BOAT/U.S. Magazine articles from May 2005

BOAT/U.S. Magazine archives from May 2005

Behind the buoy.
May 1, 2005... Nearly 150 years ago, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (yes, the namesake of the famous WWII battleship) was heard to say that making legislation and/or laws is similar to making sausage. It's not so bad when it's finished, but you sure...

Life jacket design contest launched.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... In the wake of an ongoing push by some state and federal authorities to require boaters to wear a life jacket, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and the Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers Association are jointly...

State sales tax deductible for '04.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... For those who bought a boat last year and paid substantial state and local sales taxes and who may not yet have filed their 2004 federal tax returns, a new deduction is available, but perhaps not for long. Thanks to a new law, taxpayers have...

Head inspections floated for Rhode Island.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... Some state legislators in Rhode Island apparently believe they haven't gone far enough in creating the nation's most controversial no-discharge area for boats. A new bill introduced in the state house this spring would require boaters,...

Calypso restoration.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... The other star of that popular TV series of 30 years ago, "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau," the research ship Calypso, is making a comeback. The 66-foot World War II minesweeper that the French ocean explorer and father of scuba diving...

Japan banning black bass.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... Bass fishing is big business in Japan--second only to the U.S.--but a sumo-sized battle is underway in the Land of the Rising Sun over the future of this tremendously popular sport fishery. Japan's Ministry of the Environment is attempting...

Boating Infrastructure Grants announced.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the first Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) awards for 2005 in March. The three grants, totaling $1.2 million, will improve facilities for transient boaters in Maine, South Carolina and Virginia....

Boating worth $1.35 billion in one county.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... A study by the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, FL, shows the marine industry has an annual direct economic impact of $1.35 billion there, a 112% increase since a similar study was done in 1999. The study found that the...

Sea Scout rescuers honored.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... The United States Power Squadron's District 13 presented its most prestigious award to Sea Scout Ship Argus for its role in saving the life of a scuba diver left adrift off the California coast in April 2004. District Commander Al Larkin...

Aweigh with words.
May 1, 2005... Royalty Buoyancy--nautical members of the ruling class ACROSS 1. Perilous wind 5. It's in seawater 9. Small, unified group 14. God of love, to Greeks 15. At a distance 16. Arctic, for one 17. Some computers...

FCC fines radio abuser.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... A California man with a history of abusing radio channels has been fined $21,000 for allegedly interfering with Coast Guard radio communications during a distress call last October. The incident began October 29 when a Coast Guard...

Submerged debris went undetected.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... One or more large, uncharted submerged objects were likely the cause of the second largest oil spill in Delaware River history, puncturing the hull of the tanker Athos I last November south of Philadelphia. Approximately 57 miles of shoreline...

Boat use tax struck down.(BoatU.S.reports)
May 1, 2005... In a far-reaching ruling that could change state sales tax bills for many Maryland boaters, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that the state exceeded its authority in collecting use taxes from those who bought boats outside of Maryland and...

Gaining perspective.(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I read the March 2005 "Member Forum" with great interest. It appears that some of those responding to your excellent magazine articles need to step back and take a deep breath. For example, the individual who criticized your article on how to...

A shocking topic.(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... We saw the latest BoatU.S. Magazine and the article on the electric fish fence in the canal leading into Lake Michigan. At first glance we were startled, and at second glance we were aghast! We noticed in the article that the system...

Hurricane lessons learned.(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... It is finally time to put into print the letter I promised to write after the Hurricanes of last year. I believe a lot of the damage could be prevented by a little more preparation. My point is with the individuals who do not move or...

The plane truth.(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... In the March 2005 edition of the magazine you have a story and picture describing the crash-landing of a "DC3 cargo plane" in Maule Lake, in North Miami Beach, FL. The dimensions you give for the plane are indeed those of a Douglas DC-3 but the...

Missing Michigan.(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... Please be advised that your map with the article on "States Siding With Boat Dealers" failed to include the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Almost all of the UP is surrounded by the Great Lakes. Lake Superior to the north and Lake Michigan to the...

Redundant radios?(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... As with so many other members, I read your magazine cover to cover shortly after arrival. I read the article "Big Brother's Little Box" twice. For those of us who have already invested in DSC technology, don't we have most of the ingredients of...

No to AIS.(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... My response to the Coast Guard wanting to force me to put an AIS transponder on my boat: Hell, no! We are rapidly losing our privacy in the U.S. to Big Brother. He is unwelcome on my recreational boat. As your article points out, when all...

