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FREEBoat Adp54
Display until March 15, 2012
BOATING GOES GREEN
HOLIDAYGIFT GUIDE
CHICAGO RIVERRENEWED
ERIE-SISTIBLY
GREAT LAKES
SOBA FOR ACCESS
greatlakesboating.com
January 2012WHERE BOATERS GO FOR NEWS
Cruisers Cantius
04 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
PU
BL
ISH
ER
’S N
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GREAT LAKES BOATING® Magazine (ISSN 1937-7274) ©2012 is a registered trademark (73519-331) of Chicago Boating Publications, Inc., its publisher 1032 N. LaSalle 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 [email protected]
Great Lakes Boating Magazine is available online at greatlakesboating.com and 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 self-addressed stamped envelope. Great Lakes Boating
Magazine is not responsible and will not be liable for non-solicited manuscripts, including photographs. Great Lakes Boating Magazine does not assume liability or ensure accuracy of the content contained in its articles, editorials, new product releases and advertising. Inquiries may be directed to the authors through the editorial offi ce. Products, services and advertisements appearing in Great 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 offi ces of Great Lakes Boating
Magazine. For reprints contact: FosteReprints, p 800.382.0808 or f 219.879.8366.
Advertising | Sales Inquiries Neil Dikmenp 312.266.8400 • f 312.266.8470e [email protected]
Michigan | Ohio M2Media CompanyMark Moyer • p 248.840.0749e [email protected]
It is hard to judge the 2011 boating season. In some places it lingered with an enjoyable Indian summer, while others saw it quickly vanish as soon as autumn leaves began falling. With holiday gatherings now underway, we shall reminisce on it with family and friends.
With the new year about to arrive, we look to the future—the future of our pastime, the environment in which we enjoy it, and the products and vessels we use. This much is certain, the time has come to get excited about the greening of boating. Our industry has done well in developing high-quality environmentally friendly products and following more environmentally friendly practices, and now it’s time to get serious about vessels that run on clean, renewable energy. In this issue, we examine which alternative energy sources are most viable and how close they are to powering boats in the mainstream.
In the spirit of renewal, environmental stewardship and making the waters enjoyable for all, we also learn about Chicago’s plans to revitalize the Chicago River with four new boathouses and continued cleanup efforts. This project promises to create jobs and make the city’s “other shoreline” a gathering place.
Another feature acquaints you with State Organization for Boating Access (SOBA). While you may not be familiar with that name, it’s likely you’ve encountered SOBA’s work. As a guardian angel for boating access,
it ensures that all states get involved in maintaining the accessibility and sustainability of recreational boating.
For those who plan to participate in off-season boating, the U.S. Coast Guard offers tips for planning safe trips and practicing emergency preparedness. For those left looking forward to 2012, we check in with our friends at Cruisers Yachts to learn more about their 2012 41 Cantius sports coupe. Our Port of Call takes us to Erie, Pa. As you plan next season’s travels, consider this vibrant, historic maritime community on Lake Erie.
As we wrap up 2011 and toast 2012, Great Lakes Boating wants to remind you that recreational boating needs you more than ever. During this economic meltdown we have lost many boaters due to unemployment and a lack of discretionary funds to support the boating lifestyle. Not so long ago there were 16 million boaters all across our nation in fresh- and saltwater seas. We are now informed that the number of registered boaters is near 12.5 million—a considerable loss indeed.
You can help Grow Boating through word of mouth. Share your stories and praise the joys of this family sport and hobby. Remind others that boats provide wonderful second homes in the summertime. Tell everyone you know why our great pastime is worth pursuing.
To help preserve boating and angling on the Great Lakes, join the Great Lakes Boating Federation, a voice that advocates the recreational boating and sportfi shing lifestyle.
We wish you the happiest holidays and a prosperous new year! We are especially looking forward to our May/June issue, which will mark our 30th anniversary.
F. Ned Dikmen
Karen Malonis
James AdamsJohn MalatakSteve Miller
Jenifer Fischer
Mila RykAndrea Vasata
Dmitriy Pisarev
Publisher & Editor in Chief
Managing Editor
Contributing Writers
Assistant Editor
Graphic Design
Web Master
WHERE BOATERS GO FOR NEWS
VISIT THE NEW
GREATLAKESBOATING.COM
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK
IMPROVED AND MORE MOBILE FRIENDLY
06 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
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DEPARTMENTS
14FEATURESFEATURES
• CRUISERS YACHTS 12 • PORT OF CALL: ERIE, PA 14• SOBA 18• THE GREENING OF BOATING 22
IN THE NEWSIN THE NEWS
• GREAT LAKES 36• FISHING 40• MARINAS 42• CRUISING 44• NATIONAL 46• SAILING 48
DEPARTMENTS
• PUBLISHER’S NOTE 04• EDITORIALS 08• LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 10• NEW PRODUCTS 50• BOAT CARE AND FEEDING 52• MARINE MART 54• EVENTS CALENDAR 55• ADVERTISER INDEX 56
18
3034
The sporty 41 Cantius is the sister
yacht to the 48 Cantius Sports Coupe
launched by Cruisers Yachts in 2010.
