Quarterly Newsletter

This discussion of battery powered ships focuses on commercial shipping, but can battery powered recreational vessels be far behind?

Battery Power
Marina News May 21, 2021

Once you have pulled up a ton of the oily, black muck that adheres to the anchor like tar, you will wish for a washdown system like this! Thank you Roger Hughes for a great article.

How to Install a Deck-Wash System
by Roger Hughes in Cruising World

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers five tips that can potentially speed a rescuer’s response to a boater in need of emergency help.

Five Things You Can Do

to Take the ‘Search’ out of Search and Rescue

Are you making it difficult to be found in an emergency?

ANNAPOLIS, MD., May 25, 2021 – “Do I know how to be found in an emergency?” That’s a question every boater should ask at the beginning of the boating season. The answer, however, is likely to go far beyond simply having a cellphone aboard. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers five tips that can potentially speed a rescuer’s response to a boater in need of emergency help.

1. File a float plan: Telling a responsible family member or friend, leaving a note (on your vehicle’s dashboard) at the launch ramp, or using a smart phone float plan app, are great ways to allow someone else to trigger the alarm if you fail to return by an appointed time.
    
2. Have a VHF radio aboard — but not just any old VHF radio: All VHF radios are not alike. One of the best ways to speed an on-water rescue is to have a Digital Selective Calling (DSC) VHF radio aboard. A DSC-VHF radio does all of the things a regular VHF does, but it also has a unique press-one-button mayday feature that gives rescuers your vessel’s location — taking the “search” out of search and rescue. The newest waterproof handheld DSC-VHF radios are great for small boats. Before you install your DSC-VHF radio, be sure to get your radio’s Maritime Mobile Service Identity Number (MMSI) that is your vessel’s unique ID. BoatUS members can request one for free.
    
3. Label your SUP, canoe, or kayak: Adding contact information on the inside of your paddlecraft with a waterproof marker could mean less time U.S. Coast Guard and first responders need to spend chasing down false alarms. This frees up valuable resources when time really counts. And let’s face it, another benefit is that you may get your paddlecraft back after it blows down the lake. It’s also a good idea to let authorities know if your paddlecraft has gone missing.
    
4. Do not leave shore … without a fully charged phone: Smartphones are part of life ashore and aboard. The reality, however, is that many boaters put all their safety eggs in one basket and rely solely on a cellphone to call for help. Cellphone batteries generally don’t do well after a long day of running apps, listening to music, texting, and taking photos. And for many phones, water is the enemy. Consider keeping your phone a waterproof pouch or case. If you need help for routine, nonemergency assistance, such as a tow home, battery jump, fuel delivery or soft ungrounding, download the BoatUS App that connects boaters to closest local TowBoatUS response vessel.
    
5. Register your EPIRB or PLB: The U.S. Coast Guard receives hundreds of false alerts each year from these critical safety devices. To free up more time for responsing to real emergencies, boaters need to properly register their Emergency Position Indicating Rescue Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). If you need a beacon for only a short period of time, rent one from the affordable BoatUS Foundation EPIRB/PLB rental program.

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About the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water:

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Funded primarily by donations from the more than 800,000 members of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nonprofit provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America’s waterways and keeping boating safe for all. A range of boating safety courses – including 36 free state courses – can be found at BoatUS.org/Courses.

While compiled by a group of Northeast “old salts” these videos are equally as applicable to our southern waters. Thank you for sharing, Off Center Harbor.
 

