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Making the Inevitable, tolerable. Easy methods for replacing cutlass bearings - Pg. 34
Gas:
Ethanol vs. Non-Ethanol Pg. 14 Affordable Fun! The Rinker 290EC - Pg. 22
The Making of a Mariner Author Pamela Sisman Bitterman shares her childhood experiences and lifelong connection to the water. - Pg. 28
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Sneak Peeks - Pg. 10 Mutt of the Month - Pg. 7 What's Up Dock - Pg. 20 "Bos'n Bill" Gills - Pg. 40 Classifieds - Pg. 47
Marina, Fishing Charter Service, Mobile Home CT, RV Park
Bait, Tackle, Pole Rentals, and Ice Extra Available in our On-site Bait Shop
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Before
Antique Boat Museum Launches Conserving Our Heritage Endowment Campaign
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he Museum publicly announced Conserving Our Heritage Endowment Campaign at the June 30th River Reunion, a celebration to mark the relaunch of its restored logo boat the Wild Goose. “And thanks to so many other Friends of the Museum, the Campaign is already a great success,” said Co-Chairman of the Campaign Bob Easton. For the past 18 months the Museum has been in the quiet phase of its Conserving Our Heritage Endowment Campaign to build a robust endowment that will assist in funding education and public programming, the care of our collections, human resources and marketing. “Thanks to the wonderful generosity of our Friends of the Museum Seize the Challenge! has already been an unqualified success,” announced Co-Chairman, Teddy McNally. “Over 110 Friends of the Museum have made the generous decision to significantly increase their annual giving. New, lapsed, returning and increased Friends of the Museum members qualify for the Trustee match and are all considered Challengers in this campaign initiative.” The goal of encouraging outright and planned giving has also had considerable success in this early phase with 27 charter members joining the Heritage Society. Continued Pg.9
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“I don’t care how many times those kids throw this ball, they’ll wear out before I do!” - Hunter
Enjoying the sandbar near Lake Erie Metropark, MI
If you would like for us to consider your pet for our Mutt of the Month page, please go to thegreatlakesmariner.com, under the “Your Input” tab, and send us a photo. Please include the Pet’s name and home-port. If your pet is chosen we’ll send you some Great Lakes Mariner Gear. The Great Lakes Mariner
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Museum Launches Conserving Our Heritage Endowment Campaign “Today, thanks to the philanthropic values of many members and their unwavering passion for our mission, Conserving Our Endowment Campaign has already surpassed $7.5 million toward our $14 million goal,” Executive Director Frederick H. Hager added. “As Friends of the Museum who have generously supported the Museum in the past we are asking you to consider two options of giving in the future: first, to Seize the Challenge! and increase your annual Friends of the Museum level for the next five years and second to join those of us who have made a Planned Gift. We look forward to adding you to the Museum’s Heritage Society where your name will live in perpetuity along with the names of early founders Haxall, Lewis, Dodge, and McNally. 750 Mary Street ● Clayton, NY 13624 ● 315.686.4104 ● www.abm.org Together we are charting the future course of the Museum, as we conserve our heritage for the next generation,” concluded Campaign Co-chairman Bob Easton. The Antique Boat Museum is the premier freshwater nautical museum in North America. Located on the St. Lawrence River in the 1000 Islands, the ABM features over 300 antique and classic boats among thousands of recreational boating artifacts. From May to October, the campus comes alive with speed boat rides, boat shows, and educational programs for all ages, special events and more. For more information please visit the Museum’s website at www.abm.org. Preserving the beautiful grounds, that are the frame work for preserving and displaying beautiful examples of our marine history, is definately worthy of your consideration.
Photo by Ian Coristine
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Sneak Peeks
The 280 Crossover
by EdgeWater This boat is said to have the ease of movement of a dual console while still featuring a cabin with a galley, head, and berth. It hits the production lines in September. Can’t wait to see this one, but I must admit that I’ve got a feeling that the cabin will leave a lot to be desired. If I’m wrong though, buy some stock in EdgeWater (remember what crossovers did for the auto industry.)
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The
Beneteau Coming in the fall of 2012, the Sense 46, will offer its occupants safety, comfort, and tons of amenities. Whether your trips are around the lake or around the world, this boat will likely satisfy your needs Features include two private staterooms, each with their own head, a large salon and galley, and plenty of room to enjoy life while on deck. With the addition of the Sense 46, buyers will now have to choose between the Sense 43, 46, 50, and 55 - here’s a hint, buy the big one. The 46 is cool but if you’re anything like other boaters, buying the big one will prevent future boat envy.
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NAVIONICS Releases 13 New HD Lakes Lake Name
State
Little Grassy Spring Winfield (Timber Creek) Cave Run Crystal Perry Scott King (Ardmore Club) Wister Amik Lake Pike Lake Round Chain Shishebogama Turner Lake
IL IL KS KY NH OK OK OK WI WI WI WI WI
Very remarkable charts. Granted, not all of the new charts are in the Great Lakes region, but some are. This release brings the total number of HD charts to 81, with many more coming in the near future. If you often travel in unfamiliar waters, these charts are just what the Captain ordered.
