A reminder to our Virginia boating friends that this Boating Safety Education requirement is for ALL AGES operating powerboats over 10hp and all personal watercraft. BoatUS remains the premiere advocate for boaters and boating safety on all waters and SSECN is proud to have BoatUS as a SPONSOR!

NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

The BoatUS Foundation has a free online course that keeps Virginia powerboaters safe and also meets mandatory boating safety education requirements.

Virginia Powerboaters & PWC Drivers Need Boating Safety Education by July 1

BoatUS Foundation Online Course Cost: $0

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 25, 2016 ‘“ On July 1, all Virginia operators of motorboats over 10HP and personal watercraft will need to comply with a 2007 state law by taking a boating safety education course. To help them easily meet the requirement, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers a no cost, online course that can be taken at home and paused and restarted at any time at BoatUS.org/virginia.

`The boating safety education requirement began in 2007 and is now fully implemented on July 1 for all ages of operators’ said BoatUS Foundation Director of Education Amanda Suttles Pérez. `Our online course is great for busy schedules and is the only free online boating safety course approved by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.’

Boaters who successfully pass the course can print their own Certificate of Completion or order a plastic boater education card for a $10 fee. This course completion certificate or card must be kept within a boater’s possession when boating along with picture identification. Passing the course could earn a discount on a boat’s or PWC’s insurance policy.

The course includes interactive animations, videos and photos to give boaters an education that goes well beyond the basics of boating. Videos demonstrate important safety devices such as visual distress signals, how to get help in an emergency, how to prevent and extinguish fires aboard your boat, and tips on how to fit a life jacket to a child.

To see a range of online courses, go to BoatUS.org/courses.

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 over half-million members of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the non-profit 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 34 free state courses ‘“ can be found at BoatUS.org/courses.

You only have to spend a short time talking with Randy Mims to know that he has the soul of a true sailor. Randy not only built his 27ft gaff-rigged cutter, Ideath, but each year he single-hands the cutter from North Carolina to the Northern Gulf Coast and back again. “Ideath” is pronounced Idea-th and loosely translates as “house of ideas”. Randy stops along the way to visit maritime museums and, indulging his passion for music, he volunteers to sing in church choirs along the way. He also takes time to share his travels with his friends and has agreed to allow SSECN to post his emails. For more photos and more on Randy, go to http://towndock.net/shippingnews/ideath?pg=1 from TownDock.net in Oriental. See previous installment:/155116 .

Dear Friends,
Just a quick update to let you know that this morning the Travellift came and put “IDEATH” back in the water or “Splashed her” in boat yard jargon. It felt great to have her moving again. The engine cranked right up and I took her out into the Neuse River. It was so wonderful just to be on the water. I anchored and did some maintenance things that I dared not do while the boat was being held up by jack stands. After waxing the Mast and lubricating the gaff and boom, I hauled up the anchor and spread her wings. With plan sail set and drawing, she fairly danced to windward down the river. The wind was perfect for fine tuning all the rigging and sails. After a couple of hours the wind died away and I put the engine through it’s paces on the way back to the marina. All the new parts performed beautifully. There were no leaks at any of the hose connections and with the new engine mounts and cutlass bearing on the propeller shaft, the worrysome vibration that had developed was completely gone. She even went faster at her normal cruising RPM. Nothing like a clean bottom. I will be doing more testing over the next several days but all indications are that the repairs and upgrades to the boat are a complete success. I plan to go to Greensboro for my Fathers birthday and then take the van back to Apalachicola. I am not looking forward to the bus ride back to the boat, but I can’t wait to be voyaging again in the newly restored “IDEATH”.
I hope you have a great spring, the flowers here are amazing. I am sure there will be exciting things to write about on the voyage back to Florida.
Love and Peace to you all,
Randy

For nearly thirty years, Captains Mark and Diana Doyle have been providing low cost, “almost free” professional grade navigation guides and SSECN is sorry to see them leave the business. Mark and Diana have been good partners in the effort to keep boaters well-informed and safe. We wish them the very best on their quest to see more of the world – at least more of the drier parts!

`If words can describe where you are … keep going.’

We love that quote, and after nearly 30 years it turns out that Mark and I can describe the ICW pretty well ‘¦ so we figure it’s time to keep going.
In Cuba this winter we talked daily about building a plan for our next ten years. The result is that m/v Semi-Local is for sale, we’ve bought another RV, and we’re prepping some long hikes and looking forward to lots of international travel!
First, we want to thank everyone for all of the friendship and support you’ve offered as we’ve stumbled through this self-publishing obstacle course together.
Second, we want to wish each of you success and happiness in chasing your own dreams ‘¦ on whatever magic carpet you choose.
Many will ask, `Why shut down On the Water ChartGuides?’ The reason is pretty simple and we think you’ll understand and respect our decision.
Our books, and our reputation, were built upon really-really being there. We were current, accurate, and detailed. And that will no longer be possible. So rather than milk the cash cow and sell stale info, or worse yet, become yet another of today’s armchair-cruising Google-researching guide publishers, we’re shutting down our Apple iBook Store and selling off the remaining print inventory from our website.
We’re water dogs, so we’ll undoubtedly see many of you again. And as more and more of you travel to places away from shore ‘¦ well, who knows?
All National Parks are on our bucket list. So is RVing New Zealand, hiking Kilimanjaro, and riding a camel at the Great Pyramid!
We’re ready for that new plan ‘¦ it’s called, `Other People’s Guides.’ (wink)
Best,
Diana and Mark

Mark and Diana Doyle | On the Water ChartGuides | Cruising Guides + Electronic Charting | www.OnTheWaterChartGuides.org | authors@semi-local.com

The SSECN Team appreciates those who have already taken the 2016 Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net User Survey. The results are very important to help the Team add new features and improve the website and Mobile App.

Only 10 Days Remain
Make sure your vote counts by taking the 2016 Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net User Survey, if you haven’t done so already. The survey runs until the end of April, so you only have 10 days remaining.

The original post announcing the survey can be found here.