Hi Larry ~ It’s easy to feel like a fool sometimes while at the helm of a boat, or while trying to fix it. There’s so much to learn, and it’s hard to develop new skills from reading a book or a magazine. But with the power of video and the following two secrets, you can get one-on-one instruction from pros at the top of their field, and your learning curve can shoot straight up.   Secret #1: World-Class Instruction…  VIDEO: How to Trim Sails, Part 2 — The Headsail

VIDEO: Coastal Navigation, Part 1 – Charts & Buoys​​​​​​​ Even though top-notch instruction can quickly enhance your skills, there’s something that’s even more helpful in becoming a much better boater… Secret #2: Heart-Felt Inspiration​​​! Good instruction is valuable, but getting inspired is priceless. We get so many comments under our videos saying how much boaters have been inspired that we’ve given it a name — we call it the “inspiration curve”. It’s different than your “learning curve”, but directly related, because a good “inspiration curve” can cause your learning curve to grow steeper and move faster. Here is a video that provides a steep “inspiration curve”:  VIDEO: Schooner MAGIC – A Family Goes Cruising GETTING FULL ACCESSIn a few days, we’ll be sending you a great Mother’s Day/Father’s Day special to become a member with a 30% discount on your first year, plus a complimentary member’s hat. If these videos have inspired you, we hope you’ll consider joining thousands of others from more than 80 countries as a member of Off Center Harbor. Warmest regards, Steve, Ben, Bill, Eric and Maynard, Co-founders Off Center Harbor

We’re proud to run Off Center Harbor the old fashioned way, relying on trust and authenticity among our customers, our crew, and our community.

Our mailing address is:

You have to wonder if this new convenience is not going to cause issues for the Coast Guard and for brokers when boats are sold.

 Guard Changes

Certificate of Documentation to 5 Years

New rule will spare some boaters a yearly task

SPRINGFIELD, Va., April 14, 2021 — Of the nation’s nearly 12 million registered recreational boats, those owners who federally document their vessels, or about 165,000 boats, will be spared the hassle of renewing their U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation every year as a result of recent rule change that now makes documentation valid for five years. The move was the result of Coast Guard cost-saving efforts and requirements set forth in the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018.

“The change to a five-year documentation period will be a time-saver,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. Kennedy notes the new rule also eliminates some options that were formerly available.

“Going forward, the five-year Certificate of Documentation is the only option available for recreational vessels as the 2018 Act did not allow for alternatives,” added Kennedy.

Formerly, documentation was $26 per year and boaters could select the number of years, from one to five. The new five-year documentation cost for is fixed at $130. Additional fees apply for initial documentation as well as exchanges. The Coast Guard will not issue refunds if an owner chooses to cancel documentation before its five-year expiration or if a vessel is sold during the renewal period.

Boat owners generally choose to federally document vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard versus the more common practice of state registration, for one of two reasons: the boat was purchased with a bank loan and the lender required it or the owner plans to travel beyond U.S. waters. A Certificate of Documentation is internationally recognized and makes it easier for American vessels to enter and leave foreign ports.

Documented vessels must also be a minimum of 5 net tons, which is about the size of a 26-foot boat. BoatUS notes that net tons are more about (cargo) volume, than weight.

In a related issue, BoatUS continues to advise boaters to be vigilant when renewing U.S. Coast Guard vessel documentation as official-looking vessel documentation renewal notices can lead to confusion and higher costs. Some BoatUS members have received notices that are not from the Coast Guard but rather third-party companies whose name or return addresses may appear similar to that of the official U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).

For more information on documentation go to BoatUS.com/Documentation.

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About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):

Celebrating more than 50 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with more than 700,000 members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We are The Boat Owners Auto Club and help ensure a roadside trailer breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins. When boats break down on the water, TowBoatUS brings them safely back to the launch ramp or dock, 24/7. BoatUS offers GEICO Marine Insurance policies that give boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and superior service they need. We help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.

An ocean protection strategy that targets densely populated coastal areas, rather than ringfencing the most remote corners, could deliver game-changing climate benefits.

Study: Protecting Populous Coastal Areas Helps Fight Climate Change

Maritime Executive

A new mosquito species capable of transmitting disease, Aedes scapularis, has arrived in Florida and shows signs it could survive across multiple urban and rural habitats, posing a potential public health risk.

New Invasive Mosquito Species Found in South Florida
PCT Magazine