You can find out more info about Navionic’s HD charts here.
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Two Great Boats, that Boat Great Together......... Not since the Reese’s Corporation combined peanut butter and chocalate have two items gone together so well...okay, that may be a slight exageration, but we were thrilled to hear (compliments of the Silverton Owners Club) of the acquisition of Silverton’s assets by Egg Harbor. According to reports, Egg Harbor Yachts owner, Ira Trocki, plans to move production of Silverton’s (as well as Ovation) to the Egg Harbor facilities in New Jersey. It is also being reported that Silverton will debut a new model later this year at a Florida boat show. Best wishes and congratulations to the folkes at Egg Harbor/Silverton.
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Gas: Ethanol vs Non-Ethanol
By Mary L. Bodnar
T
he controversy rages on regarding the risks and problems associated with ethanol based gasoline for boaters. With government regulations and the need for the United States to break its dependence on foreign sources of energy, the wide spread use of ethanol-blended fuel is a given. The need to protect our environment demanded that changes were made. Ethanol can now be found in almost all of the nation’s gasoline and is being used in all engine types. This includes, unfortunately, marine engines. While there have been exceptions made to allow for gasoline only fuel for marine use, this is getting tougher. Due to recent state and federal laws, including the renewable Fuel Standards of 2004 and the Clean Air Act of 2006, you may have no alternative other than to purchase E10. Use of gasoline/ethanol blends in the ‘80’s was rare and represented only a small percentage of the gasoline marketplace. Resources were made scarce when small engine and equipment manufacturers were slow to conduct tests on a fuel with limited market share and an uncertain future. Limited research was available about the use of gasoline/ ethanol blends and there were few field experts upon whose knowledge decisions could be made regarding its use in such applications. These factors led to the majority of manufacturers recommending that ethanol blends not be used in products during that time period. Manufacturers began to indicate that gasoline/ethanol blends containing no more than 10 percent ethanol could be used in their products by the mid 1990’s, provided certain storage precautions were followed. To add to the confusion, some manufacturers stated ethanol blends could be used, while others stated such use was permitted but not recommended. Continued Pg. 16
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The photo above, shows the stark difference between water and gunk laden fuel, after it has had a while to slosh around your fuel tank, followed by treated fuel. Quality fuel treatments (such as those below) can allow your engine to burn the fuels cleanly and prevent significant and costly damage to your engine. Gas and Desl Shok are available in the Great Lakes region here. Both photos complimentsw of USA fuels
Gas: Ethanol vs Non-Ethanol Since the 1990’s, alcohol in E10 gasoline has caused engine problems and damage, especially to marine outboard and boat motors. The components in ethanol alcohol make it act as a solvent, degreaser, cleanser and anti-freeze. Things you don’t really want in your gasoline. It has hygroscopic properties meaning ethanol attracts and absorbs water. Something else you don’t want in your gas tank. Ethanol is known to absorb water fifty times more than non-alcohol gasoline. If an excessive amount of water is introduced to a blend of E10 or higher, the ethanol and water mix, separating from the gasoline and sinking to the bottom of the fuel tank. Your boat engine will not operate on the ethanol/water blend. Potential for phase separation is high. After an extended period of time, ethanol gasoline can dissolve rubber, plastic, aluminum and can dry out hoses and may also remove lubrication. “Hoses and gaskets are more at risk and you are more likely to get clogs in fuel filters because ethanol gas cleans out everything in your gas tanks and gas lines. The normal rule of thumb has always been to fill your gas tanks 90% full with non-ethanol gas at the end of the season– now with the ethanol blends, boaters will be forced to keep a very minimal level of gas in their tanks before storing for winter.” says Don Williams, retired pipe-fitter and boating expert with sixty plus years of boating experience. Certainly precautions need to be taken when using fuels containing alcohol in boat engines. Gas sits in our boat fuel tanks far longer than it does in our cars. In 100 days or less, even under ideal conditions like low humidity, E10 will absorb enough water to cause gas contamination. Humid summer weather also poses a problem. Moisture from humid air can easily be absorbed into E10 fuel, making clogged carburetors more likely to occur. These are just a few of the concerns boaters have. According the Keith Scharf, retired Police Lieutenant in charge of Cleveland Police Harbors Unit, Fleet Captain 2011 and currently Rear Commodore for Forest City Yacht Club, “my concern is that boaters don’t have enough voice to be heard at the government level. The risks of ethanol gas pose a significant problem to those of us with older boats. Older gas tanks can start deteriorating and fuel lines and pumps have problems with ethanol blend gas, causing fuel leaks, thus posing a safety hazard. Newer boats are better equipped to handle E10 fuels because the boating industry is meeting these requirements for new 16
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Photo/Caption - compliments of BoatU.S.
