O CTOBER 2008
For Inland Waterways
GREATLAKESBOATING.COM
October 2008
G REAT L AKES B OATING
Campion Goes
GREEN
greatlakesboating.com
A Fisherman’s First $4.95US $4.95CAN
7
25274 56691
10
4
BOAT Shares
ALPENA’SAdvenshore IPS IPSPerforms
Discounts Really Do Count. Discounts shouldn’t mean less coverage. Contact a Foremost agent today to find how you can get superior coverage and money-saving discounts. Multiple Boats s Multiple Policies s Safety Course s
Prior Insurance s Protective Devices s
Go to Foremost.com now and find an agent near you or call 1-800-237-2060 and mention customer priority number M028 for a quote!
www.Foremost.com
GO AHEAD. GET WET.
TM
-!.5&!#452%$ (/-% s -/4/2 (/-% s 42!6%, 42!),%2 s ,58529 -/4/2 #/!#( s $7%,,).' &)2% s 30%#)!,49 (/-%/7.%23 s 6!#!.4 02/0%249 3%!3/.!, 02/0%249 ,!.$,/2$ !.$ 2%.4!, 02/0%249 s -/4/2#9#,% s /&& 2/!$ 6%()#,% s 3./7-/"),% "/!4 s 0%23/.!, 7!4%2#2!&4 s #/,,%#4)",% !54/ Foremost Insurance Company Grand Rapids, Michigan, Foremost Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Foremost Signature Insurance Company and American Federation Insurance Company 5600 Beech Tree Lane, Caledonia, MI 49316. Form 9677430708
-ÌÕÀ}i Ê >Þ]Ê7 ÃV Ã ]Ê ÃÊ iÊ vÊ ÕÀÊÀiVi Ì ÞÊV « iÌi`Ê«À iVÌÃÊ Ê > iÊ V }> °
7
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊiÊ>ÀiÊ Ì > Ì V iiV ]ÊÌ iÊ >À >ÊV «> Þ°Ê ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊiÊ 7iÊi } iiÀÊ> `ÊLÕ `ÊLi>ÕÌ vÕ ]ÊÌ « µÕ> ÌÞÊ >À >Ê ÃÞÃÌi ðÊ7i½ÛiÊLii Ê` }ÊÌ >Ì]Ê> `Ê ÞÊÌ >Ì]Êv ÀÊ {ÈÊÞi>ÀÃ°Ê `ÊÜ iÊÜi½ÛiÊLÕ ÌÊ >À >ÃÊ> Ê ÛiÀÊÌ iÊ Ü À `]ÊÜiÊ>ÀiÊ«>ÀÌ VÕ >À ÞÊ«À Õ`Ê vÊÌ ÃiÊ ÊÌ iÊ Ài>ÌÊ > iÃ]ÊÌ iÊ >À}iÃÌÊ}À Õ«Ê vÊvÀià Ü>ÌiÀÊ > iÃÊ Ê >ÀÌ ° 7 iÊÌ iÀiÊ>ÀiÊ ÀiÊÌ > ÊÇääÊ >À >ÃÊ ÊÌ iÊ Ài>ÌÊ > iÃ]ÊÞ ÕÊV> ÊÀiV } âiÊ ÕÀÊ«À iVÌÃÊLÞÊÌ i ÀÊ ÃÕ«iÀ ÀÊ`ià } Ê> `ÊV ÃÌÀÕVÌ ]ÊÌ iÊÛ Ã L iÊ>ÌÌi Ì ÊÌ ÊiÛiÀÞÊ`iÌ> °Ê7iÊ>ÀiÊ`i` V>Ìi`ÊÌ Êi > V }Ê Ì iÊ >ÌÕÀ> ÊLi>ÕÌÞÊ vÊÌ iÊ Ài>ÌÊ > iÃÊLÞÊ«À Û ` }ÊLi>ÕÌ vÕ Ê >À >ÃÊÌ >ÌÊV « i i ÌÊÌ i ÀÊÃiÌÌ }Ê > `ÊÜ Ì ÃÌ> `ÊÌ iÊÌiÃÌÊ vÊÌ i° ÀÊÞ ÕÀÊ iÝÌÊ >À >Ê«À iVÌ]Ê ÜÊÌ >ÌÊÜiÊ`i ÛiÀÊÜ >ÌÊÜiÊÃ>ÞÊÜ ÊÜ i ÊÜiÊÃ>ÞÊÜiÊÜ ÊqÊ ÊÌ iÊ > `ÊÜ Ì ÊLÕ`}iÌ°Ê `ÊvÀ Ê«À iVÌÊ À } ÊÌ Ê ÌÃÊw > ÊV « iÌ ]ÊÜi½ Ê«À Û `iÊ>ÊÛ ViÊ vÊiÝ«iÀ i ViÊ Ì >ÌÊ > iÃÊÞ ÕÀÊiÝ«iÀ i ViÊÜ Ì ÊÕÃÊ>Ê« Ã Ì ÛiÊ i°
£ nää , £ nää , £ÊUÊ£ nää ÈÓÇ {ÈÓ£ £ £ nää ÈÓÇ {ÈÓ£ i > \ÊÃ> iÃJ>Ì > Ì V iiV °V ÊUÊÜÜÜ°>Ì > Ì V iiV °V
ALPENA MICHIGAN Michigan’s Advenshore
Discover the City of Alpena, nestled between the shores of Lake Huron and the Thunder Bay River, and home to the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. With 17 public parks comprising over 100 acres in size, 16 miles of biͲpath, and over 20 miles of waterfront shoreline, the City of Alpena is a recreational haven for many different types of pursuits. Explore the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a federally designated national marine sanctuary dedicated to the protection of a nationally significant collection of nearly 200 shipwrecks that lie within 448ͲsquareͲmiles of Lake Huron off the coast of Alpena County. Dive, kayak, or snorkel the wrecks or stop by the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center and experience interactive exhibits, a recreation of a shipwreck site, an artifact lab, and hundreds of interpretive learning opportunities. Also experience historic Downtown Alpena, a short walk from the City Marina. With five City parks, a playground, an art gallery, two movie theaters, a library, two live performance theaters, a fine arts bandshell, and many other shopping and cultural amenities, Downtown Alpena has many activities that will appeal to a wide range of tastes! City of Alpena Marina: 400 E. Chisholm Street Alpena, MI 49707 800Ͳ332Ͳ9204 Fax: 989Ͳ354Ͳ6871 EͲMail: threeharbors@yahoo.com N 45º 03’ 32” W 83º 25’ 17” Radio Channel: 9 www.alpena.mi.us/ContractedServices/Marina
Privately operated by Thunder Bay Shores Marine, the City of Alpena Marina is a fullͲservice municipal marina located in the heart of downtown Alpena. It is a Michigan Central Reservation System harbor and has a wideͲrange of services available to boaters, including: x Marina Store & Maintenance Facility x HaulͲin/Haul Out Capability x Wireless Internet Service x Water & Electrical Service x Pump Out Facility x Gasoline & Diesel Fuel x Winter Storage Options x Launch Ramps x Boaters Restrooms x Fish Cleaning Station x Courtesy Bike Program x Yacht Club A short walk to downtown, visitors can access: x Parks, playgrounds, & walking trails x Shopping and Dining x Groceries/Laundromat
Call for Downtown Events and Activities: Alpena Downtown Development Authority 989Ͳ356Ͳ6422 www.alpenadowntown.com 235 W. Chisholm Street Alpena, MI 49707 For additional information on Alpena County events, attractions, and accommodations: Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce 235 W. Chisholm Street Alpena, MI 49707
800-4-ALPENA (425-7362) • www.alpena.com • www.alpenachamber.com
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
a cruise along this stretch of the lakes. Just offshore is the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a huge preserve that houses shipwrecks all across the lake
Publisher & Editor in Chief F. Ned Dikmen
floor. In town, you’ll find the sanctuary’s headquarters, the Great Lakes Maritime
Managing Editor Karen Malonis
Heritage Center and a vibrant downtown.
Assistant Editor Ted McDermott
October is a great time to visit, as that’s when Alpena hosts the Great Lakes
Fellow readers,
Lighthouse Festival.
The fact that the summer has passed
In this issue, we also hear from some
so fast is just further proof that time
very satisfied Volvo Penta IPS users,
flies when you’re having fun. It may be
take a look at a beautiful Nordhavn
disheartening to realize that fall is almost
yacht that recently made its maiden
here, but that doesn’t necessarily mean
voyage to the Great Lakes, hear about
your boating days are numbered. Thanks
a novice’s first time fishing, get tips on
to global warming coming to the rescue,
man overboard procedures and find out
the boating season now stretches from
about an important effort to help clean our
April to October.
waterways. Then there’s the news and the
If there’s a bright side to the onset of
Contributing Michele Capots Writers Thomas Ludens Bob Remsing Wayne Spivak Graphic Design Steve Jones
Web Design Justin Hoffman Wardell Latham
Advertising | Sales Inquiries p 312.266.8400 • f 312.266.8470 e info@greatlakesboating.com
departments, the letters and editorials.
autumn, it’s that the deterrents to taking
And that’s only our print edition.
our boats out remind us to appreciate
Both the magazine website
those times when we do. The same could
(greatlakesboating.com) and the Great
be said of high gas prices, an issue
Lakes Boating Federation’s website
that everyone’s discussing and that
(greatlakesboatingfederation.org)
we examine in this issue. In speaking
have recently been redesigned and
to marina operators around the lakes,
redeveloped to bring you more content
it seems that boaters are adjusting to
and resources and allow you to quickly
the new fuel costs and that marinas are
and easily comment on the all news,
©
working to accommodate them.
editorials and features.
Boating Publications, Inc., its publisher 1032 N. LaSalle
The cost of gas and diesel is also
While you’re there, I hope you’ll also
impacting boatbuilders. Some are
sign up as a member of the Federation.
suffering from reduced sales; others,
Vendors who have signed up with the
such as Campion, are adapting. We
Federation will give you discounts on your
take a look at some exciting “green”
purchases. Now is a vital time for boating,
developments at Campion. This
and it’s important that we band together to
independent Canadian manufacturer is
keep our pastime thriving.
finding various clever ways to tweak and redesign their vessels to meet boaters’ demands for more efficient and more environmentally friendly boats. For our Port of Call, we go to a rarely
With that, I hope you enjoy our new issue. And don’t feel too bad about the approaching end of the boating season: it’s just an indication that the boat show season is about to begin.
visited corner of the lakes: the northeast
2008 is a registered trademark (73519-331) of Chicago
Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60610. For editorial inquiries, contact Great Lakes Boating Magazine at 1032 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60610. p 312.266.8400 or e kmalonis@greatlakesboating.com Online subscription rates are $18/year, $30/two years or $36/three years and are available at greatlakesboating.com. Great Lakes Boating Magazine is available at any of the distribution centers and newsstands in areas surrounding the Great Lakes. Postmaster should forward all undelivered issues to Great Lakes Boating Magazine, 1032 N. LaSalle Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60610. All manuscripts should be accompanied by a selfaddressed stamped envelope. Great Lakes Boating Magazine is not responsible and will not be liable for Great Lakes Boating Magazine does not assume liability
There, on Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay, area, and it’s a great place to stop during
GREAT LAKES BOATING® Magazine (ISSN 1937-7274)
non-solicited manuscripts, including photographs.
coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. sits Alpena. It’s the biggest town in the
Michigan | Ohio M2Media Company Mark Moyer • p 248.840.0749 e m2mediaco@sbcglobal.net
or ensure accuracy of the content contained in its articles,
F. Ned Dikmen
editorials, new product releases and advertising. Inquiries may be directed to the authors through the editorial office. Products, services and advertisements appearing in Great
ATTENTION! Marina Owners and Yacht Club Managers: To continue receiving complimentary Great Lakes Boating magazines visit greatlakesboating.com/complimentary
IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND, YOU MAY NOT CONTINUE TO RECEIVE COPIES. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION IS APPRECIATED.
04 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Lakes Boating Magazine do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of their safety by Great Lakes Boating Magazine. Material in the publication may not be reproduced in any form without written consent of the Great Lakes Boating Magazine editorial and executive staff. Past copies may be purchased by sending a written request to the offices of Great Lakes Boating Magazine. For reprints contact: FosteReprints, p 800.382.0808 or f 219.879.8366. **
The background image used in the Great Lakes Boating Federaton ad on page 82 is © iStockphoto.com.
Honda Reliability.
DEMANDIT.
World Cat 230SF/Honda BF150s
Reliability is a simple word but it means a lot of things. Like engineering for continual starts. Power that’s responsive to the throttle. Reduced fuel consumption. Historically lower maintenance. You’ll find all this and more in any Honda four-stroke. Engines so good they’re backed by the best standard warranty in the business. You owe it to yourself to check out hondamarine.com or call 800.426.7701 for a free brochure. See your Honda Marine Dealer for attractive financing available through American Honda Finance Corporation. © 2008 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. All Honda outboards meet EPA and CARB emission levels.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
20
OTC
21’6” 6’2” DRAFT UP: 19” DRAFT UP: 36” FUEL CAPACITY: 47 GALS
FEATURES
LENGTH:
FEATURES • CAMPION • Port of Call: ALPENA • COASTAL CLEANUP • NORDHAVN 64 • IPS EXPERIENCE • FIRST TIME FISHING
BEAM:
12 20 28 32 38 42
CAMPION CHASE 600i BOWRIDER
32
SPOTLIGHTS
SPOTLIGHTS • SAILTIME • FUEL COSTS & MARINAS • ISLAND PILOT • FIRE EXTINGUISHERS • MAN OVERBOARD
18 24 26 36 46
38
With more than 37 models and 48 variations, Campion offers an unparalleled breadth of choice. As an independent builder, Canada’s largest, Campion listens to their customers and has the freedom to design and deliver the kinds of boats you want. The company’s focus is on bringing boaters the best value for their boating dollar. Of course, value means more than choice. It also means quality—and it is coming to mean “green.” When you look at the cover of this issue, you’ll notice a lot about the Chase 600i Bowrider. You’ll see a sporty boat with a deep-V hull. You’ll notice the clean lines and eye-catching design. You’ll see a fast boat bounding across the water. What you won’t notice, though, is the groundbreaking bio-resin that’s now being used on this boat.
42 DEPARTMENTS
Throughout the marine industry, there’s concern about the rising cost of gas prices. Campion is taking action. The company is introducing “green” technology, increasing efficiency and reducing waste, all as part of an effort to lessen its environmental impact and save boaters money. Campion is going green, and boaters are following closely in Campion’s wake.
DEPARTMENTS IN THE NEWS IN THE NEWS • GREAT LAKES • CRUISING • YACHT CLUBS • MARINAS • FISHING • NATIONAL • SAILING
06 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
50 54 56 60 62 64 68
• PUBLISHER’S NOTE • EDITORIALS • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR • NEW BOATS • NEW PRODUCTS • BOAT CARE & FEEDING • PORTSIDE READING • BOATKEEPER • MARINE MART • EVENTS CALENDAR • ADVERTISERS INDEX
04 08 10 70 74 76 78 80 84 86 87
Campion Marine, Inc. 200 Campion Road Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 7S8 Canada campionboats.com (250) 765-7795
TOTAL LOSS REPL ACEMENT. When you insure your boat with Progressive, we’ll replace it with a brand-new one if it gets totaled. So no matter what happens, your new boat will be just as good as the boat you started with. Now that’s Progressive. 888-868-9110
PROGRESSIVE.COM
INDEPENDENT AGENT
Underwritten by Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates, Mayfield Village, OH. Available in most states. Coverage is optional and subject to policy terms. Not available for all boats and coverage selections. Coverage limited to current and previous four boat model years. ©2008 Progressive Casualty Insurance Company. 08D00251 (05/08)
EDITORIALS
GREAT LAKES BOATERS NEED A VOICE T
he Great Lakes, which contain 20 percent of the world’s freshwater resources, are some of America’s most important and irreplaceable natural assets. And yet, the lakes are under attack from all sides. In order to protect them, it’s important that Great Lakes boaters join with environmentalists and other basin custodians to preserve the future sustainability of recreational boating and the vitality of these waters that boaters depend on. It is estimated that the Great Lakes region is home to 4.3 million boaters in the U.S. and 1.5 million in Canada. Nearly half of the recreational boating industry resides in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions. The establishment of a comprehensive 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to represent the voice of recreational boating on the Great Lakes would be an important step toward securing the future of both boating and the lakes themselves. The work such a group could do is great and varied. A lack of boating access on the Great Lakes and across the nation jeopardizes the viability of this vital pastime. Dropping water levels have combined with dwindling access to deny boaters the ability to take to the waters. Additionally, water quality issues such as invasive species and water safety issues such as the U.S. Coast Guard’s proposed live fi re zones on the Great Lakes threaten the enjoyment of boating in many parts of our country. All of this, not to mention our economic woes and rising gas prices, may discourage new boaters from taking up this family activity. While these are serious and complicated issues on the Great Lakes, they are nevertheless resolvable. Though the future of boating may look dim at the moment, boaters can come together to make it brighter. As it stands now, there is no group uniting boaters to face these challenges in the manner they can be overcome—together. Individual boaters, not the manufacturers, are the ones who directly struggle with these crises. As a result, only they have standing to bring these issues forward to the governmental bodies that make decisions about our waterways. Doing so could save boating. For too long, the many policy issues impacting individual boaters have gone ignored. No organization has tackled the land-use planning and public policy development issues in the name of the individual boater. Regional governmental organizations and federal agencies have gone unengaged. Accordingly, water access for boaters has continued to be lost. The Great Lakes Boating Federation has stepped forward to fi ll this policy void. However, the Federation would be able to better tackle these matters were it relaunched, with assistance from others in the boating sector, as a national 501(c)(3) non-profit for boaters. Th is would give boaters what seemingly every other interest group already has: an organization to advocate for their interests. Th is will have the trickle up effect of stimulating the struggling boating industry. But for the Great Lakes Boating Federation, all of these policy matters would have remained unattended to by anyone from the
08 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
recreational boating sector. The Federation has been doing all of its important work in the absence of any support from the rest of the recreational boating sector. Th is lack of collaboration and support could mean the end of the Federation—and the silencing of the only voice that speaks for the interests of the average boater. But by forming a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Federation will be able to continue working for the 4.3 million boaters that form its vast constituency. The Federation will be able to pursue foundation grants and government funding, and all fi nancial contributions will become tax-deductible. Th is will encourage greater policy collaboration and prompt greater fi nancial support. The Federation’s policy work and public-access advocacy not only means more opportunities for boaters but also sustainable development, economic renewal and environmental remediation for communities large and small around the lakes. Thus, the water access, water quality and water safety issues advocated for by the Great Lakes Boating Federation can fall easily into the charitable purposes approved under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code. Such a charitable organization for individual boaters will be able to pursue a wide range of policy initiatives. For the recreational boating sector to truly have successes in improving boating access, water quality and fisheries, boaters needs a strong advocate. A reorganized Great Lakes Boating Federation would bring boaters together, give them a voice and help grow boating. We are now at a crossroads. The time has come for a new non-profit group to reach beyond what is currently possible with the present tools and stand up with the other stakeholders on equal footing to control boaters’ destiny and the destiny of the Great Lakes on which we rely.
FUEL BLUES
T
he endlessly skyrocketing price of boating fuel has now become a relentless headache for the American boater. Accustomed to paying no more than two or three dollars per gallon for decades, boaters are now paying more than twice that amount for fuel. As a result, boaters are adjusting their habits and adapting to the increased cost of gas. The entire American boating industry has been built on the principle of low-priced fuel. Millions of registered boats were built and sold on the premise that gas prices would remain relatively low and steady. But that has changed: not only is fuel cost not about to decline, it is still rising. American boating requires fuel—and lots of it—to satisfy boaters’ insatiable appetite for speed. The greening of boating through the use of alternative energy may come some day, but it is not here yet. It remains a dream on the distant horizon, a challenge made more difficult by boaters demand for speed and the inefficiency of conventional hull
design. Alternate renewable energy sources remain unable to deliver the performance offered by gas and diesel. Unless we begin the difficult transition into modifying our ways of boating by slowing down and reducing use, the future of boating as we know it is in jeopardy. In Europe, boaters have been living with nearly $10-per-gallon fuel for quite some time. In Istanbul, enormous marinas are fi lled with thousands of boats of all sizes. Rather than quit boating, it seems Turkish boaters, not all of whom are rich, have found ways to deal with the challenges of high fuel cost. For many years, America has stood strong as the land of plenty. No demand has been left unsupplied. Now, however, it is becoming apparent that fuel supplies are fi nite. The need for inexpensive fuel can no longer be met as it once was. America’s 13 million boaters can deliver a strong message to the marketplace by adjusting how we boat and using less fuel. The ball is in the boaters’ court, and we can affect the way the game is played. Boaters don’t have to give up boating by yielding to the marketplace of high fuel pricing. By moderating how we boat, boaters can deliver a collective response that could alter the high cost of fuel. Other additional fuel-saving measures are available. Keep your boat’s bottom clean, make sure your props are pitched properly and check that the engine is operating at its most efficient level. Most engines operate at 10 percent to 15 percent below their maximum efficiency due to the buildup of carbon deposits that normally form in the fuel injectors, carburetors and combustion chambers, as well as on intake valves. Carbon deposits also increase the octane requirement of gasoline engines. Fuel additives known as detergents can prevent carbon deposit build up and even remove these fuel-robbing deposits to drastically reduce fuel consumption and increase engine performance. To help solve boating’s difficulties with this fuel crisis, the approach suggested by Thom Dammrich, the NMMA’s president, should be applauded. In a recent blog post, he suggested a number of practical, market-oriented solutions to the problem. Boaters can go out less often, travel shorter distances, go slower and stay close to their home harbor—all while still enjoying boating and staying within a family budget. In many parts of the country, boats are considered second homes at the water’s edge. Blessed with one of the world’s most exhilarating skylines, Chicago is home to 5,200 boaters in its nine harbors. Many boaters who live in nearby suburbs and work downtown can’t wait to shake loose from work and head down to their boats in the harbors to spend their weekends. Many are happy to be on their boats without even needing to take them out. They enjoy luxury waterfront living at the affordable cost (less than $500 a month for a 30-foot boat). Others take short trips to nearby harbors within a few miles and drop anchor for an enjoyable time at another, nearby destination. Times are a-changing, but boating remains magic. Boaters may be facing some difficult challenges, but they are not insurmountable. We may have to adjust our habits to keep our pastime affordable, but we don’t have to give up our boats.
