BOAT/U.S. Magazine articles from November 2007

BOAT/U.S. Magazine archives from November 2007

Behind the buoy.
November 1, 2007... The U.S. Coast Guard, which has been toying this past year with the idea of requiring recreational boaters to be licensed in the name of "national security," has apparently changed course. Those attending the annual meeting of the National...

Solar flare knocks out GPS signals.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... How are your dead reckoning skills? It might be wise to brush up as scientists at a national forum on space weather predict potentially severe disruptions of the GPS signal due to solar flares. A solar burst last Dec. 6 disrupted or...

Bill exempting boaters from EPA permits makes headway.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... Efforts to restore a common-sense exemption for recreational boats from onerous federal permitting requirements aimed at stopping the invasion of aquatic nuisance species moved a significant step closer to being resolved by Congress on Sept....

Texas A & M University wins BoatU.S. College bass title.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... The fishing prowess of two Texas A & M University students put their school in the winners' circle at the 2007 annual BoatU.S. National Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. And if turnout for the event and the enthusiasm of the young anglers...

Florida governor enters manatee debate.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... In an unusual twist of politics and science, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioners were asked in September by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to postpone their vote on the downlisting of manatees and to put off the approval of a new...

Aweigh with words.
November 1, 2007... "Been Around the World"--Keeping Up with a Circumnavigational Contest. ACROSS 1. ______ sail 4. "Captain Courageous" Turner 7. Tell about the one that got away, e.g. 14. Who: Ger. 15. Hurry, old style 16. Troop...

Beware the lionfish.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... Atlantic Ocean boaters, watch out! Boaters, anglers and divers who venture offshore on the East Coast need to avoid tangling with a beautiful but potentially deadly tropical invader. According to scientists from the National Oceanic and...

Warning flags fly again.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... While we barely noticed they were gone, government stations are bringing back the colorful warning flags that flew for a century to warn mariners and coastal residents of impending heavy weather and tropical storms. Earlier this year, the...

FishWatch on the menu.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... With consumers more aware than ever before of the problem of dwindling ocean resources when they shop for fish or dine out, a new web site now tracks how various species are doing and recommends wise choices for sustainable seafood. The...

Florida to raise bridge.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... A Florida state highway department recommendation to replace a 44-year-old bridge over the St. Johns River with a much higher span could make a lot of cruising sailors happy. The agency wants to replace the 45-foot-high, two-lane Shands...

California adds more marine protected areas.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... Sportfishing is now limited or prohibited in a network of 29 areas off the central California coast, effective Sept. 21. Collectively called marine protected areas, the restrictions apply to specific state waters within three miles of the...

Radio towers save the day.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... Lost miles from shore off the California coast, the skipper of the 26-foot sailboat Blew By You began hailing the U.S. Coast Guard on the morning of July 25, requesting assistance. With all electrical systems down, and no navigation equipment...

New marina from old docks.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... When the city of Hammond, IN, on Lake Michigan, announced at the start of the 2006 boating season that it would close a 900-slip marina, displaced boaters had to scramble for slip space all around southern Lake Michigan (see "900 Slips Closed...

Auxiliary team wins SAR Competition.(BoatU.S.reports)
November 1, 2007... Four U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarists from Pinellas County, Florida, beat five other U.S. teams and six Canadian teams at the 2007 International Search and Rescue Competition held in late September in Toronto Harbor. Teams are judged on their...

Consumer alert.
November 1, 2007... 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...

Anchors away.(memberforum)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... I have been a BoatU.S. member for 10 years and enjoy BoatU.S. Magazine along with Seaworthy. I was reading the September issue and noticed a picture of an anchor that was on page 21. In early 1967, I was a young sailor aboard the aircraft...

The best laid plans for hurricanes.(memberforum)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... The July issue article, "Storms Spur Canal Cooperation," was just what the doctor ordered! As president of our Rio Vista Community Association in Jupiter, FL, I distributed copies of the article to our home/boat owners, and it prompted the...

Pummeling the paddlefish?(memberforum)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... The September issue tale of unsportsmanlike snagging of the prehistoric, inoffensive paddlefish that feed on plankton ("The Monster of Dragon Lake") made me blush in shame. They call it a game fish? One gains the impression that to catch...

Charting by the masses.(memberforum)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... While shifting shoals and shorelines, undocumented underwater obstructions and outdated surveys and charts may be putting recreational and other boaters at risk, the answer may be in our own hands. Admittedly, the National Ocean Service has...

Avoid the imaginary rock.(memberforum)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... On the East Coast, every strong storm rearranges the coastline. Inlets open and close. Waterways shoal up. Land contours change. Inshore charting, the major reason most recreational boaters use charts, is a low priority for NOAA. Some errors in...

Boat profiling?(memberforum)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... The terrorist argument for licensing is ridiculous! It is the government's job to keep us safe, not fill us with fear. How well would America have done in recovering from the depression and subsequently World War II if FDR had said, "Be afraid...

