Sun Harbor Marina Minute
Welcome to the February 2008 Sun Harbor Marina newsletter.

I hope you all stayed dry during the early January rains, and that you didn't have too many "boat leaks". The good news is that the high points on your boat probably got a badly needed free wash job.

Nautical Swap Meet Rescheduled
Because of those amazing rains, our Swap Meet on Jan 5th has been rescheduled to February 2nd from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. Now that you have had a little more time to review the items in your storage lockers, garage and the nooks and crannies of your boat, be sure to haul them to the swap meet to sell or swap.

Getting Greener
Effective February 1, 2008 the dumpster in the East building will be for recycle ONLY. This dumpster is a Commingled Recycling container, which means that no sorting is required.

As a reminder, here are the items you can legally recycle:

• Mixed paper & cardboard
  
• Writing paper; computer paper; newspaper
  cardboard boxes & file folders
  
• "Junk" Mail Telephone Books Magazines
  
• Post-It Notes; shredded paper; fax paper
  
• Paper packaging; NCR (carbonless) forms
  
• Glass Bottles & Jars (all colors); steel (tin) cans; recyclable containers; aluminum cans

Please DO NOT Recycle these items:

• Paper plates; paper cups; paper towels
  
• Tissue; carbon paper
  
• Plastic Bags (NO plastic grocery sacks or newspaper delivery bags)

All wet trash and non-recyclable trash will need to be placed in the dumpster at the West end of the parking lot. Thank you for your contribution to making a greener world.

Dock Carts...Disappearing!
In January two more dock carts went missing. We have tracked down our marina carts in all kinds of places including the parking lot, the hotel across the street, the boat yard just off of Scott Street, and even the San Diego River.

Obviously some individuals in need of a cart are leaving them in these locations; if we are lucky, we get them back; if not...well that is a couple of hundred bucks down the tube!

I know it is a pain in the neck to take the cart to your car and then have to bring it back to the base of the ramp, but it is the right thing to do. Please help us keep our carts available for all.

Thank You to the Sun Harbor Walking Club
Speaking of dock carts, have you had a chance to meet the Walking Club? Even if you can't join them, take a moment to give them each a BIG thank you for the miracle performed.

The walking club found two of our missing dock carts on Thursday Jan 17th. The wayward carts were located at Driscoll's Wharf (where they occasionally migrate). As we mentioned, there are still two more carts (green) still MIA. If you have your sneakers on and a bit of time to stretch your legs, join the Walking Club. They meet at 6:50 am at the communal table Monday through Friday. Who knows - maybe you'll be the one who finds the other missing carts!.

Boat Registration and Insurance Renewal
It's that time of the year when registration and insurance is expiring for your boat. Please stop by the marina office at your earliest convenience to give us your updated information. Make sure your insurance is current and that the marina is listed as an additional insured.

A Special Request
We must ask that you use only "breathable" mats on the docks. This helps keep down permanent stains and mold. Thanks for your cooperation.

The Tax Man Cometh!
With the new year, comes also the tax man. If you own a vessel as of January 1, 2008, make sure you file a Vessel Property Tax Statement.

Each year, representatives from the County Tax Assessor's Office walk our docks to compile a list of all vessels in the marina. They compare this list to their database of vessels subject to property tax. As a vessel owner, it is your responsibility to file the required property tax statement with the Assessor's Office.

If you have previously completed the required form, you should automatically receive annual requests from the Assessor's Office to determine if you still own the vessel, and to report the vessel's condition prior to being issued a personal property tax bill.

If you purchase a vessel after January 1st, you should also contact the Assessor's Office to make them aware of the purchase and take the required steps to report your purchase. For a printable PDF of frequently asked questions about property tax on vessels, click here. Other questions regarding vessel property tax should be directed to the Marine Section of the County Assessor's Office at
858-505-6200.