ACT SAVES
RECREATIONAL
BOATING C
ongress has passed the Clean Boating Act of 2008, President Bush signed it, and 13 million recreational boaters have been spared the axe. Without this legislation, boaters would have been subject to overzealous new regulations and hassles. With this legislation, a longstanding exemption to this harsh permitt ing procedure has been permanently restored. The threat to regulate discharge on boats navigating the Great Lakes was instigated by the predatory aquatic nuisances that have come to decimate the indigenous aquatic life within the Great Lakes. In late 2007, environmentalists argued in court that the discharge of recreational boats should be regulated as stringently as the ballast of commercial ships and water-treatment facilities. They ultimately won that case, and the new rules were set to go into effect this September. Had the Clean Boating Act of 2008 not been passed by Congress and signed by President Bush, U.S. boaters would have faced a calamity of monumental proportion. The carefree pastime that’s so important to the nation’s families and local economies would have been tangled up in red tape. We have averted that possibility now, and those responsible for the Clean Boating Act of 2008 should be congratulated for ensuring that we did. The Great Lakes region possesses 20 percent of the world’s fresh water resources and is home to 4.3 million freshwater boaters. Th is exemption is a relief to all the boaters that bring $60 billion of economic good to the U.S. economy, $16 billion of which is based in the Great Lakes. With this new legislation and exemption, Congress and the President have recognized that recreational boaters aren’t the enemy in the fight to keep our water’s clean. Rather, boaters are important stewards of U.S. waters. The Clean Water Act will allow them to continue enjoying their boating sport and lifestyle while nourishing their coastal economies without needless bureaucratic oversight.
Agree? Disagree? Want to Comment? Share your thoughts on the redesigned
greatlakesboating.com greatlakesboating.com | 09
LET TERS TO THE EDITOR
While sitting in a car repair shop in Hollywood, Florida, I picked up an issue of your magazine sitting on the table in the waiting area. As I quickly glanced through the pages in the August 2008 issue, I came across the article by William D. Anderson, “Catch and Release,” and began reading. To give you a little background on me, I am an avid bass angler and log approximately 70 days a year in pursuit of the species. I have been an advocate of catch and release for many years. So much so that a few years ago, while teaching a new partner some of the strategies in bass fishing, my partner and I came up with a tool to aid in catch and release of fish that are hooked deep. I won’t go into the details, but if you check out our website, www. hookeater.com, the whole story is there. Over the past couple years we have introduced the HookEater to a lot of people, participated in the ICAST show in Las Vegas and have been published in Bass Master Magazine, FLW Outdoors and a few other local publications in the Northeast. Bobby Watson Hollywood, Florida
Kudos to Jennifer McKay for her most informative article regarding Great Lakes water levels. She accurately pointed out that humans exercise very little control over that parameter. Of the “natural” factors impacting water levels, the extent and duration of ice cover as well as wind intensity and duration appear to be the most critical ones. I have attached a graph of evaporation from Lake Superior during a year when there was little ice cover. Note that during the summer, when most people would reason that water loss would be the highest, the rate of evaporation actually is the lowest. Conversely most would believe that evaporation is lowest in the winter, when temperatures are down. Well, relative humidity turns out to be a more important factor than air temperature.
10 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
The air carries less moisture in the winter than in the more humid summer. In winter, there are less water molecules in the air to impede the movement of water from a liquid to a vapor. The spikes in the graph correspond to high wind events. When waves build up, the surface area of the lake increases. Hence there is more area from which the water can evaporate. One factor impacting boaters that we can control is erosion. Through more effective watershed management, we can slow the rate and quantity of sediment coming off the land and into the lakes and their tributaries. The build up of sediment in and around marinas and in the channels connecting those to the lakes has resulted in more grounds than the decrease in lake levels. We need more effective measures—sumps, French drains and rain gardens—to slow the rate of water runoff and recharge the groundwater that helps to stabilize lake and tributary levels. Sediment carries both excessive nutrients (i.e. fertilizers from farms and housing developments) and toxicants (pesticides from lawns and farms, heavy metals from roads and parking lots) into the Great Lakes. The bottom line is that more effective zoning boards and enforcement of regulations already in place are needed. Regarding your editorial, I concur with your criticism of the IJC. The current US leadership in that organization is neither knowledgeable on Great Lakes issues nor truly interested in such matters. They simply are riding out their terms. Hopefully the new appointees will be more qualified and attentive to their responsibilities. Your support of the Healthy Lakes / Healthy Lives tour is greatly appreciated. The fact that the Earth Voyager set a new record (under 15 hours) in the recently completed Port Huron to Macinac race garnered a good deal of press for our efforts to promote the implementation of the recommendations in the Brookings Institute report. Robert A. Sweeney, PhD IAGLR Executive Director // Port Huron, MI
In regards to the article “Shipshape Stewards,” I have to comment. I grew up in Grand Haven, Michigan and love the water. I currently live in a smaller inland lake, and own a pontoon boat and a speedboat. I have to disagree that fisherman/recreational boaters are good stewards of the lakes. Our lake is full of invasive species including zebra mussels and Eurasian milfoil, and we have NO commercial boats on this small (1,000-acre) lake. We spend all summer picking trash out of the lake that careless/thoughtless boaters leave behind. We witness boaters trying to run over waterfowl and launching boats too large for the lake, causing dredging of the bottom and affecting the fish population. In the winter, we ice fish, and each time we carry out cigarette butts, cans, bottles and miscellaneous trash left behind by other ice fishermen. They have to realize that when the ice melts, it ends up in the lake. Before you start complaining about the environmentalists, who truly care about the lake, you need to get the boaters on board. I considered joining your organization (it is the first time I have seen this magazine) until I read this article. I no longer believe your priority is taking care of the one precious gift we have in the Great Lakes and the many inland lakes. Our lakes out too beautiful to destroy. If more government regulation is required to protect the lakes, than so be it! To me, it is worth it. Christy Aragon
Send a letter to the editor, and tell us what you think. info@greatlakesboating.com
Get on the water Now! In these difficult economic times SailTime is a safe harbor for those interested in first time boat ownership or want to upgrade to a new boat. Buy a brand new yacht in the SailTime fleet and we’ll provide you a guaranteed monthly payment. And we’ll pay your marina fees. And all maintenance and repairs. And your insurance. And… Sound too good to be true? It is good. And it is true. As the world’s leading fractional sailing program SailTime has made the dream of owning a yacht practical and affordable. You enjoy access to your boat when you want it and SailTime manages, maintains, and pays for nearly everything – even the fuel. It’s simple – you do the sailing, we do the rest. Sailing couldn’t be easier!
50+ LOCATIONS • NORTH AMERICA • CARIBBEAN • EUROPE IN ASSOCIATION WITH
877-SAILTIME • WWW.SAILTIME.COM
By Thomas Ludens
campionboats.com If you were going to sum up boating in a single word, you could do worse than “independence.” Isn’t that what getting out on the water is all about? You leave the dock, and you leave the world behind. You start up your engine and head off to where there are no obligations, no responsibilities and, for an afternoon or a weekend, no worries. Campion too could be summed up by the same word—only
Campion boat. It means performance, which is impressive in
their independence is far less carefree than that of their users.
every respect. It means style, which is simple and elegant on
The company is Canada’s largest independent boatbuilder, and
each of Campion’s many models. It means affordability, which
it’s one of the world’s most ambitious.
Campion boats are known for. And it means innovation.
They offer more than 37 high-tech models and 48 high-
Campion is constantly pushing the limits, exploring new
performance variations. They have express cruisers and
technologies and investing in research that will result in boats
runabouts, as well as luxury sport utility vessels. They
that are evermore exciting and satisfying to drive. This year, the
offer sterndrives, outboards, sport cabins, bowriders and
2009 model year, Campion is celebrating its 35th anniversary by
closed decks.
pushing to the forefront of “green” boating technology.
Without all of the red tape and overhead that can bog down
With fuel prices as high as they are, boaters have been asking
a larger company, Campion remains agile. As a result, when
for greater fuel efficiency and alternatives that will allow them
customers (and potential customers) speak, Campion doesn’t
to continue cruising. Campion, from their beautiful home in
just listen—they respond. Campion has the freedom to design
Kelowna, British Columbia, has been listening. Their answer is
and deliver the kinds of boats buyers want. What Campion
the launch of their 2009 lineup.
boaters want, it seems, is value. Of course, value means more than choice. It also means quality, which you’ll find in both obvious and hidden ways on every 12 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
The launch of these boats represents a bold step forward for Campion and some exciting new options for boaters.
Bio-Resin
Recently, Campion tested two high-performance pleasure crafts
Not long ago, Ashland Composite Polymers began looking for a
produced with this technology. The results—both for the boats
boat manufacturer that would try using a newly formulated bio-
and the resin—were impressive.
based resin on their vessels. Ashland had invented ENVIREZ, and their first resin, ENVIREZ 1807 was formulated with soybean oil and corn-derived ethanol. That product was introduced to the market in 2003, when John Deere Corporation began using the resin in side-body panels for their farm equipment. New formulations by Ashland then expanded the uses for ENVIREZ resins, allowing their use in many applications. When the company wanted to find a marine use for their product, they came to Campion. Excited at the opportunity, Campion picked two models that would serve as prototypes for testing application of ENVIREZ. The boats, Campion’s Chase 550 and 600, were made using ENVIREZ L 86300 T-22 biobased resin in their hulls, liners and decks.
“We are very excited to see ENVIREZ resin being used in these beautifully-designed speed boats,” said Jud Smith, vice president, Ashland Performance Materials, and general manager, Ashland Composite Polymers. “It’s extremely rewarding to see the efforts from Ashland’s research and development and the leadership at Campion Boats coming together to successfully field test this new ENVIREZ resin formulation.” “First off,” said Brock Elliott, general manager of Campion Boats, “Campion was absolutely delighted to have been asked and ultimately chosen by Ashland to assist them with their research and development of this very intriguing new technology. Campion is always on the lookout for the best
Typically, resins are made from polyester, epoxy or vinylester.
possible products available for constructing our high quality
This new bio resin contains 13 percent soybean oil and
boats. As we see it, partnering with the Ashland team to develop
12 percent corn ethanol, and is designed to provide high
the two test boats, the Chase 550 and Chase 600 models, has
elongation and toughness properties that deliver the impact-
truly helped both Ashland and Campion to fully understand the
and crack-resistant attributes desired by boaters. In addition to
characteristics and application processes of this new bio-resin.”
using ENVIREZ resin, Campion Boats also used Ashland’s LE series white gelcoat (WG-LE-2644) and the MP-series gelcoat for colors.
“Most importantly, we saw this as a ‘real world’ situation to prove the science behind the bio-resin and to give it an endorsement beyond the ‘lab’ tests. We strongly feel Campion can, and has, helped Ashland with moving this bio-resin product and project forward,” added Elliott. greatlakesboating.com | 13
822 Explorer
Equipped with a bimini hardtop for the first time ever, Campion
Last year, Campion introduced the new 822 Explorer. It came
expects that the single 350 horsepower engine will conserve
equipped with a full Alaska package that entailed a completely
fuel without compromising speed. A well-designed hull is
enclosed cabin, and it was powered by twin 250 Yamahas. A
integral to achieving that aim.
sturdy 30-foot vessel, it was meant to appeal to anglers who wanted added safety, protection and comfort. The boat was a hit. It was rugged in bad weather. It provided a safe working platform for tough fights with fish. It had a spacious mid cabin
As Elliott says, “In our opinion, because of the high cost of gasoline, the days of the triple and quad outboard engines are limited, and the challenge is for boat builders to come up with a more fuel-efficient hull design that will work with less power.”
that was comfortable for family outings and extended runs. And Campion has such a hull design: the APEX. The product Not only that, but the 822 Explorer also was an explosive vessel. Multiple tests showed a top speed of 54.8 mph at the high elevation of 1,132 feet at the company’s Kelowna facility. Comparable 30-foot mid-cabin cruisers typically peak in the mid-40s.
of relentless testing, this award-winning design technology actually expands the high-pressure zones on a V-bottom boat for faster planing and a more stable platform at high speeds. The source of the hull’s simultaneous strength and lightness is the Kevlar that’s laminated into the keel of the hull. When
This big boost in speed gave Campion an idea: why not give
combined with the integrated fiberglass stringer system, you
buyers the option to drop down the engine size? The thinking
get a boat with a smooth, quick and efficient ride.
was that users could still achieve the speed of the competition, while significantly reducing both fuel consumption and purchase price. So, in 2009, the 822 will be offered with a single Yamaha 350, as well as the standard twin 250s.
14 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
The 822 isn’t the first model Campion has experimented with to find ways of reducing engine power and improving efficiency. Tinkering with the Allante 825 model already has shown excellent results.
Typically, the 825 Allante sells in North America with the big
The 822 is part of the Explorer Sport Utility line, and as such
block 496 V8 power of either 375 hp or 425 hp Merc or Volvo
it’s built for the hardcore angler. From the toe rails that provide
engines and in Europe with a Volvo diesel engine. One of
firm footing to the pad on the edge of the coaming, the design
Campion’s Australian dealers, however, has enjoyed great
makes fishing from this boat safe and comfortable. The aft deck
success selling this model with the Volvo 5.7 GXi Duo Prop.
is uncluttered. Storage for fish, including an aerated bait tank,
They have sold about five of these so far this year, and customer
and room for equipment, including rods and gaffs, are well
satisfaction has been high. According to reports, the boat
integrated throughout.
performs extremely well with the modification, and the cost, with the smaller engine and reduced fuel consumption, is lower.
Built for even the worst conditions, there’s a non-skid deck surface, a wheelhouse that’s enclosed by a weatherproof door
With such attention paid to reducing fuel consumption and
to block the elements and heavy-duty grab rails that line the
maintaining performance, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Campion
ceiling and bulkheads. Then when you descend into the cabin,
overlooked some of the attention to detail onboard. Fortunately,
you find an aft queen size bed, a head with a shower, a settee
that isn’t the case.
that converts into a V-berth and a small galley area.
greatlakesboating.com | 15
Twenty-Foot Outboard Also newly introduced for 2009 are two brand new 20-foot outboards. (These are so new, in fact, that Campion doesn’t yet have photos available of them. Hence, the renderings shown to the right.) With these models, Campion is trying to fill a niche they think is just waiting to be filled: the 20-foot
There’s a lot of talk and worry about fuel cost and environmental sustainability. But Campion, with its range of environmentally responsible innovations, is taking action. This independent company may have a lot of freedom, but it is also taking on a lot of responsibility.
outboard bowrider. campionboats.com
“As we see it,” says Elliott, “the cost of inboard/outboard power is going to only increase with new regulations demanding catalytic converters to improve emissions. Also, many consumers do prefer outboards over I/Os.” With that in mind, the company will unveil a 20-foot Allante equipped with a 175 hp Evinrude E-TEC and a Chase version with a 250 hp Evinrude E-TEC. Campion is also developing sport cabin versions in both the Allante and Chase models. From top to bottom, Campion is rethinking how they design and build their boats. Not only are their vessels going green, but Campion’s factory also has gone lean. By reducing waste and increasing recycling, Campion is saving tens of thousands of dollars each year.
16 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Unlimited Towing All Year— Now Just $34!
Who else offers peace-of-mind at this low price? For those who boat on inland lakes and freshwater
TowBoatU.S. Towing Services Include:
rivers, now you can go Unlimited for much less with
Unlimited towing only $34 a year*
our new low pricing. It’s the same towing service
On-the-water towing, soft ungroundings, jump starts & fuel delivery
you’ve always trusted with drastically reduced rates. Freshwater boaters will pay less for assistance on the water when they need it.
Applies to all recreational boats you own, borrow or charter 24/7 dispatch and assistance
With the average cost of a tow around $400, you can pay a little now, or a lot later! To join, call
800-888-4869
or visit
BoatUS.com
Look For the RED Boats of TowBoatU.S. *Details of service provided and exclusions can be found online at BoatUS.com/towing or by calling. Price does not include $19 Membership fee.
By BOB REMSING
the price of gas rises, Americans everywhere are feeling the impact. In difficult economic times, luxury items like boats are often the first things that people sacrifice. For anyone who has ever owned a boat, the old adage that “a boat is a hole in the water in which to throw money” rings true. Dock fees, mortgage costs, maintenance, insurance, fuel—
Photos by Maureen Remsing
the costs associated with owning your own boat can prove daunting.
18 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
There is, however, an alternative to owning a boat: fractional membership. The concept is simple. A boat is “shared” by a limited number of members (usually less than eight) and one owner-member. Each is guaranteed at least two weekend boating times and five weekday/night boating times every month. Additionally, each member is entitled to unlimited “asavailable” use on a 24-hour notice at no extra cost. At the Chicago base for SailTime, a fractional sailing membership organization with a fleet of more than 160 boats located at more than 50 locations in North America, the Caribbean and Europe, members can use a simple online scheduling system that allows members to design their own sailing calendar, and even carry time over from the previous month or borrow time from the next month. Much like the concept of shared use of airplanes, fractional membership eliminates the cost and hassle of ownership. The base pays for the dockage, insurance and maintenance of the boat and provides the owner a guaranteed monthly payment that helps defray much of the monthly mortgage payment. The owners virtually eliminate their expenses and the members get access to a luxury boat year-round for much less than the cost of owning or chartering a boat. For many who enjoy day and weekend sailing but do not enjoy the costs associated with owning and maintaining their own yacht, fractional sailing makes great sense. While monthly rates can vary by location, the average monthly cost of a fractional sailing membership is $600 as compared with the cost of owning a boat, which can fall in the range of $1,800 to $2,400 per month for a comparable vessel. There are several advantages to the fractional membership program over charters and sail clubs. First, the boats are generally nicer, luxury models and, with a finite number of members to a boat, are generally in much better shape than charters. Also, most SailTime bases upgrade their fleets after a few years, ensuring members access to state-of-the-art vessels at all times. Some bases also offer training programs geared to their fleet and ensure that members have access to American Sailing Association-approved courses and training. Sailing clubs also rarely offer the larger, luxury models, and generally cater mostly to the small day sailor. Those who participate in sailing clubs often complain about not having
access to boats during peak times. Fractional membership offers less competition for bookings, and allows more freedom to choose when to sail, be it for a day, overnight or for as long as a week. For members who travel, SailTime now offers a program called PLUS, which allows members to access boats at other bases. For a discounted additional fee, they can now sail not only in their own waterway but also in waterways in key destination areas like Miami, San Francisco, Puerto Rico, New York, the Netherlands, England, Wales and Ireland. Sailtime Chicago, as well as other SailTime bases on the Great Lakes, either are or will soon be offering luxury powerboats in their fleets, as well. Fractional membership is also a useful tool for corporations or businesses looking for a unique way to market their business and entertain clients. Instead of trying to close a deal over a round of golf, companies can take a prospective client sailing for the day and have a relaxed, social environment in which to offer their services. The Chicago branch of Facebook is one of the corporate members of the city’s fractional sailing base. “This is my third season utilizing fractional sailing,” notes Lee Jerousek of Oak Park, Illinois. “The system is so affordable and convenient. The best part of the story is while sailing with my friend offered occasional sailing, my fractional membership allowed me to go out virtually any time I wanted. I set the record for 20 sails in July of 2006 alone! My entire family has been onboard at least once or twice. Most have sailed for the first time in their lives! I love this system and would recommend it to any and all.” “I had never imagined that I would have been able to purchase a new sailboat, let alone a tricked out new vessel like my Hunter 33,” notes John Hurite of Detroit, Michigan. “Since joining SailTime, we have found that the time allowed was more than enough to fill our needs. ” If you’ve always dreamed of being on the water but a luxury boat seems out of reach, then a fractional program could be just the thing for you. sailtime.com Bob Remsing is the independent owner and operator of the Chicago base for SailTime.
greatlakesboating.com | 19
By Thomas Ludens
When you cruise toward Alpena, as you come along the northeast coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and traverse the clear, cold waters of Lake Huron, you are not simply approaching a quaint town of some 12,000 people. You are passing over 160 shipwrecks and a veritable cross-section of maritime history.
T
hat’s because when you cruise
all the shipwrecks your boat just passed
to Alpena, you can’t help but
over and to discover this area’s varied
cross the Thunder Bay National
boating history. Known for extreme
Marine Sanctuary. This 448-square-mile
weather, treacherous waters and dense
preserve is framed by the northern and
fog, this part of Lake Huron has claimed
southern edges of Alpena County, and its
more than 200 ships over the centuries.
headquarters is right in the heart of town.
20 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Since 1679, when LaSalle’s Griffon passed
The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center
by Thunder Bay, countless ships have
is an indispensable stop for any visiting
traversed the coast off of Alpena on their
boater. Housed in the former finishing
way to outposts at Mackinaw, Sault Ste.
plant of the Fletcher Paper Company,
Marie, Green Bay and elsewhere. Due
it is a great place to find out about
to its strategic location along shipping
Photos by Diane J. Evans
lanes, and because the bay and nearby islands provided shelter for vessels during inclement weather, virtually all types of vessels employed on the open lakes regularly passed along this important trade route. The sanctuary and center contain examples of nearly all of these. From wooden schooners to early steel-hulled steamers, as well as several unusual vessel types besides, the collection reflects a long history of transitions in ship architecture and construction. The center’s newest exhibit, Exploring the Shipwreck Century, puts Thunder Bay’s crowded lake floor on display. Special features include a floor to ceiling mural depicting a stormy Thunder Bay and a replica of the back section of the Cornelia B. Windiate, a schooner that sank in 1871 and now lies on the bottom of Lake Huron. However, the shipwrecks are only one part of Alpena’s rich maritime history: equally important, and more accessible, are the lighthouses that dot the area shoreline. To show off these beautiful and historical structures, Alpena hosts the annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival. The four-day event includes all kinds of activities and events. There are aerial, car and, of course, boat tours. There are performers, vendors, preservation groups, artists, authors and onlookers all in attendance. But though the event is centralized in Alpena, the “lights are on” from Tawas Point Lighthouse to Mackinac Bridge. So, if you time it right, you can cruise to or from Alpena from either the north or the south and follow the lights—and the festival—into town. This year, the festival begins on Thursday, October 9, and ends on Sunday, October 12. The hub of the many activities is the Thunder Bay Recreation Center, which is located a bit north of downtown. A welcome party there will kick off the festival on opening night, and 75 vendor and exhibitor booths will be set up in the building throughout the weekend. The number of events, tours and activities offered in this single four-day span is staggering. Helicopter tours, a provisional museum, an auction, presentations and concerts—this is a small sample of all that will be on hand. With so much, the festival draws
greatlakesboating.com | 21
visitors from all over and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for lighthouse groups. Whether or not your Alpena visit coincides with the festival, the lighthouses are worth seeing. You can do so from your own vessel, but the Middle Island Light Station Tours offer an excellent opportunity to get an up-close, guided look. These narrated three- to four-hour tours include a short boat ride, a nature walk, a viewing of restoration efforts and photo opportunities. Volunteers and visitors depart at 10:00 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays from May through October, weather permitting. But while it does offer a wealth of historical-educational opportunities, Alpena is not some staid living-history museum. By car, it is centrally located on Michigan’s Sunrise Side Coastal Highway, a 200-mile stretch of US 23 that is graced with scenic views, undeveloped wild lands, spacious beaches and recreation areas for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. By boat, it offers an idyllic anchorage in a vibrant town on a stretch of sparsely populated shoreline. Arriving here, you will likely want to moor your vessel at Alpena’s Municipal Marina, a warm and friendly port located on Thunder Bay. A full-service marina, it offers a maintenance/repair facility, a marina store, pump-out, gasoline and diesel. Transient slips can accomodate boats up to 60-plus feet in length, and the rate is approximately a dollar per foot. From June 1 through the Labor Day weekend, dockhands are available seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Since the marina is located in Alpena’s Downtown District, it is only a short distance away from stores and restaurants. Nestled between the shores of Lake Huron and the Thunder Bay River, the historic downtown contains some 200 businesses. On North 2nd Avenue, there’s Jerry & Mary’s Antiques and Collectibles, which offers everything from bear traps to more mundane fishing lures. On Chisholm Street, there is Cobblestone Bike and Vac, which sells unicycles and scooters too, and Take 5 Deli, which mostly sells sandwiches. Riverfest, which focuses on the area’s lumbering heritage, is held along the riverfront each summer; and Michigan Brown Trout Festival comes to the harbor itself.
