Sun Harbor Marina Minute
Greetings and welcome to the September 2007 Sun Harbor Marina e-mail newsletter

Our celebration of the 6th annual National Marina Day was a fabulous success. In addition to the superb presentations we were interviewed by Channel 8. Click Here to see the Channel 8 news story.

Everyone enjoyed the camaraderie, the demonstrations, the open houses, and the superb fish tacos sponsored by Sun Harbor.

Captain Debra Marks gave an excellent presentation on boat handling & safety, with a demonstration on dockside line handling

Other demonstrations were given by the Red Cross on first aid; a safety demonstration the effects of water conservation by The EcoLife Foundation; and a discussion on sustainable energy & LEED by Steve Kapp

Fisherman's Landing Tackle had a great display of products, and Cabrillo Yachts, Qualified Yachts and Cruising World Pacific all held open houses.

The Beach House also had Open house and gave attendees nutritional samples. Specialty coffees were available at the Java Jive Coffee Kiosk.

Raffle winners were excited to receive T Shirts from Sun Harbor Marina, Hats from Qualified Yacht Brokers, A Reset Kit from The Beach House, A Rod from Fisherman's Landing Tackle, A dinner cruise from Gourmet Sailing Adventures, a Sail for 6 on the bay from Lance Botthof, A Pizza Nova Gift Certificate, Tickets to Evoke's performance RISE - The California Earth Project, and A large food basket from Trader Joe's.

Congratulations to Our Sun Harbor Marina Lovebirds
Many happy years of wedded bliss are in the future for Sun Harbor sweethearts Charlotte Morrisette and Eric Kaufman who announced plans to marry in Catalina in August. of 2008

Welcome Aboard New Boaters:
B-65 - Jerold Goodrick - Catalina
A-42 - Paul Johnson - MS Gabi II
A-47 - Ernest Bell - Big Hatt No Cattle

Too Much of a Good Thing is Not a Good Thing!
We put zinc anodes on our boats because they absorb electrical charges in sea water that lead to metal corrosion and electrolysis, but did you know that too much zinc can make water overly acidic and can seriously disrupt marine life and habitats?

The good news is that spent zinc anodes can be recycled, so whatever you do, when the diver leaves them on the dock so you can see that they have been replaced, please don't under any circumstance drop them in the water.

To eliminate the burden of recycling your zincs, if the diver is not collecting them, and you don't want to take them to a recycle center yourself, please drop them off at the Sun Harbor Marina office. By recycling used zincs, the next time you go fishing and find fish to catch, you can have the peace of mind that you are helping to keep the fish abundant.

Protect the Environment; Save Money and Save Fuel
Before you head out on that next boating adventure, here are a few tips that will save you money and help the environment at the same time:

Check your Propeller - A damaged propeller will increase drag and waste fuel. Keep propeller blades clean and in good condition.

Watch your Boat Weight - The lighter your boat, the less horsepower required to propel it, and the more fuel you save

Plan your Trip - Any reduction in running time is better for the environment and is fuel and money saving

Check Tides & Weather - Boating against the tides takes more effort and fuel. Save fuel by working with the tides to your advantage

Slow Down - Traveling at moderate and steady speeds is safer and will reduce fuel consumption

Tune up your Engine - Proper ignition timing and clean spark plugs will assure extra mileage and will help to reduce gas emissions

Don't idle the engine - Whenever you stop, A warm engine restarts easily. Idling your engine for longer than a minute wastes fuel and is worse for air quality than starting up the engine again

Keep your Hull Clean - A rough hull can increase fuel consumption. Perform regular hull maintenance to prevent hard marine growth and reduce underwater drag.

If you trailer your boat- Keep your trailer and car tires properly inflated to reduce fuel consumption. Don't overload or use too small a trailer

Trespassing at Sun Harbor Marina
It's awkward; annoying; frequently embarrassing; always a pain. You're approaching the gate to your dock, and there is someone waiting for you to let them in.

You wish they weren't there, because you don't want to be the one who has to say "Sorry, I apologize, but if you don't have a key, I can't let you in". But that's exactly what we need you to do to protect you and your marina. In addition to basic security reasons, there are liability issues and all sorts of other issues relating to unauthorized persons being admitted to the docks.

Here's our suggestion - The next time this happens to you, just say something like "I'm sorry, but I can lose my dock privileges if I let someone in without a key. If you visit the marina office, I'm sure they can help you out". In other words, blame it on us. If enough of you do this, the problem will eventually go away and you will have helped us protect your boat and your marina.

Need more of a reason not to let a stranger through the gate or into any area of the facility? The individual in this photo made his way down the dock and spent the night on a boat. This is clearly trespassing. You or your property could have been hurt or damaged. Please help to keep this from happening again, don't let anyone down on the dock that does not have a key.