Above:Damage to a boat engine carburetor as a result of ethanol at 10% (E10). View the remainder of the
press release that accompanies this photo here.
boats. it makes me think they are trying to force us to get rid of our older boats.“ Perhaps it is true that we don’t have enough clout with our government. Since marine engines account for only about 5% of fuel consumed, the US government’s response to the concerns of the marine community have been minimal. According to the Renewable Fuels Association update for Boat Owners: Ethanol Blended Fuels for Use in Marine Equipment reports statements like the following, “Many areas across the country successfully utilize ethanol blended fuels year round and across all octane grades, proving that ethanol blended fuels can be used successfully in marine applications.” This isn’t exactly answering any of the issues or resolving any of the problems associated with ethanol blends, and seems to be a dismissive nod in our direction. The Great Lakes Mariner
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This photo clearly shows the damage to hoses caused by ethanol. Where do you think the stripped away rubber ends up? Photo compliments of Stone and Sons Marine, Houston, TX.
Further statements such as “ Boat owners know that following proper storage guidelines and a recommended maintenance schedule will ensure the boat is kept in proper operating condition” also from the RFA, seem to be stating the obvious and again, really doesn’t answer the questions or address the issues boaters are having. Here are some precautions you can take: If your boat isn’t equipped with a water separator, then you need to get one installed. Many older boats do not have these. Avoid all fuel additives that are alcohol or ethanol based as these can compound the problem. Keep your engine(s) well lubricated and tuned to protect equipment parts from the damaging effects of alcohol based gasoline. Periodically, it is important to test your gas for alcohol to assure it is below the legal limit of 10%. Lastly, inquire when you are gassing up what the make-up of the gas is that you are receiving. At Forest city Yacht Club in Cleveland where I am a member, we have our own gas tank, Currently it holds non-ethanol gasoline from when we ordered our last gas shipment at the end of last season. I have been informed that whether the next gas shipment will be ethanol based or non-ethanol gasoline is undetermined at this time, and is reliant upon availability at the time of our next order. In the mean time, I hope some of the disputes are resolved and more answers are found for the sake of my old boat – a 1987 Sea Ray.
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What’s Up Dock? New products and exciting innovations in the boating market!
a-Series Touch Screen Displays
R ay m a ri n e These things are compact, while still being absolutely loaded with all of the latest features, such as a bright LED touchscreen, radar (requires radar scanner), chartplotter, fuel management system, sonar (on the a67), can network into a satellite radio, blue tooth remote….. I could go on, but you’re better off just watching the short a-series video on our website. Not even on the shelves yet so we can’t give you a price but keep checking your favorite retailer, it should be there soon.
ResQLink + 406 GPS - Buoyant PLB
AC R E l e c tro n i c s
On these technical products, it’s often best to let the manufacturer describe it, so here you go: “Small and light enough to hold comfortably in one hand, yet powerful enough to guide rescuers to within 100 meters or less of your position in a life-threatening emergency, The ResQLink™+ 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), manufactured by ACR Electronics, Inc., receives Cospas-Sarsat approval. At just 5.4 oz (153 g) and 4.5 in (11.4 cm) tall, the ResQLink™+ offers a lot of punch in the smallest, lightest and inherently buoyant package available today. It combines ease of use and ACR technology to give marine enthusiasts a powerful and accurate safety companion, ready for action at the simple push of a button. Runs about $300 and is available from all of the places you would expect. 20
The Great Lakes Mariner
6 Sail Pro
N i ssa n M a ri n e Nissan Marine and Power has introduced the smallest 4-stroke, 2” shaft, motor on the market. This motor holds 3.1 gallons of gas and is “equipped with a high thrust sail drive propeller and a new built-in 5amp, 12volt charging system complete with charging cable already installed to power lights, batteries or other electrical devices.” With just a little searching we found it available from OnlineOutboards.com for $1577.77
Fender Step
M a ri n e I n n ovati o n This is one of those nifty little gadgets that make you say, “Why didn’t anyone come up with this sooner?” - Thankfully it’s here now. Since space is such a precious commodity on boats, it’s always great when a product fulfills multiple needs. The Fender Step is available from West Marine for $74.99.
Horn and Light Base System
Attwo o d
The 2500-series horn and light base system is practical and a space saver. Per Attwood, “Combining both horn and light base componenets into one integrated module, Attwood’s assembly is compact, robust and easy to install. More importantly, Attwood’s patented acoustic technology provides a louder, more durable and higher quality sounding product than today’s current industry offerings.” This one is tough to find at retailers as of yet, but after a quick search we turned one up for only $79 at an ebay store. The big stores will likely have it soon.
If you have a new product that you would like featured in What’s Up Dock? Please go to www.thegreatlakesmariner.com/reader-submissions and let us know.
Affordab
Rinker’s 290EC
ble Fun!