The upper salon accommodates six
adults with its standard double helm
seat. It also features a companion seat
and 6 feet 4 inches of headroom. The
navigation center offers the captain
unmatched visibility and complete
control of the vessel. Volvo Penta IPS
engines with joystick are standard.
The stern has an L-shaped seating area
with a hi-low table and a transom bar
with two removable bar stools on the
swim platform. Designated storage is
found beneath the L-shaped seating.
Natural light pours into the galley
through the open dash. The galley
is equipped with a stainless-steel
refrigerator and freezer, microwave/
convection oven, two-burner electric
stove, single sink and storage areas.
The boat has three strategically placed
air conditioning and heating units.
The 41 boasts two staterooms and heads.
The guest mid-ship suite features a split
bunk arrangement that converts to a
queen-size berth and a private wet head
with dedicated vanity area outside of
the head. The master stateroom has a
queen-sized island berth with a foam
mattress, full-length cedar-lined closets,
and built-in drawers beneath the berth.
The forward head features a separate
shower stall and a storage area.
Cruisers Yachts804 Pecor StreetOconto, WI
920-834-2211
www.cruisersyachts.com
SPOTLIGHTSSPOTLIGHTS
• GIFT GUIDE 26• OFF-SEASON BOATING 30• CHICAGO RIVER 34
42’8” 13’0”
10’6”40” 300 gal.
LOA W/INTEGRATED SWIM PLATFORM:
BEAM:
BRIDGE CLEARANCE W/HARDTOP:
DRAFT, IPS:
FUEL CAPACITY:
Cruisers Yachts 41 CantiusOTC 41 Cantius
Kiss the status quo goodbye. The new 41 Cantius.
The incredible new 41 Cantius was ergonomically designed to put everything within easy reach. Such as sumptuous food, lively conversation and interesting friends. Its revolutionaryopen-concept design was made for entertaining guests, by inviting interaction and keeping everyone onboard engaged in the conversation. Plus, it also features the most advanced technology and amenities to make your 41 Cantius the most happening venue in town. Your weekends, and your life will never be the same. To experience the extraordinary new 41 Cantius, visit your dealer or go to CruisersYachts.com/glb
Scan this QR code for behind-the-scenes video of the new 41 Cantius.
08 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
ED
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RIA
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As boaters, we must be good stewards of the waters. Aft er all,
it is in our best interest to keep them clean and welcoming
for our recreational pursuits and enjoyment. Our desire to do
so remains evident when we abide by the Clean Boating Act,
support the establishment of Clean Marinas and work to halt
the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Our conservation eff orts extend beyond our actions, however.
They increasingly spill over into what we buy. Recent years
have seen more eff ective and economical marine products at
consumers’ fingertips, and boaters seem eager to use them.
Naturally, this leaves us to question whether boaters are ready
to embrace green forms of power.
As it stands today, sail boating remains much greener than
power boating. While electric boats are another means of
enjoying our pastime without fossil fuels, they also cater to a
segment of the population looking for a mellower experience—
those who use them as second boats for spending time in the
harbor at rates of speed not much beyond 5 mph. Th ose with
recreational powerboats seek to cruise at average speeds of 15
knots, and at present, fossil fuels remain their best option in
doing so.
Currently, lead-acid batt eries are the most widely available
alternative energy source; however, they are heavy and last
only a year or two. Th e most advanced batt eries, lithium-ion
batteries, are making headway to compete with gasoline
and diesel fuels in an att empt to bring the clean and green
renewable energy to powerboats.
Many would be surprised to hear electric engines can not only
match their diesel counterparts in speed and acceleration,
they are also more efficient. Without pistons and exhaust
gases, about 90 percent of the energy available in a lithium-ion
batt ery may be used to propel a boat. Diesel engines can only
use 35 percent of the energy available.
In a pound-for-pound comparison between a diesel engine
and a lithium ion batt ery, the performance would be almost
identical; however, the shortcoming is that the total energy
available in the batt ery would only take you about half the
distance of a boat run on fossil fuels. That means more
batt eries needed to go the same distance, which adds more
weight, which ultimately decreases performance.
Lithium-ion batt eries have a long way to go when it comes to
being a viable option; they cost tens of thousands of dollars,
have an uncertain lifespan, and are not widely available to the
general public.
And what about wind and solar energy? Th ey may be naturally
available, but they still require the right technology to viable
sources of power—both functionally and economically.
Comparatively speaking, fossil fuels remain far less expensive.
If we can decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, why is it taking
so long? In the end, it comes down to economics and research.
More research needs to be done if we are to make alternative
energies viable, aff ordable and widely available. It would seem,
only cost can help them compete with fossil fuels.
Looking at the rate of progress being made, it would seem we
are quite a ways off from powetrboats that run by means other
than fossil fuels. In the meantime, we must remain vigilant
in our efforts to care for the lands and waters we frequent.
Boating offers great freedom and a way to be out in nature
with friends and family. If we wish to share this pastime with
our children and grandchildren, it is in our best interest to act,
purchase and vote accordingly.