Whistle while you fuel.(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... In the late 1940s and early '50s, Buick and Chevrolet had whistles in their fuel vent lines. When the tank was nearing full (there were no automatic shutoffs in those days) the whistle would stop whistling. I purchased a fuel line vent...

The patient English.(memberforum)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... My wife and I sailed from the UK to the Caribbean and then enjoyed your East Coast from Key West to Oyster Bay NY. So far we have used the ICW three times and have never ceased to be delighted with your country and the people. However when...

Deviant readings.
May 1, 2005... Hello my name is Stephen and I'm a boataholic. This is my third meeting. The last time we met was so helpful to me personally that I found the strength to come right back. Thanks to all of you who have expressed your support. It's really meant...

West coast wave warrior.(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... They don't call it Cape Disappointment for nothing. Some of the foggiest, roughest coastline in the continental U.S. has sent hundreds of vessels to the bottom with its huge seas, treacherous river bars and rocky shores. [ILLUSTRATION...

Carbon monoxide: converters cut CO.
May 1, 2005... A shocking reminder of how insidious carbon monoxide can be comes from none other than legendary racing car driver Al Unser Sr. The Formula 1 driver who's won the Indianapolis 500 four times and been around running engines his entire career was...

Techno talk.
May 1, 2005... The article "Big Brother's Little Box" (March issue) describes the Class A Automatic Identification System (AIS) now required on all SOLAS vessels, numerous other ships and almost all tugboats. However, while the information contained in the...

Enzyme additive increases fuel economy up to 15%.(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Product Description Startron[R] is the world's first fuel treatment to be based on naturally occurring enzymes. Although this is a very unique application of enzyme technology, we encounter various enzymes in our everyday lives. For...

Sharks' sixth sense.
May 1, 2005... As Hurricane Charley approached the west coast of Florida last August, most beachside residents fled before the storm, a steady stream of traffic packing the Sunshine State's highways in the hours before landfall. Underwater, a less apparent,...

Outboard museum gears up.
May 1, 2005... When the late Vernon "Duke" Montgomery started out as an Evinrude dealer in the early days of outboard motors, he knew he had a real selling job to do. Even in northern Wisconsin's lake country, outboards were still something of a novelty in...

Congress goes to sea.
May 1, 2005... If the telltales are to be believed, 2005 is shaping up to be the "Year of the Ocean," at least in congressional circles and around official Washington. On the heels of two high profile, multi-year studies of our oceans, coasts and marine...

California's other coasts.
May 1, 2005... Like heavyweight fighters swapping the champion's belt, California and Michigan have been locked in a battle to be the state with the highest number of registered boats. After holding the title for many, many years, Michigan lost it to...

Rites of spring: leading indicators that boating is back after a long winter chill.
May 1, 2005... What Punxsutawney Phil does when he climbs out of his burrow every February 2nd is said to give landlubbers a better idea of when spring will arrive. But instead of relying on a 119-year-old rodent, BoatU.S. has compiled for boaters a...

Ask Cap'n Drew.
May 1, 2005... Dear Cap'n Drew: I just purchased a new 2005 32-foot Rinker Fiesta Vee. I have heard so many different opinions on what I should treat the bottom with or how I should treat the bottom prior to launch. What is your opinion? Thanks! --Dave...

Cedar Key.(DESTINATION)
May 1, 2005... I first saw Cedar Key from the helm of Motor Boating & Sailing magazine's 24-foot, outboard photo boat, which two of us were delivering from an assignment in South Florida up and around the Gulf Coast to New Orleans. It was, if memory serves,...

Boatyard help wanted.(CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU)
May 1, 2005... MARINE TECHNICIANS NEEDED: Join the ranks of a scarce breed. High demand in all parts of U.S. to service thousands of boats and engines. Must be highly skilled, have own tools. Wages and benefits minimal, winter lay-off likely. Apply in person,...

Consumer Alert.
May 1, 2005... Federal laws require marine manufacturers to issue defect recall notices when boats or related equipment contain "defects which create a substantial risk of personal injury" or when they do not comply with boat manufacturing regulations. The...

Why keep a log book?(DAMAGE AVOIDANCE)
May 1, 2005... The practice of keeping a log goes back hundreds of years, probably to some long forgotten explorer ("Fernando the Prudent") who started keeping notes on where he'd been so that he could find his way home. Whatever the origin, keeping a log...

Cross-over boats gaining.(hottips and news you can use)
May 1, 2005... Center console boats have long been admired for their fishing prowess. But while dad may love his fishing boat, mom and the kids want things like better protection from the elements, more safety features and fun stuff like swim platforms....