22 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
This may be a small sample of Alpena’s downtown offerings, but it’s indicative of the quirky and charming diversity on hand. The retail, dining and entertainment options are great for a town this size, and more than ample for a visit. Also downtown and very near the harbor, Bay View Park’s Fine Arts Shell hosts events throughout the summer. Between City Band Concerts, the True North Radio “Concerts in the Park” series and the Thunder Bay Arts Council Summer Concerts in the Park series, there are at least two performances each week, all summer long. The park also has basketball and tennis courts and play and picnic areas, making it a good place to stretch out after you’ve moored. Just down the shore from there, you’ll find the life guard-
QUICK GUIDE
Attractions Besser Museum: (989) 356-2202 Civic Theater: (989) 354-3624 Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival: (586) 566-1603 or 595-3600 Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary & Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center: (989) 356-8805 The Thunder Bay Theater: (989) 354-2267
supervised Starlite Beach. Farther down from that, you’ll come to Mich-E-Kewis Park. It has many standard park amenities—a swimming beach, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits—and it also has something a little less common: an area specifically designated for kite flying. And north of downtown, on Johnson Street, the Besser Museum houses everything from a Picasso and a
Lodging, Dining & Retail Cathy’s Hallmark: (989) 354-4525 Cobblestone Bike and Vac: (989) 356-1238
planetarium inside to a historic bank, church and school outside. With its eclectic collection of art, history and science objects and exhibits, it can satisfy a diversity of visitor interests. If you come to Alpena without your boat, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out on the water. Canoes and kayaks can be rented and taken on a trail of shallow shipwrecks. Charter boats, both for angling and scuba diving, are easy to find—as are both the fish and the shipwrecks in this part of Lake Huron. Onshore and off, above the waterline and well below, Alpena offers the opportunity for all kind of adventures— and as many accommodations. alpenacvb.com
Fletcher Street Brewery: (989) 356-2294 Jerry’s & Mary’s Antiques & Collectibles: (989) 358-8500 Jeppetto’s Riverfront Bistro: (989) 354-8190 Middle Island Keepers Lodge: (989) 619-1013 Take 5 Deli: (989) 354-0400 Water’s Edge Motel: (989) 354-5495
Marina City of Alpena’s Marina: (989) 356-0551
greatlakesboating.com | 23
When you ask Brion O’Dell of Waukegan, Illinois’ municipal harbor about the effect rising gas prices have had on his marina, he answers curtly. “It’s terrible,” he says. When you ask Scott Bird of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin’s
the lakes, you get a more nuanced description of the
Quarterdeck Marina the same question, his answer is just as
relationship between increased fuel cost and the behavior
succinct but entirely different. “It doesn’t affect us,” he says.
of boaters. Once you get beyond the immediate responses,
The difference? Bird, anticipating an increase in summer oil prices, signed contracts in late January that have kept his costs—and the price of his marina’s fuel—down. O’Dell,
you find that while there is some concern about what fivedollars-a-gallon gas will mean for boating, the prevailing sentiment is uncertainty.
on the other hand, didn’t. He buys fuel the way nearly ever
As Chris Marx of Sheboygan, Wisconsin’s Harbor Center
marina operator and boat owner does: as he needs it. The
says, “I think that the true effect of fuel prices is hard to
problem is, everyone needs gas and diesel and the supply
gauge this year because I think the weather has been the
is diminishing.
primary factor in whether people are going out. I think the
The picture seems pretty clear: fuel costs go up, and boats don’t go out. But when you talk to marina operators around
24 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
weather has had a lager role in the slowdown this year. I think it’s hard to generalize that. I think that there’s certainly a slowdown in fuel sales in transient business this year. Like
I said, it’s a combination of weather and fuel prices that’s causing a slowdown. We’re not seeing a
very seriously. What’s more likely is that powerboaters will switch to smaller vessels. Even that, though, seems
major slowdown. Not a step backwards—maybe
unlikely. On July 4, marinas were hopping. On weekends,
a step sideways.”
the fuel docks are still going strong. Slips are still full,
But Harbor Center is different than most marinas. As a destination marina for cruisers, it is relatively immune to some of the challenges facing facilities
even if the waters are more open. If, as is expected, oil keeps going up in price, there is sure to be some change to how people boat. Wherever
that cater to a consistently local group of boaters. There,
you go and just about everyone you ask seems to think
the effect of high fuel prices is more apparent: fuel
that the difference will involve adaptation to—and not
consumption is down about 11 percent on regular gas
abandonment in the face of—new realities.
and 15 percent on diesel. But the decline in fuel sales doesn’t necessarily mean that boaters are staying home. Powerboaters are still coming to marinas—they just
What will happen? “I wish had a crystal ball to tell,” says O’Dell.
aren’t taking their boats out of their slips as often. And
Since he doesn’t, we’ll all just have to wait and see
when they do, they aren’t cruising as far as they did in the
what the future—and rising fuel cost—brings.
days of cheap fuel. Boaters will keep boating, the consensus seems; but they will likely start boating differently. Boating is a lifestyle, and boaters aren’t going to abandon it just because of fuel prices. Just as people will prioritize fuel efficiency in their cars and drive less often, boaters will find ways to minimize their boats’ fuel consumption. Doing so means reducing their boats’ weight to reduce mass and increase efficiency. Lightening onboard loads, tuning engines and buying “greener” propulsion systems are just a few of the things boaters are doing to keep their time on the water affordable. With the trajectory of fuel prices impossible to discern, no one can say for certain what the long-term change to boating will be. That said, the current climate at marinas around the lakes does offer some clues as to what might happen. “My perception is,” said O’Dell, “I see more powerboats staying at the docks and the sailboats go out pretty much as they always do. Our weekly sailboat races are still pretty well attended. The powerboats seem to be staying in more often.” So, will powerboaters switch to sail in order to keep boating? The short answer is no. That drastic of a change is akin to drivers going back to buggies, and no one takes that possibility
greatlakesboating.com | 25
Reuben Trane, president of Island Pilot, LLC, announced on August 18 that the company will introduce the first-ever zeroemissions-production motoryacht in America this fall at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which takes place from October 30 through November 3. At this much anticipated unveiling, the Island Pilot DSe Hybrid 12m is expected to be seen as the most economic, as well as environmentally friendly, choice in yachting. The yacht’s remarkable efficiency was achieved through the creative utilization of technology that combines diesel, solar and electric power—the three components that create the DSe acronym. “There are so many reasons this boat makes sense in today’s environment,” said Trane. At a time with record high oil prices, we are bringing to market a product that will dramatically reduce the most visible expense of a recreational motor boat—the cost of diesel. The DSe’s efficiency will make all the difference in the world when compared to other luxury yachts. Plus, she’s ready for alternative fuels. The DSe’s Steyr ‘monoblock’ engine runs equally well on bio-diesel.”
26 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Measuring 12 meters (39 feet, six inches) and utilizing a six kw solar array, plus a 20 kwh battery bank, the DSe Hybrid 12m can travel at seven knots in Zero Emissions Mode using only electric power or up to 13 knots using diesel. Additionally, enough solar energy can be produced while at anchor to support a comfortable lifestyle without the need to run a diesel generator. The revolutionary combination of technology (Steyr Motors Serial Hybrid Propulsion System, Outback Energy solar controllers and inverters and enersys “True Lead” Odyssey batteries), along with a structural design resulting in the maximum amount of horizontal area on which to mount solar panels, is what enables the DSe to achieve this new standard for cruising economy.
are so many reasons this boat “There makes sense in today’s environment, ” While the DSe is constructed for utmost efficiency, the yacht has all the amenities and comforts of the most luxurious cruising yachts. Such features include: • On-deck master stateroom (just forward of the deckhouse) with a forward-facing queen-sized “sleigh bed” and a 270-degree panoramic view provided by 30-foot-high windows on three sides. Steps lead down to the extensive dressing room and head in the starboard hull. • Expansive guest stateroom with ensuite head, dressing room and island queen bed that converts into a pair of single berths. • The spacious and comfortable “great room” and galley includes two settees, a high-low table, a 26-inch HDTV and a Bose home theater. • An express-style bridge with wrap-around seating for eight, twin helm chairs and centerline console. • Technological features throughout, including a Garmin 15” touch screen with Garmin HD radar, Imtra Marine LED lighting products, Tecnautic “Fly by Wire” controls and gyro autopilot, CookTek induction cook tops, four zones of air conditioning, Hitachi hi-tech refrigerator with ice maker, a KVH Satellite TV antenna with DirecTV receiver and a dinghy with a Torqueedo electric motor. “Our goal from the initial concept stages two years ago was to deliver six knots on solar energy alone,” said Trane. “Sea trials earlier this year proved it can be done! We feel the DSe represents a real breakthrough, opening the door to a new era of environmentally friendly and efficient cruising yachts.” The introductory price of a DSe Hybrid 12m is $600,000. Island Pilot is currently taking orders for the DSe 12m. The first ones will be delivered in early 2009. dsehybrid.com
greatlakesboating.com | 27
By Michele Capots
The sun is shining, the water is glistening: it’s a beautiful day on the lake. Or it is until you blow by a circle of trash floating in the water. Litter changes things, alters the scenery, especially for boaters who have a unique relationship with the water. Boaters see the debris up close and experience it first hand, and, thus, have a vested interest in the solution. cean Conservancy’s International
O
A candy wrapper thrown on a city street in Lincoln,
Coastal Cleanup provides a solution to
Nebraska that finds its way to a storm drain or river will
the hazardous effects of trash in the water.
ultimately reach the ocean. That’s why the International
It is the world’s largest volunteer event of its
Coastal Cleanup is more than a one-day event—it’s a global
kind, and last year 378,000 volunteers in 76 countries
movement. It’s a change in behavior that happens far inland.
removed six million pounds of trash. These efforts are
It’s the opportunity to make a difference in your own backyard
vital to the health of our waterways.
and have a global impact at the same time.
Careless acts are affecting the health of our waterways
The International Coastal Cleanup began 23 years ago
and the ecosystems that rely on them. Trash in the ocean
with one woman walking along a Texas beach. Appalled
kills more than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine
by the amount of trash she saw, she orchestrated a beach
mammals and sea turtles each year through ingestion and
cleanup. Within two hours, 2,800 Texans had removed 124
entanglement. Reducing water pollution begins long before
tons of trash from 122 miles of coastline. Since then, her
you step foot on the beach or dock.
vision has become a worldwide movement.
28 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
“Now more than ever, people are concerned about the
But unless it is healthy and resilient, it can’t protect us.
environment and have an understanding of the increasing
Abundant wildlife, protected ecosystems and sustainable
threats to our ocean,” said Laura Burton Capps, Senior Vice
fisheries are key to a strong web of life in the ocean. Harmful
President for Government Affairs and Communications. “With
impacts are exacting a toll we can no longer afford to pay—
that understanding is a hunger to be a part of the solution
overfishing, marine debris, pollutants, habitat destruction and
and contribute to a better future. Everyone has a personal
global climate change. Two or more degrees of warming will
responsibility to contribute to the ocean’s health. After all,
devastate coastal communities, kill the world’s coral reefs
trash doesn’t fall from the sky, it falls from our hands.”
and result in mass extinctions of marine organisms. Our
Boaters, water enthusiasts, divers, parents, beachgoers, children, families—all are directly affected by trash. We notice it in the water, in parking lots, on city streets, and it’s harming our wildlife and polluting our ocean. And it’s preventable.
ocean is sick. But there are things we can do both in our daily life and our boating life. Even the smallest strides make a world of difference. The majority of trash in the ocean comes from land-based activities and careless behaviors. Following a few simple guidelines can go a long way.
Trash in the water is more than an eyesore; for boaters, it can be detrimental. For example, plastic bags floating in the water are dangerous if they enter the engine and cause it to overheat. On top of being an expensive repair, the boat will need to be towed. When the anchor gets caught in debris, it can be a nuisance for boaters; and jumping in for a swim is less attractive when you’re witnessing trash floating by. These
• When you drop something, pick it up. • At the grocery store, commit to reusable bags that are better for the environment.
• Recycle not just bottles and cans, but also newspapers, magazines, cereal boxes and other household items and electronics.
experiences bring home first-hand the impact of our actions. The ocean is essential to the health of everything on the planet, including ourselves. It provides much of the air we breathe and absorbs over a third of the greenhouse gases we produce. Fundamentally, the ocean is the life support system for our planet.
• When dining, ask for sustainable seafood options at restaurants and markets. Your voice may be the most valuable tool for improving conservation. Restaurant managers can help be a part of the solution by supporting responsible fishing.
greatlakesboating.com | 29
While on the water, boaters can make a few
The 2007 report showed that 57 percent of all trash was
simple adjustments to help the health of our waters.
from shoreline recreational activities, 33 percent was from
•
Minimize the amount of disposables you take out with you. For example, instead of five packets of cookies, provide one packet in a plastic container. It is best to look for reusable packaging.
smoking-related activities, two percent was from dumping
•
Have onboard a sturdy trash can with a lid that’s fastened to the boat.
hazardous effects of trash in the ocean and can also be used
•
Make it a rule that nothing—not even peach pits, apple cores or banana peels—goes overboard. It’s not fish food.
“This has been a longstanding situation that has made
and less than one percent was from medical and personal hygiene activities. This report serves as a snapshot of one day, one moment in time. It is a valuable tool when educating the public about the to educate business, industry and government officials.
an impact on marine debris,” said Susan Shingledecker, Director of Environmental Programs, BoatUS Foundation. “The International Coastal Cleanup has a network around
•
Use a separate container for all of your recyclables, plastic bottles, cans, etc.
the world for boaters to plug into. The International Coastal Cleanup can only benefit and grow from boater involvement.”
They may seem minor, but these actions contribute
This year’s International Coastal Cleanup will be held
to the health of the ocean.
throughout the world on Saturday, September 20. To
A unique component to the Cleanup is data collection,
register, visit coastalcleanup.org.
which helps identify the behaviors that cause our pollution problem in the first place. Volunteers comb the beaches and waterways while filling in a data card, recording every piece of trash collected. This information is then sent back to the Ocean Conservancy, where it is used to produce an annual report that includes data available nowhere else.
30 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Find dventure, maze your family, be dmired. Own a high quality Avalon Pontoon Boat.
Avalon offers over 150 affordable, luxurious, feature-packed models. You owe it to yourself to compare America’s fastest-growing quality pontoon brand to any other pontoon. You’ll see why so many people are choosing Avalon.
903 Michigan Avenue • Alma, MI 48801 Worldwide 1-800-334-2913 www.avalonpontoons.com
By Ted
McDermott
nordhavn.com
THE NORDHAVN 64 moored at the Chicago Yacht Club’s Monroe Harbor is gleaming white, clean like the soles of tennis shoes fresh out of the box. But while it may look untouched, this immaculate vessel certainly has its sea legs.
S
ince delivery just 21 months ago, in September of
These lengthy trips would be arduous on most vessels, but it’s
2006, this yacht’s owners, Scott and Pam Marks,
hard to imagine traveling in greater comfort than that offered
have voyaged all along the Atlantic seaboard, from
aboard this 64-foot-6-inch trawler. From stern to bow, from the
Boston to Charleston, from Hilton Head to the
flybridge to the pilothouse, it is loaded with amenities.
Bahamas. And their most recent trip was perhaps the most impressive—it brought them all the way from Stuart, Florida, around Nova Scotia, through the St. Lawrence Seaway, across lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron and Michigan, and finally here, to rest just before Chicago’s jagged skyline.
32 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
On the aft deck, where my tour begins, there is a spacious and shaded dining area for six. The salon is wide and open, with enormous windows letting light in to brighten the African cherry paneling and warm the space. Seating is L-shaped to
STABLE, COMFORTABLE, EFFICIENT, POWERFUL port and straight to starboard. Before each is a custom-
Down a few steps, there is a fourth stateroom that is
built hydraulic table. These can be used individually or
occupied by Shearwater’s two-person crew. Aft of that
connected together to create a single dining table.
is an engine room that’s about as roomy as the living
The full-size galley, which looks out on the salon, is equipped with an electric stove, rather than the propane one that comes standard, as well as granite
quarters on some vessels. Housed here is the main 400 horsepower, keel-cooled Detroit Diesel engine, as well as an auxiliary 350 hp engine.
countertops, a Sub-Zero refrigerator with two freezer
They are both sturdy, powerful, efficient engines, but
drawers and an 18-inch dishwasher, among much else.
they aren’t designed for high-speed cruising. The max
From here, we head down a hallway that is a modification from the traditional layout. Though it doesn’t differ too radically from Nordhavn’s standard configuration for the 64, the Shearwater was built to fit the exact preference of its owners. In this case, the
speed of the main engine is nine knots; the auxiliary gets around five. And that’s just the way Scott Marks likes it. When he went looking for a new boat four years ago, he wasn’t seeking a flashy sport boat. He was looking for a stable and efficient ocean-going vessel.
hallway was added for convenience. Rather than having
“I had owned a series of boats—both sail and power,”
to go upstairs to the pilothouse and then descend,
he says. “They were all nice, but up to this point they
passengers can simply head forward to reach a pair
had been planing hulls, so I knew what that was like. . . .
of identical staterooms, each with twin berths and
I’m retired now, so I could do without 20 knots. Going a
ample storage, on either side of the hallway. At the bow,
smooth and comfortable nine knots sounded good, so I
there’s a well-designed head that features a surprisingly
decided to go with a trawler.”
comfortable shower, considering the space.
He was attracted to the stability of trawlers’ full-
Though you’d never guess, Shearwater’s master
displacement hulls, and he was attracted to Nordhavn,
stateroom is a little narrower than those on a standard
in particular, due to the company’s reputation for
64 due to the presence of the hallway. With its king-size
building top quality yachts. He got what he wanted:
bed and private head, it offers the luxury that makes
“It’s met my expectations,” he says succinctly.
extended cruising practicable.
greatlakesboating.com | 33
Stable, comfortable, efficient, powerful After seeing the engine room, we head up to the
Stable, comfortable, efficient, powerful—these are the
pilothouse. Located amidships for minimal motion at
attributes that make Shearwater the kind of cruising
sea, it has excellent, 360-degree visibility and a bevy of
vessel that is capable of bringing the Marks’ 1,150
Furuno electronics, as well as a Weather Worx satellite
nautical miles and excited to travel much further.
service, cell phone and wireless systems and three satellite phone systems for offshore cruising. From there, we go up to the equally impressive flybridge, with its supplementary helm, pair of captain’s seats, roomy dining area and wide vantage. Down from the flybridge and aft of the pilothouse, a pair of covered tenders—one 14 feet in length and the other nine feet long—wait until they are needed with a hydraulic crane’s 20-foot boom prepared to drop them in the water at a moment’s notice. Here, Scott Marks also points out Shearwater’s “flopper stoppers,” a pair of hydraulic stabilizers that resist roll when the vessel is at anchor.
34 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
So, where is Shearwater heading next? For now, it is going to remain on Lake Michigan, taking off for short cruises throughout this summer. Over the winter it will be dry docked, and then, when the weather clears next spring, it will voyage out again for a long cruise around the Great Lakes. From there, it could go anywhere.
nordhavn.com
WHERE THE FISH BOATS ARE.
The yachting capital of the world proudly hosts the 49th FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW®, the premiere venue for Fish boats, Party boats, Cruisers, Center Consoles, Walkarounds, and everything in between. • See docks lined with the most well-respected builders, manufacturers, gathered together side-by-side. • Numerous products and vessels being premiered. • See the latest in trailerable fishing boats • Visit boat and accessory displays on two floors and outside the Convention Center in the Sailfish Pavilion. • Free Kids Fishing Clinics on Saturday and Sunday. • Xtreme Fishing Seminars Friday thru Sunday. Presented by
ONE
Owned & Sponsored by
INTERNATIONAL ®
BOAT SHOW Oct• 30 - Nov• 3 PRIME TIME PREVIEW
Thursday: 10am to 7pm
GENERAL ADMISSION
Friday, Saturday & Sunday:10am to 7pm Monday: 10am to 5pm
Plan Your Show and Purchase Tickets online. www.showmanagement.com • (954) 764-7642 Sponsored by
A D M IT
OW BOAT SH T S TICKE
OW BOAT SH T S TICKE
A D M IT
FORT LAUDERDALE
ONE
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: A PRIMER By Aux. Wayne Spivak, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary One of life’s scariest prospects is that of an uncontrolled fire. The idea of a house fire is frightening. What, though, about a boat fire? On land there is usually a way to escape, difficult though it may be. On water, however, there is nowhere to go. Fire aboard a vessel isn’t just terribly dangerous, it’s also surprisingly common. It follows that one should be just as prepared to fight fires onboard as they are at home. Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, well-lit signs and contingency plans—these should be as ubiquitous on boats as they are on land. Clearly, prevention is the first and best step in firefighting. Despite the best efforts, the danger of fire is always present. It is critical to be prepared and ensure that the proper fire equipment is onboard in case fire does break out.
In the early 1960s, with rising accident and death rates for recreational boating, the Coast Guard and Congress investigated boating safety. All federal equipment requirements were formed during this time, including the mandate that all vessels with gasoline/diesel engines carry approved fire extinguishers. Code 46CFR162 specifically states that the extinguishers must be labeled “Marine Type USCG Type --------, Size --------, Approval No. 162.028/-- ------” (Sec. 162.028-4). These requirements are meant to ensure that the fire extinguisher is ready for marine environments. Tests related to corrosion, salt spray, bursting pressure, vibrations and other factors are conducted to verify that the code is met. Remember that in order to withstand
the extra strains of marine environments, most equipment on your boat needs to be made differently than your home or vehicle equipment is. Fire extinguishers are required if your boat has any one of the following: an inboard engine; closed compartments storing portable fuel tanks; double bottom hulls not completely sealed or not completely filled with flotation materials; a cabin containing closed living space; a closed sewage compartment with flammable materials; or permanently installed fuel tanks. If your fire extinguishers are not readily accessible and verified as serviceable, the Coast Guard considers them not onboard during a safety check. More importantly, if you can’t use your extinguisher when you need it, you’ll find yourself in major trouble. The chart included here shows the required minimum number of
extinguishers. During a fire, each fire extinguisher will only last a few minutes. Extras will be useful if the blaze outlasts the extinguisher. Each boat’s design is different, so there is no formula for placement. That said, that are some guidelines that can assist you in finding the best locations on your boat. First, if possible, especially for dry chemical extinguishers, mount the fire extinguisher parallel to the deck. This is to prevent the chemicals from packing, which will impair the extinguisher. Second, find an easily accessible spot outside of your engine compartment. Placing a fire extinguisher inside of the compartment can add extra oxygen to a fire, fueling the blaze and making a bad fire even worse. Third, place an extinguisher by the helm. Usually someone is at the helm, making this extinguisher always accessible.