Help Boating Get Green
Agree? Disagree? Want to Comment?Email your thoughts to lett [email protected]
greatlakesboating.com | 09
Twenty years ago when the nine Chicago harbors, home to 5,000
boaters, were constantly in the news. Mooring spaces were in hot
demand, and to get one for the summer was no easy task. In order
to seek a mooring, you had to currently own a boat and then had
to place your name on a waiting list, which you were told, was
longer than the eye could see. When a mooring was secured, the
majority of harbors were equipped with an odd congregation of
buoy can and star dock accommodations that required the use
of a dinghy to get to one’s boat. Th ere were many stories about
a fast-track means of gett ing mooring spaces, and there were as
many stories that found their way into investigations and courts
of law.
However, those days have ended. Now, for the first time in
history, you can walk in with dignity, demand to see the slips
available, and choose one that will fit your needs. There is a
new harbor at 31st Street that will accommodate 1,000 boats of
assorted sizes. We have learned that next year, it is expected that
40 percent of the harbor will be fi lled with happy occupants.
To find available boaters and lure them to come from other
harbors to rent a mooring at twice what they pay elsewhere
may be one tall order. Th e days of boaters waiting in line for
moorings are over and gone, and the way to fi ll a harbor now
is to steal clients from another.
Many boaters call our editorial offi ce and inquire whether we
know the rate hikes they will see when their contracts arrive.
Even though it is not official, we have learned that, at least
two premium harbors, Burnham and DuSable, will escalate
by 3 percent, while the rest of the harbors will not see any rate
increases in 2012.
Boats are recreational items oft en deemed unnecessary during
these diffi cult economic times. Many know that the boating
industry is the fi rst to fall and the last to recover during a
recession. And when it does recover, it comes face-to-face with
the next recession. Many consider boats to be toys of the rich,
but most are near two decades old and worth less than $20,000.
The largely middle-class population that enjoys this pastime
will not—and cannot—keep paying more and more with each
passing year.
There is no doubt it is now a boaters’ market with many
options available, from a bank-repossessed boat acquired at a
small fraction of its value to moorings at about $60 per lineal
foot at almost all harbors in southern Lake Michigan except
Chicago. Chicago is an exception because it considers much
added value in pricing its moorings at $140 per lineal foot,
nearly twice that of nearby harbors.
Chicago still has some of the old-style cans and star docks in
operation. Th ey command lower mooring fees that appeal to
frugal-minded boaters, but they are located in off -the-beaten
path harbors.
As lawmakers and tax collectors peer through their periscopes,
boats have become exceedingly att ractive as a revenue source in
recent days. Taxing bodies like the Chicago Park District and
others will think twice before they tweak their numbers one
notch higher believing that boaters are willing to pay their raised
property taxes.
More than 20 years ago, the Chicago Park District and City of
Chicago raised mooring rates to unimaginable levels compared
with adjacent harbors in Illinois and other states. In what was a
total surprise to the park district and city, nearly 2,000 owners
of large craft s 27 feet in length and longer, picked up and slipped
away to less expensive harbors nearby.
Unlike real estate owners who must bite the bullet and sit when
taxes are raised, boaters do not have to tolerate such impositions.
The Chicago Park District will have to weather the storm of
boaters’ unpredictable actions. Th is group earned the name “the
slippery bunch” 20 years ago, and they can do it again.
Boaters’ Market
10 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
LE
TT
ER
S T
O T
HE
ED
ITO
R PRIVATE MARINAS NEED CORPS OF ENGINEERS, TOO
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has abandoned the
dredging and maintenance of harbor structures within ports
receiving less than 1 million tons of cargo a year; a move
that has been attributed to federal budget cuts. I understand
that the Corps’ mission is to provide services in support of
commercial shipping, but in turning its back on these ports,
the Corps ignores the billions of dollars generated by private
boat operators who also depend on these same structures
and dredging—a deeply disheartening action.
The federal government established the Harbor Maintenance
Trust Fund as a tool to ensure continuing maintenance of
harbor structures and channel dredging. This was funded
by a tax placed upon shippers on a per ton basis. To my
understanding, it carries a balance of $5.5 billion and yet goes
relatively unused. Currently there are two pieces of legislation
working their way through Congress (HR 104 and S 412)
intended to ensure these funds are used only for their original
intended purpose. The Waukegan Port District has joined with
the Great Lakes Small Harbor Coalition to help bring these
efforts to fruition. It is painfully obvious that the use of these
funds would most assuredly eliminate the bulk of shallow
drafts and deteriorating infrastructure throughout all of
the Great Lakes.
The fact that federal grant money is available for constructing
new transient docks but, it would seem, not for upgrading
existing marine infrastructure, disappoints a vast majority
of the boating community. I am aware of some projects in
surrounding areas where grant monies were apparently used
to construct transient dockage in numbers that seem to be far
in excess of actual demand, while existing marinas must fend
for themselves. If harbor operators are forced to not only
maintain their own infrastructure but also carry the additional
burden of maintaining breakwalls and channel dredging
formerly undertaken by the Corps of Engineers, it is diffi cult
to foresee how once profi table harbors can continue.
Funding sources for upgrading and maintaining existing harbor
infrastructure must be located—and quickly. If this matter is not
met with urgency, the consequences will harm everyone from
the boating public to the businesses that serve them to the
shipping community.
Brion O’ Dell, Harbor Manager
Waukegan Port District
Waukegan, Ill.
