BOAT/U.S. Magazine articles from September 2003

BOAT/U.S. Magazine archives from September 2003

Behind the buoy.
September 1, 2003... It's July 27, 2003, and as this column is being written the U.S. House of Representatives has recessed and lawmakers won't be back in town until after the Labor Day holiday, same six weeks from now, with members of the U.S. Senate slated to...

Florida boaters irate over fees, security.(reports)
September 1, 2003... South Florida boaters, particularly those who think nothing about hopping over to the Bahamas for the weekend, are not a bunch of happy campers. The first shoe fell a few months ago when the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and...

Hurricanes come early and often.(reports)
September 1, 2003... As Hurricane Claudette lashed the central Texas coast in mid-July, hurricane prognosticators were upping the ante for the 2003 season. Perhaps it was a bad sign that Tropical Storm Ana became the first Atlantic tropical storm on record to form...

Travel industry weighs in on Cuba.(reports)
September 1, 2003... U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba, which prohibit Americans from spending tourist dollars there unless granted a special license, are now under fire from the travel industry itself. The newly formed Association of Travel-Related...

Sea Ray prize goes to charity.(reports)
September 1, 2003... BoatU.S. Magazine advertising director Bill McVey (left) drapes his arm around Sea Ray marketing VP Rob Noyes after Noyes announced that a check for $5,000 from Sea Ray to the American Cancer Society would be made in BoatU.S.'s name. McVey won...

Family effort wins Chris-Craft sweepstakes.(reports)
September 1, 2003... Planning, persistence, determination and a whole lot of family effort paid off recently for the Lewellens of Spiro, OK. Shirley Lewellen, her husband Craig, and 17-year-old son Grant, are the proud winners of the 2003 22-foot Chris-Craft...

Women's conference another hit.(reports)
September 1, 2003... The cool, rainy weather did nothing to dampen the enjoyment and learning opportunities for over 100 women who converged upon the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA, June 7. The event was the second annual all-day Women's Sailing Conference...

New coverage for Mexican travel.(reports)
September 1, 2003... Boaters traveling to Mexico can now obtain the mandatory Mexican liability coverage directly through BoatUS.com. Until now, boaters had to work through a BoatU.S. underwriter to arrange this coverage. Boating in Mexico requires three types...

Kohler generators recalled.(reports)
September 1, 2003... In an effort to replace a potentially deadly exhaust part that may have contributed to at least eight deaths, Kohler has initiated a voluntary recall of all of its marine generator sets powered by L600 or L654 gasoline engines. Manufactured...

'Big red' is new ocean species.(reports)
September 1, 2003... Mystery species are popping up all over the ocean; now add to that list a giant red jellyfish, or "big red" as its scientific name Tiburonia granrojo aptly calls it. Though scientists have spotted big reds in the Pacific since 1993, recently...

Grassroots grants money available.(reports)
September 1, 2003... Does your boating club or volunteer group have an innovative idea for making boating safer on your local river or lake? Then a BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety Grant might be able to help get the project done. Each year the Foundation...

A town with pity--and no boat tax.(reports)
September 1, 2003... There's good news for boat owners and potential boating visitors in Hampton, VA--no more personal property tax. Thanks to a city council vote late last year, the tax on boats was officially eliminated this year. The initiative was made in an...

Cuba si.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... I was pleased to see your update on the U.S. travel restrictions to Cuba. I find it truly offensive that a small group of wealthy political activists and financial contributors in Miami can dictate foreign policy and tell the rest of us where...

Going the distance.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... In your July issue, you alerted readers to Hawaii's new law requiring EPIRBs on all vessels venturing more than a mile offshore. We may have reached the pinnacle of absurdity in the rapid movement of governments protecting us from ourselves....

Checking on checks.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... Regarding "A Tale of Two Internet Scams" in the July issue: I recently sold a boat on the Internet and encountered a slight variation on this scenario. The scam artist sent me a cashier's check for more than the price of the boat and asked that...