Fuel cans that can't.(memberforum)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... Beyond awkward, CARB-approved jerry jugs can be very dangerous ("Foundation Findings," September BoatU.S. Magazine.) I have had three failures on one can alone. The nozzle can stick in the open position, making it impossible to remove without...

Dirty diesel.(memberforum)(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... In nearly 15,000 nautical miles of sailing, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I have allowed fuel to be directly pumped into our tank. I prefer to jug the fuel which is an interesting exercise since Beneteau puts the...

Ask Cap'n Drew.
November 1, 2007... Dear Cap'n Drew: I hope to add to the base of knowledge about the term "three sheets to the wind." Or maybe I will just fog things up a little more. While cruising in New England, we stopped at Nantucket. Following the wife's interests, we...

Just for the halibut.
November 1, 2007... Alaska. The name is said to be a corruption of an Aleut word meaning "that which the sea breaks against" and for most people, it conjures up images of mountains and midnight sun, wolves and whales. And of course fish, lots of fish. For...

Books worth hauling out this season.
November 1, 2007... When kids are set free from school for the summer, they are given summer reading lists to keep their young minds sharp and engaged while out of the classroom. Likewise boaters, set free from the shackles of summer cruising, sailing and boat...

Crash tests tell tales.
November 1, 2007... When two cars collide on the highway, evidence of the mishap is often recorded on the pavement. When interpreted by accident investigators, skid marks and broken glass tell much of the story, allowing investigators to routinely calculate speeds...

Not in my boatyard!
November 1, 2007... Small harbors and channels that boaters depend upon often wait in line, year after year, for maintenance funding so any channel dredging project should be good news for boaters, right? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not in Brooklyn, NY, where...

Ask chuck.
November 1, 2007... Q: We have an older Universal Diesel M-30 in our Tartan 33 built in 1984. I have been advised to put oil into the fuel to offset the absence of sulfur as a lubricant. I have been adding one ounce of Marvel Mystery Oil to one gallon of diesel....

Builders converge on North Carolina: can the simple act of building a boat in one particular state versus another improve the boat? The legendary boatbuilders of North Carolina like Hatteras, Fountain and Grady-White always thought so, and now a new group of boatbuilders seem to agree with them.
November 1, 2007... More than a half-dozen boatbuilders have relocated some or all of their production to North Carolina in just the past few years, including brands such as Tiara, Rampage, Mako, Seacraft, Chris-Craft and Cobia. As a result, North Carolina has...

New Bern, old charm.(Waterfront Living)
November 1, 2007... For nearly 300 years, the residents of New Bern, NC, have lived in the cradle of the Trent and Neuse Rivers. Founded in 1710 by a Swiss baron, the city offers residents traditional Southern charm, combined with a vibrant boating community, all...

Mixed signals on rescue device.(CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU)
November 1, 2007... Boaters and others whose lifestyles take them off the beaten track have some very effective high-tech ways to communicate in case of emergency. VHF radios provide coverage within about 20 miles of shore and cell phones a great deal less, but...

The greening of marinas.
November 1, 2007... What do 650 marina operators around the U.S. know about keeping our waters clean? Well, more than you might think. At certified Clean Marinas in 23 states, facility operators have voluntarily committed to implement a wide array of...

This spider isn't teensy.(tangledline)
November 1, 2007... This unique craft, dubbed the "spiderboat" by some, is a working prototype of a Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel or WAM-V for short. Called Proteus, the 100-foot-long pontoons and flexible arms allow the vessel to adapt to waves, conforming to the...

Mahogany boats' movers & shakers.(tangledline)
November 1, 2007... The August 4 release of four U.S. postage stamps displaying classic mahogany powerboats has unleashed a resurgence of interest in these beauties. Across the country, articles in major papers such as the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times...

Tailgating on the water.(tangledline)
November 1, 2007... If you go tailgating before a football game in your boat, is it boatgating? Scores of boaters gather on fall weekends in Lake Washington in Seattle to cheer on their favorite team, the University of Washington Huskies. The unusual Husky Stadium...

Women head for the islands.(tangledline)
November 1, 2007... Just as the winter blues seem to have settled in for good, a refreshing trip to the tropics might be just the ticket to get ready for spring. A new series of all-women's courses and cruises offer get-aways for sailors and powerboaters alike....

Simple tips for clean and green boating.(IDEAS FOR SAFE, SMART, AND CLEAN BOATING)
November 1, 2007... Everywhere you look these days there is news about protecting the environment. From climate change specials on the TV to scary stories about invasive species such as zebra mussels and flying Asian carp, these issues are literally hitting us in...

Applications now available for environmental grants.(IDEAS FOR SAFE, SMART, AND CLEAN BOATING)
November 1, 2007... The BoatU.S. Foundation is looking to fund creative and innovative projects that teach boaters how to take care of their waterways through its 2008 Clean Water Grant Program. A total of $50,000 are available for small, local nonprofit...

Why boats sink, Part Two--inboard/outboards.(DAMAGE AVOIDANCE)
November 1, 2007... In the November 2006 issue of BoatU.S. Magazine, Part One of "Why Boats Sink, Outboard Powered Boats" appeared. This is Part Two, focusing on why inboard/outboards sink. Inboard/outboard (I/O)-powered boats and outboard boats are similar...