Prin
cecr
aft
Boat
s In
c. 2
012,
a B
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A Princecraft boat is the ultimate way to enjoy perfect moments with family and friends.Pioneers in terms of design and craftsmanship, our lines of pontoon boats, fi shing boatsand deck boats have been delivering the best pleasure craft on the market since 1954.Call us at 800.395.8858 or on-line at princecraft.com to fi nd your nearest dealer.
COME SEE OUR LINE OF ELECTRIC POWERED BOATS AT PRINCECRAFT.COM
Informations and Tips
12 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Christens
LOA w/integrated Swim Platform
BeamBridge Clearance w/hardtop
Draft, IPSFuel Capacity
42’8”
13’0”
10’6”
40”
300 gal
greatlakesboating.com | 13
C ruisers Yachts, Wisconsin’s premier manufacturer of
luxury yachts, held a dealer meeting on Sept. 12 and
13 at the company’s headquarters in Oconto, Wis.
More than 100 dealers and guests attended the meeting,
with dealers from six different countries represented.
During the dealer meeting, which took place in the factory
showroom that was unveiled last year, Cruisers Yachts
also introduced a completely redesigned website. Moving
from a Flash-developed Web core to a dynamic content-
based system, the website is easier to navigate, allows
users to explore models, provides up-to-date information
on boat shows, news and brand messaging and has social
networking capabilities. Key features include large-format
photographs, featured content area on the home page,
mega menus and a suggestive search.
“Like our yachts, we’ve designed a website focused on
elegant simplicity. I encourage boaters to take a look at
the new site and see how the added features and functions
directly refl ect our Web-savvy customer base,” said Russ
Davis, director of sales and marketing at Cruisers Yachts.
Crate Marine was the recipient of this year’s coveted
Dealer of the Year Award. Crate Marine has fi ve locations
throughout Ontario and Quebec. They provide full marine
sales and service and have been in the Cruiser Yachts family
for three years.
The annual gathering also featured Cruisers Yachts christening
of the 2012 41 Cantius sports coupe.
“Last year, our customers were inspired by the revolutionary
new 48 Cantius,” Davis said. “The yacht symbolizes a new
attitude and our unyieldiwng drive to continually innovate;
changing not only how we design yachts but in the way
we do business. Cruisers Yachts is positioned well for the
fi ercely competitive years ahead.”
Building on the momentum created by last year’s breakout
48 Cantius model, Cruisers Yachts introduced the 41 Cantius.
This model 41 Cantius showcases a fi rst for Cruisers Yachts:
a swim platform entertaining area with two removable bar
stools, as well as other quality features such as double salons,
a full enclosure tri-slide glass door, two staterooms and heads,
Volvo Penta IPS propulsion and customizable options.
cruisersyachts.com
14 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Erie, Pennsylvania’s fourth largest city, lies on
beautiful Presque Isle Bay, one the world’s best-
protected harbors, surrounded by a seven-mile
peninsula. As Pennsylvania’s only Great Lakes Port City, Erie
has an extensive maritime history. Central to the Pittsburgh-
Cleveland-Buffalo triangle, Erie is within 500 miles of
more than half of the U.S. population and is accessible by
automobile, boat, plane, train or bus.
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK
The sandy surf beaches at Presque Isle State Park along
Lake Erie help to make tourism Erie’s second largest industry,
next to manufacturing. Sailing, swimming, hiking, biking, kite
fl ying and fi shing are popular on Lake Erie as are ice fi shing,
ice sailing and cross-country skiing. Presque Isle, French for
“almost an island,” has been designated a National Natural
Landmark due to its unique ecological composition and
diversity with rare and endangered species of wildfl owers
and more than 428 species of birds.
With its seven miles of sandy beaches and world-class
sunsets, Presque Isle State Park is regarded as one of
Pennsylvania’s top vacation destinations. More than 4
million visitors travel here annually to enjoy its unique blend
of natural beauty and recreation, year-round. Condé Nast
Traveler magazine names Presque Isle as one of the nation’s
“Top 100 Swimming Holes” and 13 designated swimming
areas give visitors several places to cool off on a hot summer
day. The lagoons, Gull Point and Presque Isle Bay, may be
explored on pontoons, kayaks or narrated boat tours, and a
multipurpose trail offers 13 paved miles for walking, jogging
or biking. This area provides a scenic backdrop for a leisurely
day spent fi shing, birding, boating, windsurfi ng, water skiing
or picnicking. Birder’s World magazine lists Presque Isle as
a birding “hot spot” due to its unique diversity of habitats,
topography and geological location home to more than 325
bird species. Fall and winter activities such as nature hikes
among the dazzling fall foliage, ice-skating and ice fi shing,
ice kite surfi ng, ice sailing or cross-country skiing make this a
four-season destination.
The Erie area is home to three lighthouses, with two located at
Presque Isle State Park—the North Pier Light and the Presque
Isle Lighthouse. The Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in
ERIE-SISTIBLE
Bicentennial Tower
totally
greatlakesboating.com | 15
1872. Its neighboring kiosk exhibit traces the lighthouse’s
history. Re-built in 1858 after the original wooden beacon was
destroyed a year earlier, the cast-iron North Pier Light greets
travelers by sea at the east end of the north pier channel
connecting Presque Isle Bay to the waters of Lake Erie. Erie’s
third lighthouse, the Land Lighthouse, rests high on the bluff
at the foot of Lighthouse Street in the city of Erie. Originally
built in 1867, the Land Lighthouse tower was restored by the
Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority in 2004, bringing
back its historic beauty.