C
The 2013 Rinker 290EC R
inker has made a name for themselves by making affordable boats with a reasonable level of quality and finishes; the 290EC appears to be keeping that trend alive by landing squarely into the weekender market for around $81,000. In fact, for under $100,000, a buyer can pull away from the dock in a nicely equipped 290EC. It may seem odd to those that have never shopped for a new boat to tout one as affordable when it’s price is hovering around the $80,000 mark, but for those that have shopped for boats, getting one this size, with the level of fit and finish presented by the 290EC, that price is something to get excited about. The beauty of boats in this size class are that they provide ample room for entertaining and can comfortably sleep a family of four. The room and sleeping accomodations makes this boat ideal for the middle-aged boater looking to move up, or the senior boater who would like to downsize, without losing all of the features they had become accustomed to in their larger boat. Beginning aft, the 290EC provides an integrated swim platform complete with a concealable, telescoping swim-ladder. If swimming isn’t your thing and you would prefer to just soak up some sun, Rinker has you covered by providing an aft seat that folds down to provide a convenient sun-pad. Moving forward from the swim-platform, you enter the boat through the transom door and are greeted by both snap in carpeting and a Corian topped wet bar with a mini-fridge. You’ll also notice the seating area is open, which makes it a great space for entertaining; the standard stereo speakers and camper-top don’t hurt either.
As is evident in the three lower photos, the 290EC has quite a bit of area and features for entertaining. Right: The console is neat and orderly; our only minor gripe is the location of the chartplooter/ sonar, which is somewhat obstructed by the steering wheel.
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The aft stateroom is large enough to get comfortable and with the optional flatscreen television, feel a little less enclosed. The galley and dining area are well appointed and have all the basics to make a weekend aboard comfortable.
If you keep moving forward from the wet bar, you’ll find the cabin entrance, portside seating (obviously designed for the leisurely first mate), and a nicely appointed console. The wood-trimmed console of the 290EC has all of the features that you would expect on a modern boat, arranged in a neat and orderly fashion. My only gripe would be that the tilt-steering wheel partially obstructs viewing of the chartplotter/sonar. Moving up to the bow, Rinker has again provided ample room for lounging, especially if you opt for the large wraparound sun-pad; an option that I can assure you, would not be skipped if my wife or daughter found out about it! The 290EC also offers an optional windlass, so you don’t have to bother the aforementinoned people, who are laying out on their optional sun-pads. Entering the cabin, you find the traditional cruiser layout, with a small, refrigerator, single-burner stove, and microwave equipped galley portside, head on your starboard, collapsible dinette forward, and sleeping area aft. The 290EC has a couple different flooring and cabinetry option to make it your own. The overall look and feel is quite modern and aesthetically pleasing, with or without the options. Rinker also offers optional reverse-cycle air-conditioning, as well as an extra flat screen television/DVD player aft, which really makes the cabin an area pleasant for all the occupants on weekend trips. Propulsion for the 290EC comes from a single 300hp MerCruiser sterndrive. Due to the relatively light weight of this boat, the single engine can push it along nicely (rumor has it, up to 47MPH but I wasn’t able to confirm that.) Overall, the 290EC is a nice boat offering a lot features for the money. By way of comparison, a comparably equipped Sea Ray (280 Sundancer) will run you about $20,000-$30,000 more. Whether or not that extra expense is worth it is a personal preference but it is nice to have options. 26
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The Shaping of a Mariner - the childhood experiences that led to travel and adventure on the seas of the world, began on the shores of Lake Erie By Pamela Sisman Bitterman (Shown above with her older sister on the shores of Lake Erie in 1953) I grew up on Lake Erie. It’s in my DNA. My grandparents had a cottage in Stony Point Peninsula. My father set up his first (and the first in the area) pediatric practice a few miles away in the small berg of Monroe, Michigan. In the early 1930’s, it was still a widely held belief that immersing oneself in natural lake water would help the body to resist the dreaded polio virus. That was my grandfather’s hope for his growing brood. But to myself, my siblings, dozens of cousins and an ever-increasing passel of lucky friends, it was simply the impetus for our getting to revel for the next couple decades in deliriously happy, black-cherry ice cream sweet, sultry suntan drenched dreamy rock & roll infused summers “at the lake”. As my nuclear family grew and my father’s practice blossomed, we moved through a succession of bigger and fancier homes within the town of Monroe, Michigan. I myself have since managed to live in a wide variety of habitats all over the world. Yet, whenever I have a dream where I know “I am home”, I am in the midst of one of those Norman Rockwellian summers, in that old cottage, on Lake Erie. I would live to see that lake evolve through several metamorphoses. Years later while at sea in a hurricane in the North Atlantic and still later, battling raging gales across the Pacific, I’d be reminded of Erie’s angry face while in the throes of a wild nor’easter. Continued Pg. 30 28
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Wonderful Dockside Reading...... Lubber’s Log - A Journal of One Mariner’s Experience in Moving Up By: William L. Gills
Love boating? Remember your first season in your new boat? Lubber’s Log is a boating journal and adventure story told in an entertaining, amusing style of the author’s first time experiences in the preparation, maintenance and piloting of a new, unfamiliar boat. If you’re a first time boater, there is tons of useful information to help you get started in your new foray into boating. If you’re a veteran boater, you will surely recall and relate to all the mistakes and joys of those new, exhilarating experiences, both large and small.