Fourth, situate one by the galley because of the likelihood for kitchen fires. Fifth, distribute one in each cabin. It’s not enough just to have extinguishers though. It’s also important to plan a course of action for the worstcase scenario. Create a fire plan, deciding on a favored meeting place. (The bow is the best place because it’s the furthest from the engine room and gas tanks.) Then practice the plan and how to use your extinguishers. It’s important you understand how they work, and how to fight a fire, should one break out.
When you have new guests onboard. don’t only show them the amenities; show them the safety items also. They should know where the lifejackets and fire extinguishers are, how the radio works and how to call for help. If you have GPS, show them how to quickly find your latitude and longitude. A final and vital step toward fire safety is taking more boating and safety education courses, as well as getting an annual Vessel Safety Check. It may seem unlikely, but this preparation may save your or someone else’s life. safetyseal.net
MINIMUM NUMBER OF EXTINGUISHERS REQUIRED Boat Length Less than 26’ 26’ to less than 40’ 40’ to 65’
No Fixed System one B-1 two B-1 or one B-2 three B-1 or one B-1 & one B-2
With Fixed System None one B-1 two B-1 or one B-2
By Thomas Ludens When Volvo-Penta launched their Inboard Performance System (IPS) in 2005, there were big expectations—as well as a certain amount of reservation from boaters. Boating is nothing if not a pastime, and for as long as most of us could remember, captaining had remained consistent. There was the throttle and the helm, a number of procedures to follow and a certain amount of intangible skill that came with experience. Then, all of a sudden, IPS changed everything. The props were literally turned around. The throttle and helm were replaced by, of all things, a joystick. This was a sea change, a whole new approach to propulsion, to captaining, to boating. It may have come as something of a shock, but it was also a longtime coming. Slowly but surely, boat builders bought into the system and started integrating it into the design of their vessels. This was something of a gamble: no one quite knew if boaters would come aboard and give the IPS a chance. Boaters didn’t know if the unproven IPS would stand up to the time-tested systems they knew. So now, three years later, how has IPS fared? To answer that question, it’s best to ask users themselves.
38 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Mr. Mundy was one of the IPS pioneers. He bought one of the first boats equipped with the system, a Cruisers 400. In fact, he bought his so soon after IPS’s release that the joystick wasn’t yet available. “We picked it up in December ’05,” he says, “and it was one of the first with IPS. So, I had it a year before they had the joystick. Volvo gave all the original owners a coupon for the joystick. We test drove one
with a joystick at the Miami Boat Show, and it was absolutely phenomenal. I think that’s the future of boating. I can literally move the boat sideways down a channel. . . . Even not having the joystick, the boat was a great pleasure to drive. You put the joystick on and it’s unbelievable.” As the owner of four new Cruisers yachts over the years, Mr. Mundy is an experienced helmsman. Regarding his new set up, he says, “It’s so much easier to control and handle and the fuel economy is so much better than any other system.” And it’s not only he, the captain, who likes the system. “My wife, who doesn’t like to drive a boat, can drive this boat,” he says. “The older boats, it takes time to get used to that. This boat, the IPS system makes it much easier for her to drive it. . . . I think the things the IPS system does is give you the confidence that you can back up the boat easily, whether you’re in a current or a wind.” “I think this is the future of boating,” Mr. Mundy continues. “Not just for the control, but also the fuel economy. We probably get 25 percent better fuel economy on this boat. For instance, I came back across the lake last year from Charlevoix [to Sturgeon Bay], and I used maybe a quarter tank of fuel.” Though Mr. Mundy is clearly a big proponent of the IPS, he’s one of thousands of boaters who have tried the system. When you consider that more than 100 manufacturers throughout the world are incorporating IPS into new models, that older vessels have been retrofitted to incorporate it and that so many people have tried it, you would expect there to be a wide diversity of opinions about how well this innovative new system works. In fact, however, the assessments are surprisingly consistent.
Peter Sears has been boating for 50 years. His current boat is a Tiara 3500 Sovran. It’s his eighth Tiara, and his first with IPS, which he admits caused him some initial apprehension. “I spent 50 years learning how to drive with a standard drive and everything else,” he says of his new IPS-equipped boat, “and now I’m on a new learning curve.” Fortunately, that curve has been pretty smooth. “I have had the boat now about two months and I find myself coming in with the conventional wheel and then when I get into the harbor I’m switching over right away to the IPS. . . . I feel totally comfortable with it now.” As with Mr. Mundy, the ease of use has allowed his wife to get involved at the helm, though that has had one unexpected drawback. “My wife stepped in and drove it perfectly with the IPS, and then she told me to go out and get the lines. I said that’s not the agenda.” He may have to spend some time away from the helm of his fireengine-red Sovran, but he’s enjoying the time he does have at the controls. “Once you get the feel,” he says, “it’s easy.” Mr. Boyce, owner of a Cruisers 390 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also likes the IPS’s ease of operation, as do his passengers. A friend of his “docked it the first time he ever touched the joystick, with no experience at all on it.” When IPS was first unveiled, expectations were big. The boating industry has been flagging for the past few years, and many saw this new system as a potential boost for everyone. It was hoped that if IPS could make captaining—and docking, in particular— easier, then more people might be tempted to try boating. In the case of Mr. Wiener, it seems to have worked.
greatlakesboating.com | 39
“
You put the joystick on and it’s unbelievable
“Frankly,” he says, “the first time I owned a boat was last July. I’m a relatively new boater, and [the barrier to boating before] was for me the docking. It’s not so much parallel docking as backing into the slips. The marina where I keep the boat has a strong current, and it’s very difficult to dock there. The IPS system makes it very easy to get into the slip.” The ease of handling was planned to be a big selling point, and it’s proving to be one. “First of all,” says Mr. Wiener, the owner of a Cruisers 390, “the big issue was the joystick control. It’s phenomenal. The IPS system of course comes with the control, and that made me a believer. It was the second boat I bought in a year, and I bought it for that system.” Mr. Rothstein, the owner of a Cruisers 420 Express and a selfdescribed tech guy, said that when he first looked at the IPS, he was “a little concerned about the newness of it.” But he was pleased with the speed and efficiency numbers. What ultimately tipped him toward IPS was the handling.
40 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
”
“I boat on the Chesapeake,” he says “where it’s pretty tight quarters. . . . So it was maneuverability and fitting into tight creeks and things like that, where you can move around effectively. . . . The drawback is that I draw a little more water than I would otherwise. But it’s not a huge deal. The benefit is what I anticipated—even in crowded July 4 surroundings, I could fit into small settings.” IPS may have introduced a revolutionarily new way of propelling a boat, but there’s nothing newfangled about handling, efficiency, power, comfort and performance. Whether they have a Lazzara or a Tiara, a Cruisers or Chris-Craft, whether they’re on Lake Michigan or off the Florida coast, whether they’ve been boating for 50 years or five months, boaters are flocking to all that IPS offers. Even if that means they sometimes have to get the lines.
volvopenta.com/us
Bo a te l S to r a ge S yste m by:
Golden Giant, Inc. www.goldengiantmarina.com
1.800.828.1209
By Steve Jones
I can honestly say that fishing has never been on my top-ten list of things to do before I move on to the afterlife. That changed when, almost a year ago, my friend Kris told me an engrossing story about sitting in a boat, bobbing in the middle of Lake Erie, holding a pole in his hands and anticipating a nibble. Quite intriguing, I thought. So intriguing that I decided to partake in his next venture.
I
had been angling only once before, in my early
The mayfly lays its eggs on the water’s surface,
teens. I had received a fishing rod and accessories
and they gently sink to the depths before returning
as a birthday gift, and so I went out to stand on a
to the surface when they are ready to hatch. As the
bridge and await my first bite. Then, unexpectedly, a
newly christened flies take flight for the first time,
miniature fish found himself (accidentally, I’d guess)
they instantly begin the egg-laying cycle again.
connected to my hook. Not having the guts to remove
It is this process that provides the walleye with
it, I kept it in the water—dragging it back and forth.
plentiful provisions.
Then, in the blink of an eye, a nice-sized pike decided to dart out from the reeves, engulf the mini fish in his mouth and disappear into the murky depths of the river, stripping my nice new shiny pole from my hands in the process. So, my fishing experience consisted of a single brief, distant and inauspicious memory. Despite that, I found myself driving toward a charter boat in Lake Erie and my second fishing attempt. As we approached the small fishing town of Portage, Ohio, Kris decided to tell me about the mayfly, an insect that plays a big part in the walleye’s booming population. Then, what I thought was rain began hitting the windscreen. But instead of being precipitation, the thuds against the glass were this infamous insect.
42 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
While I bobbed and weaved my way through their crazy flight patterns to pick up our fishing licenses at a local store, it was explained to me that the mayfly has a life span of 24 hours and only rear their heads for a couple of weeks during the summer season. I was also informed that they are TOTALLY harmless. When we arrived at our cabin, which was conveniently positioned within walking distance of a pub, I exited the car cringing from all the mayflies. We made the short walk to the drinking hole, where we met up with the other men in our chartering group. When I saw people sitting outside and ignoring the swarming insects, I realized I should try to forget about the mayflies.
captain dave with walleye
brands dr y dock
With the next few hours devoted to drinking and talking,
Everything was quiet and peaceful on The Fin until I heard
I learned that Jimmy, Mike and Tyler were actually a nice
some excited cheers behind me: Mike, a 17-year-veteran on
group of people. The next morning, I was removed from
Captain Dave’s boat, had hooked his first walleye, and Dave
my bed as the sun started to rise. Dazed and confused
was there to guide it into a waiting net. The excitement
from only a couple of hours of shuteye, I found myself at Brands’ Dry Dock Marina, looking out at an
continued as the others kept reeling in walleye, as well as the occasional sheepshead. Eventually I
awful display of dark clouds, choppy water
landed my own fish, and that only made me itch
and Captain Dave wielding a leaf blower in an
for more. Many seemed to escape my clutches, as
attempt to remove as many mayflies as possible
I found myself reacting to nibbles and disappearing
from his 30-foot Sportcraft, The Fin.
worms in an almost frantic attempt to be crowned
We boarded the boat and set out for a
the “kingfisher.”
predetermined fishing spot. Avoiding an ominous
Moving around the lake in search of better
cloud, Dave trekked us out about 30 miles with a
fishing holes, Captain Dave ensured that there were
small posse of skippers in our wake—all of them
always ample fish to catch. He took us 20 miles further
trailing Dave due to his years of experience and
out from the marina and constantly gave advice to other
lofty reputation amongst local fishermen.
captains about other fishing spots. The son of a fisherman,
Then the engine stopped: we had arrived at our fishing spot. My companions grabbed for worms and baited lines, positioned themselves in various areas of the
Dave was brought up on the lake, purchased his first boat in 1981 and has since become his own captain, gaining the respect of many of his Lake Erie colleagues.
boat and began to fish. Before I had a chance to reach for
Due to the unfortunate weather, the fishing was slower
my rod, Dave had baited the hook and was handing it to me
than expected. That meant we never reached the legal
with instructions on how to bait and cast and how best to
quota for the boat and remained out on the water for
catch a fish. Confident that I had a great understanding of
longer than anticipated. When we embarked on the long
the process, I whipped my worm out in to the lake. When
voyage back to the harbor, I found the cushioned engine
I heard the plopping sound of my bait hitting the water,
casing a comfortable place to “rest my eyes.”
I began to count to 12 before slowly reeling in my worm. This process was repeated a number of times, with Captain Dave magically appearing when I needed help or advice.
Back at the cabin, I had surely caught the fishing bug and was looking forward to day two. We grilled a bit, and then fatigue took over. We passed out early, woke in the evening
greatlakesboating.com | 43
the harm less mayfl y
the pro’s
for a brief excursion to the local bar and returned to
boat rules won’t last on The Fin: Dave will pack up the
the cabin for some adequate shuteye before a second
equipment and return to the marina.
day of angling.
In our case, Dave’s professional manner and dry sense
The next morning, we awoke alert and chirpy.
of humor definitely made for a more enjoyable time out
Unfortunately, we were rewarded with an absolute
on the lake. We always seemed to be where the fish
scorcher of a day. Even with the sun just peering
were, and Dave was always there with the advice and
over the horizon, the sky displayed a brilliant cloudless
equipment we needed. Despite my inexperience and
blue aura and the heat instantly had me sweating.
constant errors, he helped me without ever belittling
In addition to being uncomfortable, these weren’t
me. At one point, thinking that I had a bite, I was
ideal fishing conditions.
reeling in the last few feet of my line when excitement
Arriving back at the marina’s edge, we mounted The Fin and headed back out to the middle of Lake Erie under the subdued guidance of Captain Dave. The weather gave me time to speak with Dave about many humorous
took over: I whipped back my rod, causing the hook to fly behind me and catch itself on Dave’s sleeve. He handled my carelessness kindly, removing the hook and helping me get back to fishing.
boating experiences. But as Dave pointed out in a
At the end of that second day, we returned to the
gentle manner, he is meticulous about running a tight
marina, offloaded our walleye catch, carried them the
ship where there’s little room for error. His main focus is
short distance to the cleaning and filleting station
the safety of those in his care. Anyone not adhering to
and then distributed them equally—an act of
44 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
a race to the fi sh
mi ke and wa lle ye
generosity by my fishing companions. I may not have
The Fin and Captain Dave Vargo make a great team to
caught as many as them, but I’d say I had as much fun.
go sportfishing with. I know he turned me, for one, into
A lot of the credit for that goes to Captain Dave.
a new fishing enthusiast: before turning our backs on
A U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, he provides services throughout the year, though the best walleye
Dave, we all booked a return trip for next year. (419) 898-6152
fishing is from April through the middle of August. He also offers smallmouth bass and perch fishing, which is best from August thru October. Captain Dave’s service caters to groups of up to six and his boat is fully loaded with the latest equipment.
greatlakesboating.com | 45
By Ted McDermott
Sometimes it’s a storm. Sometimes it’s a collision. Sometimes, though, it’s something as simple as a dirty windshield that leads to a man overboard event. Take Kriss Anderson’s case, for example.
A
s she writes in Saved by the Jacket, the
executing the proper procedure for a man overboard
National Safe Boating Council’s collection
event and ensuring Kriss’s rescue.
of true on-the-water stories, she and a couple
of companions were cruising downriver on a nice day. Everything was fine and easy, except for the salty spray that was obscuring their windshield. So, she did the natural thing: “I took a towel and spray bottle of window cleaner and worked my way up to the windshield on the narrow gunnels of the boat. Having done a fine
Should someone go overboard from your boat, do what her skipper did and yell that phrase as loudly as possible. Then, point to the person in the water. It’s vital that you lock your eyes on them and never, no matter what, take your eyes off the person in the water. If it’s night, use a flashlight.
job cleaning the window, I turned to go back aft
Next, throw a floatation device, ideally a Type VI device
to the cockpit.”
such as a life ring or horseshoe buoy, to the victim.
The next thing she knew, she had slipped, fallen and slid over the side of the 28-foot cabin cruiser. On her
Tossing it underhand is best, as the device will go farther than it otherwise would.
way down, she scraped herself on the boat. She landed
Then stop the boat, check your headings and turn the
in the water on her back. Nearby, a pair of propellers
boat around 180 degrees. Some GPS units have a Man
turned beneath the water
Overboard Button, which provides you the return course
Luckily, Kriss, a member of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and an experienced, savvy boater, did a smart thing: she used her feet to push herself away from the vessel. The skipper did a smart thing too. He saw her back there, adrift in the water, and immediately yelled out, “Man overboard!” In so doing, he took the first step in
46 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
back to the spot where you first pressed it. Without this technology, just add or subtract 180 from your course and steer there. Approach the swimmer so that he or she is upwind of the boat. If you have a floatable retrieval line, fasten one end to a secure railing and toss the other end to the person requiring rescue. The victim should position the loop
under his armpits, so he can be pulled to the side of the
By wearing a lifejacket, Kriss Anderson survived
boat and hefted up into the vessel.
going overboard without much grief. By yelling “man
Luckily for her, Kriss Anderson was wearing a lifejacket when she fell into the river, and she easily was able to swim back to the boat from a few feet away. If you find yourself distressed in the water with or without a PFD,
overboard” and cutting the engines, her skipper helped keep her rescue simple. If they hadn’t handled themselves so well, it’s easy to imagine how sticky the situation could have become.
there are some things you can do to increase your
It may seem unlikely that someone will go overboard
chances of survival.
from your boat, but it is always a possibility. Sometimes
Though you’ll probably do it anyway, it is good to shout and try to attract attention when you fall overboard. Once you are in the water, try to let the crew know where
it begins with something as simple a dirty window. Follow the above steps, and you may ensure that it ends with a successful rescue.
you are by putting up a hood, splashing water or waving your arms. Do not swim after the boat, but do swim to any floating device that’s thrown into the water. Trying to catch up with the boat can make it more difficult for your potential rescuers to keep track of your location. Then, wait as calmly as possible for the boat to circle and return. When it does, look for a retrieval line or throw rope. All of these steps help, but the most important thing you can do to increase your likelihood of surviving such an event is simple: wear a PFD.
greatlakesboating.com | 47
There’s Nothing Fishy About Healthy Fish. here’s danger in the waters. Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is a serious disease of fresh and saltwater fish that has recently been found widely throughout the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. VHS is not a threat to human health.
T
VHS spreads among fish through urine and reproductive fluids released into the water, and also through the eating of other infected fish. Infected fish and water can easily spread the virus if they are released into a new body of water. Appropriate hygienic or other routine biosecurity precautions are necessary to protect aquatic animal health and prevent further spread of the disease. The Healthy Way
• Thoroughly clean and dry fishing equipment, bait buckets, • • • •
boats, and trailers before using them again. Empty all water from equipment before transporting. Remove all mud, plants, and aquatic life from equipment. Do not move fish or plants from one body of water to another. Do not introduce fish of an unknown health status into populations of farmed fish.
To learn more, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/healthyfish United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
See the biggest in-water boat show on the Great Lakes!
• 700+ new & pre-owned power & sail boats • Hundreds of accessory & equipment booths • Demo Dock • Brokerage Pier • Vintage Dock • Boats Under $15,000 and Boats Under $25,000 pavilions
presented by You’re in good hands.
GLB
Present this ad for $2 off regular adult admission. Kids 12 & under get in FREE! Valid Sept. 10-14, 2008. Redeemable at boat show box office. Cannot be combined with other offers. Photocopies will not be accepted. Good for up to two adult admission tickets.
September 10-14, 2008 Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio For complete details, visit
cedarpointboatshow.com
Great Lakes
RIFLE RAFFLE 2008 TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE First prize is a Winchester Model 94
Third prize is a weekend for two in the
lever-action rifle that was created to
beautifully restored U.S. Coast Guard
commemorate the 30th anniversary
crews quarters building at Whitefish
loss of the famous steamer. The
Point. Each private room features a bath,
rifle features a 24k gold-plated
television, queen bed and DSL Internet.
action, lever and octagonal barrel, and is engraved with images of the Fitzgerald’s history and scenes of the Whitefish Point Light Station.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) will be offering the
The rifle comes with a custom leather-
last Commemorative Limited Edition
trimmed case.
Edmund Fitzgerald Rifle through its 2008 Raffle. Only 50 of these valuable collector’s pieces were handmade by Rocky Mountain Firearms of Ft. Collins, Colorado. This particular rifle, number two of 50, is the last remaining of
Tickets prices are $5.00 each, or five tickets for $20.00. The drawing for the 2008 raffle will be held in the Sault on Monday, December 8, 2008. Proceeds will be used to match a
Second prize is a framed print of the famous oil painting Passage in Moonlight by artist David Conklin. This limited
Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant to restore the Whitefish Point Light Tower.
edition print is signed and numbered
Tickets may be purchased by calling
by the artist and Canadian Folksinger
the Shipwreck Coast Museum Store.
Gordon Lightfoot.
Proceeds will be used to support GLSHS
the series, with a retail value of
offshore underwater shipwreck research.
more than $3,000.
shipwreckmuseum.com // (888) 492-3747
LAKE LEVELS ARE ON THE RISE
Experts attribute the increases to last winter’s
Last year, water levels on Lake Superior hit a record
on each of the lakes over the past year.
heavy snowfall and this summer’s heavy rainfall, which amounted to higher-than-normal precipitation
low. As of this July, it is within four inches of its longterm average. And as Superior goes, so go the rest of the Great Lakes. Lake Erie is two inches above its July average, and Ontario is four inches higher than average.
All of this is good news, but the fact remains that the lakes are still down. More years like this one will be required to return Great Lakes water levels to normal.
Lakes Huron and Michigan may still be more than a foot
As Cynthia Sellinger, deputy director of the Great Lakes
below average, but both are up eight inches from last
Environmental Research Laboratory, told the Detroit Free
July. Lake St. Clair has risen 10 inches since last July to
Press, “If we get two more good, normal winters with
come within two inches of average.
normal precipitation, then we’d have a turnaround.”
FEDERAL DREDGING CONTRACTS AWARDED designed to provide greater flexibility in
the process, the 11 companies will
responding to maintenance dredging of
compete to provide a broad variety of
the commercial shipping channels and
dredging services at various locations
harbors of the Great Lakes, while saving
within the Great Lakes region.
taxpayer dollars.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District Contracting division awarded indefinite delivery/indefinite
contracts includes the dredging of the
(MATOC) was awarded to 11 companies
harbors at St. Marys, Michigan; Grand
for the Great Lakes area at a maximum of
Marais, Minnesota; and Manitowoc,
$15 million to be used throughout a span
Menominee, Saxon and Sturgeon
of three years.
Bay, Wisconsin at a cost of about $3.5
quantity streamlined federal contracts
The MATOC was issued to seven
for the Great Lakes districts in Detroit,
companies in Michigan and to four other
Chicago and Buffalo. The contracts are
companies from various states. Under
50 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Planned work to be awarded under the
A Multiple Award Task Order Contract
million. Work in these areas began in mid-August, with additional work to be awarded throughout the next three years.
ASHTABULA RIVER DREDGING NEARLY COMPLETED
Photos by Frank Lichtkoppler, Ohio Sea Grant
The Ashtabula River dredging project is nearing completion,
Commission list of contaminated Areas of Concern in
making the river one of the cleanest, deepest harbors in Lake
the Great Lakes in the next few years,” he continued.