THE TOM RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
Named after one of Erie’s famous natives, former head of
Homeland Security and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge,
the Tom Ridge Environmental Center is a grand gateway
to Presque Isle and Lake Erie. Affectionately referred to as
“TREC,” the 65,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art, “green”
facility is an educational center, dedicated to teaching visitors
about the unique 3,200 acres that is Presque Isle State Park.
TREC houses interactive educational exhibits, a Presque Isle
orientation fi lm, 75-foot glass enclosed observation tower,
visitor information area, nature shop/gallery, the Sunset
Café, 4-story high, 45-feet wide “Big Green Screen” theater,
educational programs, workshops and lectures. Free to the
public and open year-round, the Tom Ridge Environmental
Center is the perfect way for families, individuals and groups
to have fun while learning about Presque Isle.
ERIE’S BAYFRONT DISTRICT
Located on the southeast shore of Lake Erie in a natural
bay formed and protected by Presque Isle, Erie’s Bayfront
District has evolved from shipyards and railroad tracks to a
bustling recreational playground, which is a popular stop for
both visitors and the local community. The Bayfront Parkway
connects Interstates 79 to 90, providing easy accessibility to
Liberty Park, the Bicentennial Tower, Erie Maritime Museum/
U.S. Brig Niagara, waterfront restaurants, family-friendly
attractions and the Bayfront Convention Center. The Bayfront
District and Bayfront Parkway are part of the Great Lakes
Seaway Trail, a nationally designated America’s Byway™, and
feature a multipurpose trail stretching from Frontier Park to
Interstate 90. A stroll along the Bayfront Promenade, which
stretches from Parade Street to Poplar Street, or a trip to the
top of the 187-foot Bicentennial Tower includes spectacular
views of Erie’s downtown and Presque Isle. Other Bayfront
attractions include waterfront mini golf, fi shing charters, the
Victorian Princess stern-wheel paddleboat, outdoor concerts,
festivals and car shows.
The Bayfront Parkway offers easy access to the ever-evolving
Bayfront District. Those interested in learning about Erie’s
extensive maritime history, including the Battle of Lake
Erie, can visit Pennsylvania’s Offi cial Flagship, the U.S. Brig
Niagara at the Erie Maritime Museum. The Bicentennial
Observation Tower on Dobbins Landing offers beautiful vistas
North East Marina
16 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
of the city and Presque Isle Bay. Additional activities include
enjoying a romantic dinner on the Victorian Princess stern-
wheeler, taking the Water Taxi to Presque Isle, or playing 18
holes at Harborview Miniature Golf.
ERIE ARTS/CULTURE/ENTERTAINMENT/OUTDOOR RECREATION
Travel south on State Street to visit the Erie Art Museum
in the Greek Revival-style Old Customs House, the Erie
History Center, and the expERIEnce Children’s Museum.
Downtown’s impressive Jerry Uht Baseball Field is home
to the Erie Seawolves, the Detroit Tigers’ Division AA farm
team. Adjacent to Uht Field is the Tullio Arena, home to the
Ontario Hockey League Erie Otters and the Erie Bayhawks
NBA D-League basketball team. Just up the street the
historic Warner Theater, built by the famous Warner Bros.,
is currently being restored to its original splendor. Home to
the Erie Philharmonic, it is the only active Warner Theatre
left in the nation still in its original form. Theater lovers can
take advantage of Erie’s many venues including the Erie
Playhouse, Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park & Resort,
Presque Isle Downs Casino & Racetrack, Erie Zoo and
Botanical Gardens, JR’s Last Laugh Comedy Club, Asbury
Woods Nature Center, Lake Erie Speedway with NASCAR
sanctioned races, Erie Historical Museum and Planetarium
and the Station Dinner Theatre. Golf lovers can enjoy the
25+ beautifully landscaped golf courses in the area offering
challenging holes and
scenic views.
ERIE AND ITS COUNTRYSIDE
Erie is known for its lovely residential areas and churches of
vintage period architecture. Historic mansions are prevalent
along Millionaire’s Row, West Sixth Street. For shoppers,
the Millcreek Mall and neighboring plazas of the adjacent
suburbs make Erie a haven for shopping. Annually, thousands
of shoppers from New York and Canada are enticed by
Pennsylvania’s tax-free clothing. After a full day of shopping,
an abundance of dinner options await since Erie’s fantastic
culinary scene includes more than 250 dining establishments.
The surrounding countryside boasts charming towns, covered
bridges, and other historical sites, including the only known
statue of George Washington in British uniform. Scenic
Pennsylvania Historic Route 6 and the Great Lakes Seaway
Trail offer a way to experience miles of serene countryside,
vineyards, orchards and wineries.
Visit us at www.VisitErie.com. Erie…Feel the Lake Effect
Photos courtesy of “VisitErie”
Presque Isle Bay
U.S. Brig Niagara
Downtown Erie
18 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
You drive to your favorite lake or river boat-launching
area. The driveway leading to the ramp is paved and
well maintained—no potholes. The road is easily wide
enough for two rigs with those big 96-inch wide beam boats,
or wider, to pass each other without diffi culty. The two-lane
road splits and you are now on a one-way lane dedicated to
boaters who are headed to the ramp to launch their boats.
