SunHarbor5-07




ON THE MARKET

	Boats/Yachts For Sale (7)

	Bottom Protection (1)

	Brokers (3)

	Canvas & Interior (1)

		Charter (2)

	Insurance (2)

	Maintenance/Repair (4)

	NEW! Virtual Swap Meet Used Marine Gear (4)

Sun Harbor Marina

5000 N. Harbor Drive

San Diego, CA 92106

Tel: 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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Sun Harbor Marina Minute

Kathy OBrien

Hooray! Hooray! It’s finally May! The month of May Day, Cinco De Mayo, Mother’s Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. And for we boaters, did you know that May 8th is officially “No Socks Day”? No kidding! Check it out on Google!

But Before May - Celebrate Earth Day

Hopefully you’re reading this before April 22nd - If so, plan to celebrate Earth Day. Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Earth Day is a time to unite around new actions. Learn about actions you can take on your own to make a difference to our planet.

Other Good Stuff Coming In May

Remember the next swap meet will be on Sunday May 6th from 6 am to 10:45 am in the parking lot. Sellers - register with the Marina office to reserve your space after purchasing a $10 gift certificate from Pizza Nova for each space you need. .

Also on May 6th we will have Green Earth Recycling on site from 8 am to 1 pm to accept free drop off on e-scrap (Monitors, TV's, Computers, peripherals, Printers, Fax Machines, Stereos, Telephones/cellular phones...etc.) at the Marina. 100% of the material received by Green Earth will be spared from the waste stream. Appointments can also be made (1 pm to 5pm) for home pick up of items to large to bring to the Marina.

For pure fun, the Gator by the Bay Festival will be held May 11th, 12th and 13th at Spanish Landing. Hot Zydeco, Cool Blues, and Sweet Cajun music on San Diego Bay. The Peninsula Chamber has committed to sell tickets to the event. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, please contact Matt Kalla at 619.223-1629. Click here for a colorful flyer that has complete details.

Comings and Goings

Sun Harbor Marina extends a warm welcome to our new boaters this month:

Rob Davis, T/T sv Dolphin, M-2

John Hesser, Total Semplicity, B-89

Wes Taggart, Oh My Gosh, A-30

Nir Aizikovitz, Vato, A-34

Welcome aboard!

And a hearty welcome back to Carmen Guerrera and Sundance in B-78.

Coming In June

On Saturday, June 2nd, The Port of San Diego’s 17th annual “Operation Clean Sweep” will take place. This year will include America’s Cup Harbor and shores of Shelter Island. Please plan to join your fellow boaters and help us keep our tidelands clean. For more information, please contact the San Diego Port Tenants Association at 619/226-6546.

Saturday, June 16 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM will be Vessel Safety Check Day at Sun Harbor Marina. Don’t miss this opportunity to have a US Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Examiner Safety Check your vessel; right at your slip. Appointments can be made via E-mail to srsmith_cga@juno.com, or phone, 858-676-5963 and you will be honored first on June 16th. Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the safety check. Please include your name, slip # and phone number in your appointment request. EPIRB testing will also be available at the head of the dock.

Air Races on San Diego Bay?

San Diego will host the Red Bull Air Races on September 22, 2007. More information will be available

as we get closer to the race. There will also be sections of the bay closed to all boaters. For general information about the race go to http: //www.redbullairrace.com/

Local Boy Makes Good

Congratulations go to Sun Harbor’s Joseph Rhoades for earning his Master 100-Ton Captain’s license. Good show!

Some Gentle Reminders

You may have noticed the new green dock carts. Please be aware that the carts have a limited payload of 275 lbs. If you are going to haul anchor chain or batteries keep your payload in mind. Be courteous to others put a tarp in the cart if you are hauling something messy, cleaning out the cart and returning it to the base of the dock ramp.

Is your boat going to be out of the slip? Headed to Catalina or the boat yard for several days? Inform the Marina office. This helps us maximize the use of the marina without jeopardizing your slip availability when you return.

Light out on your pedestal? First double check that the breaker for the light is on, then call the office to let us know so we can replace the burnt out bulb.

Got trash? Please walk your trash to the dumpster in the west end of the Pizza Nova Parking lot if you find the dumpster next to Murphy’s Marine Canvas is full. The dumpster overflowing is a problem for everyone.

Please tell your Boat Hull Service provider to not leave their cards on the docks or the dock lines.

Are you struggling to find parking? One car in the lot per boat slip is allowed with a permit displayed in the lower left of the driver’s windshield. There will be no parking over a 72 hour time period. The office has supported a few requests for extensions during the lower volume parking periods. We are fast approaching the high demand period and will not be able to honor new requests. Don’t risk being towed.