More weather options.(hottips and news you can use)
May 1, 2005... A year ago I was caught in a brief thunderstorm that knocked my sailboat on her beam. While I had been expecting storm activity that day, I was cruising behind a headland that blocked my view of the approaching storm cell until it was too late....

Boat bits.(hottips and news you can use)
May 1, 2005... $30.5 Billion: Saltwater fishing's annual economic impact Source: Economic Importance of Marine Angler Expenditures in the U.S., NOAA, January 2004

Bayliner.(our boatU.S.)
May 1, 2005... Considered by many to be one of America's most popular recreational boats, Bayliners from across the Pacific Northwest gathered last year for the 10th Annual Olympic Boat Centers' Bayliner Rendezvous held in Roche Harbor, WA. Some 272 Bayliners...

Equipment buyers can rate new gear.(MEMBERSHIP)
May 1, 2005... Buyers of marine equipment, parts and supplies at West Marine and BoatU.S. now have a new "Gear Feedback" program at westmarine.com. The new online service allows you to write--and read--reviews on any of the 50,000 products sold in the...

Lower your fuel costs at Cooperating Marinas.(MEMBERSHIP)
May 1, 2005... Fuel prices are headed up again this summer. While this could crimp some of our boating plans, there is a piece of good news. The number of BoatU.S. Cooperating Marinas--which offer discounts on transient slips, repairs and, most...

Relax & travel with Trip Assist.(MEMBERSHIP)
May 1, 2005... When traveling or boating far from home, the unexpected can sometimes rear its ugly head and ruin the trip. To help protect you, BoatU.S. offers Trip Assist, a comprehensive medical and travel assistance program designed to help with...

Win a fishfinder at My.BoatUS.com.(MEMBERSHIP)
May 1, 2005... Boating is always on your mind, right? Why not make your own customized home page at the members-only site, My.BoatUS.com, so you can get just the info you want? My.BoatUS.com allows you to easily set up your own personalized boating Web page...

Women's spring fling.(tangledline)
May 1, 2005... Need a spring tune-up of your sailing skills? Women, from novices to experts, will converge June 4 at the Corinthian Yacht club in Marblehead, MA, for the fourth annual Women's Sailing Conference, put on by National Women's Sailing Association...

A silver medal story.(tangledline)
May 1, 2005... National Safe Boating Week is May 21-27 and it is getting some Olympic-sized help this year from an elite athlete who knows first-hand how critical a life jacket can be. Rebecca Giddens, who won a silver medal in whitewater kayaking in Athens,...

Get a Sea Ray on eBay.(tangledline)
May 1, 2005... The annual Sea Ray Cystic Fibrosis Charity Auction opens June 1 with a chance to buy a boat, gear, trips and packages--and save lives in the process. There is no minimum bid, and 100% of the proceeds go toward finding a cure for cystic...

BoBo.(tangledline)
May 1, 2005... "BoBo" the baby sea lion lends skipper Kathy Luciano of Venice, CA, a hand, checking telltales and leaning to weather. "Bobo" joined the Laser Midwinters West regatta, held in Santa Monica Bay last March, jumping aboard a few different boats...

Mail order fishing mansions.(tangledline)
May 1, 2005... Have an urgent need for a luxury fish camp? Just flip open the pages of the venerable Orvis mail order fishing catalog and pick out one of three complete vacation log homes, shipped to your favorite fishing site complete with walls, doors,...

Holiday Mansion 450 Coastal Commander.(2ndtimearound)
May 1, 2005... FOR SALE: Spacious two bedroom, two bath waterfront home; 360-degree water views; ideal for entertaining; asking $125,000. Too good to be true, you say? Maybe you should take a look at Holiday Mansion's 450 Coastal Commander houseboat. It could...

Bristol Channel Cutter.
May 1, 2005... If you're a sailor who just can't get enough of the nostalgia and romance of bygone days and traditional boats, yet fear the genre's often deserved reputation for poor performance, take a look at the Bristol Channel Cutter 28 (BCC). This...

Tips for onboard climate control.(Advertorial)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... The season is heating up. A quality climate control system can surround you and your crew with a "bubble" of perfect weather--even if it's scorching hot on the water! Your family and crew will be comfortable aboard and your boat and its...

Behind the boat.
May 1, 2005... On the Richter scale of what frustrates me most about recreational boating, I can honestly say that trim tab indicators weren't very high on the list. Until, that is, I found myself at the helm of my new boat at night. The tabs that came...

Where our flags fly.
May 1, 2005... New this month! The first 50 members who submit a photo of their boat to "Where our flags fly" in May will receive a free BoatU.S. flag. As always, please include your boat's name, make, size and home port, as well as your member number and...