The ramp gently slopes and is amply wide, so backing your
boat down the concrete ramp is not like trying to thread a
needle. There is a courtesy dock on both sides of the ramp
to temporarily tie off your boat while you park the truck and
trailer, allowing another boat to be launched in the meantime.
The parking stalls are long, wide and well-marked, so your
rig is not squeezed along side others like sardines in a
can. On your way back to your boat, you visit the restroom
conveniently located in a corner of the parking lot. Near the
ramp and courtesy docks you stop to look over the lake map
and other information on the kiosk. You untie the boat, gently
push off, and clear the dock. Now you’re off for a day on the
lake—a simple, no-hassle entry onto the water whether to fi sh
or enjoy time with family or friends.
Does this describe the boat ramp you use? It may not. But,
it will, after the men and woman of SOBA fi nish their work
remodeling your old ramp area, or putting in a totally new
one. If you’ve ever wondered how that boat ramp you use got
there or how the marina you use got built, you can probably
assume SOBA had a hand in it.
DEDICATED TO ACCESS
The States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) is a
relatively small group of professionals, from the states,
federal government, and private suppliers and manufacturers,
that work hard to ensure boaters can get on the water and
enjoy it. They are dedicated women and men who design,
build and help maintain boat ramps and marina projects on
the Great Lakes, and on all other bodies of water in the nation
and along the sea coasts.
SOBA
“We put boats on the water!”By James Adams and Steve Miller
greatlakesboating.com | 19
SOBA is a direct outgrowth of the Aquatic Resources Trust
Fund Act, known as the Wallop-Breaux Act that was enacted
by Congress in 1984. That landmark user pay/user benefi t
legislation earmarked federal tax on the sale of gasoline used
in motorboats and on sport fi shing equipment as aid to states
for the acquisition, construction and repair of public boat
access. Due to this infusion of funds, it was decided that the
states would benefi t from a dedicated national organization in
support of public boating access, and SOBA was established
in 1986.
As the only national organization with a boating access
mission, SOBA is dedicated to improving public boating
access through the acquisition, development and maintenance
of public recreational boating facilities. The mission is clear
and focused—provide the best, well-designed, engineered,
and constructed public boating facilities possible.
Great Lakes states played an integral part in the formation
of SOBA. Its fi rst meeting, setting the stage for its formation,
was held near Detroit, Mich. Those involved with its founding
represented all of the Great Lakes states, and 10 SOBA
presidents have come from Great Lakes states. SOBA
members include state boating offi cials from all 50 states
and fi ve territories, as well as a wide range of other boating
organizations, engineering fi rms, consultants, manufacturers
and suppliers interested in public boating access.
BEYOND STRUCTURES
Today, SOBA is considered a national leader in technical
publications, innovations, research, and design related
to boating access facilities. Recent technical publications
including “Design Handbook for Recreational Boating and
Fishing Facilities,” “Construction Techniques for Recreational
Boating Access Facilities,” and “Operations and Maintenance
Program Guidelines for Recreational Boating Facilities” (see
www.sobaus.org/publications) are the industry standard
for boating access facilities. SOBA is also developing
best practices to address aquatic invasive species as it
relates to boating access. The organization also helps lake
associations, counties, cities and towns that need help with
remodeling or installing a new boat ramp facility get state-
of-the-art assistance.
National Marine Manufacturers Association and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service are two of SOBA’s biggest partners. Working
alongside NMMA, SOBA stays in direct contact with the
boating manufacturing industry—often telling NMMA, “You
build ’em and we get them on the water!”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers grants to the
states from the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, so a close
working relationship between state and federal government
offi cials is essential for effective and effi cient use of these
dedication funds.
SOBA hosts the annual National Boating Access Conference,
which always takes place in a different state. Exposing
members to a variety of boating access programs dictated
by different water and climatic conditions allows them to see
and experience design and construction features that would
Steve Miller (left) and James Adams (right) present the 2011
Congressional Award to Rep Candice Miller (center) from Michigan
SOBA’S MISSION
“TO ENCOURAGE, PROMOTE AND SUPPORT FEDERAL
AND STATE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SAFE, HIGH-QUALITY
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND PUBLIC RECREATIONAL BOATING
ACCESS TO THE WATERWAYS OF THE UNITED STATES AND
ITS TERRITORIES.”
20 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
benefit their programs. Six national conferences have
been held in Great Lakes states.
Each year, awards recognizing outstanding work by
organizations and individual professionals are presented
at the annual National Boating Access Conference to
members and affi liates. SOBA also presents an annual
Congressional Award to a U.S. representative that has
made a national contribution to boating access. SOBA
has recognized numerous Great Lakes Congressional
representatives and most recently, Rep. Candice Miller
from Michigan.
A BOATER’S ALLY
Boaters can take heart that there’s a group looking out for
their interests to get on the water. Due to SOBA’s mission
and the state boating access programs, the successes
are plenty. The accomplishments of state programs have
yielded many benefi ts to boaters through the conservation
of fi sheries, boating access site development and education.