Snapless boat cover.(hottips and news you can use)
November 1, 2007... To keep the elements and critters out of your boat during storage, a boat cover has to fit snugly. To make that job a little easier, a Wisconsin-based company has developed a boat cover with a neat "ratchet fastening system" that promises to do...

Sailors need their space.(hottips and news you can use)
November 1, 2007... When you're on the hook and have a few guests aboard, a sailboat's cockpit can get crowded pretty quickly. To open up space, some sailors remove the wheel, or their boat may have a "folding" steering wheel. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But...

Light the decks.(hottips and news you can use)
November 1, 2007... Boating after dark? Unfortunately, most boats do not come with deck floodlights, leaving the owner to choose among several aftermarket options. Halogen lights are still today's standard-bearer, as they balance price and performance, but...

Winterizing for fuels.(hottips and news you can use)
November 1, 2007... ValvTect, the company known for its specially formulated marine engine fuels, is offering a $5 rebate when you purchase any two ValvTect products, including their Marine Fuel Stabilizer and Premium Fogging Oil. ValvTect says its stabilizer...

Play it again.(hottips and news you can use)
November 1, 2007... Ever wish you could play back the last transmission you heard on your VHF radio? Cobra Electronics' MR HH425LI VP claims to be the first handheld VHF radio with a digital voice recorder that automatically records the last 20 seconds of...

20 minutes.(BOAT BITS)
November 1, 2007... 20 minutes The average time it takes to get a complimentary Vessel Safety Check given by a U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons volunteer. Source: USCGA & USPS

Tiara 3600 Convertible: www.tiarayachts.com.(2nd timearound)
November 1, 2007... The term convertible, as it applies to powerboats at least, typically designates a model that is intended for the dual purposes of fishing and cruising. While some large convertible models--usually over 60 feet--offer truly luxurious...

Hans Christian 33: www.hanschristianyachts.com.(2nd timearound)
November 1, 2007... There are some boats, of which the Hans Christian 33 is one, that people simply walk by at a boat show or their local marina and remark, "Now that's a bluewater cruiser." So, is a bluewater cruiser simply a style that conjures up a feeling of...

Industry aims to attract technicians.
November 1, 2007... Boats break down, need maintenance and repairs. That's all part of boating. But when you need professional help--a qualified service technician with the skills and knowledge to handle today's increasingly complex engine and boat systems--that...

Sounding out a good fixer-upper: besides knowing a boat's age and engine hours, here's what you need to consider before refitting or restoring a fiberglass boat, including boat type and usage, hull construction, structural problems and mechanical damage.(From the Files of DIY Boat Owner Magazine)
November 1, 2007... The refit or restoration of an old boat is one of those endeavors that appear to have no practical value but can be very satisfying emotionally to the appreciative eye. Everyone takes notice of a gleaming mahogany runabout or gaff-rigged wooden...

Member mailbag.(MEMBERSHIP)
November 1, 2007... Last July, I participated in the Jurassic Drift Swordfish Tournament in Florida. Just before departing for the fishing grounds, I decided to put on a newly re-hubbed prop to avoid spinning the old one. On the way to Poveromo Canyon some 30...

Win a satellite radio.(MEMBERSHIP)
November 1, 2007... Stop by to visit with BoatU.S. staff at the winter boat shows and you could also win a Sirius Starmate portable satellite radio and three-month subscription donated by Sirius Satellite Radio. We'll be giving away one radio at each show below,...

Holiday cards now available: free imprinting.(MEMBERSHIP)
November 1, 2007... Picking the right holiday card is easy with a line of nautically themed greetings available from the BoatU.S. Foundation. You'll find a selection of 40 different boating cards featuring lighthouses, powerboats, or sailboats, as well as Santa...

Seattle Boat Show University.(MEMBERSHIP)
November 1, 2007... Slated for Jan. 24 to Feb. 2, the Seattle Boat Show is again holding its popular "Boat Show University." Sponsored by BoatU.S., the University is a series of seminars and classes designed to expand your boating knowledge and safety. Over 200...

Wrap up your shopping--for under $20.(MEMBERSHIP)
November 1, 2007... If you want to give your boating buddies a holiday gift they will thank you for all year long, we've got just the thing: a BoatU.S. gift membership for the special annual membership rate of $19. This practical and affordable present will keep...

On watch.
November 1, 2007... BoatU.S. staff has taken leadership positions in a wide range of organizations, associations and councils to ensure that BoatU.S. members--as well as the boating public--are fully represented on public policy issues. Some of the major...

Behind the boat.
November 1, 2007... As my first year as President of BoatU.S. comes to an end, I spent some time reflecting on what I have learned. I have been most impressed with the enthusiasm of members in voicing their opinions--let me share a few: When we have met in...

Where our flags fly.
November 1, 2007... Send us a photo of your boat, preferably flying the BoatU.S. flag, and we'll publish it here, or online at BoatUS.com. Please include the name, make, size and home port, as well as your member number. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...