Sailing to the Far Horizon -
The Restless Journey and Tragic Sinking of a Tall Ship
By: Pamela Sisman Bitterman
Of the legions of wayfarers who shared in the tall ship Sofia’s diverse and colorful history, only seventeen were on board when she went down. Of those who survived to tell the tale, none has . . . until now. More than twenty-five years ago, Pamela Bitterman began her journey on board a 123-foot, sixty-year-old sailing ship being readied for its second global circumnavigation. The details of events from this journey endure as vividly today as when Bitterman was a naive “shellback” swabbie, later ship’s bos’un, and finally acting first mate. In the end, she was merely one on a life raft of grateful survivors. Hardcover has sold out on Amazon, but you may email the author directly for an autographed copy .
The Latest News from Purgatory Cove By: Paul Esterle
Lookin’ for a great place to keep your boat? A place with lots of amenities, skilled craftsmen and great service? Well, keep on lookin’, ‘cause we do things our own way here at Purgatory Cove Fish Dock & Marina. Purgatory Cove is a place unto itself. Run by Sam, Lefty and Wade, Purgatory Cove staggers on from one misadventure to the next. Follow along via weekly letters from Lefty and Wade... The Great Lakes Mariner
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The Shaping of a Mariner While sprawling on our high cement seawall I had dreamed to the mantra of the waves lapping softly on a wide white sand beach. I spent hours squinting into endless teal blue liquid alight with a million diamonds of sunlight. Within a few short years that same clean beach and clear water would be littered with dozens of grotesquely bloated and rotting dead fish, the result of the lakes relentless eutrification - a process by which a body of water’s natural wildlife is suffocated by an overabundance of organic material that is stealing the oxygen. I would eventually work on a vessel studying this phenomenon, but first I would spend years exploring my lake alone, on a series of personal water toys. First there was my Uncle Bob’s raft, built from four-by-fours strapped together and floated on 6 fifty-five gallon drums. Then there was the military issue 12-man inflatable that my uncle norm picked up from a local navy surplus store. Uncle Dewey showed us how to catch bull-heads – bamboo stick, bit of string, a safety pin, with a fat night-crawler impaled on it, and a red and white plastic bobber in a leaky aluminum dingy in the lagoon behind the cottage. When I was old enough, I bought myself a canoe, and then a Sunfish that I used to explore in, often finding myself skudding around the point into the forbidden and surprisingly verdant marsh that sprouted in the unnaturally warm water spilling from the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant’s cooling tanks. In winter the lake would freeze, and during holidays we’d race our cousin’s iceboats at dizzying speeds across the glassy surface. My dad would auger a hole to test how deep the ice was, and how safe. He taught me to ice-skate on that lake. When there’d be an especially good freeze, cars would venture out and soon ice fishing shanties would dot the grey horizon. Sometimes the winds would whip and pick up the flows before the ice could set. From shore it would look like giant crashing waves frozen vertical and stacked one against the next. When I was in my early twenties, I returned from working and living back east. My widowed grandmother was too old to manage the cottage alone any longer, so she was selling it. I wanted to spend a last year there with her. In summer, I dug and planted the properties first vegetable garden. I watered it from the same old hand pump whereas kids we’d sit for hours, shucking corn for the giant family gatherings. The Army Corps of Engineers had already disfigured our previously unobstructed waterfront vista with ugly six foot tall stone and fence dikes, designed to hold back the dangerous high flood waters (which would never come again…) While walking my dog one dark stormy winter night, I fell off that dike and broke my leg. In spring, I went to work on the HYDRA, the Research Vessel for the Environmental Protection Agency, assigned to determine the extent of the damage done, and to hopefully find a way to restore Top: my Aunt Bloss, Uncle Dewey, Mother, and Uncle Norm sitting on the seawall in the 1930’s, when my grandparents bought the cottage. Top-Inset: my grandmother, me, Aunt Bloss and Cousin Joe, my little sister and brother, and a dog around 1960. Middle-left: a shot of me out on my Sunfish, sometime in the 1960’s. I’d sometimes be gone all day. Middle-right: my grandparents in back of the cottage in 1939. Bottom-left: my cousin, me, my brother, another cousin and my older sister (looking fussy) on the seawall around the summer of 1955 Bottom-right: random family in the lake, circa 1930’s (I recognize only my mom in this photo.)