As an example, since 2004 there have been 2,355 boat shore-
side sewage pump-out facilities built under the Clean Vessel
Act, more than 10,000 sites managed for boating and fi shing
access, and 1,171 new transient dock facilities built through
the Boating Infrastructure Grant program.
Access sites can be located by visiting the SOBA Boating
Access Directory (sobaus.org/boating-access-direcory/map)
and clicking on any state’s name to access that state’s
recreational boating and boating access Web site.
STATES ORGANIZATION FOR BOATING ACCES S
231 South LaSalle Street
Suite 2050, Chicago, IL 60604
312-946-6280 (t) 312-946-0388 (f) [email protected]
Like you, SOBA members like boats and they like to be on
the water. So the next time you need a ramp, think SOBA.
James Adams, past president of SOBA, is with the Virginia Department
of Game and Inland Fisheries; Steve Miller is the current SOBA president
and is with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
22 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Green. While the word may be politically charged, most
recreational boaters can agree that taking action to
preserve the waterways for future enjoyment is a non-
partisan issue. They want to sustain the environment in which
they spend their free time.
That’s why, throughout recent decades, boat builders, marina
owners, manufacturers, municipalities, politicians, and boaters
themselves have all participated in the greening of boating.
“It’s time to embrace green energy,” says Ned Dikmen,
chairman of the Great Lakes Boating Federation. “In an
attempt to help nature, we could be helping ourselves, too.”
And that seems to be a growing consensus among the world’s
boaters and industry players. Within recent decades, the
pastime has seen many changes in a nod to being green—
from legislation to consumer purchases. And as we hear more
and more about electric-, solar- and wind-powered boats, a
big question remains: In a society still heavily reliant upon
fossil fuels, will ever we ever make the transition to alternative
energy sources?
GREENING ACTIONIn many ways, boaters and marina owners take great care
to operate in eco-friendly ways. The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s Clean Marinas initiative is just
one example. The voluntary program encourages marina
operators and boaters to follow best practices used to
prevent pollution.
Likewise, National Marine Manufacturers Association
president Thom Dammrich credits the Clean Vessel Act with
helping the industry become greener. The act, passed in
1992, prompted the installation of pumpout stations all over
the country, resulting in reductions in sewage discharge into
the water. As a result, cities like Chicago require people to
lock off discharge capabilities while in marinas.
Adhering to state laws on aquatic invasive species and
heeding pollution prevention tips from the Environmental
Protection agency are additional ways boaters look out for
the environment.
By Jenifer Fischer
oesreenGboating
greatlakesboating.com | 23
GREENING PRODUCTSBoaters’ desire to minimize their impact on the environment
is also evident in their purchasing decisions.
“We’ve found that our customers are very concerned about
water pollution and want to protect the waters they love,”
states Laurie Fried, West Marine’s director of community
relations and chief sustainability offi cer, of the demand for
green products.
Fried says that in the past, effectiveness and price presented
obstacles in purchasing green products. In response, West
Marine launched Pure Oceans, its own line of environmentally
preferable products in 2007. Steve Miller, the company’s
category manager for maintenance, wanted to create a line
of cleaning products that were better for the environment but
still worked.
This year’s International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition and
Conference, which was held in October, offered another
example of green product popularity. For the fi rst time,
the event included a Green Marine Route composed of
40 exhibitors who presented their green products for the
marine industry.
Products featured on the route met at least one of four criteria:
USDA bio-preferred, listed on the EPA Design for Environment
list, have an EPA GreenCheck, and have a Green Seal rating
for paints and solvents. The exhibitors were considered for
West Marine’s third annual Green Product of the year, a
contest serving to inspire green innovation from inventors,
manufacturers and distributors of boating products.
GREENING POWER“Most of the gains have come in improvements in engine
technology,” says Dammrich, pointing out that the industry
has been working at being greener for a couple of decades.
“Today’s engines are probably 50 percent more fuel effi cient,
have signifi cantly less emissions and are much quieter.”
He notes that, in addition to such advances, many in the
industry are looking at alternative energies such as solar
panels and electric boats.
Of course, there are companies that already make electric
boats; however, with lower top speeds, they serve a different
function than their powerboat kin. Duffy Electric Boat
Company is an industry leader that has been around since
1970. Its boats reach an average top speed of 5 mph. At that
rate, under ideal conditions, its smaller vessels can last about
3.5 hours on a single battery pack, reaching about 17.5 miles.
Popular and often purchased as second boats, these leisure
or cocktail cruisers, as they are sometimes called, have
small motors and run on batteries similar to those found in
golf carts. They are intended for use in harbors and inland
waterways, not vast open waters such as the Great Lakes.
WE’VE FOUND THAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WATER POLLUTION AND WANT TO PROTECT THE WATERS THEY LOVE.
Electric powerboats intended for those waters, on the other
hand, remain in their infancy despite the fact that they are
more effi cient than fossil-fuel engines. Many people are under
the impression green means less effi cient, but physicist and
avid boater Bill Bertram says that is not the case.
“Electric engines are very effi cient because they don’t have
pistons and exhaust gases,” Bertram says. “So over 90 percent
of the energy available is actually used to propel the boat.”
