade.
What to do with out of date flares is always a question. Should I keep them on board? I recommend that flares are probably O.K. for three years after their expiration date, but should then be disposed of at your local fire station. We have had a problem with some out of date flares suddenly burning from both ends or splitting, which are obviously both very dangerous situations. The striker on your flares should be inspected annually to assure no condensation has accumulated under the black cap. Blotting it with Kleenex and allowing it to dry usually suffices.
Happy and safe cruising to you - See you here next month!
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.
About Boats That Never Leave Their Slips
At every marina, there are a substantial number of boats, both sailboats and power boats, that just sit there month after month, tied up to the dock.
Everybody knows which boats they are, and everyone talks about them all the time.
These days, you can blame some of that on the economy and fuel prices, but the fact is, many of these boats belong to people who bought something bigger than they could handle; took it out for a spin; got in trouble, and never got back on the horse.
I know that of which I speak, because even though I was a life long small boat handler, about six years ago, my wife and I decided to move up. We bought a beautiful pre-owned 1996 40' raised aft cabin Cruisers power boat. You might have seen it around the bay - we named it Yachta Yachta Yachta.
I'll never forget the day the previous owner and the broker turned over the keys. I stood on the bridge and silently thought "What the hell have I done!".
Anyway, the boat owner next to us asked me if was going to put a spring line on it and I remember his pained expression when I said "If I knew what that was, I would put one on it".
To make a long story short, after learning many things the hard way (it's shallow on the Coronado side of the bridge - don't pull up close to the little triangle signs to read what they say - don't go to Chula Vista without a chart - the engines have zincs - sea gulls like to crap on black canvas - etc.) we decided to get some education because we thought we might kill ourselves.
With the help of the Coast Guard Auxiliary inspecting our boat, some good manuals, a lot of advice from more experienced boaters, and a lot of practice, I finally became a lot safer and a pretty good skipper (if I do say so myself!).
The point of all this is that mandatory boating education is coming down the pike, and frankly, looking back I could really have used it. So maybe when that gets here, a lot more boat owners will learn the enjoyment of taking their boats out for a spin instead of leaving them tied up to the dock.
Most experienced boaters I know feel the same - it would be nice to have the confidence to know that the other guy knows the rules of the road as well as you do.
What do you think? Send me an e-mail.
Gus Giobbi - BlueSkyNews.com
gus@blueskynews.com
Secrets About Sails - A Checklist For Buying New Sails
- By Brad Poulos
Sails, like a good suit, are made to fit your boat; for the kind of sailing you do and the winds and waters you sail in (or intend to sail in).
If you're considering buying new sails, the more information your sailmaker has about you and your boat, the more accurate they can prepare a recommendation on quote.
1. What kind of boat do you have? Make and model. If you say you have a Catalina 36, then they'll want to know Mark I or II.
2. In what year was your boat built? Builders often make changes year by year.
3. What rig does it have? Many builders offer standard and tall rigs. This can affect not only mast height, but other critical dimensions.
4. Has the rig been modified? Owners occasionally lengthen their boom or add a short bowsprit to increase sail area. Has a furler been added?
5. Where do you sail? Sails cut for long ocean swells should have a different shape from those used in choppy waters. Some places have strong winds, others zephyrs.
6. Do you race, cruise or do both. The choice of materials and features you should have will vary to suit your usage.
7. What's the reason for buying a new sail? Are you replacing an old one, moving to different waters, heading off on a world wide voyage, looking for more speed and/or durability?
8. What key factors will influence your decision? Can you rank factors such as price, performance, multi-purpose use, and durability?
Happy Sailing - See you next month!
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.
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