Fraud alert.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... Your July BoatU.S. Magazine with the article about Internet fraud contains a comment that needs clarification. You state: "Cashier's checks or certified checks, on the other hand, clear right away because the bank sets the money aside in the...

The blame game.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... I enjoyed your article covering the chaos surrounding the issues of fish and where they are or are not in the evolutionary cycle and who is to blame. I am concerned about the future of our sport. I practice catch and release, but I am...

Kohlers are recalled.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... Thanks for the article about the dangerous generators in the July issue. We have a 7.5-kw Kohler generator in our boat. It is a diesel generator. Near the end of your article you mention "gas burning generators." I conclude that the exhaust...

Rescue 21.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... I read your article on Rescue 21 in the July BoatU.S. Magazine. It was a wonderful article. I especially appreciate your explanation of properly using DSC-compatible radios. Boaters need to know how to use their DSC radios properly and you are...

Going, or gauging, the distance.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... I have an answer to Paul Tuck's letter to the editor in the July edition titled "Are We There Yet?" To determine the distance of any object there are moderately affordable handheld laser range finders widely available. They are used by hunters,...

Golf gadget.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... In response to the article printed in July 2003, "Are We There Yet": A great way to measure distance to shore is by using an inexpensive golf distance-to-the-pin device--they work great. Ken Groat Living aboard in Florida Keys

More woman towers.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... Your article was good and made the women who have decided to take the challenge of becoming U.S. merchant marine officers and using their licenses to tow look very professional and competent. I have worked with my father, Capt. Dennis C....

Manatees migrating.(member forum)
September 1, 2003... Red tide would not have such a negative effect on manatees if they migrated south for the winter as nature intended them to. Our electric company in southwest Florida artificially warms discharge water in many of our rivers to give manatees...

Deviant readings.
September 1, 2003... Since the invention of the steam engine, recreational boating in the United States, like the American government, has essentially been based on a two-party system. If you are a boater, the common thinking goes, you must be either a power-boater...

Carbon monoxide: a shore thing.
September 1, 2003... New tests of carbon monoxide (CO) levels at a popular boating lake over a holiday weekend are leading to the shocking conclusion that CO poisoning can occur from simply walking around a heavily congested boating area and breathing the ambient...

Techno talk.
September 1, 2003... All navigation begins with plotting your position on a chart. Only 10 years ago, most mariners were using paper charts and the traditional plotting tools: pencil, divider, parallel rule and protractor. A few were using an electronic chart table...

Ithaka cruising log: the radical sabbatical.
September 1, 2003... Bernadette Bernon, a former member of the BoatU.S. National Advisory Council, spent 10 years at the helm of Cruising World magazine before she and her husband, Douglas, a psychologist bought a 39-foot sailboat and took off cruising for several...

When fish strike back.
September 1, 2003... If you've been boating on the lower Missouri River lately, you've probably seen your share of high-flying fish--silver or bighead carp--that unexpectedly leap around, over and even into boats, sometime with grave consequences for the occupants....

Mastering the commander.
September 1, 2003... With a turbulent, troubled year nearly behind us, the chance to escape to another century, where heroes ruled, bravery won the day and spectacular tall ships roamed the sea discovering exotic new lands, sounds like just the ticket. Hollywood...

Why didn't I think of that?(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... Each year, Boating Writers International (BWI), the professional organization of boating writers from around the world, in conjunction with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) convenes a panel of expert BWI judges to look at...

McMurdo pains Wessex fast find plus personal location beacon.(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... This winner in the category of "Aftermarket Electronics" can fit in the palm of your hand or pocket, yet save lives around the globe. Designed for crewmembers, it's a 406 Khz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that's integrated...

Interlux's Micron 66 Bottom Paint.(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... Designed for saltwater use, Interlux's new Micron 66 Bottom Paint is a "self-polishing copolymer" paint with a biocide. But what you really need to know is that you get two seasons out of this paint--a winter haul-out on the hard won't affect...