Thank you for watching out for your safety and others of the marina.

Coming in September
Mark your calendar for the biggest volunteer event in San Diego County, and help play a role in keeping our ocean, coastlines and waterways clean and free of debris.

September 15th, 2007 is Coastal Cleanup Day. I Love A Clean San Diego and San Diego Coastkeeper will once again partner with the California Coastal Commission to host the 23rd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day.

Also on September 15th, the Point Loma Street Fair at Liberty Station will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Look for bands, artists, crafts and a Kid's area. For more information, call Dianne Reichardt at 619-222-0555.

Then in October
Mark your calendars: Next Sun Harbor Marina Swap Meet is Oct 14th 6:00 am to 10:45 am.

Some Gentle Reminders
We appreciate your cooperation with marina regulations. Here are just a few reminders:

- No bike riding on the docks

- No bike storage on the dock fingers, either store the bike on the boat deck or one of the two bike racks provided by the marina

- Pets must be on a leash at all times on the docks and property.

- BarBQues are available for tenant use at any time. Check out the key to the storage room if you plan to BarBQue after office hours. No BBQ on the docks allowed.

Also, need some help from those of you who are pulling your boats too far forward in your slip and sticking your bow sprit out onto the walkway. Keep in mind that as the wind shifts, so does the boat - keep those spring lines set to assist with minimizing the boat shifting in the slip.

That's it For Now
Hope you're all still enjoying a great summer. 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

Between the Sheets - Entering and Leaving Harbors That Have a Jetty and a Channel
In boating there is a saying that the two most valueless things you have are the open seaway behind you, and the boat speed you don't have.

This is especially true when entering a harbor where the entrance is via a channel that has a jetty like Mission Bay or Oceanside, and you did not begin your approach from the harbor's channel buoy.

I witnessed a sail boat approaching the mission bay channel from the South along the beach line very close to the South channel jetty, when he lost all forward boat speed, and the ocean put him and his boat on the jetty.

The channel buoy is the point where you should start your approach to such a harbor, and likewise where you should end your departure from the harbor. This applies to sail boats and power boats, and provides you with the most open seaway and thus the most leeway if things go wrong.

Remember, all buoys are provided to ensure our safe departure and return on our journeys. Here's a link to a neat 4-page PDF on the California Department of Boating and Waterways that has some great buoy identification charts. 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.

Coming In September - Red Bull Air Race
One thing that drives me crazy about San Diego is that we can turn on the nightly news and find out that some terrific event has taken place, and we knew nothing about it.

But there's something happening in September we want you to know about in advance, because it promises to be a world class happening, and as a boater, you can have a world class front row seat.

We're talking about the Red Bull Air Race .
The Red Bull Air Race is an exciting competition in which the world's most talented pilots are up against each other in a race based on speed, precision and skill. The event will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 21st and 22nd, in a wide area of San Diego bay from just North of the Coronado Bay Bridge to just North of the "G" Street moll (Where the Fish Market Restaurant is located).

What makes the Air Race so exciting and interesting for spectators is the proximity of the contest to the crowds. Flying low to the ground at speeds up to 250 m.p.h., while attempting difficult turning maneuvers, the pilots fly individually against the clock executing tight turns through a slalom course consisting of specially designed pylons, known as "Air Gates"

O. K. - So now that you're sufficiently excited about taking your boat out for a front row seat, here's what you need to know. First and foremost, there will be a "safety zone" enforced which you will need to steer clear of.

Secondly, as a Coast Guard officer once told me, there is no rule about drifting, but there are plenty of rules about anchoring.

According to Coast Guard LCDR Drew Cheney, Navigation Rules (33 U.S.C. 2001-2038) state, "Any vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid anchoring in a narrow channel." This includes anchoring in such a way that the vessel swinging on the anchor line/chain enters the channel while at anchor. Basically the only time a vessel should "drop the hook" in a channel is as a last resort to prevent a collision.

For a special event such as the Red Bull Air Race where the channel is blocked by a safety zone and each side would potentially be a spectator gathering area, vessels still should not anchor in the channel. Besides being contrary to the Navigation Rules, if a vessel were to anchor in the channel and had problems weighing anchor when the safety zone was secured the vessel could potentially be a hazard to navigation. Therefore, it is prudent to follow the Navigation Rules, special event or not.

That being said vessels can congregate outside the safety zone in the channel while the safety zone is in effect, but would have to hold station by means other that anchoring.

For areas outside the channel: The anchorage regulations for San Diego Bay (33CFR110.210) state, "Vessels anchoring in San Diego Harbor shall leave a free passage for other craft and shall not obstruct the approaches to the wharves in the harbor."