Erie. The $75 million project, started in June 2006, moved 635,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment to a nearby landfill, which will be capped by the end of the year. “A lot of people worked very long and very hard to see the dredging completed,” said Ohio Sea Grant Extension’s Frank Lichtkoppler. “It was all the Ashtabula River Partnership members working together that made this happen. Ohio Sea Grant was one of the founding partners of the Ashtabula River Partnership.” “We are now working on restoring the environment and hope
Having the deep draft available will allow for increased shipping opportunities, and a cleaner river should help provide new opportunities for local marinas and businesses. Ohio Sea Grant is also developing an economic baseline to measure the economic activity that may result from the Ashtabula River dredging. Prior to the project, Ohio Sea Grant collected economic data on local boaters, marinas and small businesses in the harbor area. This will allow for a comparison in a few years when the river is fully restored. ohioseagrant.osu.edu
to have the Ashtabula River taken off the International Joint
COMPACT MOVES TOWARD APPROVAL House Judiciary Committee having marked up the bill, the bill now moves to the full House for approval. The compact provides a comprehensive management framework for achieving sustainable water use and resource protection. The eight Great Lakes states reached a similar, good faith agreement with Ontario and Québec in 2005, which the provinces are using to amend their existing water programs for greater regional consistency. On July 9, 2008, in Saugatuck, Michigan, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed Michigan’s legislation ratifying an interstate compact that will create unprecedented protections for the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River Basin. With this signing, the eight states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin completed ratification of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. To become law, Congress must now provide its consent. On August 1, that process moved forward when the U.S. Senate approved the compact by unanimous consent, clearing the way for the U.S. House to do the same. With the Senate’s action on S. J. Res. 45 complete and with the U.S.
The compact includes a number of objectives. Aims include the fostering of economic development through the sustainable use and responsible management of basin waters; ensuring that authority over Great Lakes water uses is retained in the region; developing regional goals and objectives for water conservation and efficiency; and implementing state water-conservation and efficiency programs. The compact has attracted the support of key members of Congress, mayors and local government officials, as well as more than 150 diverse groups of stakeholders who depend on the Great Lakes. cglg.org
greatlakesboating.com | 51
Great Lakes
SEA SCOUTS HELP CLEAN WATER To help clean-
floating debris that collects along bulkheads or elsewhere
up their local
within a marina. But a discussion with marina managers
waterfronts,
revealed that neither of these devices is suitable or strong
20 high
enough for handling the floating debris that collects in their
school youth
marinas. The Sea Scouts believe they have a better idea, and
and adult
they have been working to make their idea a national reality.
leaders, members of Bay Village, Ohio’s Sea Scout Ship 41, are designing and testing a number of hand skimmers to remove floating plastic bottles, Styrofoam, rotting fish and trash that collects in the corners of all their local marinas. The scouts are participating in the Waterfront Challenge, a
Currently, the scouts are conducting field trials of four basic designs before selecting the best “flotsam scoop” that is economical, simple, lightweight and easy to use. So far during the trials, more than 76 bags of floating trash have been removed from the marinas and disposed of in authorized dumpsters. To date, the scouts have put in more than 100 hours in designing, fabricating and testing the scoop designs.
national initiative sponsored by yacht paint manufacturer
The best design in the trials is an aluminum expanded metal
Interlux that is aimed at encouraging people to “make a
cradle basket. An expandable handle available at hardware
difference” by improving the quality of their local waterfronts.
stores assists in reaching those hard-to-reach places. The
Testing of the “flotsam scoop,” as the scouts have named it, is being carried out at Lorain Sailing and Yacht Club (LSYC)
open-end facilitates the dumping of the trash into garbage bags. It is simple and easy to use.
and Spitzer Lakeside Marina. Commodore Fran Burik said,
The next step in the project is for Sea Scout Ship 41 to
“We have a busy summer at LSYC with a number of regattas,
make a number of the scoops available to marinas, monitor
including the Interlake Nationals; it is very important for us
their use and make additional refinements as necessary.
to be seen at our best. A tool such as the ‘flotsam scoop’ will
Feedback from the marina management is critical, as the
help us accomplish this.”
final step of this project is to report about the success of the
The Ohio Clean Marinas Guidebook stresses the importance of properly disposing of trash, plastic and fish waste. It encourages the use of a pool skimmer or crab net to collect
scoop to Interlux and be judged against entries from other parts of the country. Regional winners receive $5,000; the national winner will receive $25,000.
wfchallenge.com
LINCOLN’S JOURNEY TO VISIT EIGHT STATES During Lincoln’s Journey of Remembrance, the people of Spencer County, Indiana, where Lincoln lived from age 7 to 21, will take their Lincoln heritage down river in an effort to share the story of his formative years with the people of eight states and more than 20 towns on the way to New Orleans. This journey actually is the second re-enactment of Lincoln’s voyage from Rockport, Indiana, to New Orleans. In 1958, for the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, the Rockport Jaycees Club constructed a similar flatboat A 60-foot pioneer-era flatboat will travel down river this
and made the same journey to New Orleans. Several of
fall in honor of President Abraham Lincoln’s upcoming
these crew members will be involved in portions of this
200th birthday.
latest re-enactment effort as well.
Lincoln’s Journey of Remembrance, which sets sail Sept. 9,
The 2008 trip is a joint effort by members of the Spencer
will re-trace Lincoln’s 1828 flatboat trip from Rockport, Indiana
County Visitors Bureau, Spencer County Regional Chamber
to New Orleans, Louisiana, when the then 19-year-old future
of Commerce, Think Lincoln, Inc. and the Indiana Abraham
president transported a load of produce for a local merchant.
Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
While in New Orleans on this trip, Lincoln witnessed his first
LincolnsJourney.org // (888) 444-9252
slave auction, an event that cemented his anti-slavery views.
52 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
INVASIVE SPECIES CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN DULUTH The first-ever Minnesota
technical program, a day of workshops for the public
Invasive Species Conference
and landowners will feature terrestrial topics such as
2008 will be held October 26
earthworms and gypsy moths, and aquatic topics such as
to 29, in Duluth, Minnesota
lake vegetation management. A day of tours of attractions
to encourage information
and research facilities follows the conference.
exchange on topics relating to both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species.
“Besides the technical program, we’ll be having something for everyone—youth programs, a special symposium to discuss ship design and ballast water discharge standards
“Our theme is acting locally to protect our legendary lands
for maritime transportation and field trips,” said Shannon
and waters,” said Doug Jensen, conference co-chair with
Bengtson, conference co-chair with the Minnesota Chapter
the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Sea Grant Program.
of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
“The conference is designed to strengthen awareness of invasive species issues, as well as promote local prevention and management activities.”
Congressman James Oberstar has been invited as a lunch keynote speaker and to appear at the ballast water symposium. The conference is hosted by the Minnesota
Researchers, land managers, natural resource
Invasive Species Advisory Council. Registration by
professionals, educators, students, landscapers, lake
September 15 costs $125, but varies depending on
association members, agency employees and others
workshop and field trip attendance. Single-day rates and
are invited to attend the conference at the Duluth
reduced rates for students are available.
Entertainment Convention Center. Before the two-day
minnesotaswcs.org/Invasives.htm // (515) 480-2420
WINDSOR PROPOSES CANAL & MARINA PLAN In recent years, Detroit has worked
River and provide slips in the city’s
the creation of a new inlet from the
hard to improve its riverfront and better
center core. A meandering canal would
Detroit River, excavation of an access
accommodate boaters. Now, the city’s
cut in from the south limit of the new
channel and interior basin, protection of
Canadian counterpart, Windsor, is
marina basin and end just west of the
the new inlet and interior shoreline with
raising the stakes with an ambitious
art gallery. Along the new marina basin
appropriate erosion protections and
proposal. The recently unveiled plan
and on the shore of the meandering
installation of docks.
would convert what is now the post-
canal, an urban village development
industrial Western Super Anchor
would be built to contain a mixture
property into a mixed-use development
of land uses, including public space,
and a breathtaking haven for boaters.
commercial space and medium-to-high
The project is a complete re-imagining
density residential development.
of the area bounded by Riverside Drive,
Creation of the marine basin would
University Avenue, Salter Avenue and
involve the transformation of the former
Church Street. A large inland marina
Canadian Pacific Railway cut. This
basin would extend in from the Detroit
aspect of the project would necessitate
This project would simultaneously keep the parkland along the riverfront pristine and bring the waterfront into the city’s downtown center. It would also abut the Caesar Windsor Casino. The concept was unveiled in July and now will undergo a feasibility study. The projected cost is $60 million.
greatlakesboating.com | 53
Cruising
CARIBBEAN 1500 RALLY TO SCHEDULE TWO EAST COAST DEPARTURE POINTS
The Caribbean 1500, America’s oldest and largest offshore cruising rally, is expected to reach recordbreaking numbers this year with approximately 75 yachts from all regions of the U.S. and Canada. The rally is divided into three categories: an IRC racing class, a PHRF rally class and a cruising class. Over 925 yachts and 4,500 sailors have participated in the Caribbean 1500 since its inception in 1990. While retaining some of the competitive elements of traditional sailboat races, the Caribbean 1500 offers social, educational and technological enhancements to broaden the appeal beyond both seasoned and firsttime racers and include couples and families. Prior to the start, participating sailboats will gather in Hampton and Charleston for several days of safety inspections, This year’s Caribbean 1500 will coordinate simultaneous starts on November 2 in Hampton, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. The two fleets will converge simultaneously on Tortola, British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean and enjoy post-event activities together. Southern U.S. boaters who were hesitant about sailing north around Cape Hatteras to join the start in Hampton can now choose to depart from Charleston, instead.
workshops and weather briefings. The progress of each boat will be available for monitoring on the Caribbean 1500 website with software customized by Magnolox that incorporates features from Google Earth. Every four hours, six times per day, Axonn wireless transmitters will broadcast the yacht’s position, sending updated information to the website.
carib1500.com
Adventure Cruise on the SV DENIS SULLIVAN Wisconsin’s flagship, the tallship Denis Sullivan, is looking for volunteer deck hands interested in joining the crew to help navigate the ship through the Welland Canal, down Lake Ontario, through the Thousands Islands region and then to Montreal. Approximate dates for this section of the journey will be September 25 to October 3. Interested parties should contact Marine Operations at Pier Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wiscon for additional information about costs, dates and travel arrangements.
(414) 765-8640
CHRIS-CRAFT Commander Club Rendezvous The 2008 Chris-Craft Commander Club Rendezvous will be held from October 31 through November 2 at the Colony Hotel & Cabana Club in Delray Beach, Florida. This year’s Rendezvous will also include a visit to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, which is a short drive away. This should be a great place to meet up with fellow Commander owners, enjoy some sun and compare how well this aging fleet stands up to some of the new boats on the market. commanderclub.com
GREAT LOOP FALL RENDEZVOUS The fall rendezvous of America’s Great Loop Cruiser’s Association will be held from October 20 through October 23 at Joe Wheeler State Park & Resort just off the Tennessee River in Rogersville, Alabama. The AGLCA members-only event will feature speakers, seminars, side sessions and group meals. There are plans for a post-event Huntsville excursion as well. Pre-registration is required. greatloop.com
54 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Two Antique and Classic Boats Society Shows The Blackhawk Chapter of Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) will host the Geneva Lake Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show at the Abbey Resort and Marina on September 27, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is free to spectators. There will be 50 boats, ranging from recently built custom models to a 1928 Chris-Craft. Many of the boats will be pre-World War II. The show will be followed by a boat parade at 4:00 p.m. The Abbey Resort and Marina is located in Fontana, Wisconsin.
blackhawkacbs.com
The Dixieland Chapter of ACBS will hold its 16th annual Pickwick Rendezvous from October 10 to 12 at Pickwick Landing State Park, Pickwick Dam, Tennessee. The Chapter currently has members from l5 states, with the majority residing in Alabama and Tennessee. There are three to four in-water boating events each year, an annual meeting and an every-other-year Tennessee River cruise. The schedule of events includes dinner on Friday at the Catfish Hotel, a Saturday cruise to Café St. Clair at Aqua Yacht Harbor, followed by a dinner and presentation at the Pickwick State Park and Sunday breakfast at the Café St. Clair. acbs-dixieland.org
Thomson Jemmett Vogelzang Easter Seals Regatta
Hosted by Loyalist Cove Marina
Everyone is invited to participate in a
A barbeque, silent auction and
located in Bath, Ontario, Canada,
pursuit race around Amherst Island
children’s activities fill the day, along
this charity sailing event, which will
or to join any of the other activities.
with a Soling Club demonstration,
be held from September 12 to 13,
A pancake breakfast will be held
pig and lamb roast dinner, followed
draws upon the sailing, cruising and
Saturday, September 13, from
by live entertainment.
corporate communities of Kingston
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and will be
and surrounding areas in a bid to
followed by a skipper’s meeting. The
raise much needed funds for Easter
Amherst Island Pursuit Race begins
Seals Ontario.
with the first gun at 10:00 a.m.
loyalistcovemarina.com
greatlakesboating.com | 55
YACHT CLUB PROFILE: Huron Yacht Club
Yacht Clubs
From its austere beginning on the banks of the Huron River in 1955, the Huron Yacht Club (HYC) has emerged as one of the premier clubs in the western basin of Lake Erie. Offering a full-service restaurant and bar, HYC has been the place to be for members and transient boaters alike with club activities designed for both boaters and non-boaters. The quaint town of Huron, with its proud history as a fishing village, offers a relaxing atmosphere. If you’re inclined to pick up the pace Thunderbird Hills golf course, Sawmill Creek golf course and the famed amusement park, Cedar Point, are just a short ride away. Whether you need intimate dining for two in the top deck main There is no view comparable to the sights from HYC’S top-
dining room, luncheon meeting in the Captain’s Room (also
deck dining room. Seating for up to 150 HYC members and
newly remodeled) or cook-out for 100 on the Riverside Patio,
Inland Lakes Yacht Association (ILYA) guests provides unique
the Huron Yacht Club has something for everybody,
views of the Huron River, Municipal Boat Basin, HYC Marina,
including a power and a sail fleet that cruises all summer
the Huron Lighthouse and beautiful Lake Erie. The full-
and into September.
service menu features fresh cut steaks, pork chops, Lake Erie yellow perch, an array of salads and sandwiches and freshly
Guest docks are limited to members of the ILYA, but HYC’s
prepared daily specials. Reservations are encouraged.
proximity to the Huron Boat Basin provides more than 100 docks for your use. Either way, it won’t be difficult to find your
The club’s friendly bar staff is eager to help you relax, unwind
boat as the night winds down. The club can fill your fuel tanks
and put aside the trials of your hectic daily life, if just for a little
with either gasoline or diesel, as well as give you a pump out
while. Cocktail hour specials on house wine, domestic beer
at its gas dock.
and house liquors each Wednesday through Friday from 5:00 huronyachtclub.com
to 7:00 p.m.
30TH ANNIVERSARY J/24 NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
J/24 Fleet #1, the first and oldest J/24
racing. WYC has hosted four J/22
fleet in the world, is marking its 30th
NAC races between 1983 and 2006,
anniversary by hosting this year’s J/24
as well as many other national and
North American Championship (NAC)
championship races.
race. It will be held from September 8 through 12 at the Wayzata Yacht Club (WYC), where John Gjerde, Rolf Turnquist, John Savage and others first formed the fleet in 1977.
as well as food, beverages and
Lake Minnetonka is about 30 minutes
entertainment throughout the event.
west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and
Each day will begin with a continental
is known for windy fall days, sailboat
breakfast and end with awards at a
racing and beautiful vistas. The WYC
social event.
was started in 1965 to give sailors
Located on Lake Minnetonka, the
with fiberglass boats, then a new
Wayzata Yacht Club is no stranger to
technology, a home.
56 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
The entry fee includes the racing,
j24northamericans.com/sail
YC
FIRST 36.7 NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Last year’s race in Buffalo, New York was the most
to three miles offshore on Lake Michigan and will be
successful First 36.7 North American Championship (NAC)
comprised of both windward and leeward stretches.
to date, and this year’s promises to be even better. The 2007 First 36.7 NAC winner, Richard Reid, is competing again this year, as are more than 30 other entrants.
The fees include dockage at the Belmont Harbor in Chicago during the event. The official boat yard will be Crowley’s Yacht Yard just south of the city. Crowley’s
The 2008 NAC will be hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club
is a full-service yard with a ship’s store and full rigging
from September 3 to 6, with all of the on-land events to
department, and it will serve as the “base camp” for boats
be held at Belmont Station. The race courses will be two
arriving and departing from out of town. chicagoyachtclub.org
FALL ROUND-THE-ISLAND RACE Toronto’s National Yacht Club (NYC),
include both racing fleets and cruising
founded in 1894, has traditionally
fleets. In the cruising race, the goal
run two events to mark the opening
is not only to have the best time but
and ending of the boating season.
also to have cooked something tasty
The spring round-the-island race
aboard that will be judged by fellow
marks the start, and the fall round-
sailors upon reaching the dock. The
the-island race is the last official race.
racing fleet has it much easier—they
This year’s fall race is scheduled
only have to deal with lines, sheets
for October 4 with a start at 2:00
and sails.
In total, there will be 75 to 85 boats
The race usually starts just south of
taking part, and the crews come
Ontario Place at the Dufferin buoy.
prepared for almost any weather from
The boats sail south of Gibraltar,
warm, bright sun to rain, sleet and
around the T1 buoy at the entrance to
snow. It’s a great way to finish the
The race has a strong following, so
the Eastern Gap and finish just inside
sailing season.
NYC has had to split the race in two to
of the harbor at the Western Gap.
p.m. Afternoon starts are a tradition too, since work parties to paint the clubhouse or layout the yard precede the races each year.
thenyc.com
greatlakesboating.com | 57
4.5 MILLION BOATERS
NOW HAVE A VOICE
and SAVE up to
YOUR ADVOCATE IN t (07&3/.&/5 t ."3,&51-"$&
Subscription Rates
1 year 2 year 3 year
$29.70 $59.40 $89.10
40% off = $18 50% off = $30 60% off = $35 t '3&& MEMBERSHIP Great Lakes Boating Federation membership is free if you are already a subscriber to Great Lakes Boating or Sailing Magazine.
t MEMBERSHIP For $10, receive full member beneямБts without a magazine subscription.
t %&-69& MEMBERSHIP $25 gets you full beneямБts: a magazine subscription, a decal and a membership card.
MEMBERSHIP #&/&'*54 t "DDFTT UP GVMM DPNNVOJUZ XFCTJUF t "EWPDBDZ WPJDF GPS CPBUFST t -FHJTMBUJWF BDUJPO BMFSUT t %JTDPVOUT PO JOTVSBODF mOBODF and other products and services t )FMQ XJUI CVZJOH BOE TFMMJOH CPBUT
For upcoming beneямБts, check out our website
visit: greatlakesboating.com
312.266.8400
greatlakesboatingfederation.org
AUCTION ON THE PREMISES & ON THE NET No Reserves or Minimums!
The auction will be held @ 2133 County Hwy., W. Grafton, WI 53024 Auction date: Saturday, Oct, 2008 @ 10:00 am sharp!
Inspection dates: Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 @ 10:00 am to 6:00 pm or Friday, Oct. 3, 2008 @ 10:00 am to 6:00 pm or Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 @ 10 am or by appointment
Please note:
Boats will be readily available for inspection anytime during normal business hours 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Central standard time) by contacting 1-262-375-3004 or toll free 1-877-2740785. Ask for Mathew or Jim for appointment. Additional good news: Each of these boats will have a current yacht survey done be a well known licensed & qualified surveyor. Please call auction fi rm listed below to receive a copy of the survey by fax or e-mail. Transportation services available for all yachts on site, you can get quotes from Matt or Jim onsite anytime. New boats: (Never titled or licensed-See our website for further details & pictures of the yachts to be sold-gerlachcompanies.com) (04) Rampage 38 Express; (06) Angler 173. Used boats: (82) Cruisers Bar Harbor 26’, single 260 Merc 5.7L I/O; (91) Regal 380, (2) 7.4L 454 Merc; (02) 396 Carver, 370 hp 8.1 Merc; (93) 31’ Sea Ray 3110SS, twin 502’S I/O, 600 hp each; (02) 3870
Cruisers, Twin Crusader 8.1L 375 hp; (89) 27’ Doral Citation, single Merc 5.7L, V8; (89) 272 Formula, twin 7.4L 330 hp Merc; (01) 4450 Cruisers, twin Volvo Tamd74P IB diesels; (95) 258’ Four Winns, OMC Cobra, 5.8L, V8, 255 hp; (04) 34’ Formula PC, Twin 6.2s IO Bravo III drives; (95) Formula 382, twin 502’s I/O, 415 hp each; (98) 31’ Sea Ray 310 Sundancer, twin 5.7 Merc inboard, 260 hp; (96) Sea Ray 330 Sundancer, 7.4L Merc 310 hp twin inboards; (74) 42’ Grand Banks, twin 120 Lehman diesel engines-we have a complete listing of the upgrades; (1987) 27’ Sea Ray, twin 5.7 Merc 260 hp; (00) 506 Carver, twin, Cummins 450C. Motor Home: (95) 34’ Gulfstream Sun Voyager, Ford V10 engine, very clean! TERMS: No warranties or guarantees. Cash, Cashiers Check or a Check Only With A Bank Letter Guaranteeing Your Check. No Credit Cards On Site. 10% Buyer’s Fee On Site & 13% On The Net.
Register @ Proxibid for Internet bidding www.proxibid.com (877-505-7770) • For more information visit our website @ www.gerlachcompanies.com
Marinas
WAUKEGAN CUTS RIBBON ON NEW MARINA
to handle repairs, as well as emergencies. It also allowed the Port District to operate golf carts to shuttle boaters and equipment from shore to each pier. The total number of slips was reduced from 361 to 321 to allow the new ones to accommodate larger and wider boats. The main fixed pier was retained with the floating units connected to it by ADA-compliant bridge systems. The Port District accepted bids in mid summer of 2007 for dock demolition, dredging and new construction. Dredging The sun was shining brightly on June 18, 2008 when Waukegan Port District Board Chairman Rodger Welker cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the newly renovated South Pier docks. Others in attendance included the entire Port District board, marina staff and harbor tenants. This ceremony officially brought to conclusion a project that had spanned more than three years of feasibility studies, planning, permitting and construction.
and demolition were eventually combined into one package, with new construction as the second. In early fall of 2007, Durocher Marine was awarded the contract for demolition and dredging, while Skipper Marine Development was awarded the new construction. Demolition and dredging began in October, and initial dock placement began in late December, 2007. In spite of a winter of record cold temperatures, 20 inches of ice and above normal snowfall, the first of the new docks were occupied in mid May.