Outdoor Shower re-opens May 2, 2007. Thank you for your patience during the extended closure of the Outdoor Shower. There was a major leak that has been repaired after much investigation and rework.

Let Us Hear From You

That’s it for now - Remember, if you have any questions or items you would like to discuss, please send us an email. We would like to hear from you.

Kathy OBrien - Sun Harbor Marina

kathy@sun-harbor.com

Between the Sheets

Anchoring - A Spectator Sport

Next to watching boaters arrive and depart at the docks, anchoring is the next most watched and graded boating activity. Knowing how to anchor isn’t difficult and it can greatly enhance the boating experience, but the antics of boaters at times resembles a comedy routine, and in some cases, a divorce in progress.

Here are some tips that will make your next anchoring a non event for all those of us who like to watch:

Check your anchor, ground tackle and windless before you go. Make sure there are no knots in the ground tackle and that it’s stowed properly in its locker. Test the windlass to make sure it will work when you want to drop or weigh anchor.

If you haven’t already done it, extend the chain and anchor line on the dock and affix colorful depth markers so you can easily see how much rode your are letting out when you anchor. These are very inexpensive and can be purchased at any marine store.

Find out the tide range for the time and location where you are going to be anchored; remember the ratio of anchor rode is five to seven times the water depth. Don’t forget if you anchor at low tide and plan to remain over a high tide, use the water depth at high tide when figuring the rode to deploy.

If you consider it would be a nice thing to ever speak with your anchor mate again after anchoring, I recommend purchasing two FM multi channel radios with a voice activated microphone and ear piece. Communicating with the bow or helm person by yelling never works, but it does contribute to the enjoyment of all those watching.

Talk about the anchoring plan and how you will execute it. Approach the anchorage into the wind. Slow to a stop at the desired spot. Deploy the anchor and drift back letting out the required amount of rode. Secure the rode. Check that the anchor is set by placing your fingers under the rode between the bow roller and water. If the anchor is set, you can feel the tension increase and decrease. If the anchor is not set, you can feel the anchor moving across the bottom. A little reverse from the engine can help set the anchor. If you drift too far, retrieve the anchor and anchor again - don’t try to save a bad situation.

Etiquette prescribes that you do not disturb boats already anchored. Do not anchor across their anchor rode. Anchor so that your swing with the wind and tide will not cause your boat to meet with other in the anchorage and have an unexpected raft up! Anchoring for the weekend is great fun and with a little planning you will not be the talk of the anchorage.

Richard Benscoter

Editor’s Note: Richard Benscoter is a long time avid sailor. He’s a member of the Silver Gate Yacht Club. If you have a sailing question for Richard, send e-mail to richard@BlueSkyNews.com.

How Healthy is Your Shore Power

People that have boats in marinas all have one thing in common; they use shore power. When doing a corrosion survey on a boat, I always start with a test of the dockside shore power receptacle since many causes of fast zinc depletion and/or electrolysis can be detected there. I also find a lot of shore power receptacles and shore power cords that are way past due for replacement.

Also, most of the recent fires in local marinas have all been tied to poor shore power maintenance. I surveyed a boat in a Shelter Island marina a few weeks ago that had burned the shore cord prongs clean off. This article is written in response to a promise I made to that marina manager to give a few pointers to help owners understand the basic issues of a modern shore power system. Check boat and dock connections. Replace anything that causes concern, this is where most marina fires start.

Everyone who plugs into shore power 24/7 should have a look at a few things on a monthly basis. To start, turn off the shore power breaker and unplug both ends of the cord. Look at the slots in the cord receptacle and the prongs of the cord. If the yellow insulator surrounding the metal has a burnt, charcoal appearance, this is indicative of a connection problem caused by corrosion and/or excessive heat.

I think people with 30 amp service should leave their water heaters off as much as possible. They draw between 10 and 15 amps, or nearly half the available supply. If you have the water heater on and then you fire up additional appliances like a microwave (10 amps), coffee pot (10 amps), or toaster oven (12 amps), you’re pushing the maximum available power through a connection that isn’t that great to begin with, which worse yet lives in a salt water environment.

Be sure to support your shore power cord at both ends with a Velcro strap or small boat cord. The best connection possible is the idea, secure, tight, and dry. Also, secure your cord along the dock; don’t let it hang in the water.

Treat shore power with the same respect you treat lightning, since shore power problems can certainly strike out of nowhere. Let the marina office know if you see anything that causes concern. After all, we’re all in the same boat when it comes to safety.