So this is a long-winded way of saying that you can anchor as long as you are not blocking a dock or access to a dock; are outside the safety zone and not in the navigation channel.

Enjoy the show, and don't forget the camera!

Monica Giobbi is co-owner of BlueSkyNews.com, a San Diego-based publishing corporation established in 1983. She is a internationally known event planner, trade show producer, and entrepreneur. Most recently, she was instrumental in launching the company's marina series of electronic newsletters.

Around the Circuit - Electrolysis and Galvanic Corrosion
I'd like to re-visit a topic everyone's familiar with, and probably a bit confused about, Electrolysis.

Electrolysis is the condition when electrical current is leaking from the battery and flowing to ground using a boat's underwater hardware as the conductor. Ground being in this case the sea water surrounding the vessel.

The two photos in this article illustrate what electrolysis is, and the difference between it and galvanic corrosion. I get a lot of calls from guys like Alex at the San Diego Diving Services to inspect boats they think may have electrolysis problems. They observe boats that are having reactions around their through hulls, and want to know if the boat might have stray electrical current, i.e. electrolysis.

Props and shafts are most likely to be damaged by electrolysis because the engine blocks are usually the common ground point for the entire electrical system. Stray current on an un-bonded boat will find a path to ground, and the easiest route is usually through the shaft. This prop and shaft show deterioration from electrolysis. Notice how the prop appears a little pinkish. That's the sign of stray current eating up expensive parts.

The through hulls in this photo aren't pink, they are darker, and the paint around them has been damaged. This is an example of "paint halos" which are usually caused by a bonded boat having too much zinc attached. Paint halos seldom hurt fiberglass or metal boats, but if you have this condition on a wooden boat you need to take corrective action. Wood damage from too much Zinc can and does occur around through hulls with too much zinc installed.

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 a sailing question for Brett, send e-mail to brett@BlueSkyNews.com.

Something Fun to Do in San Diego - Take a Mini-Cruise to Coronado
Even if you own your own boat, you'll get a kick out of taking a ride on the Coronado Ferry.

With the docks at Peohe's looking like they're going to be closed for a long long time, the ferry dock on the Coronado side is just a few steps away, and lands you on the Coronado Ferry Landing in the middle of great restaurants, boutique shops, and a festive laid back park atmosphere reminiscent of America in the fifties. On the weekends, there's also often live music.

The ferry passengers are a friendly mixture of locals and tourists who chat excitedly about the spectacular views of the island and the city, and there's always several somebodys on board who "remember when" they were here in the Navy, or what the car ferry was like "before the bridge".

The round-trip fee is a bargain $6.00 - the ferry departs the San Diego side (next to the Cruise Ship Terminal) on the hour, and from the Coronado side on the half-hour. Click Here for more information.

The Legend of the Scripps Canyon Sea Monster
In the early 1960s, the Marine Physical Laboratory, which is a division of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography began experimenting with RUM (The Remote Underwater Manipulator) off the coast of the Scripps Canyon in La Jolla.

Launched from the beach next to the Scripps pier, the strange vehicle was designed to crawl about on the sea floor at depths down to 6,000 meters to gather objects and samples, to take photographs, and to install deep-sea instruments.

Starting with a Marine Corps self-propelled half-track rifle carrier; scientists added a boom and a steel claw that could be pivoted in any direction out to about five meters to pick up objects. The gasoline engine was replaced with a pair of heavy electric motors in an oil-filled compartment. Sonar was installed, and a powerful light and four television cameras for sea-floor surveillance from a portable shore station (actually a bus). Power for RUM and sensor signals were provided by way of a coaxial cable 8,000 meters long.

Only problem was that nobody told the local population about RUM, so nighttime trials resulted in a frightening bright light moving about on the ocean floor. Police and news media were flooded with calls from people imagined everything from sea creatures to foreign invasion.

Early tests of RUM were only moderately successful. On one of its earliest sea trials, in 1970, RUM placed two small sonar reflectors on the sea floor, crawled away from them, and returned to find and retrieve them. It also found a third sea-floor object:, a stewed tomato can that was found to be the dwelling of a small and very frightened octopus. Rum was then set aside to be used in later projects.

Well, I'll Be a Son of a Gun!
Well, maybe not. Today, we use the expression to indicate surprise, but in the early days of sailing, it meant something else entirely.

Back then, sailors were permitted to keep their "wives" on board ship. Since gun emplacements offered at least a modicum of privacy, many children were conceived between the gun emplacements.

So calling a boy born afloat a "Son of a Gun" was tantamount to questioning his legitimacy, and therefore an insult.