The District contracted with JJR, LLC of Madison, Wisconsin to act as its design and project management team. After numerous plans were presented and studied, the decision was made to demolish and replace half of the existing marina with new floating docks while retaining the basic overall layout of the original marina. One unique feature of the original layout was having two main piers that extended from shore and connected all the other piers to common access points. This configuration allowed maintenance and emergency vehicles to drive from shore to the docks
The new docks are manufactured by Galvafoam and include steel frames topped by concrete deck panels. Power pedestals feature snap in/out receptacles to provide boaters with power, satellite TV and water service all in one unit. The dock design incorporates several large gathering areas, along with two areas for installing Jet Ski docking ports. Additional improvements include new railings, lighting and security gates. waukeganport.com
NORTH POINT CELEBRATES MARINA DAY and fauna trailer, music, plus much
patients spent some time visiting the
more. There were 10 food vendors
craft booths and sampling food from
and 55 other vendors displaying their
different countries that was offered by
crafts and artwork or advertising
the food vendors.
their business products. The main events included the Venetian Parade of Lighted Boats, which had 18 participants. Fireworks lighted the North Point Marina celebrated its eighth annual National Marina Day event on August 9, 2008. The day’s events ran from 12:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. and featured activities for children and adults.
sky as the grand finale.
event. Plans are already underway for next year’s event, which will be held on August 8, 2009 and will celebrate the marina’s 20th anniversary. Dave
Patients from Cancer Treatment
Suthard, Acting General Manager, said
Center’s of America were treated to
it promises to be an awesome event.
afternoon boat rides. Skipper Bud’s donated the boat and crew for the afternoon cruises. The cruises were a
Daytime activities included the catfish
big hit. The hospital patients come to
fishing pond, children’s games, the
CTCA in Zion, Illinois from all over the
Department of Natural Resource’s flora
United States. After the boat rides, the
60 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
More than 13,000 attended this year’s
North Point Marina is owned by the State of Illinois and operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. npmonline.com
SHEBOYGAN OFFERS MEGA-YACHT ACCOMMODATIONS The City of Sheboygan, Wisconsin has recently completed construction of the new South Pier face-dock. The brand new 1,000-foot wall dock is capable of accommodating boats greater than 300 feet in length. The South Pier offers full mega-yacht docking services, including shore power (single phase 30- and 50-amp circuits, and 100-amp three phase circuits), dockside water and restroom/picnic facilities. Located on the south side of the Sheboygan River on the newly developed South Pier peninsula, the facedock offers daily, weekly, monthly and annual dockage services for both commercial and recreational use vessels. The face-dock is ideal for accommodating large crafts (60 feet plus). During construction, the South Pier hosted the Chicago Yacht Club’s annual rendezvous, a diverse mix of boats ranging from 65 feet to 112 feet. The South Pier has hosted a variety of vessels, including The Nina, The Spirit of Sheboygan, tall ships, a USCG research vessel and large catamarans. The pier offers many business opportunities for commercial large boat owners. Long known for its active commercial fishing, as well as successful charter ventures, the South Pier development is a fresh and new addition to Sheboygan’s waterfront that offers a hub for boating business ventures.
WESTREC APPOINTS ENZA MONTANO ASST. GENERAL MANAGER OF CHICAGO’S HARBORS Enza Montano was recently promoted to Assistant General Manager of the Chicago Harbors. Montano, who has worked for Westrec Marinas since 2003, had previously worked as the national customer service manager for Westrec Marinas, directing the customer service training and customer feedback programs for Westrec’s employees throughout the U.S. Fifty-two hundred boaters moor in Chicago’s nine harbors. Together, they deliver an economic impact of $80 million, $15 million of which goes directly to the Chicago Park District (CPD). The CPD uses this money to subsidize jogging racks, tennis courts and many other recreational instruments for Chicago citizens. As assistant general manager, Montano will be involved with almost every aspect of harbor management, from budgeting to customer relations. She has the specific responsibility of overseeing the marina managers of four marinas in the area, including 59th Street, Jackson Park Inner Harbor, Jackson Park Outer Harbor and Marina Shores in Portage, Indiana. Prior to working for Westrec, Enza worked for the Chicago Park District as a finance manager, overseeing fi ve privatized contracts, including the Chicago harbors, Soldier Field, Kemper Golf and lakefront concessions. With revenue totaling more than $60 million annually, Enza developed the Chicago Park District’s budgets, supervised capital improvement accounts and performed audits and other financial and budgetary functions. chicagoharbors.info
greatlakesboating.com | 61
Fishing
PLAN TO RESTORE LAKE MICHIGAN LAKE TROUT lake trout to Lake Superior, as surveys
fish the best chance of surviving
by Wisconsin Department of Natural
and reproducing, he says. Increased
Resources (WDNR) fish crews show.
control of sea lamprey populations
Intensive stocking of lake trout in deep water off Sheboygan in an area known as the mid-lake reef complex,
photos courtesy of WDNR
Efforts to restore native populations of lake trout in Lake Michigan would shift to intensive stocking of the fish in deepwater areas of the lake that are less affected by non-native invasive species, under a draft management plan. Fish biologists hope stocking lake trout in two deep-water areas of Lake Michigan can help restore this species. Great gains have been made in restoring
is also necessary to help achieve the population densities required for sustained natural reproduction.
and in Michigan waters in the vicinity
Stocking those two deep-water areas,
of Beaver Island, are key components
however, also means there will be
of the draft plan that Wisconsin and
fewer fish for stocking in Lake Michigan
other Great Lakes states fish biologists
near shore areas in Wisconsin, Illinois,
hope will restore this native species
Michigan and Indiana. Overall, the
where previous attempts have not. All
plan calls for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
lake trout stocked in Lake Michigan
Service to raise and stock 3.31 million
are produced by the U.S. Fish and
yearlings and 550,000 fingerlings.
Wildlife Service and stocked pursuant
The plan also calls for stocking three
to management strategies developed by
different strains of lake trout in an
state and tribal agencies that work on
effort to increase genetic diversity and,
the lake.
ultimately, natural reproduction.
These deep water areas typically
Lake trout was a mainstay of
are less affected by alewives, an
commercial fishing in the early 1900s
invasive fish species that recent
but had declined in all of the Great
research suggests may harm lake trout
Lakes by the 1930s. By the 1950s, after
reproduction, according to Bill Horns,
the introduction and proliferation of sea
Great Lakes fisheries biologist with
lampreys and years of overfishing, lake
the WDNR. Concentrating stocking
trout were extinct in Lake Michigan,
in these deep-water areas, which are
although some native lake trout survived
mostly already designated as refuges
in Lake Superior.
off limits to anglers, will give the stocked
fws.gov/fishing
WORLD FISHING NETWORK LAUNCHES IN HD WFN HD provides recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts with a line-up that covers a wide range of programming, including American and Canadian angling, saltwater and freshwater fishing, professional competitions, expert advice, international tournaments, travel destinations and conservation. WFN HD’s summer line-up features 21 series in all, exclusive to WFN in high-definition. The HD program line-up includes Dave Mercer’s Facts of Fishing, Bass Edge with tournament pro Aaron Martin, Fishing the Flats featuring Henry Waszczuk, Hooked with Mark Krupa Insight Sports, a leading sports media and entertainment
and The New Fly Fisher. WFN HD features extensive
company has announced the launch of WFN HD, North
tournament coverage, theme nights, international series
America’s only 24-hour high definition fishing lifestyle
and diverse species coverage. WFN offers viewers insight
network. Through a carriage agreement with Echostar’s
from a variety of professional anglers such as Bob Izumi,
DISH Network, WFN HD has been added to the satellite
Angelo Viola, Dave Mercer and J.P. DeRose.
television company’s package of high-definition channels on channel 394.
62 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
insightsports.com
STURGEON HOOK AND LINE SEASON OPENS WITH NEW REGULATIONS permanent rule this season. Opening day there is also September 6 and the season will close October 15. There is a 50-inch minimum length harvest limit and a one-perseason bag. The state Natural Resources Board adopted the changes earlier this year to reduce the sturgeon harvest on several popular fisheries and provide additional protection to spawning females, according to Karl Scheidegger, who leads the Department of Natural Resources sturgeon management team. If anglers do plan to harvest a sturgeon this season, they must purchase a harvest tag before they fish. The sturgeon harvest tag was implemented for the first time in the 2006 photo courtesy of WDNR
hook and line season. All revenues from the harvest tag
Wisconsin’s 2008 hook and line season for lake sturgeon
sales go directly to projects dedicated to the improvement
opens September 6 on major river systems statewide, with
of sturgeon populations and habitats and, therefore, better
rule changes aimed at assuring the future of the state’s
fishing opportunities. No tag is needed if anglers are
sturgeon fisheries.
catch-and-release fishing only. Anglers who harvest a
The season has been shortened and ends September 30, and the minimum length for harvesting sturgeon has been increased to 60 inches. There is a one-fish limit per
legal-size fish must immediately attach the harvest tag to the fish and take it to a registration station by 6 p.m. the next day for registration.
season on those waters where there is an open season.
Waters open to hook-and-line sturgeon fishing can be
There is catch and release only fishing on a stretch of the
found in the 2008 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line
Menominee River downstream from the Hattie Street dam
Fishing Regulations. For more information, visit the lake
to Green Bay.
sturgeon page of the DNR Web site where you can find
The St. Croix River below St. Croix Falls, which borders Wisconsin and Minnesota, will not be affected by the
details about current regulations, restoration efforts, sturgeon distribution and much more. dnr.state.wi.us
KIDS INVITED TO FISH O’ RAMA The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin is inviting kids up to 12 years of age to participate in their annual Fish O’ Rama on Sunday, September 14. Registration begins at 11 a.m., fishing take place from noon until 1 p.m., and the drawings begin shortly thereafter. Kids will be fishing in the 80,000-gallon pond behind the musky statue for panfish, a few bass and northern pike. There will be a catch-a-kelp contest with six places, three for the three largest fish and three for the most fish
In addition to the free food and fun,
their own fishing tackle, bait and a
caught. There will also be free hot
goodie bags and door prizes will also
bucket to hold their fish.
dogs, chips, pop and ice cream.
be handed out. Children need to bring
fishhall@cheqnet.net // (715) 634-4440
greatlakesboating.com | 63
National
FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW The Fort
world is building. From necessities to luxuries, the world’s
Lauderdale
most talented and influential manufacturers and shipyards
International
will be here to show up-to-date and extravagant options
Boat Show is the
and amenities for yacht building. At the Powerful Engines
world’s largest.
exhibit, you can select from the newest engines, generators
This year, the
and air conditioners for small boats, mid-size cruisers and
show’s 49th, it
superyachts from every leading manufacturer worldwide.
will take place from October 30 through November 3. Over $3 billion worth of boats, yachts, superyachts, electronics and accessories will cover more than three million square feet of exhibit space on land and in water throughout six different sites.
And this is but a small sample of all that is going on during this five-day event. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m from Thursday through Monday. Tickets to the Prime Time Preview on opening night
At the Superyacht Showcase, you can see yachts 80 feet
are $32.00. After that, general
in length and longer from the world’s best-known builders.
admission is $18 for adults, $5 for
The Yacht Builders & Designers Tent, a 60,000-sq.-ft.
children between six and 15 and
air-conditioned space, will feature the newest and most
free for kids younger than six.
innovative advances in form and style. The International
showmanagement.com
Yacht Builders Pavilion is the place to see what the rest of the
GRANTS FOR WATERFRONT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS “Quite simply, Interlux is asking boaters who say they care about the environment to prove it,” said Waterfront Challenge director Douglas Bernon. “Clean up a beach or river bank. Re-build a handicap-accessible dock. We’ll consider all small-scale projects that could result in effective waterfront improvements.” Interlux Yacht Finishes is challenging boaters to take
Small groups—organized clubs, a group of friends, a
steps to help improve their local waterfront—and giving
family—should apply now for grants to be awarded at the
them a $60,000 incentive to do it.
Miami International Boat Show in February, 2009. The
The Waterfront Challenge will award eight grants of
deadline for applications is November 5. A six-judge panel
$5,000 to $25,000 to support grassroot efforts by
will award seven regional grants of $5,000 each and one
boaters to create sustainable waterfront environmental
grant of $25,000 for the best overall waterfront project.
improvements in their communities.
wfchallenge.com
CONGRESS EXEMPTS RECREATIONAL BOATS FROM PROPOSED EPA PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS In a remarkable display of bipartisan
Congressional action was spawned
“One of the real keys to success here
support for recreational boating, both
by a U.S. District Court decision in
was our collective ability to activate the
the House and Senate have passed the
September 2006 under which an
grassroots,” said BoatU.S. Government
Clean Boating Act of 2008, which will
estimated 17 million recreational boats
Affairs Director Margaret Podlich, noting
permanently restore a long-standing
would have fallen under Clean Water
that tens of thousands of letters and
exemption for recreational boats
Act permit requirements effective
e-mails were generated by boaters and
from permitting requirements under
September 30, 2008. The permit
anglers over the course of the past
the Clean Water Act. The legislation
would have dictated maintenance and
12 months.
now goes to the White House for the
operation procedures and potentially
President’s signature.
subjected boaters to citizen lawsuits as well as a penalty system designed for industrial polluters.
64 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
boatus.com/gov
SWITLIK LIFE RAFT SAFETY ALERT NOTICE If you are the owner of a marine life raft manufactured by
This is not obvious and could cause false reliance on a life
Switlik Parachute Co., it may have a potential problem with
raft that, if needed, may not inflate and function as a life-
the inflation system. There have been reports of SWITLIK
saving device.
life raft S-2630 inflation valves failing to operate properly and discharge the gas from the CO2 cylinder into the life raft during performance of annual service
SWITLIK is implementing a corrective action that mandates replacement of the S-2630 inflation valves currently in service. As this issue directly
and standard five-year operational and
affects whether or not a life raft will
inflation testing.
properly inflate in case of an emergency, this valve replacement should occur
Inspection of these valves indicated
at the earliest practical opportunity.
clear signs of changes in the consistency of the lubricant
switlik.com // (609) 587-3300
and a degradation of the piston O-ring material. This resulted in the O-rings adhering to the pistons and valve bodies, causing the inflation valves to malfunction.
TRAVELERS INTRODUCES FIRST ELECTRIC BOAT DISCOUNT
Whether boaters are interested in a quieter boating
Most electric boats cost between one and two dollars to
experience or are seeking environmentally friendly boating
fully charge for 10 or 12 hours of cruising time, meaning
solutions that help save money on annual fuel costs,
they cost approximately $.10 to $.12 per hour to operate.
electric boats can provide the right alternative for this
This significantly differs from conventionally fueled boats,
segment of boaters. As a result, the number of electric
which the marine industry estimates use about one gallon of
boat manufacturers has grown and there continues to be a
fuel per hour for every 10 horsepower, while diesel engines
demand for electric boats in the current economy.
consume about one gallon of fuel per hour for every 18
To meet and encourage this new interest, Travelers has announced an industry-first insurance premium discount that will provide owners of electrically powered boats a rate reduction of up to 10 percent. Travelers defines an electric boat as a vessel 100 percent powered by a propeller-driven, electric in-board source where utility power is stored on board. These vessels are found to require less maintenance and breakdown less often than a typical gasoline or diesel powered boat, simply because the motors are less complex. Most electric boats have a top speed of between five and nine knots or about six to 10 miles per hour, which makes them suitable for
horsepower. Therefore, it would cost about $50 to run a 10 horsepower gasoline engine or an 18 horsepower diesel engine for 10 hours. A number of states are designating certain waterways as electric-only navigation. This phenomenon has been a trend in Europe and is now catching on around the United States. Electric-only waterways help to keep the environment clean and create a quieter atmosphere for boaters looking to cruise and enjoy the outdoors. Additionally, electric boats are often utilized in speed-restricted waterways that require boats to be operated without a wake. travelers.com
leisurely cruising. greatlakesboating.com | 65
National
KAYAKING/CANOEING FATALITIES CLIMB
evermore people are turning to canoes and kayaks. As they do, the incidence of accidents increases too. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the American Canoe Association offers some basic safety tips that could help reduce the fatality rate. • Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. • Be comfortable in the water, out of your boat. • Obtain the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for kayaking and canoeing.
• Always boat with a group. Three boats is a recommended minimum. • Know how to self-rescue, and practice doing so. • File a float plan with friends, family or the authorities. • Bring appropriate safety, rescue and navigational aids, and more than adequate food, water and protective clothing. Do not wear cotton! • Pick an activity level that matches your ability, and Between 2006 and 2007, overall recreational boating fatalities decreased from 710 to 685. Over the same time period, the number of fatalities associated with the use of canoes and kayaks increased from 99 to 107. This figure, which comes from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, represents 15.6 percent of the total of all recreational fatalities in the U.S. in 2007. Of the 107 fatalities associated with kayaking and canoeing, 97 were from drowning. A recent study by the Outdoor Industry Foundation has shown a dramatic increase in the number of Americans participating in kayaking. In 2005 alone, there was a 23 percent increase
progress to more demanding challenges. • Monitor your physical and emotional condition, and watch the other members or your group for fatigue, illness and changes in behavior. • Know and follow all local, state and federal laws. • Be visible—wear bright colors so others can see you between waves or in the fog. Carry a bright light, flares and whistle to signal your position. • Take a boating safety class.
in the number of American kayakers. With rising fuel costs,
americancanoe.org // join.cgaux.org
HONDA MARINE’S TRUE 5-YEAR PROGRAM NOW STANDARD Honda Marine has announced that its
of our full range of reliable, fuel-efficient
limited warranty is now a standard
outboards affords Honda Marine customers
feature for all Honda outboards (2-225
an unparalleled level of award-winning dealer
hp) purchased on or after July 1, 2008,
support,” said John Fulcher, senior manager,
for recreational use. Coverage under the
Honda Marine. “With full Honda backing and
program is the same on the last day as it is
non-declining coverage, True 5 keeps Honda
on the first.
Marine customers where they want to be—on
“With five consecutive recognitions from the NMMA for outstanding customer
66 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
service, offering True 5 as a standard feature
True 5-year, factory-backed, non-declining
the water.” hondamarine.com
SURVEY SAYS HIGHER FUEL COSTS MEANS FEWER BOAT TRIPS Recently, Mad Mariner, an online magazine, asked boaters,
Two hundred men and 200 women participated in the
“How do you think the price of fuel will impact your boating
survey, and they were asked about more than just fuel
season?” Forty-five percent of respondents said they “will
costs. When asked whether or not boating is equally friendly
go boating less often,” 32 percent said they will “take
to men and women, 48 percent of males said it is and 64
shorter trips” and five percent said they “won’t go boating
percent of women said men are favored.
at all.” That left only about a third of respondents—32 percent—who said they “won’t make any changes” and one percent that still doesn’t know how they will react. The survey also asked boaters what the price of fuel has
The 30-question poll was conducted for Mad Mariner in June by Mountain West Research Center using secure surveys completed online. The margin of error was plus-orminus five percent.
caused them to do so far. Forty-three percent said they
madmariner.com // (888) 256-5011
delayed launching their boat this season. Eight percent have already put their boat up for sale. And 18 percent said they are considering a different, more fuel-efficient boat.
CALIFORNIA LEADS NATION IN BOATING ACCIDENTS In a recent report released by the
In 2006 there were 757 reported
fatalities 71 percent of the victims
California Department of Boating and
boating accidents and 42 fatalities in
drowned. Of that group, 87 percent
Waterways (CAL Boating), California
California. The 2007 figures represent
were not wearing a life jacket.
led the nation in 2007 with 804
a 6.2 percent increase in accidents
reported boating accidents and was
and 30 percent increase in fatalities.
number two in boating fatalities with
Operator inattention was noted as the
55. Florida, with more than 62,000
primary cause of boating accidents
registered boats, had 136 fewer
and fatalities in 2007, followed by
accidents than California, according
operator inexperience and excessive
the to report.
speed. The report showed that of the
Education about water safety is important, and the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary urge boaters, divers, kayakers, canoeists and all members of the maritime community to take a boating safety course. dbw.ca.gov
FALL BOAT SHOW SEASON KICKS OFF Fall is here, and that means boat shows. From Florida to
Photos courtesy Norwalk International In-Water Boat Show
Toronto, from Indianapolis to Annapolis—wherever you live, there’s bound to be a boat show somewhere nearby. From September 18 to 21, the 33rd edition of the Norwalk International In-Water Boat Show will bring buyers (and dreamers) to this Connecticut town on Long Island Sound. There, they will find more than 750 luxury motor and sailing yachts, sport fishers, performance boats, sailboats, personal water craft, inflatables, fishing gear and a leading-edge selection of engines, electronics and marine accessories. From September 10 to 14, the 36th Annual North American In-Water Boat Show will take place at Sandusky, Ohio’s Cedar Point Marina, while in Florida that same weekend the Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show will take place at the South
Then over the weekend of the November 8 to 9, the
Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach.
Jacksonville, Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show will take place at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
On the Great Lakes, there’s the Grand Haven In-Water Boat Show from September 12 to 14; Boat Show USA at Mt.
See our Events section on pages 86 and 87 for a more
Clemens, Michigan’s Metro Beach Metropark from September
complete listing of shows.
17 to 21; and the Toronto In-Water Boat Show at Ontario Place from September 11 to 14.
greatlakesboating.com | 67
Sailing
ROAD TO ROLEX CLINICS EXPANDING
In an effort to promote the growth of women in sailing, Rolex
SAILING’s Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy Alison.
Watch U.S.A. is expanding its sponsorship of “Road to
Alison is an internationally recognized sailing educator
Rolex” clinics. The clinics are educating women in keelboat
and coach and has won the Rolex IWKC five times. Expert
racing, with the intention of preparing them for competing
sailors, including past Rolex IWKC participants, will act as
in US SAILING’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat
coaches. For clinics with more than five participating boats,
Championship (Rolex IWKC). The biannual event will be
the organizer will run a series of short races. The winner will
held next at the Houston Yacht Club in La Porte, Texas from
receive a $200 credit toward her Rolex IWKC entry fee.
October 14 to 17, 2009. Working with US SAILING, they seek to increase the number of clinics by asking yacht clubs and sailing centers to host these clinics.
The first scheduled clinic will be held at the Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club (Oak Point, Texas) with Elizabeth Kratzig from October 31 to November 2, 2008.
The clinics are designed in one- and two-day formats, and
ussailing.org/riwkc
include an instruction manual developed by five-time US
TRANSATLANTIC MAXI YACHT CUP 2008
uneventful crossing, the traditionally steady northeasterly trade winds on the 2,700-mile course offer plenty of challenges for this yearís competing maxi yachts of 18 metres (70 feet) and above. The Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup is promoted by the International Maxi Association (IMA), with YCCS organizing the regatta in collaboration Originally conceived in 2007 as a
(the largest of the seven Canary Islands
with the Real Club Nautico de Tenerife
biennial event, the Transatlantic Maxi
off the northwest coast of Africa),
for the start and the Sint Maarten Yacht
Yacht Cup will take place in 2008 based
setting the Maxis racing across the
Club for the finish. It is open to monohull
on the success of the inaugural event
North Atlantic Ocean. It should take
Maxi yachts with a minimum overall
held last fall. Organized by the Yacht
them roughly two weeks to reach the
length of 18 metres (59 feet) that are in
Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), the
finish line off the island of Sint Maarten
compliance with the IMAís five division
starting gun for the 2008 Transatlantic
in the Netherlands Antilles.
regulations (Racing, Cruising, Wally,
Maxi Yacht Cup will sound on Monday, November 24, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
68 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Spirit of Tradition and Mini Maxi). While the seven yachts that participated in the 2007 race enjoyed a largely
www.yccs.it
MORNING LIGHT DEBUTS OCTOBER 17 This true-life sailing film tells the tale of 15 young sailors who
The movie covers the entire process, from the crew selection,
compete in the legendary Transpacific (TRANSPAC) Yacht
try-outs and training to the actual race. Aboard a 52-foot
Race. Ranging in age from 18 to 23, these sailors race from
sloop, these young sailors are on a course that will change
Los Angeles, California to Hawaii, a journey of 2,500 miles.
their lives forever. apple.com/trailers/disney/morninglight
INLAND 20 SCOW SAILING ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA
Green Lake Yacht Club in Green Lake, Wisconsin will host
registration for any boat that is pre-registered in the open
the Inland 20 Scow National Championship Regatta from
event. Junior skippers are under 20, but anyone may be a
September 19 to 21, 2008. Registration includes lunches
part of the crew.
and dinners for two on Saturday and Sunday, two t-shirts, park launch fee, entertainment and trophies. Awards will be given to the skipper and crew for the top
Saturday night is capped with a pig roast at the Thrasher Opera House. The Swing Crew, an interactive acoustic band, will perform following the dinner.
five overall finishers of the open division and the top five skippers of the junior division. The junior division has free
inland20.org
2008 MINNESOTA LEUKEMIA CUP REGATTA This year’s Leukemia Cup Regatta will
inspiration and motivation. They
a chance to win a Fantasy Sail with Gary
be held on White Bear Lake, Minnesota,
also represent the daily and lifelong
Jobson, a member of the 1976 America’s
located just 30 minutes north of St. Paul,
challenges faced by someone suffering
Cup championship crew.
from September 12 to 14. The event is
from blood cancer. The 2008 Honored
not just for the sport of racing; it’s to
Skipper is Scott Nocton, and the 2008
save lives through raising money for the
Honored Crew is Isaac Colby.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Last year more than 55 boats raced to raise $60,000. leukemiacup.org/mn
Each sailor is encouraged to raise funds.