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A mother's testimony about the rewards of sponsorship
flora
Y
have received dozens of letters with beautiful drawings. She writes them in her native language, Kiswahili, which are then translated. I still tear up over the letter she wrote after we shared that my husband’s mom had died. In the midst of her daily challenges, she was so concerned for us and was praying for us. We were drawn to another child a year later because he reminded us of our own For my family, it’s $1 a day to reach son. Christian was just a year old when across the world. $1 a day to learn a new we began sponsoring him. His mother is culture. $1 a day to feel love for and the a housekeeper and love of someone you they live on $15 might never meet or a month. We also even talk to on the " i still tear up over the letter receive wonderful phone. $1 a day to she wrote after we shared letters from him remind us to stop through a family complaining about that my husband's mom friend. Christian what we don’t have. had died. in the midst of her adds drawings of $1 a day to teach daily challenges, she was rabbits and turtles our kids about the and flowers. Here’s rewards of charity. so concerned for us and was the note he sent We sponsor two praying for us." this past Christmas: children through -Lynn, CfCA sponsor At midnight close CFCA, Flora your eyes and make from Tanzania a wish for the New Year. At the same time I and Christian from Honduras. We will do the same. My wish will be that your learned about the organization at wish can come true!! Merry Christmas!! church. We learn about a lot of worthy organizations at church, but this one As another commercial says: priceless. spoke to us as a family. If you’re interested in learning about We chose Flora because her birthday other children awaiting sponsorship, is one day ahead of our wedding I would suggest researching CFCA anniversary. She was born in 1993. Her further. Here’s their website, father died in 1994. Her mother earns www.hopeforafamily.org. You can also money selling tomatoes. Flora carries find them on Facebook and Twitter, sand to earn money for school. She wrote: @CFCA. One statistic you should know: Once I complete my primary education, More than 94 percent of CFCA’s expenses I would like to continue studying up until go to program support. university and be a doctor. I will assist my I’ll sign this as Christian and his family, friends and the whole community. mother, Glendi, signed a recent letter — Receive hugs and kisses from the ones How could we not benefit from who love you very much and remember knowing such a person? We have you always. been sponsoring her since 2005 and
ou know the charities helping children in poverty that say, “Just $1 a day is all that’s needed to change a child’s life?” You know what? They’re right. You can change a child’s life with $1 a day. But there’s more. Much more — at least with one organization called Christian Foundation for Children and Aging (CFCA).
christ
ian
Put your fAith into ACtion Sponsorship helps you and your family act on the Catholic Church’s social teachings by helping you make the needs of the world’s poor and vulnerable a priority in your lives. Put your faith into action by sponsoring a child in need through CFCA, the country’s largest lay Catholic child sponsorship organization! As a CFCA sponsor, your monthly tax-deductible contribution of $30 provides a child with: • Essential benefits such as food, clothing and health care. • Educational needs such as school supplies, uniforms, tuition and other school fees. • Recreational activities such as Christmas and birthday celebrations. • Literacy classes, skills training and livelihood programs for parents.
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About the Author
WAnt more informAtion?
Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf is a member of the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Garden Plain, Kan. She is a writer and public relations consultant. Her family has been sponsoring children through CFCA since 2005. Read Lynn’s blog www.lynnwoolf.com. The at Great Lakes Mariner
Visit www.hopeforafamily.org or call (800) 875-6564. C h r i s t i a n F o u n d at i o n For Children and aging O f f er i n g h o p e. R e s t o r in g d ign it y. Wo r l d w id e .
the lake. The ship was moored in PutIn-Bay. Sometimes we’d be out for tours lasting a couple of weeks, taking samples from various points along this uniquely shallow body of water’s vast meandering snaking path from west-to-east. My job in the onboard lab was to test the lake’s turbidity, thermo cline, and temperature. On one tour, we were even visited by a group of scientists from Russia who were trying to save their own eutrifying great lake. In the fall, my grandmother and I packed up a half-century worth of Me in the mid-1970’s taking a break from tending memories, and said goodbye to Lake Erie. the vegatable garden to pet my Airdale. I was also I went on to follow the sun to the west nursing a broken leg that was the result of falling off coast. But that lake was in my soul, and I the dike. found I had fallen in love with being at sea, so to speak. So it isn’t surprising that when, a few years later, the opportunity arose for me to set sail on a circumnavigating tall ship, I jumped at the chance. Several years later, and half a world away, lost my schooner in a storm at sea. Miraculously, I survived, and finally returned to America, with a shipmate and fellow survivor - my future husband and father of our children. We have remained on the west coast, but every summer since our first child was born, we traveled back to visit my folks. And they had also moved full circle, migrating back to the lake, (this time to Bolls Harbor), and into the last home that they would ever have. Our children learned swim off their dock, napped to same sound of the same waves gentle lapping that had lulled me to sleep as a child, collected shells from her white sand shores, munched on the tiny perch they caught in her clear waters.
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Today, my children are grown. And, just as my grandparents and their cottage are no longer here, so gone now are my children’s grandparents and their home on the lake. But the memories endure. My children tell me that when they dream of a place called home, strangely, they often find themselves Me, circa 1980, aboard the Tall Ship Sofia re-reeving the main gaff peak halyard. A dreaming that they are there too, at what was their world away from Lake Erie and my Sunfish cottage, on beautiful Lake Erie. The Great Lakes Mariner
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Those @$&# Cutlass Bearings!
Making the Inevitable a Little Easier
W
e can put a man on the moon but can’t come up with a better system than the cutlass bearing? Oh well, it’s what we are stuck with so we might as well make the best of it.