Garelick's gull wing ladder.(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... In the category of "Hardware, Rigging and Ropes," this reboarding ladder stands out because of the two "S's"--strength and stowability. Capable of handling sopping wet, 400-pound crewmembers, it can be folded up to fit into a four-inch pipe,...

Solara Energy freebag.(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... This "Personal Gear/Soft Goods" winner won because of multi-uses: It's a collapsible stool, pillow, back support, sun-lounger and even a shoulder bag. With polypropylene beanbag style shot, the bag conforms to the hard angles found in boat...

Innovative Lighting's 9V signaling horn.(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... This small, handheld horn in the "Safety Product" category uses a 9-volt battery and solid-state circuitry to provide a loud signal, even after a dunking. For more information, visit www.innovativelight.com. Boat Bits 8% total...

Ocean Equipment's JetConnex.(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... This shielded coiled wire in the "Trailer Parts and Accessories" category had judges going, "Why didn't we think of that?" Coming in a variety of colors, socket and plug styles, the connector easily solves a perennial problem of how to hook up...

Surface Dive's deck snorkel diving system.(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... Leave the bulky aqua-lung at home with this compact, battery powered, easy-to-use underwater diving system. This "Water Sports" category winner comes with 48 feet of hose and is great for cleaning bottoms or other underwater maintenance and...

Aquapac International's FlashPac.(hot tips and news you can use)
September 1, 2003... Aquapac International's FlashPac won honorable mention in this category for enabling a personal flashlight--with a few puffs of air--to turn into a floating emergency strobe in seconds. For more information, visit www.aquapac.net.

2002 BoatU.S. Foundation annual report.
September 1, 2003... When help is needed to spread the word about safer and cleaner boating, the BoatU.S. Foundation is there. The Foundation's goal is to be the leader in boating safety and environmental education and outreach, with the purpose of reducing...

Lesser Antilles.(Destination)
September 1, 2003... Many first-time visitors to the Caribbean--especially sailors--are mentally destabilized by the vistas that greet them. The blue, blue sea, specked with whitecaps, the dramatic, green-clad peaks, and the colorful beachside villages look...

Boat show smarts.
September 1, 2003... As winter approaches, some boaters turn gray around the gills because they're not getting enough "vitamin boat," the kind of essential nutrient that gives meaning to life and keeps the old brain running at wide open throttle. So, if you...

Doin' the Delta.(Our Favorite Places)
September 1, 2003... "Everything in the Delta goes in a circle. Just keep on going and you'll be back." With his snow-white beard and sun-speckled forearms, Tom Wigham of TowBoatU.S. Delta may have been making a profound statement or simply commenting on the...

Port security needs you.
September 1, 2003... In the two years since September 11, the U.S. Coast Guard has been busy trying to figure out how to increase port security without restricting commerce and recreational boating. A recent series of proposals issued by the government in the...

Stemming the sea grass scars.
September 1, 2003... If necessity is the mother of invention, Jim Anderson must be the midwife. The efforts of this Tampa Bay area boater, farmer and tinkerer to restore Florida's once-lush sea grass habitat could have a profound affect on the state's waters. And...

Member mailbag.(We Get Letters ...)
September 1, 2003... We frequently get letters about our time and money-saving member benefits. Here's one we'd like to share: I just renewed my annual membership online and have to say, had there been an option for a lifetime membership, I would have gladly...

Renew and win a prize.(We Get Letters ...)
September 1, 2003... Renewing online not only saves time and resources, it automatically enters you in a quarterly prize drawing. Tom Hytry of Yorkville, IL, was our most recent winner of a pair of Weems & Plath Navy One 7x50 binoculars. The next prize is a Weems &...

Make the most out of fall boat shows.(We Get Letters ...)
September 1, 2003... BoatU.S. can help you plan your show schedule and save you money by going to BoatUS.com and clicking on "Boating Info.--Boat Shows & Tickets." Here you'll find a boat show calendar to help you pinpoint any events near you, buy discounted...