Two local Patient Honorees are
There are several levels of fundraising
sponsored by this event, providing
incentives, including a top local prize of
greatlakesboating.com | 69
NEW BOATS
CENTURY 2400 INSHORE
Based on the success of its 2400 Inshore in 2007, Century Boat Company decided to offer it with an optional Yamaha F350, V-8 outboard as a boat/ motor combination that would give anglers the speed, performance, reliability and range necessary for charters, fishing tournaments or entertaining. Also optional are a tower installed at the factory that features a dual helm station and Yamaha Command Link, an information system that provides boat performance data to its users.
Storage features include a 13-cubic-foot dry storage box under the front casting deck with recesses for two five-gallon buckets. The port and starboard rod boxes are equipped with six-rod organizers per side. The lockers can easily hold 8-foot rods, and the starboard rod locker can be exchanged for an insulated fish/storage box. The leaning post houses a 25-gallon baitwell, as well as six-rod holders, tool storage and a tackle drawer. Forward of the console is a 72-quart removable cooler, which doubles as a seat. The rear deck features a 35-gallon live/releasewell, an insulated 44-gallon fishbox/cooler located in the port rear deck, and a nine-cubic-foot storage area accessible on the starboard side. There is also an enclosed portable head onboard. Helm features include a tinted windshield, stainless steel steering wheel, hydraulic steering and Yamaha gauges. The suggested retail price of the 2400 Inshore with optional F350 and dual-helm tower is $82,995. centur yboats.com
70 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
TIGÉ RZ2
The 22-foot Tigé RZ2 is more than just cutting-edge style…it’s state-of-the-art substance in the form of performance, multi-sport versatility, user comfort and handling. The advanced electronics and control systems are simple to use and dramatically enhance the driving experience. With a 102-inch beam, the wide-open bow is extremely dry and the comfortable cockpit is expansive, functional and user friendly. The new Tigé AlphaZ tower is the most solid, rattle-free tower in the industry.
The RZ2 delivers outstanding wakeboarding wakes even without ballast. Advanced riders can take advantage of the optional 900-pound factory ballast system that is engineered into the floor to keep storage areas free and clear. Combined with the Tigé ConvexV hull and TAPS2 technology, the standard PCM EX 343 hp 5.7 power train delivers superior speed, acceleration and fuel efficiency along with quiet, vibration-free operation. The RZ2 is also available with a PCM 6.0L ZR6 409 hp power train. Both engine packages are available with PCM Catanium CES technology, the most advanced marine catalyst system offered today. The RZ2 delivers exceptional handling and an outstanding big water ride. Whether you’re busting through double-ups or cruising in the lake, passengers will relish the safety, dryness and total comfort of the RZ2 ride. The RZ2 is one of eight Tigé models ranging in length from 20 to 24 feet.
tige.com
greatlakesboating.com | 71
NEW BOATS
PRINCECRAFT PRO 169LX WS
The Pro 169LX from Princecraft was designed to make fishing easy. This objective is reflected in its simple, efficient, fishing-minded layout and its many fishing-friendly features.
The Pro 169LX WS is the Windshield edition that offers twin consoles with a full-width, curved, tinted, tempered glass windshield with a center door pass-through for easy access from the helm to the bow. This model can be equipped with the optional stand-up high convertible top, which, coupled with side curtains and tonneau cover, offer additional protection from the elements by fully enclosing the boat. Features of the Pro 169LX include a carpeted bow deck for trolling motor installation; 12/24-volt trolling motor panel; 20-gallon, electric-fill, aerated SportFlo™ livewell with anti-spill cover; and a dual deep-cycle battery storage compartment. All are within easy reach on the front casting platform. The stern platform incorporates running battery storage and a second, 10-gallon, electric-fill aerated SportFlo™ livewell with anti-spill cover. From the stern, there is also easy access to the seven-foot, portside rod locker. Amidships, the Pro 169LX is fully carpeted with in-floor seating mounts at six different positions and a fully-lit, fi ve-gauge dash panel at the helm. Offered as a complete boat-motor-trailer package, the Pro 169LX can be complemented with such options as additional pedestal seats, galvanized trailer upgrade and a full canvas package. princecraft.com // (800) 395-8858
72 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
VALIANT 42
Created from the same mold as the Valiant 40, the Valiant 42 hull has been made with a tougher seaworthy material. The isophthalic resins control blistering, and the larger, more efficient Series 90 Vacanti keel adds to its performance.
The deck design can accommodate any of three layout formats that can be personalized to the owner’s specifications: side entry with traditional layout, side or center entry with Pullman berth and center entry with queen berth. The external, bolted-on lead ballast protects against accidental grounding and also provides a low stabilizing center of gravity that optimizes performance and safety. Each component has been engineered for easy maintenance and service. The engine, tanks and pumps all are easily accessible and can be removed if necessary. Below decks, Valiant offers a semi-custom interior design that incorporates the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. Unsurpassed joinery work, combined with select primary woods such as cherry or teak accented with ash and poplar in designated areas, ensures your home away from home will be stylish and comfortable. All furniture is fiberglass bonded to the hull and deck, ensuring maximum strength. Notable features include aromatic cedar liners in lockers and drawer bottoms, vented wet locker with drain and an icebox with four-inch closed cell foam insulation and vapor barrier with sliding shelves and divider. valiantsailboats.com
greatlakesboating.com | 73
NEW PRODUCTS
GREEN-GAS AIR CONDITIONING UNITS The new EnviroComfort and EnviroCool air conditioning units from Dometic Environmental are designed with a small footprint for easy retrofit into boats of all types and sizes. All air conditioning components, including the compressor, condenser, evaporator, blower and other associated subsystems, are mounted on a single chassis. The quiet highvelocity blower can be rotated for discharge in horizontal or vertical directions and the blower motor design eliminates overhang and saves space. To aid with corrosion resistance, the condensate drain pan is stainless steel.
display/control panel, while the cooling-only EnviroCool
These air conditioners will be marketed under the Dometic
product uses a mechanical thermostat switch. Both styles
brand name through the company’s aftermarket distribution
are offered in seven different capacities ranging from 3,500
networks and will replace Dometic’s CabinMate, CoolMate
to 17,000 BTU. Both systems are packaged as complete
and Zephyr products.
installation kits that include all necessary seawater and air-
The reverse-cycle EnviroComfort unit provides both heating
distribution components.
and cooling for year-round comfort and comes with a digital
dometicenviro.com //
ANGLER’S UTILITY TOOL The 2Handee angler’s utility tool, developed by the 2Handee Tackle Co., is built to handle a variety of important fishing tasks. Strong cutting jaws are specially designed to slice cleanly through monofilament and modern super-braids. A super sharp, serrated knife blade is ideal whether cutting rope or cutting bait and folds securely away when not in use. The 2Handee tool also features an integrated and replaceable grooved sharpening stone that helps maintain that “sticky sharp” effect on your hook; it is also great for touching up a dull fillet knife. Another technique of top tournament and recreational anglers is to custom tune crankbaits, which ensures that they run straight and optimize their fish-catching performance. The 2Handee tool boasts unique tuning notches specially designed to custom tune crankbaits, along with a jig eye reamer to quickly remove excess paint from jig heads. To help dislodge hooks and promote safe catch-and-release angling, the 2Handee also features a handy hook disgorger. The suggested retail price of the 2Handee utility tool is $10.99. 2Handee.com // (859) 223-2277
ANTENNA EXTENDS Wi-Fi RANGE Shakespeare Electronic Products
This sturdy two-foot white antenna
Compatible with Shakespeare’s 4187
Group’s new Galaxy Style 5248 Wi-Fi
features an 8 dB gain and operates on
and 5187 style mounts, this powerful
Antenna helps extend the range of
the 2.4 GHz bandwidth. It incorporates
little Wi-Fi antenna is DC-grounded. It
laptops and other Wi-Fi enabled devices
high-tech PCB copper elements
carries a five-year limited warranty.
that can be connected to external
and includes an N-type connector.
antennas. Boat owners can continue to
The 5248 Wi-Fi antenna’s one-inch,
work or play online, whether they’re at
14-thread stainless steel sleeve-collar
the dock or cruising along the shoreline.
ferrule design accommodates larger diameter coaxial cables. If necessary, the antenna can be replaced without rerunning the coax.
74 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
The Galaxy Style 5248 Wi-Fi Antenna has a suggested retail price of $239.95. shakespeare-marine.com // 803-227-1590
DOCK WHEEL MOORING SOLUTION Dock Sentry created its Dock Wheel Mooring Solution to solve flooding dilemmas in rising water situations for boats docked in periodic flooding or rising tide areas on stationary or floating docks. Simply drop the Dock Sentry over the pole (up to 2 3/4-inch o.d.), secure mooring line to tie position on the top of the Dock Sentry pipe (above float retainer) and secure a second line to the second Dock Sentry (secure one at the stern and
position to the dock. The heavy-duty, vinyl product is made
one at the bow). When exiting and entering the dock, a third
to be extra durable and is U.V. resistant.
unit can also act as a docking wheel to help guide the boat into and out of the slip. Dock Sentry eliminates the need to
The Dock Sentry Dock Wheel can be purchased at
wade through flood waters to retie the boat.
DockSentry.com and retails for $69 for the 12-inch size (float diameter), $79 for the 16-inch size and $129 for an anodized
Dock Sentry holds the boat in place but allows up and down
aluminum telescoping five-foot pole and mounting bracket.
movement of the boat during flooding and receding water periods, while still keeping the boat in the same relative
docksentr y.com // 866.272.2205
FOR POWER AND SAILBOAT SAFETY Signal Mate is a battery
the Coast Guard Navigation Rules. In
In operation, the horn and light are
operated light/horn
emergency conditions, an SOS signal,
removed from the carrying case and
both light and sound, is selected.
mounted on top of it. The package is then
signal package for enhanced boating safety in conditions of restricted visibility and in emergency
The heart of the unit is a waterproof
secured to the foredeck or cabin top.
controller featuring push buttons to
The panel controller is available as a
select sound/light signals, danger
separate unit and can be panel or bracket
doubt and SOS. Light and horn can be
mounted and wired to a vessel’s light
operated alone or together with manual
and/or horn systems.
or automatic operation.
The Signal Mate portable kit has a retail
situations such as
The complete package is contained in
price of $399, the flush mount version is
engine breakdown.
a water-resistant case that includes the
priced at $279 and the console mount
panel controller, seven amp/hour re-
retails for $299.
Signal Mate is set on deck in fog and other low visibility conditions and assists the helmsman by automating the sound and light safety signals required by
chargeable battery, AC and DC chargers, 106 db horn and 360-degree high
signalmate.com // (410) 675-4901
intensity LED light.
SBC ADVANCED PLUS BATTERY CHARGERS Capable of charging several groups of batteries at a time, the
Compatible with all
Mini, Low, Medium and Hi-Power SBC Advanced Plus Battery
types of generators,
Chargers from Quick are equipped with three-stage, automatic
these chargers meet
charging and multiple outputs. On models with maximum
the majority of onboard
output current ranging from 30 to 80 amps, the CAN-BUS
requirements with output currents ranging from eight to 240
interface can also be used for data transfer.
amps. Universal AC and DC input versions are available.
The Hi-Power SBC Advanced Plus Battery Chargers come with
Optional accessories include Quick’s RDS Remote Panels
a digital sharing system that enables up to three of these units
that monitor the battery charger’s status through the CAN-
to be placed in parallel to charge battery banks up to 2,400 Ah.
BUS interface. Easy to install, the RDS 1520, RDS 1530 and
Several protection features prevent overheating of the batteries (with optional sensors), short circuit, high voltage,
RDS 1540 are compatible with the Medium and Hi-Power SBC Advanced Plus Battery Chargers.
overload and polarity reversal. The units can operate in
Suggested retail prices for the chargers range from $329 for
temperatures between -5° to +160° F and deliver full power
the eight-amp model to $1,575 for the 80-amp version.
even with low supply voltage.
quickusa.com // (410) 768-5991
greatlakesboating.com | 75
BOAT CARE & FEEDING
NEW ECO-FRIENDLY SHRINKWRAP With its antimicrobial coating, Dr. Shrink’s BioShrink Shrinkwrap resists the development of microorganisms under the cover. It hinders growth of mildew, mold, algae and bacteria, including E. coli, so there will be no surprises when unwrapping a boat or RV. Committed to protecting the environment, this shrinkwrap is environmentally friendly. Its coating exhibits no harm to natural surroundings. Dr. Shrink is a full-service, full-circle supplier of shrinkwrap and installation accessories. The company also offers
A 20-foot by 100-foot 8 ml roll of BioShrink Shrinkwrap retails for $240.
w w w.dr-shrink.com // (800) 968-5147
REBAG, a recycling program for used shrinkwrap in the U.S. and Canada.
HULL CLEANING GETS SAFE Bio-Kleen Hull Kleen is an environmentally safe, commercial strength, fast-acting fiberglass hull cleaner that quickly removes the waterline, algae, lime, scale, rust, scum and chalking with very little effort. It is designed as an aggressive, one-step, spray-on, spray-off cleaner that dissolves deposits. Not only is the product effective and non-toxic, it is aromatic, emitting no harsh fumes or burns. A quart bottle retails for $9.95, one gallon for $19.95, fi ve gallons for $80.00. It is also available in 55-gallon drums. biokleen.com // (800) 240 -5536
WOODEN DECK TREATMENT prepared with the Cleaner + Brightener,
During the process of application, the
the new WoodProtector can be applied.
nano particles organize themselves in
These products from Holmenkol work
layers and completely cover the surface
together to ensure that teak or other
with a multi-layered coating. The
hardwood decks are restored and fully
layered structure means that the coating
protected against the elements.
resists abrasion, because if one layer
WoodProtector is a water-based nano coating that not only restores the
and acts as a protection to the rest.
original color of a wooden deck, but
The new products are the first to
also provides a fully water resistant,
be launched following Holmenkol’s
non-slip deck surface. In addition, the
agreement with Nanovations, the
nano structure of the product offers
Australian coating technology company.
The WoodCleaner + Brightener is a two-
protection from moisture, salt, algae
stage treatment designed to remove all
and moss. This structure also ensures
traces of dirt and grease from a deck
very high and long-lasting protection
and then return the wood to its natural
from UV rays to prevent the wood from
color. Once the surface has been
bleaching over time.
76 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
is damaged, a deeper layer is exposed
holmenkol.com // (508) 674-7700
ECOLOGICAL BOAT WASH & WAX AND HEAVY DUTY BOAT WASH Ecover has launched its new ecological Boat Wash & Wax
Even Ecover bottles and labels leave a lighter
and Heavy Duty Boat Wash. The low-foaming cleansers use
carbon footprint and are made of polyethylene. The cap is made of polypropylene.
the power of nature to clean and shine fiberglass, metals and
Polyethylene and polypropylene are 100
painted marine surfaces.
percent recyclable and can be recycled
Both products are phosphate-free and made from plant and
together using a low energy process.
mineral-based ingredients, including coconut surfactants, carnauba wax and citric acid, to naturally remove dirt, oil and
Ecover Boat Wash & Wax retails for a
grease. Wash & Wax product leaves behind a protective plant-
suggested price of $7.00, and Ecover Heavy
based wax coating.
Duty Boat Wash retails for $8.50.
As with all Ecover products, Boat Wash & Wax and Heavy
ecover.com // (800) 449-4925
Duty Boat Wash quickly and completely biodegrade with minimum impact on aquatic environments.
ROYAL PURPLE MOTOR OIL Whether your watercraft is two-cycle or four-cycle, Royal Purple Motor Oil increases horsepower, saves fuel and reduces heat, wear and emissions. Royal Purple’s unsurpassed oxidation stability allows for extended oil drains and fewer oil changes. This saves you time and money and reduces the impact on the environment. Royal Purple’s performance advantages come from a blend of synthetic oils plus Royal Purple’s proprietary Synerlec technology. Royal Purple Motor Oil is compatible with other mineral and synthetic marine motor oils. Suggested retail price for a quart of Royal Purple Motor Oil is $8.57. royalpurple.com // (281) 354-8600
ODORZOUT POUCHES Odorzout All Surface
remember to leave an
This product also works
pouches in conjunction
Pouches are an excellent way
opening for air circulation.
well on coolers after fishing
with Odorzout All
or outings. Just place an
Surface Granules.
to keep an area odor-free. The All Surface Pouches are 100 percent natural zeolite minerals, packaged in a convenient breathable bag. The pouches are extremely easy to use. Just open the outer plastic bag and place the unopened inner bag anywhere there is an unwanted odor, and
The inner bag lets the zeolite minerals absorb the odors through the pouch material without any dust, powder or odors seeping back out. Keep your boat cabin odorfree by placing several pouches strategically around the inside, including in storage compartments.
Odorzout All Surface Pouch inside and keep the cooler cracked open a little bit for air circulation. The All Surface Pouches are made to be used in smaller areas but still need air circulation for maximum effectiveness. For larger
Odorzout products do not have any perfume or chemical smells and are 100 percent safe for pets and people. Suggested retail price of the All Purpose Pouch is $9.99. Odorzout // (800) 887-8465
problem areas, use the
greatlakesboating.com | 77
PORTSIDE READING
Bonnie Dahl’s Superior Way
By Bonnie Dahl
Bonnie Dahl begins this
Bonnie Dahl’s Superior
It is spiral-bound for
book, “From the beginning
Way begins with a broad
convenient use at the helm.
of time, Lake Superior has
overview of the geography,
It covers both power and
held a certain fascination for
ecology and history of the
sail concerns. It has more
all who come to its shores.”
lake. From there, she offers
than 350 GPS waypoints.
In the author’s case, it
cruising tips specific to this
It features detailed harbor
clearly has. For more than 30
most idiosyncratic of lakes.
passages and more than 300
years, she has investigated
Enormous, unpredictable
diagrams, charts and tables.
every cove and harbor of
and unforgiving, Lake
If it’s on Lake Superior,
this marvelous Great Lake
Superior offers boaters
Bonnie Dahl has been there.
aboard a Columbia 10.7
challenges rarely
Superior Way will not only
sailboat. These decades
confronted—especially on
make you want to make the
of boating experience
inland waterways. Then
trek yourself, but also show
are distilled in this book.
begins her harbor-by-
you how to get there.
Reading it, you will yearn to
harbor, cove-by-cove tour
see as much of these waters
of marinas, anchorages and
Lake Superior Port Cities, Inc. //
and shores as she has.
harbors all around
$49.95
the coastline.
Confident Powerboating
By Stu Reininger
Smart boaters know all the
Confident Powerboating
overcame serious problems,
great technical gadgets
offers tried-and-true
and some who, well, blew
and services available are
procedures from Reininger’s
it,” you’ll learn how to dock
no replacement for boating
decades of boating
under adverse conditions;
skills and good seamanship.
experience. It doesn’t
how to handle bad weather,
Knowing how to master and
teach basic seamanship
challenging seas, and rough
handle every situation that
skills, on the assumption
inlets; what to do when the
could come up is the best
that the reader can handle
engine dies, something
back-up plan a boater
maneuvers like appraching
important breaks or you
can have.
and leaving a dock when
need a tow; and how to
the wind and current are
handle a true emergency
“Navigable waters are still
cooperating. Instead,
situations on board
the same contrary beasts
this book is designed to
they always were,” writes
bump you up to handling
Stu Reininger in this useful
efficient intermediate skills
book. “Things continue to
with confidence.
go wrong, and help isn’t always available.”
With solid advice learned by doing, and “a number of stories about boaters who
78 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
Confident Powerboating prepares you to make the best of the worst possible situations. International Marine // $19.95
Emergency Navigation It’s a law of the sea—
Burch tells you how to steer
tools can also perform all
instruments can fail. Things
by the sun, stars, wind and
aspects of piloting and dead
get wet, break or, worse, fall
swells. He shows you how to
reckoning.
overboard. Fortunately, with
find the sun in a fogbank. He
the right tools and enough
provides instructions on how
knowledge, you can fashion
to estimate latitude with a
makeshift replacements that
plate and a knotted string.
will lead you to safety. In Emergency Navigation, David Burch shows you how to find your position and By David Burch
shape your course at sea when your instruments fail.
Only have a small stick, a plastic bottle or a pair of sunglasses onboard? Well, you can still calculate speed,
With its invaluable advice about how to properly prepare for a journey and what to do in a pinch, Emergency Navigation helps you find your way when your instruments are lost. McGraw-Hill // $19.95
direction, latitude and longitude. And these simple
The Great Lakes Diving Guide With even a cursory glance,
been added to every one
Islands, from Thunder Bay
a reader will be impressed
of the 50 chapters. Over
to Kingston, he gives divers
by the comprehensiveness
100 additional shipwrecks,
the location and depth of
of Cris Kohl’s The Great
mostly new discoveries,
wrecks, describes the ships
Lakes Diving Guide. Over six
are included. There are
and provides an ability
hundred pages long, with
hundreds more photographs
level needed to reach them.
small font and tight margins,
and new drawings. A chapter
Easy to use and packed
this volume is as complete
on the importance of scuba
with information, The Great
a reference guide to Great
diving clubs has been
Lakes Diving Guide is
Lakes shipwrecks as can
added. And there are helpful
indispensable to anyone
be imagined.
sidebars that list useful—
seeking the treasures
and interesting—facts about
submerged and scattered
the dives and wrecks.
across the Sweatwater Seas.
second edition only builds
Kohl takes readers to
Seawolf Communications //
on that initial success.
seemingly every nook and
$19.95
Nearly 200 pages have been
cranny of the Great Lakes.
added. New information has
From Chicago to the Apostle
The first edition of this book was a big hit. This new, By Cris Kohl
Twenty Affordable Sailboats To Take You Anywhere How do you find a 38-foot
Here, you will find in-depth
From an Alberg 35 to a
boat you can afford? You
reviews of 20 affordable,
Valiant 32, Nestor discusses
go to the used boat market,
comfortable and seaworthy
boats that you can still
shop smart and find a vessel
sailboats. These boats
readily find on the used
for less than the $100,000
range in size from 30 to 38
boat market. Whether
limit that many sailors
feet, an ideal size for the
you’re trawling online or
observe. It doesn’t hurt to
cruising couple, yet big
at your local dockyard for
have a copy of this
enough to accommodate
something bigger, better and
book, either.
an occasional cruising
still within your price range,
hitchhiker or two. All of these
this book is an ideal guide.