This year, after putting it off for the last couple of years I decided to tackle changing my cutlass bearings. I knew the process would not be pleasant, the old owner of my boat only did maintenance when something broke and to the best of my knowledge he never had any shaft problems in the 20 years or so that he owned the boat. After removing the props and shafts, I began the process by spraying the cutlass bearings liberally with a quality penetrating oil (I chose P.B. Blaster.) I did this for several days leading up to the actual changing. At this point, if you have the a shaft removal tool, congratulations, you can now disregard the rest of this article and go on with your day, but for the other 95% of the boating population that doesn’t have a $500 laying around for a tool you use every couple of decades, hopefully this improvised tool can help make the process much smoother. Start out by measuring the opening of your strut, calipers can make this process easy but a tape measure will work well enough; the measurement doesn’t have to be precise. You need to know the opening diameter so you can purchase a pipe slightly larger. Next measure the length of the portion of the strut that contains the cutlass bearing, again the measurement need not be precise; it’s needed to ensure the pipe you purchase can fully extract the cutlass bearing. Armed with these measurements, it’s time to head off to the local home improvement store.
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A quality penetrating oil such as PB Blaster can make this task a lot less painful. 35
While at the home improvement store you will need to purchase a pipe slight larger than the opening and longer than the length of the strut, a screw on end cap for the pipe, a threaded rod longer than the pipe (the larger the diameter the better,) 6 washers that are slightly smaller than the opening on the strut, 4 washers that are larger than the strut opening, and at least 2 nuts that fit the threaded rod. You may also want to purchase a fresh blade for your hacksaw at this point, hopefully it won’t be needed but, if it is, you’re not going to want to stop everything your doing for another trip to the hardware store. Prior to beginning the work, you have to do a slight bit of prep. One: give the bearings another squirt of penetrating oil (it can’t hurt), second: you must drill a hole in the pipe cap slightly larger than the threaded rod. The cap drills easier than you would think so be careful the drill bit doesn’t catch the cap and spin it violently – it hurts, I found out the hard way. It’s important to get your measurements before you buy the pipe and washers. The threaded rod below was 1/2”, if possible you may want to go larger (I snapped that off on the second stuck bearing.)
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Once you arrive at your boat, take a minute to ensure your boat is securely on its stands. You will be torquing heavily on the removal tool and rocking your boat off its stands will have unpleasant consequences to put it mildly; if you’re not sure your boat is secure enough, don’t do the work and get professional help changing the bearings or at least securing the boat. After you’re sure your boat is secure, the fun begins. 1: If your cutlass bearings have set screws (small screws on the side of the strut to secure the cutlass bearing) remove them. 2: Screw the cap onto the removal pipe and place the threaded rod through the hole. Secure the threaded rod by placing two washers next to the cap followed by a nut. Leave enough rod so that it protrudes out the other side of the strut. 3: Place at least 2 of the washers that are larger than the strut opening onto the threaded rod and secure them using a nut. 4: Tighten the nut so the pipe remains stationary and centered on the strut opening. 5: Once the pipe is centered, begin torqueing the nut on the pipe side until the strut is removed. This may be very difficult and an additional pipe to extend the handle of your wrench may make life much easier. This method worked just fine for one of my cutlass bearings but, just as I feared, one of them would not budge no matter how much I tried. Put it this way, it was stuck enough that I broke off the ½ threaded rod that I was using, so I applied heat and tried using a 5/8” threaded rod, which then collapsed the top of the pipe cap. In cases like this, there really are only two realistic choices – call a pro, or get to cutting. This is where that hacksaw blade comes in to play. I recommend feeding the blade of a hacksaw through the cutlass bearing and then attaching it upside down on your saw. Using this method, as opposed to simply using the blade, allows a great deal of control and prevents unintended damage to your strut; use a reciprocating saw at your own risk. Once you have sawn through the cutlass bearing take a sturdy screw driver and a hammer and, pounding at an inward angle, bend in one side of the cut. Once this bends up, you can grab the cutlass bearing The Great Lakes Mariner
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Above: The portside bearing wouldn’t break free no matter what I did, so I had to break out the hacksaw (note that there is no damage to the strut because I patiently sawed and didn’t go right to the recipricating saw.) Right: After I snapped off the smaller rod, I was lucky enough to find this larger rod and heavy-duty bearing (it acted as a large washer while putting in the new bearing) in the scrap pile at my boat club.
