GOOD ADVICE!

March 29, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 1st District PA Detachment New York
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment New York
Office: (212) 514-4291
After Hours: (917) 703-0983 

Coast Guard encourages boaters to practice safe boating

NEW YORK – Temperatures are rising all around the state making it a perfect time for mariners to take recreational vessels out on the water. However, before doing so, the Coast Guard is urging all mariners to be well prepared before taking off on that voyage.

Preparation is key to a safe and enjoyable time on the water. Mariners need to engage in safe boating practices to ensure a successful trip for themselves as well as everyone else on the water.  

“Each year with warmer weather, hundreds of area residents take to the water to enjoy a day of recreational boating,” said Captain Thomas Morkan, deputy commander, Sector New York. “Unfortunately, many will depart unprepared for the emergencies that could happen on a vessel. Boaters should take nothing for granted, remember that conditions can literally change within the blink of an eye and never leave the safety of shore without the proper equipment and planning. Doing so could save your or a family member’s life.”

One way to prepare one’s self before getting underway is to take a boating safety course offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, which can develop a mariner’s skill and improve safe boating practices. The Coast Guard Auxiliary also offers free vessel safety checks, which are intended to identify deficiencies prior to getting underway and ensure that vessels meet all federal safety regulations. Items that are required both by state and federal laws include:

• Life jackets for everyone on board;
• Registration and numbering;
• Navigation lights;
• Venitlation;
• Fire Extinguishers;
• Distress signals such as flares, horn, etc;
• Battery cover and connection.

For more information about Auxiliary boating safety course descriptions, dates, and locations be sure to check out http://www.cgaux.org/boatinged/class_finder/, and to find out more about Vessel Safety Checks make sure to visit http://cgaux.org/vsc/.

Hello,
Can you please share this announcement for the NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) Federal Advisory Committee solicitation for nominations of new members for 2018 with local, regional and national partners, your members, newsletters, blogs, stakeholders, colleagues and other interested parties? The nominations are due May 30, 2017. Below please find the links to the HSRP Federal Register Notice and the press release with the process and other information.

You can review the requirements, criteria and questions on how to submit your nomination to the Federal Register Notice, HSRP Membership Solicitation for 2018 (FRN) at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/03/24/2017-05639/membership-solicitation-for-hydrographic-services-review-panel.

Additional information on the HSRP nominations process is at:
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/call-application.htm

Press release “NOAA seeks new members f or hydrographic advisory panel”
http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-seeks-new-members-for-hydrographic-advisory-panel

Recent issue papers and recommendations are at:
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/recommendations.htm

The HSRP is a federal advisory committee that provides NOAA with independent advice on improving the quality, efficiency, and usefulness of NOAA’s navigation-related products, data, and services. The HSRP advises the NOAA Administrator about its navigation (i.e. nautical charts and ENCs), physical oceanographic (i.e. tides & water levels), geospatial, positioning, and shoreline programs, products, and services. There are two public meetings each year in different port regions at which we seek public comments from stakeholders and partners.

Also, the HSRP will have the next public meeting in Seattle, WA, April 18-20, 2017, focusing in part on the Pacific Northwest and is seeking public comments on the value of NOS products, and to offer recommendations to improve NOAA’s navigation data, services, and products. Comments related to navigation services are encouraged and welcome in person, in advance in writing, or via the webinar in writing. In advance you can send comments to hydroservices.panel@noaa.gov or Lynne.Mersfelder@noaa.gov with the subject line “HSRP Seattle public comments”. Additional information on the meeting including updates to the agenda, how to sign up for the webinar, background materials, and the presentations will be posted at:
https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/meetings_seattle2017.htm.

Sincerely, Lynne

Lynne Mersfelder-Lewis
Program Manager, Hydrographic Services Review Panel, Federal Advisory Committee
Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, NOAA, USDOC
Cell: 240-691-6106 Work 301-713-2750 x166 Lynne.Mersfelder@noaa.gov

HSRP public meetings http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/ocs/hsrp/meetings.htm
The Nation’s Chartmaker Check out NOAA Coast Survey blog

SSECN presents this website as a public service for our readers. We invite your comments on the usefulness of internet access to repair services. If you are already familiar with Mariner Exchange, let us hear from you.

Hi Larry,
My name is Alex and I’m the founder of Mariner Exchange, based in Annapolis, MD. We are a marketplace that connects boat owners with repair services, similar to what Angie’s List does for home owners. The boat repair industry is hyper-fragmented and it is often agonizing to find a reliable person to fix your boat. {expand title=”Read More”]

We launched our iOS app this past July and have grown quickly to 10,000 boat owners and 3,000 service companies on board. We just launched our Android app on Monday and expanded coverage to Florida, New England, and the Chesapeake. Please feel free to visit our website at MarinerExchange.com. 
Thanks,
Alex

Our thanks to Winston Fowler for forwarding this article from DoDBuzz. Considering the volatility of the adminstration, we should all hold our breath, keep our fingers crossed, etc. etc. that this report will come true! 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL ARTICLE

Here’s another opportunity for cruisers to help a fellow cruiser. Joe will thank you!

Larry,
I’m about to take my first offshore trip from WPB, Fl to Oriental, NC and could use some pointers on taking advantage of Gulf Stream currents.

I’m sailing a 31 ft Prout Quest catamaran with a 15hp yanmar diesel that gets 5.5 knots max speed if needed. The rhumb line takes us far offshore and I anticipate crew of 3 will be more than a days journey back inside should weather deteriorate so will be using a shore based WX service and Delorme explorer for communication.
Joe Volpe