This new volume looks at larger vessels that were built during what the author calls the “golden double decade By Gregg Nestor
of fiberglass sailboats, the 70s and 80s.”
boats were once prominent offerings designed by some of the world’s leading naval
Paradise Cay Publications // $19.95
architects and produced by reputable manufacturers.
greatlakesboating.com | 79
BOATKEEPER
AVOID SURFACE CONTAMINATION BEFORE
EPOXY
APPLICATION
OIL, GREASE, WAX Unless there’s good evidence an organic contaminant is present, there’s no reason to wipe the surface with an organic solvent. Acetone, lacquer thinner and proprietary mixtures are solvents that remove organic contaminants such as oil, grease and wax. But, cleaning with solvents may do more harm than good. Solvents are capable of dissolving contaminants found in rags and depositing them on the work surface. For example, silicone, a mold release, is an ingredient in many fabric softeners. A surface can be contaminated by silicone from using
By The West System Technical Staff
a supposedly clean rag straight from the laundry. In addition, many solvents dissolve man-made fibers found in rags. A wipe down with acetone can deposit plastic on the very surface you are trying to clean.
The old saying “cleanliness is next to godliness” is certainly true when preparing a surface for an epoxy application. If a surface isn’t clean, there may be adhesion problems. But well-intentioned cleaning often results in contaminants being deposited on the surface. Knowing how to identify potential contaminants, how to avoid them and how to determine if a surface is clean will ensure that your next epoxy application will be problem free.
80 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
If you need to use a solvent to remove oil, grease or wax, employ plain white or unbleached paper towels. Wipe the solvent on with fresh paper towels. Remove the solvent while it’s still wet and change paper towels frequently to avoid re-depositing the contaminants on the surface.
SANDING DUST Besides the dust, a freshly sanded surface is about as clean as it can get. Refrain from rubbing your hand over it to check for smoothness. Unless you are wearing a clean glove, the naturally occurring oil that helps protect your skin has just been spread all over the surface. Not only does this contaminate surfaces, but the salt on your skin also speeds corrosion of metal surfaces, which may cause adhesion problems.
Every last particle of sanding dust does not need to be
HOW CLEAN IS CLEAN?
removed to have good adhesion. Simply remove the bulk
An easy way to tell if the prepared surface is truly clean is
of it and consider the remaining dust epoxy filler. Excellent
to wash it with water. This unsophisticated water break test
methods for getting rid of sanding dust include vacuuming, sweeping with a non-contaminated bench brush or washing it off with water.
works on the principle that most contaminants repel water. Apply water using a clean pad. If it sheets off the surface evenly, that part is clean. If the water channels or beads on certain areas, the surface will need additional cleaning.
The manufacturers of sticky tack rags maintain that wiping a surface with their products won’t leave a residue. It’s likely
This test is simple to perform on both large and small
the rags actually do leave a residue, it just is dissolved by
areas. To be effective, the water must be free of debris,
solvents in most paints and varnishes. Epoxy, in contrast, contains none of these aggressive solvents. The residue from tack rags can cause adhesion difficulties and fisheyes in
contaminants and surfactants. The water break test will not indicate soap residue or other water-soluble films, but it will help remove them.
subsequent coats. An effective alternative, dry static wipes,
Some materials don’t allow good epoxy adhesion, no matter
leave no residue.
how well you clean the surface. However, most adhesion
Although it’s common practice to use compressed air to
problems can be traced back to some form of surface
remove sanding dust, it is not recommended. Aside from
contamination. For the best possible results make sure the
the mess created by blowing dust, it’s possible that blowing
substrate is clean.
compressed air on the surface will contaminate it with compressor oil or water.
American Tug
trawlersmidwest.com
920.894.2632 PDQ Power Catamaran
EVERY DAY is a BOAT SHOW new and used Trawlers
Monday~Saturday • 9:30~4:30 BROKERAGE
Camano
At Manitowoc location:
At owner’s location:
42 Nordic Tug 2001
$399,000
40 Island Gypsy 1986
$139,000
42 Nordic Tug 1999
$389,000
31 Blue Sea Trawler 1988
$115,000
38 Holiday Mansion 1991
$59,000
37 Great Harbour 1996
$299,000
34 PDQ Power Catamaran 2004
$250,000
32 Nordic Tug 1996
$159,900
31 Camano 2003
$169,000
31 Camano 2001
$159,000
29 Prairie Coastal 1979
$35,000
30 LM Pilothouse 1984 SOLD
$64,500
26 Nordic Tug 1983
$85,000
NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY! ALL INVENTORY REDUCED! Ask us about the 2008 doubled tax deduction and 50% first year depreciation on new boats.
Ranger Tug
#RUISING FOR A 'REAT 4IME 6ISIT 4HE #HICAGO (ARBORS
4HE #HICAGO 0ARK $ISTRICTgS LAKEFRONT HARBORS STRETCH FROM ,INCOLN 0ARK IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CITY TO *ACKSON "ELMONT (ARBOR
"URNHAM (ARBOR
0ARK IN THE SOUTH 7ITH ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MORE THAN BOATS THE #HICAGO 0ARK $ISTRICT (ARBORS CONSTITUTE THE NATIONgS LARGEST MUNICIPAL HARBOR SYSTEM AND FEATURE STATE OF THE ART mOATING DOCKS MOORINGS STAR DOCKS FUEL FACILITIES AND OTHER AMENITIES FOR #HICAGO BOATERS AND THEIR GUESTS 3INCE THE 0ARK $ISTRICT HAS INVESTED MORE THAN MILLION DOLLARS TO RENOVATE AND
$U3ABLE (ARBOR
-ONROE (ARBOR
MODERNIZE HARBOR F ACILITIES
4HE HARBORS ARE VERY POPULAR WITH AREA BOATER S AND HAVE ENJOYED OCCUPANCIES IN EXCESS OF FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
$IVERSEY (ARBOR
-ONTROSE (ARBOR
. & A I R B A N K S # T s # H I C A GO ) , s 0 , ! 9 0 L E A S E V I S I T U S O N T H E WE B A T W W W # H I C A G O 0 A R K $ I S T R I C T C O M
City of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, Mayor Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners Chicago Park District, Timothy J. Mitchell, General Superintendent & CEO
Slip Into...
North Point Marina With unequaled amenities, the best kept secret on Lake Michigan has affordable slip rates that include water, electricity, extensive television channel line-up, free pumpouts, dock lockers and carts, 24-hour security and much more... all with no taxes or surcharges.
Enjoy the luxury generous restricted parking and plentiful, clean and convenient private bathhouses with showers and laundries - all within steps of your dock! Wide fairways compliment a protected floating dock system with slips from 30 to 60 feet and end-ties to accommodate mega-yachts.
A world-class vacation retreat where slipholders are catered to in the atmosphere of a luxury resort. Activities abound and slipholders have a spirit of community with dock parties, regattas, cookouts and neighborly camaraderie. Complimentary shuttle bus and trolley service to nearby destinations.
Nestled in pristine nature preserves, slipholders can relax in a tranquil, serene marina with a record of safety second to none!
Compare our on-site amenities: yacht club, restaurant and bar, long sandy beaches for swimming or strolling, hiking and biking trails, basketball/volleyball courts, playgrounds, picnic areas with grills, charter fishing fleet with full fishing amenities, complete boat maintenance and repair, launch ramps, fuel and winter storage options.
NORTH POINT MARINA • 847.746.2845 ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
701 North Point Drive • Winthrop Harbor, Illinois 60096 Conveniently located midway between Chicago and Milwaukee
MARINE MART
1988 31’ Tiara: T/454 Crusaders, fresh water cooling, Furuno electronics,
SAILBOATS Halman Nordic 20: Full keel sloop, inboard engine. See ad on Lmay@nordicaboats.com. Call (262)
2003 14’ Seadoo Sportser LT: Twin 85
refrig./freezer, stove, head/shower. Top
hp engines, look and runs great, turns
condition. Contact Vince @
on dime, seats 6, goes 50 mph. Call
(708) 710-4000. Asking $37,500.
Russ: (616) 240-2240. $8,995.
2003 31’ Sea Ray 280 Sundancer:
633-2367 or Email
2002 16’ Rendova RIB: With 100 hp
Twin 4.3, air/heat, exceptionally
rubylg@sbcglobal.net.
Yamaha 4 cycle engine. Extremely
maintained Eagle tri-axle trailer. Call:
stable with top end 35-40 mph, good
(715) 834-7686 or e-mail
for skiing and diving. New trailer, must
kruckman@charter.net.
sell, pictures available, indoor winter
Asking $86,500.
1974 Hurley 22 Bilge Keel Classic: New sails and roller furling. Gel coat in excellent condition, new bottom paint. Boat registered in Michigan. Priced to sell. Contact Phil, (603) 226-3961, or
storage. Call (231) 869-5474 or write maramhouse@comcast.net.
1989 32’ Cruisers Inc. 321 Sea Devil: New, complete freshwater cooled
email fi nn22847@yahoo.com.
1978 25’ Wellcraft Nova XL:
motors in 2002. Rebuilt transmissions,
(See photo below)
T-260 Mercruisers, excellent condition,
new props and mufflers at time of re
w/ trailer. Very Fast! Call:
power. Jerry @ (813) 362-3339 or
(810) 513-2201 or write
chevysfrog@juno.com. $15,000.
signet@chartermi.net. $6,000/OBO.
San Juan 26: Good North sails, newer instruments, compass and vang, 6 hp motor, twin axle trailer. Excellent condition. Always stored indoors. (414) 764-5949. $6,000.
1982 27’ 2700 Tiara/Pursuit:
Purchased new in 2006, 119 hours on
Twin engine 220 hp, 10’ beam, fuel
twin Volvo 320 hp engines, direct drive,
capacity 200 gallons. Fully equipped.
blue stripe/white hull, Garmin radar,
Call: (847) 676-1393. Asking $25,000. 1986 27’6” 270 SC Tiara/Slickcraft S2: 10’ Beam, twin 350’s, Garmin GPS, Fish Hawk, auto pilot, Cannon downriggers, 2004. $37,000.00. contact Tom at
furling, on cradle & trailer, many extras.
tsvlcek@aol.com. $37,000.
(440) 943-0401. $3,000.
(See photo below)
2005 33’ Beneteau 323:
great, have all service records. Call
344-3391, skyyking@prodigy.net.
Russ at (616) 240-2240. $69,995.
$89,000.
much more. Asking $40,000. Lying Baltimore, MD. Call (410) 877-9643 or e-mail bonicker@aol.com.
(See photo below)
mag Merc 385 hp each, runs/looks
condition. Vero Beach, FL. (419)
3gm30F engine, standing rigging and
sub-surfaceimaging.com $147,000.
2000 33’ Formula 330ss: Twin 454
With road trailer, loaded, excellent
cruiser. Well maintained, new Yanmar
GPS, sonar fish finder, many extras, excellent condition, photos at
1010 hours, radar arch. Surveyed in
1974 27’ Ericson: Newer main, roller
1974 35’ C&C MK II: Classic racer/
Cruisers Yachts 320 Express:
1996 Sea Ray 330 Sundancer: Twin 1998 27’ Bayliner 2859 Hardtop:
Merc 7.4L, sleeps 6 comfortably, full
7.4L Mercruisers, radar, 6ps fish finder,
camper enclosure, new bottom paint,
washdown, downriggers, gear, battery
fresh water, surveyed in 2005. Email:
charger, sleeps 6, full galley, head,
mccv@columbus.rr.com. $72,900.
triaxle trailer, fishing machine. Asking $36,000, for more details call (219) 972-0214.
2004 Sea Ray 340 Sundancer: Like new. Very good condition, low hours, beautiful interior. Twin v-drive
POWERBOATS
2005 30’ Cobalt 282: Merc HO Bravo 3
engines. Includes all navigational
1981 Mark Twain: 165 hp Mercruiser,
425 hp with every extra, extended swim
electronics. Freshwater only. Must
new seating and carpet. Runs good,
platform, 160 hours, warranty, and in
sell due to relocation. For additional
needs a little flooring tlc. Includes Tee
perfect condition. At Diversey Harbor
information, contact Rita or Mike at
Nee trailer. (716) 983-3893. $2,600.
slip in Chicago. Email for details/
(586) 713-7102 or
photos at lteichner@aol.com. New,
rita2957@gmail.com.
over $125,000—sale, $92,500.
Price reduced to $132,000.
84 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
2004 Sea Ray 340 Sundancer:
1996 Trojan 390 Express: Spacious,
Like new, 130 hours. Full navigation,
beamy, meticulously maintained, fresh
twin 6.2 V-drives. Always fresh water.
water and recently updated! See more
For information, call (586) 703-3123.
@ www.waggers.com/unleashed.
$145,900 or best reasonable offer. 2007 35í Jaguar Catamaran: Center
htm or call Steve, (419) 467-1238. Port Clinton, OH. $119,500. (See photo below)
console with twin 250 hp Evinrude
FREE
E-TEC outboards. Includes 6-wheel, e-axle trailer too. Get my free DVD on this cat. Call me at (305) 509-1547. 1998 Cruisers Yachts 3575 Express: 35’ by 13’ wide, roomy cabin; sleeps 6, A/C, gen., etc. Twin 7.4 Mercs. (248) 646-0512. $109,000/OBO. 1985 F-36 Trojan Convertible: Original owner, all options plus pristine condition. For more details call (248) 819-2896 or e-mail dryvet2003@ yahooocom. Serious inquiries only. 1980 37’ Harbor Master Houseboat: 12’ Beam, Twin 318 Crusaders 60 hrs., 7.5kw Onan generator, A.C., Full size Shower/Head. Surveyed recently. Excellent Condition. Call (708) 288-0531 or (219) 951-0016. Asking $35,000. 38’ SeaRay Sundancer: Beautiful
1998 42’ Sea Ray Aft Cabin MY: T/Cats 350 hp, 900 hrs. Fresh bottom paint, upgraded Garmin electronics with XM weather, new canvas. Call (704) 577-8591. $199,500. 1987 45’ Bayliner Pilothouse: Classic 4 level layout. Condo on the water gives enjoyment year around. Bristol. Contact: powerline@ sbcglobal.net. $185K firm. 2005 50’ Sea Ray 500 Sundancer: T/640HP Cummins, 400 hours, 2 Northstar 6000I GPS, radar, Furuno AP, B/Thruster, SAT.TV, hydraulic platform. Pristine, extended warranty till 8/20/10. Call Steve (732) 713-7477 or e-mail SS352@yahoo.com. Asking $525K
freshwater boat with autopilot, cockpit refrigerator, cherry interior, RL80C Raymarine chart plotter. Contact Larry at (216) 233-5176. (See photo below)
MISCELLANEOUS Portrait Pride creates custom Regatta
ADS GOT A BOAT
TO SELL? Complimentary 25 word classified boat advertisements in the Nov/Dec issue. (NO STRINGS ATTACHED!)
Celebration posters and elegant, vibrant, full-color portraits of your yacht or boat from your own photographs. Please visit our exciting new website
For a limited time, GLB readers can use this section to sell their boats as our gift.
PortraitPride.com.
the famous River City Marina (Chicago).
E-mail your text-only advertisement to
1969 38’ Chris Craft: Roamer Regal
Heated and covered all year round. Please
classifieds@greatlakesboating.com.
(aluminum hull) flybridge, twin 427/300
call John Bartolomei at (847) 679-7441 or
engines. For information and pictures,
Laura Stempien at (773) 775-5161.
Boat slip for rent: Beautiful location at
e-mail jetskidave@aol.com. Asking $45,900/OBO. 1998 38’ Cruisers 3870 Esprit: Cruiser’s most popular model. Great
BOAT TRANSPORTATION MOVE YOUR BOAT WORRY FREE ON OUR AIR RIDE TRAILER.
weekender boat for the family! Pictures available. Call (920) 371-0204 or e-mail snielson@nielsoncom.com. Asking $159,000.
Free Quotes! Dave’s Marine Transport.
Free classified boat advertisement offer limited to one boat advertisement per reader. Photographs may be added for $25. All classified ads are subject to publisher’s approval. Space is limited. Free ads will be accepted on a first come-first served basis. Advertisements for the November/ December 2008 issue must be received by October 15, 2008.
Toll Free: 1-866-814-DAVE (3283) www.davesmarinetransport.com
greatlakesboating.com | 85
EVENTS CALENDAR
FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 13-14 Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show South Florida Fairgrounds West Palm Beach
1
SEPTEMBER 26-28 U.S. Offshore Championship Columbia Yacht Club Chicago
SEPTEMBER 12-14 Grand Haven In-Water Boat Show Grand Haven Municipal Marina Grand Haven
ussailing.org/championships/adult/ usoffshore/
ghboatshow.com/index.html
(847) 436-7425
SEPTEMBER 17-21 Boat Show USA Metro Beach Metropark Mt. Clemens
2
floridasportsman.com/shows
SEPTEMBER 27-28 Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show Florida State Fairgrounds Tampa
3
INDIANA
8
9
OCTOBER 18-19 Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show Miami, Dade County Youth Fairgrounds Miami
10
indianapolisboatsportandtravelshow.com/
OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 3 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Six sites Fort Lauderdale
15
international_ boat_ florida/event
MARYLAND OCTOBER 10-13 United States Sailboat Show City Dock and Harbor Annapolis
16
17
usboat.com
NOVEMBER 8-9 Jacksonville Florida Sportsman Fishing & Boat Show Prime Osborn Convention Center Jacksonville
22
floridasportsman.com/shows
OCTOBER 17-19 United States Powerboat Show City Dock and Harbor Annapolis
23
usboat.com
24
ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN
SEPTEMBER 3-6 Beneteau 36.7 North American Championship Chicago Yacht Club Belmont Harbor Chicago
SEPTEMBER 6-7 Beaver Island Rendezvous Cruise Charlevoix Yacht Club Charlevoix
29
beneteaufirst367.org
SEPTEMBER 18-21 J/30 North American Championship North Star Sail Club Harrison Township
11
12
j35.org/nas/2008/schedule.asp
fallshow
floridasportsman.com/shows
showmanagement.com/fort_ lauderdale_
5
boatshowusa.net
OCTOBER 2-5 Indiana Fall Boat and RV Show West Pavilion, Indiana State Fairgrounds Indianapolis
floridasportsman.com/shows
4
30
31
llhgraphics.com/appiesnet/appiescal/cal2/ index.cgi?VIEW+2008+Sep+6+#
SEPTEMBER 20-21 Bikini Beach II Regatta Caseville County Park Caseville websitemagic.com/ cram/NOR/caseville2.htm
18
19
989) 245-7162
SEPTEMBER 27-28 BCYC Last Chance Regatta and Slo-man Race Boyne City Yacht Club Boyne City admin@boynecityyachtclub.com
25
26
SEPTEMBER 27 St. Clair Solo and Big Al’s Steak Roast Great Lakes Yacht Club St. Clair Shores solosailor.org/apps.php#st-clair
OCTOBER 9-12 Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival Thunder Bay Recreation Center, others Alpena
1
JULY
(586) 566-1603 (231) 547-9170
2008NAC@first367.com
SEPTEMBER 13 Sheldon Clark Offshore Regatta & One Design Regatta Chicago Yacht Club Belmont Harbor Chicago
4
SEPTEMBER 6-7 Tawas Bay Regatta Tawas Point State Park Locos
5
websitemagic.com/cram/ NOR/tawas1.htm
MINNESOTA
6
(312) 861-7777
SEPTEMBER 8-12 J/24 North American Championship Regatta Wayzata Yacht Club Lake Minnetonka Wayzata
7
8
j24northamericans.com/index.html
11 86 GLB | Sept /Oc t 08
12
13
14
15
NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 6 Pultneyville Yacht Club Brown Race Pultneyville Yacht Club Pultneyville
6
pultneyvilleyachtclub.org/racing.htm
7
SEPTEMBER 13 Obersheimer Cup Buffalo Yacht Club Buffalo
S
GLB Magazine Advertiser Index
Alpena
02
Atlantic-Meeco
01
Avalon
31
Bay Breeze Yacht Sales
59
OHIO
BoatU.S.
17
SEPTEMBER 10-14 36th Annual North American In-Water Boat Show Cedar Point Marina Sandusky
Chicago Park District
82
buffaloyachtclub.org (716) 883-5900
13
20
cedarpointboatshow.com
14
21
M T
CANADA SEPTEMBER 6 Lower Lakes Huron Solo Sarnia Yacht Club Sarnia, Ontario
27
(519) 332-6779
28
16
48
Essex Credit
03 IFC
W
Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show
35
Gerlach Companies
59
Golden Giant
41 BC
Island Pilot
torontoboatshow.com
9
Dept. of Agriculture
Foremost Insurance
SEPTEMBER 11-14 Toronto In-Water Boat Show Ontario Place Toronto, Ontario
2
36,37
Cruisers Yachts
3
10
17
T F
Jefferson Beach Marina
88
Honda Marine
05
Landing Loop
25
North American In-Water Boat Show
49
North Point Marina
83
Progressive Insurance
07
SailTime
11
Trawlers Midwest
81
Waukegan Harbor
89
S greatlakesboating.com | 87
Time To Plan For Winter Storage.
Semo Post General Manager - JBM
It’s That Time of Year Again! Time to start considering winterization and storage options for your vessel. We understand the value of protecting your investment during winter months. At JBM, we offer a choice of Outside, Heated, Cold or Bubbled Storage as well as Winterization Services. As a full service marina, with over 30 years experience, we can also attend to any mechanical or fiberglass needs while your boat is in storage. Space is limited – don’t delay – call today.
Ask Pam Poirier About The
10% DISCOUNT
For 08–09 Contract Commitments. 2 4 4 0 0 J E F F E R S O N S T. C L A I R S H O R E S M I 4 8 0 8 0
t
PH: 586-778-7600
t
W W W. T H E N E W J B M . C O M
YOUR HOME ON THE LAKE
SLIP RENTAL AMENITIES • QUALITY FUEL: Diesel & 89 Octane • COURTESY BICYCLES & SHUTTLES • FREE PUMP-OUT SERVICE • LIVE WEATHER RADAR • 24 - HOUR SECURITY • ALL UTILITIES • DOCK BOX • SATELLITE TV WAUKEGAN HARBOR YOUR HOME ON THE LAKE 55 SOUTH HARBOR PLACE WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS 60085
WAUKEGANPORT.COM • 800.400.SLIP
L E T T H E S U N S E T YO U F R E E
THE ISLAND
PILOT DSE 12M
AMERICA’S FIRST HYBRID YACHT SOLAR — DIESEL — ELECTRIC
I S L A N D P I L O T Tomorrow’s Technology. Today’s Most Innovative Yachts.
E s s e x C T — A n n a p o l i s M D — M i a m i F L — S e a t t l e WA — G r e a t L a k e s www.dsehybrid.com — 888.443.2965 — info@dsehybrid.com