Brett Dingerson

Editor’s Note: Brett Dingerson has over 25 years experience as a commercial fisherman, sailor, and marine electrician, with a specialty in marine galvanic corrosion protection. A top-shelf designer and troubleshooter that has worked with a wide range of sailing and power vessel electrical systems for blue water or local bay boating. He is the owner and founder of San Diego-based Marine Electric.

What You Can Do to Prevent Oil and Fuel Pollution From Your Boat

Here’s one of the most complete checklists we’ve found to help you prevent oil and fuel pollution from your boat:

1) Preventative engine maintenance:

- Keep the engine well tuned and operating efficiently

- Practice preventative engine maintenance. Inspect fuel lines, hoses, hydraulic lines, valves, oil seals, gaskets and connections for deterioration and leaks.

- Properly secure lines and hoses to prevent chafing,

abrasion and damage.

- Choose Coast Guard-approved alcohol-resistant fuel lines.

- Install drip pans under all equipment that might leak

- Avoid using solvents or toxic chemicals to clean engine parts. Use mechanical means (such as hand scraping caked oil) or less toxic solvents (water-based).

- Do not let solvent run into the bilge

- Transfer and remove fluids with care using funnels, pumps, and absorbents to eliminate drips and spills and to keep the bilge area clean.

2) Bilge care and preventing oil spills:

- Never use soaps or detergents to clean oil or fuel – it is illegal and increases the pollution problem

- Install an on-board bilge filtration system that filters gas, oil or diesel from bilge water before the automatic bilge pump discharges the water.

- Use oil-only absorbents in the bilge; securely fastened to prevent clogging the bilge pump or its sensor, to capture unexpected leaks

- If you have a large quantity of oil in the bilge, use a bilge pumpout system

- Never use the sewage pumpout for the bilge

- If the bilge and/or engine compartment still needs significant cleaning after bilge pumpout, use a steam cleaning service.

3) Report oil and chemical spills

- If you see or cause a spill, do not apply soaps to dispense the sheen (it is illegal).

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

4) Spill-proof your oil changes and recycle used oil

- If you change the engine oil yourself, use 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 most marine stores).

- 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. Click here to find a facility close to you.

- 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 facility

The Gold Eagle Takes Flight

The alluring and romantic prospect of saving an older boat and restoring her to her former glory has seized many an individual. Giving a boat a new life is not for every one, but for those whose wisdom and skills are up to the task, the rewards are great. Restoration falls into two broad categories, complete restorations and structural rebuilds. The goal of complete restoration is to return an artifact to its original appearance while disturbing as little as possible of the “original fabric”, including wear patterns (museum quality). Structural rebuilds hope to get the boat back to a functional purpose, often its original use or an upgraded state.

Ron Strathman began work on the structural rebuild of a 1970’s wooden Gaff Rigged Schooner in 2005. He and his skipper, Denis Dowling, made major improvements and successfully transformed Gold Eagle from a cargo vessel to an efficient cruiser. Impressively, the cruiser runs on a 12 volt system with no A/C. Gold Eagle spread its wings for the first time since its purchase on March 11, 2007 in Ensenada Bay. As it turns out in light winds, she can make 7 knots. The biggest challenge thus far was unexpected termite damage for which they fumigated. Further plans include a installing a radar system and ray marine instruments. Gold Eagle and Captain Ron plan to start cruising when the repairs are complete and the crew roster is filled.

A Quick Note About Cruising to Catalina

With Summer approaching, you’re probably already talking about it. “Let’s cruise to Catalina!”. Before you go, be sure to visit Catalina Island’s Official Web Site, www.catalina.com. There you’ll find important information about mooring at Avalon, Two Harbors, and the other 16 coves on the island. The site also has contact phone numbers you’ll want to have, information about services, mooring prices, and much more. For Two Harbors, we also recommend the Two Harbors Boating Guide, which among other great information has some really good diagrams and instructions for how to pick up that infamous mooring ball. Bon Voyage!

“Pfshing” Season On the Internet

You received an e-mail from your bank. It looks official and they say they are concerned that somebody has fraudulently accessed your account. To protect you, they need you to verify your account information right away. They tell you to click on a link like this: www.bankofamerica.com/verify-account.

If you clicked on the link, you took the bait! Why? The link goes to a real bank’s web site; isn’t that supposed to be safe? Well yes, but the problem is, the link is not going to the bank’s web site, even though it looks like it is. They call it “pfshing” because the scam artists are fishing for your personal information so they can steal your identity or defraud you. The moral of the story? - A reputable company will never send you an e-mail asking you to verify personal information. The only true safe way to give personal information to a company over the Internet is for you to go to the company’s site by typing in their web site address in your browser’s web address bar. Recommended action: Delete the e-mail; call the company and tell them about the e-mail. They will appreciate it, and your call may save some other people from alot of pain.