California partnership.(We Get Letters ...)
September 1, 2003... Russ Robinson, at left, president of Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC) accepts a check from Scott Croft, BoatU.S. director of public relations, at the June 13 RBOC Board meeting at Stockton Yacht Club, Stockton CA. BoatU.S. considers...

The governor to the rescue.(tangled line)
September 1, 2003... When Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his family were enjoying the long Fourth of July weekend at their home on Lake Winnipesaukee, little did the governor know he might have to do a quick stand-in for the marine patrol. On Saturday...

A subversive sport.(tangled line)
September 1, 2003... Not all boat racing takes place on the surface. "Dive, dive, dive!" was the rallying cry in the cavernous U.S. Navy ship model basin June 23-27 for the seventh International Submarine Races. Held once again at the Naval Surface Warfare Center...

BoatU.S. Magazine honored.(tangled line)
September 1, 2003... BoatU.S. Magazine, the official publication of Boat Owners Association of The United States, recently won an Apex Award in the category, "Most Improved Magazines and Journals." Now in its 15th year, the Apex Awards are based on excellence in...

Women's tall ship cruise.(tangled line)
September 1, 2003... When the owners of the Mystic Whaler needed a little help delivering their schooner from Norfolk, VA, up to New York they called on one of their sail training partners, the National Women's Sailing Association. Women of any skill level can sign...

BoatU.S. staffer nabs stolen boat.(tangled line)
September 1, 2003... You don't have to be a marine police offer with a siren and flashing blue lights to catch a thief. One astute underwriter at BoatU.S. did it without even leaving her desk. Underwriter Supervisor Jacqueline Hayes was going over an insurance...

Rinker 300 Fiesta Vee: www.rinkerboats.com.(2nd time around)
September 1, 2003... There has been no shortage of 30-foot mid-cabin sport cruisers over the last 10 years. Nearly every production boat manufacturer has offered their version of this popular model, although prices and quality of construction vary considerably....

Tartan 3500: www.tartanyachts.com.(2nd time around)
September 1, 2003... The Tartan 3500 is now into its 11th year of production and after all this time it continues to be a top choice for sailors looking for a performance oriented family cruiser. I have been a long-time fan of Tartan boats and must admit I find the...

Regal: www.regalboats.com.(our boat U.S.)
September 1, 2003... "We always have great adventures on our monthly outings," says BoatU.S. member and Regal boat owner Brian Rumble, "And we always have good stories to tell." Well, they'll be telling the one about the rescue at the Florida Regal Rendezvous...

Where our flags fly.
September 1, 2003... Send us a photo of your boat, preferably flying the BoatU.S. flag, and we'll publish it here. Please include the name, make, size and borne port, as well as your member number. HELGOLAND--35' Baba Hans Roeben & Sarah Huse--Tiburon, CA...

On watch.
September 1, 2003... 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 mayor...

Ask Cap'n Drew.
September 1, 2003... Dear Cap'n Drew: I've been casually shopping for an upgrade since December. My wife and I agree on the style and type of boat that we're looking for and we even see eye-to-eye on the amenities that we would like it to have. The only thing...

Weem's world.
September 1, 2003... In May of 1919, eight years before Lindbergh's famous solo flight, three small planes set out from Newfoundland headed for London in an attempt to make the first transatlantic flight. Only one of them made it. Twenty-five hundred feet...

S.O.S.(Boat smart: Consumer Protection Bureau)
September 1, 2003... The port transmission failed on my 1999 33-footer a year ago. The mechanic said the transmission's clutch pack burned due to a faulty oil pump. He said pump failure was a common problem with Series 5000 Velvet Drive transmissions. The port one...

Consumer alert.(Boat smart: Consumer Protection Bureau)
September 1, 2003... 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...

BoatU.S. exchange.
September 1, 2003... SALE OR TRADE--POWER 9'2" AVON 1998. Inflatable hard bttm "roll away" in excel cond. $875. Cumberland, RI(401)726-4331 20' GRADY WHITE 1983. Immaculate USCG certified, documented. Like new top & curtains, 470 Mercruiser, I/O like new....