with a good set of pliers and pull it right out. Reading this, you may think to skip the tool and just cut the bearings out; I can assure you this is not a pleasant task and if your bearings haven’t been in the struts for a couple of decades, the tool will likely pull them out fairly easily, and, as you’ll find out below, the tool helps you re-install them. Once both of the old cutlass bearings are removed, lubricate the strut in preparation for installing the new cutlass bearing. Take the pipe off the threaded rod and place a nut and 2 of the large washers on one side of the threaded rod. Place the new cutlass bearing in the strut opening and feed the threaded rod through both the strut and new cutlass bearing. On the opposite side, place the remaining two large washers and secure them with the remaining nut. Now ensure the new cutlass bearing is lined up with the opening and begin tightening the nut on the bearing side until the new one is securely in place. If at any point the cutlass bearing needs any gentle persuasion, place a piece of hardwood against the cutlass bearing and strike the wood gently with a hammer – never strike the cutlass bearing directly with a hammer, you won’t be happy when you are buying a new one. Finally replace the set screws if applicable and rejoice in the fact that you shouldn’t have to go through this again for several years. The Great Lakes Mariner
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Saving Space on Your Boat By William “Bos’n Bill” Gills
Photo compliments of State Library of South Australia
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his past weekend my wife and I had the occasion to get out of the 6 o’clock blazing sun by taking refuge in our dock-neighbor’s 30 foot express cruiser’s cabin. Everything was impeccably kempt and orderly, comfortable and accommodating with small mounted flat screen TV, bright work brass matching barometer and clock, planked wood floors and wood grain appointments. It was as inviting as the company, as comfortable as our living room at home, only it was on our neighbor’s boat. It’s not the only boat on the dock that rivals this scenario, there are others and my wife felt betrayed by all the “stuff” we squeeze into a comparable space in the name of convenience and fulfilling the challenge of meeting any and every possible contingency. I reminded her that we are “boat campers” and often spend several or more days “on the hook”; we’re not day boaters very often, where most of one’s creature needs can be met at the marina or a drive to a nearby store or eatery. So, we’re different in that way, we load up our boat and try as best we can to keep her shipshape, whatever that really means.
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I am of the opinion there are two types of boaters, minimalists and immoderates. In my mind, a minimalist believes in carrying the bare minimum of what is necessary, whereas an immoderate believes just the opposite. My wife and I happen to be of the immoderate variety. Some of my favorite neighbors are minimalists, but either way there are boating essentials required by law; you can’t escape them lest you be found in contempt or downright foolish. You know what they are: life jackets, throwable flotation device, fire extinguisher, visual distress signals, navigation lights, horn or whistle, registration papers and flame arrestor. Then, there are things I would never do without, “helpful boating gear”: the tool kit, marine radio, compass, GPS, anchors, mooring lines, sunscreen and water. A first aid kit comes in handy for the occasional cuts, bruises, bug bites and slivers as does a portable bilge pump and a boat hook. Water is essential for any boating trip and we always have high protein, non perishable snacks that might tide us over should there be a boating delay until we can get help when let’s say, we can’t get our engine started and we need a jump or a tow. If you’re a minimalist you needn’t read any further, you’ve probably found a space on your boat for the essentials and “the helpful boating gear”. If you’re not and you pack towels, swimming rafts, fishing gear, extra clothing, bedding, soft drinks and all those other basic fun and comfort essentials not enumerated here, like food and a cell phone you might want to read further unless you’ve got all this covered. For us, the most utilized space for larger items is under the berth in the bedroom or forward cabin. Here we can stow our extra cushions, bedding, towels, water and water toys. Below the seat storage is an obvious choice for storage on any boat, but you can keep items organized and dry by storing them in plastic storage containers (like those made by Rubbermaid and Tupperware) where you can pack your spare batteries, repair and first aid kits. Don’t forget below decks either. If you have air conditioning, there’s often enough space to accommodate cleaning and other boat maintenance supplies. If you have a live well aboard and not planning on fishing, you might consider using it as temporary storage. Side pocket storage is a “no brainer” just remember to close the sliders if you have them so the cabin looks less cluttered. Mentally designate each side pocket for an assigned function, e.g., kitchen supplies, food, toiletries, emergency, cleaning, personal or even
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Saving Space on Your Boat miscellaneous for things like pens and pencils, puzzles and games. I suggest if you chose not to do this you’ll have a hard time finding those spare sunglasses you’ll need when the ones you are wearing are sinking in 30 feet of water. Other great space saving ideas include using plastic shower suction cups that are equipped with clips, racks and caddies to hold anything from soap, tooth paste and hand sanitizer to a clip to hang your cap or visor. Small hammock cargo nets are also great for accommodating food, snacks and toys.
Photo by Pete Markman
For clothes and linens, keep in mind folding takes up more space than rolling. You’ll save more space than you might think possible rolling and the items will not be in any worse shape than if you had folded, I promise (that is, if you’re a neat, not a sloppy roller). Also, consider getting a vacuum packer to remove air from vacuum pack bags to compress them and keep them dry.
Instead of carrying soft drinks in cans or bottles, you can bring refillable water bottles and make iced tea, Gatorade or Tang from a powdered mix. The same applies with some foods. Buy dehydrated grains, vegetables, pastas, dried potatoes, etc. It’s a big space saver and comes in handy in a pinch. Think dried fruit, granola bars, Wheat Thins, string cheese, tuna in a pouch rather than a can. There are many ways to keep an orderly boat and I’m sure you’ve probably got some other ideas I haven’t touched on here. Space is at a premium on a boat, it just takes a little imagination and planning, a few tricks and accessories to find the best place and ways to keep it all. We immoderates may have a lot of “stuff” and even though the minimalists may not get it, we can coexist in both camps, how much better is that?
Packed foods, such as this one from Starkist, can save significant space. Carrying drink concentrate such as Tang, or a relatively new product with several flavors such as Mio, means that you can pack only drinkable water for your trip and still have a variety of drinks.
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