Welcome New Boaters
Sun Harbor extends a hearty welcome to the following new boaters. Please stop by and introduce yourself when you get a chance.

• A-41 - Graham Shea - Elaine
• B-74 - Neil Dreischmeyer - La Mer
• B-96 - John Kindel - Wind Walker

April Showers in February
Good news - Effective February 1st the outdoor shower will be open and available for your use.

Some Other Friendly Reminders and Recommendations
Please do not allow dock access to contractors, friendly looking strangers, nice guys or vaguely familiar faces - allow access only to fellow tenants whom you know. Allowing access to those you don't know is an invitation to theft and vandalism.

Contractors must come to the office to register; this is standard practice for them in all marinas and shouldn't inconvenience the contractor. Anyone needing access can always come to the office during business hours for access, and we're always happy to come down and give access to tenants who've lost, forgotten or misplaced a key.

Hosts should accompany their guests, or having given keys to guests to use the vessel for any period of time, should call in with notice to the office.

Consider securing your boat and dinghy with a lock. Some dinghies are quite portable and may simply be picked up and taken through the gate. At other times robbers will simply come by water in another dinghy, lash it to another and abscond with their new dinghy. Securing your boat with a lock will help ensure that your vessel (and your ever more expensive technological devices) are secure from theft and tampering.

While we are happy to provide storage space for laundry soap in the laundry room, we ask that tenants store only small containers of laundry soap in the laundry room, to insure that there is room for convenient storage for everyone.

That's it For Now
Remember, if you have any questions or items you'd like to share in our newsletter, please let us know.

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

Newsletter Thought For the Month
Making a conscious decision means we have to be awake and aware of what matters most to us. And that takes work, but it's so very worth it. - Lisa Hammond.

e-Letters to the Editor
Dear BlueSkyNews.com.
My boat carries 200 gallons of diesel, and I am amazed at the price for fuel these days.

I think you would be doing a Great service to boaters if you could start up something like "Gas Buddy" has on the internet, only let boaters know what fuel was selling for at the various fuel docks. This would not only benefit boaters, but might motivate some of the fuel docks to become more competitive if they see what other docks are selling their fuel for. I would like to hear your opinion on this.

Regards,
Wayne from Chula Vista

Dear Wayne
Unlike auto gas stations, the "price is not necessarily the price" at fuel docks. Special discounts are made based on how many gallons you take on board during a specific fill-up, and additional discounts can be had for boaters who establish and regularly use an established account with the fuel dock. Our best advice is to contact fuel docks in your area when you're ready for a fill-up; tell them the estimated number of gallons, and ask what the price would be. Visit our Marine Services web page for a complete listing of San Diego area fuel docks.

Best of luck,
BlueSkyNews

Perfect Fishing Storm Headed to
San Diego?
If you like to fish and you haven't already done it, you should become familiar California's Marine Life Protection Act. This environmental legislation is working its way down the coast from Sacramento, and is heading full steam for San Diego waters.

We'll be talking much more in future newsletters about this issue which could dramatically affect both sportfishing and recreational fishing in San Diego, including establishing many "no take" zones in traditional fishing grounds. In the meantime, to bring yourself up on both sides of the issue we suggest any local fishing enthusiasts take a look at the act itself by clicking on the link above, and then visit the Sportfishing Association of California's web site to see what this could mean to you. For a real eye full, Google the words "Marine Life Protection Act".

The watchword is "stay engaged" because if you snooze; you will lose the chance for a balanced solution!






Between the Sheets - Anchoring - It's Not Voodoo!
By Richard Benscoter

My lovely second mate and some friends of ours were anchored in Mission Bay's Mariners Cove on a sunny afternoon when we noticed an unoccupied 18 foot runabout slowly drifting our way.

With a boat hook and some lines, we got this beautiful new stray boat tied up along side. We saw a couple on the beach frantically waving their arms, so I went ashore and brought the grateful owners out to reclaim their boat.

