LETTERS
HANSEN RIGGING
Standing Rigging Specialists
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Mast Boom Running rigging
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www.hansenrigging.com
2307 Blanding Ave., Ste. GH • Alameda, CA 94501 HOURS M-F 9:30am-7pm Sat/Sun by appt.
Page 36 •
Latitude 38
(510) 521-7027
• April, 2018
like a Cal 29 than a 30. Regarding radar reflectors, we posed that question to Layne Carter, a Search and Rescue (SAR) specialist with the Coast Guard in Alameda. He said "We do not use radar reflectors as a general practice. It is ultimately the responsibility of the owner to mark and salvage the vessel. However, we do issue a broadcast notice to mariners for all hazards to navigation we become aware of. Obviously not all owners Our original caption to this photo from February are able to mark 14: "Coast Guard Station Morro Bay Motor Lifeboat or salvage their crews arrived on scene to assist this sailboat taking vessels and of on water. The CG didn't know the vessel's make and course we often size, but it looks to us like it could be a Cal 2-30." are unable to Jim Nash says it's likely a Cal 2-29. even locate an owner for many abandoned and adrift vessels. We try to mark vessels as 'OK' when safe to do so, but that is generally to prevent false alerts. "On a case by case basis, we will mark a vessel with a satellite tracking device we use to validate drift during SAR cases, but that depends on the situation (if the unit on scene involved in the rescue has the device onboard, and if they can safely attach it to the vessel)." — cw/ja
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JAY NILLES / USCG
SPRING RIGGING UPGRADES
⇑⇓ IS THIS SCAM STILL HAPPENING? I just called National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and they clarified their vessel documentation procedure. First, they confirmed that my boat certificate does not expire until March 31 (which I knew and is what precipitated my call) and is not expired as the Maritime Documentation Center (MDC) informed me by letter. The NVDC stated that MDC is a third-party agency (not US Coast Guard-related) providing this service, so it cannot be classified as a scam per se, although I would disagree. In my case, MDC sent me my notice about three to four weeks prior to the one NVDC said they would send out, which was 45 days prior to expiration. Secondly, the NVDC fee is the same as last year ($26) and less than the MDC 'service' charge of $70. It would be helpful to inform people that this is another case of someone making a business out of providing an unneeded service normally provided adequately by legal entities. I have come across this as well when renewing my FCC permits and Ham licenses. Subscribers need to be made aware of third-party attempts to obtain inflated fees; some owners may choose to no longer document their boat due to the much higher cost. The bottom line is that we don't need these businesses increasing our boat operating costs. Mike Hirko Tayana, Vancouver 42 Gig Harbor, WA ⇑⇓ BUT SERIOUSLY I received an 'official' renewal notice in the mail the other day and I was puzzled as I had renewed for multiple years
