It was with much sadness that I read the announcements below on the St. Augustine’s Cruisers’ Net (https://www.facebook.com/groups/staugustinecruisersnet/), about the passing of actor Russell Johnson, best known as Professor in the 1960s TV sitcom “Gilligan’s Island.” Like Captain Tarlecky, I think this show helped inspire my life to be associated with the water and cruising. According to CNN.com (see http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/16/showbiz/russell-johnson-obit/), Johnson, “died Thursday, his agent said. Johnson was 89.” Farewell “Professor” Johnson and godspeed on your journey!”

Its with great sadness that I learned that “The Professor” from Gilligan’s Island has passed away. For me, I always thought that living on an island and inventing all kinds of cool stuff is basically what I wanted to do and this drove at least a part of my desire to get out on the water and explore all those little tropical islands and also develop a career at an engineer. So… thanks for all the laughs Professor.
Alex Tarlecky

A sad day for those who loved the castaways.
Rudolph Andreae

‘˜My heart is broken’: Dawn Wells bids farewell to ‘˜Gilligan’s Island’ costar Russell Johnson ==> http://twitchy.com/2014/01/16/my-heart-is-broken-dawn-wells-bids-farewell-gilligans-island-costar-russell-johnson/

This Nation Marine Manufacturers Association (http://www.nmma.org) Action Alert regarding ethanol went out to NMMA members this Wednesday. Last month, NMMA testified before the EPA explaining the unintended dangers of the Renewable Fuel Standard and its impact on the marine industry. NMMA will also be submitting written comments this month. But our voices, our opinions and our comments are critical to our overall success.

If you want the EPA to reduce the ethanol mandate, to modify the RFS and protect marine engines, then you must speak up! A format to submit your comments is contained in the following link: http://hd.nmma.org/t/88183/2164904/14107/7/

It is past time to terminate the negative effects of ethanol/gas mixtures. E-10 has endangered American boaters and their families, required costly repairs and modifications to boats and boat engines and befits the widespread label of `The Ethanol Fraud.’ The taxpayer forced subsidy is not only unjustified and unsustainable, it discriminates against those who must pay premium prices to locate and purchase non-ethanol fuel to protect their assets and families from the harmful results of ethanol in motor fuels.
Frank Leggett

The EPA must be bought and sold by Monsanto. It’s clear the Ethanol pollutes more than gasoline. Ethanol harms engines and fuel tanks. It breaks down quickly releasing water into the bottom of fuel tanks where the water causes corrosion. This edict of 15% will also cause a major disruption in marina businesses and break the backs of boater’s budgets.
Rudolph Andreae

Back on 10/2/13, the SSECN, as well as many other nautical publications, reported that the NOAA charting folks were seriously considering doing away with the infamous “magenta line,” which is supposed, but often does not, mark the route to keep to the best depths on the AICW, and other USA Waterways (see /?p=124482). In fact, it seemed like an almost “done deal” that the line was going to disappear from future editions of NOAA charts.
Not so fast. The cruising community responded with a barrage of e-mails to NOAA, and, today (1/14/14) it was announced that the magenta line was not only going to be retained, but an effort was going to be made to relocate it to better indicate where the best depths are to be found. Here is an excerpt from the NOAA announcement:

NOAA Coast Survey to improve `magenta line’ on Intracoastal Waterway nautical charts
The Office of Coast Survey announced today that future editions of nautical charts of the Intracoastal Waterway will be updated to include an improved `magenta line’ that has historically aided navigation down the East Coast and around the Gulf Coast. Additionally, Coast Survey will change the magenta line’s function, from the perceived `recommended route’ established more than a hundred years ago, to an advisory directional guide that helps prevent boaters from going astray in the maze of channels that comprise the route.
The decision comes on the heels of a year’s investigation into problems with the magenta line. In early 2013, after receiving reports of groundings by boaters who followed the line into shoals, Coast Survey started to remove the magenta line from Intracoastal Waterway nautical charts.
`We cannot deliberately include chart features that we know may pose a danger to navigation,’ explained Rear Admiral Gerd Glang, director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey. `The problems of the magenta line’s misplacement, which had been developing over the past seven decades, were aggravated when some boaters assumed that the line indicated a precise route through safe water ‘“ although it actually went over land, shoals, or obstructions.’
In 2013, while Coast Survey cartographers were removing poorly placed lines from charts that were undergoing regularly scheduled updates, Glang ordered a cartographic review of the magenta line’s function and maintenance. Simultaneous with an internal review of the issues, Glang issued a Federal Register Notice asking for public comments. Almost 240 individuals and organizations offered comments, saying that the line helped safe navigation on the Intracoastal Waterway.
`We asked Intracoastal Waterway users to let us know if they need the route designated on nautical charts, and the response was 99.9 percent in favor of keeping it on charts,’ Glang said. `Many of the commenters explained how the magenta line saved them from dangerous or costly navigation errors. They also confirmed that we need to clear up any misunderstanding about what the magenta line is ‘“ and what it isn’t.’
The internal review and public comments confirm that the magenta line needs to be removed where it poses a danger to navigation, rebuilt to avoid shoals and other dangers, and reinstated to all the Intracoastal Waterway nautical charts. Importantly, Coast Survey will add notes to the Intracoastal Waterway charts, emphasizing that vessels transiting the waterway should be aware of changing conditions and always honor aids to navigation.
Improvements will take years to fully implement
`Today’s decision to reinstate the magenta line is not a quick fix,’ cautions Captain Shep Smith, chief of Coast Survey’s Marine Chart Division. `It will take at least three years to fix problems that were 70 years in the making.’

You can read the full announcement at:

http://noaacoastsurvey.wordpress.com/2014/01/14/noaa-coast-survey-to-improve-magenta-line-on-intracoastal-waterway-nautical-charts/

Sounds like GOOD news for the cruising community, and though I’ll believe the “improvements” to the magenta line just as soon as I see them!

I’m glad they’re keeping the line and hopefully improving it. It is good to see that they are responding to public input.
John Kettlewell

This is great news. When used as intended, it provides a clear indication of the correct ICW waterways.
Dave Boxmeyer