Anchoring is not automatic but can be made to seem so if you execute a few key points. First I will tell you the most important thing is to brief your second mate on the what, when, where, and yes, the why. This will make this task a no brainier!

The What - is the preparation on the boat for anchoring, i.e., anchor ready, ensure it is the proper size and weight for your boat, anchor rode is properly sized for the boat, and of proper length. It would also be helpful if you had pre-marked your rode in increments of 10 feet with those colorful tabs you can buy at your local marine store. If your boat is large, you will find that a portable two-way radio between the captain and the first mate can be a lifesaver (or a marriage saver) when anchoring.

The When - is the process - i.e., head the boat into the wind and when all forward movement is stopped lower the anchor. Don't throw or drop it, as the rode could become tangled. Let the wind push the boat backward as the anchor rode is paid out to the proper length. Secure the rode to the boat and set the anchor by back winding a sail, or by using the motor to gently back down.

The Where - is the location in the anchorage. Remember, in anchorages the first boat has priority. Don't anchor where the swing of your boat on the tide and wind changes will swing you into another boat. Also insure you don't lower your anchor where it or your rode will cross another boat's rode.

The Why - is the most important. Since most of us have not been to mars and cannot read minds you need to sit down with your crew and brief your plan. Discuss every aspect of what you expect to happen, and what to do when the expected does not happen, like the anchor does not set. Let them know how much rode you will let out for the given tide and conditions. Brief everyone on what your reaction will be to a given situation. This last step is the most important to make anchoring an easy and enjoyable part of your boating experience.

Lastly how much rode should you let out? This is the captain's call, but here are some rules of thumb. The length of rode you let out is called scope, and the following are ratios to the highest tide you will experience during your time at anchor.

• Anchored for lunch in calm conditions - use a scope of 4 to 1
  
• Normal and overnight conditions - use a scope of 7 to 1
  
• In storm conditions - use a scope of 10 to 1

Happy Sailing!

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.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Tip of the Month
By Bob Simons
Why You Shouldn't Use Automotive Engine Parts On Your Gas Boat
You no doubt have noticed the big difference in the cost of "marine engine parts" as opposed to "automotive parts". You may have also thought that since the engines are the same; why not?

Well the answer is, there is a huge difference! The main difference is that autos are designed so that the engine is sitting over the ground, so if there is an occasional little drip of gas it just falls on the ground and evaporates. Boats, on the other hand, have enclosed bilges so those little drops of gas may evaporate, but they leave a residue of vapors that can become a very powerful ticking time bomb just waiting for an ignition source.

Here are some other major differences:

Marine alternators have contacts that are not exposed.

Marine distributors have ignition protection and flame arrestors.

Marine starters and generators are completely sealed.

Marine starter solenoids do not have the vent that auto solenoids do.

Marine carburetors vent any overflow back to the carburetor throat so the engine burns it vs. venting it to the outside as all automotive carburetors do.

Marine fuel pumps will not allow fuel out of the diaphragm area if there is a leak vs. into a vent hole to the outside as automotive fuel pumps do.

These requirements are enumerated in the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Circular if you would like to learn more, or, ask your Vessel Examiner about it during your next Vessel Safety Check which can be obtained by emailing me or calling me at
619-294-4137.

See you next time and safe boating

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.

BlueSkyNews.com Desktop Photo of the Month - Tahiti Reef
The dramatic colors of the South Pacific waters are hard to match. To use this desktop photo, Click here for easy to follow instructions to download this or one of many other fantastic high resolution free desktop photos.

Nautical Trivia - How Deep Is Your Love... or Wide?
All sailors know that one fathom equals six feet, but did you know that a fathom was once defined by an act of Parliament as "the length of a man's arms around the object of his affections." The word originally came from the Old English Faethm, which means "embracing arms." Remembering that the circumference of a circle is pi times the diameter, that means the average female waistline then was around 22 inches.