He offers this example: In an existing yacht with diesel
engines and fuel tanks, the tanks, fuel and engines are
replaced with lithium ion nano-tech batteries and electric
motors of the same horsepower keeping the weight of the
yacht unchanged so the range and performance of both
types can be compared.
A yacht with a 1,000-gallon fuel tank and twin diesel engines
weighing 4,800 pounds each has a full fuel tank weighing
about 8,400 pounds; the two engines weigh about 9,600
pounds. Two electric motors of the same power weigh about
3,200 pounds. This would give about 8,400 + 6,400 = 14,800
lbs. or 6,713 kg that can be used for the lithium ion batteries,
while keeping the total weight the same. One thousand
gallons of fuel contain about 36,600 kWh of energy. But,
the diesel engines are estimated to be about 35 percent
effi cient. That leaves about 12,810 kWh of useable energy.
24 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Lithium ion nano-tech batteries are improving very quickly, but
currently available batteries have an energy density of about
1 kW/kg. So, 6,713 kg of batteries would give 6,713 kWh of
energy. These electric motors are about 95 percent effi cient
which gives 6,377 kWh of useable energy.
For those concerned that greener means less performance,
Bertram says lithium-ion batteries are just as good as diesel
engines when it comes to acceleration and speed.
“The performance would be almost identical,” Bertram says.
“I don’t even think you could tell the difference, except it would
be a lot quieter and there would be almost no pollution at all.”
THE TOTAL ENERGY AVAILABLE IN A LITHIUM ION BATTERY IS ABOUT HALF OF THE DIESEL ENGINE, FUEL AND FUEL TANKS, WHICH MEANS THE RANGE WOULD BE ABOUT HALF.
However, in the pound-for-pound comparison above, the total
energy available in a lithium ion battery is about half of the
diesel engine, fuel and fuel tanks, which means the range
would be about half. While the batteries take up less space,
they are also heavier. Adding additional units to reach the
same distance as a diesel engine means adding more weight,
which ultimately decreases performance.
Then, there are the economics of lithium ion. Without
considering repairs and maintenance and depreciation,
the cost of fuel for the diesel would be (using $4.50/ gallon)
$4,500/12,810 kWh = $.35 per kWh. This is about four times
the cost for electrical energy (using $.08 per kWh).
Although the cost of the energy in the batteries is much lower
than the cost of energy in fuel, there are other factors to
consider, starting with the price of lithium ion batteries and
their longevity. Bertram says lack of real-world experience has
made manufacturers silent with regards about their lifespan,
pointing to the fact that electric car batteries are leased,
not purchased.
Bertram points out that recent research programs claim to
improve the energy density of lithium ion batteries by factors
of four or more. If and when either get to market, electric
would be very competitive with fossil fuels, and of course,
much “greener.”
With regards to solar and wind energies, Bertram points
again to expense as a hurdle in viability. While a solar panel
may cost $2,000 or $3,000, there are installation costs, the
purchase of a charging circuit, repair and maintenance,
and depreciation to consider. Currently, he says, most
manufacturers claim a 15- to 20-year lifespan.
“The question is what do you get for that cost how many
kilowatt hours of energy do you actually get?” he asks. “And
that’s a very hard estimate because if you are boating, you are
not always pointing at the sun. And if you have a panel that
actually tracks the sun, now you’re adding cost and that would
be very diffi cult.”
He adds that even in sunny places like Arizona, solar power is
nearly two times as expensive as fossil fuel plants.
As for the as a means of overcoming the economic infeasibility
of these alternative energies, Bertram sees subsidizing
research as a big part of the answer. He also explains that
should the government push harder for emission reductions
from coal-fi red power plans, then the price would go up and
up and green energy would be more competitive.
While consumer demand drives some of these industries’
innovations, government regulation on the emissions side is
a big contributing factor. The end result is better products
for consumers.
As far as we’ve come in some areas, it seems we have a
ways to go when it comes to powering recreational boats in
more sustainable ways. While some are trying, mainstream
availability seems distant. But boating is not an anomaly.
“Boats are in the forefront of recreational vehicles, becoming
greener by the day. It’s only a matter of time before they’re
weaned from fossil fuel,” says Dikmen.
26 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
holidaygift guide
2011
RumbaTime Essex WatchFashionable, functional and water-resistant, the RumbaTime
Essex Watch can safely make the transition from shoreline to
sea. These colorful, silicone timepieces come in an array of
bold hues sure to please men and women alike.
In addition to withstanding land and sea conditions, this watch
comes through when visibility fails; a backlight button below
the watch face means you can still check the time. Ultralight at
only 15 grams, the Essex is 24 mm wide and comes in small,
medium and large. Other models available.
$15 // rumbatime.com // 800-603-8420
Regatta Collection Collars and LeadsDecorated with nautical motifs, collars and leads from Up
Country’s Regatta collection make the perfect stocking stuffer
for pets and animal lovers.
The ribbon collars are made from high-tensile strength nylon
webbing with sewn-on polyester/nylon ribbons. Ribbons are
stain-resistant, fray-resistant and designed to last a lifetime.
All collar and lead hardware is cast, not welded brass. The
quick-release buckles are Coast Guard–approved for high
weight hold. Many lengths and widths are available.
$21 collar; $20–$21 leads// upcountryinc.com //800-541-5909
MYdrap Napkins and PlacematsAn elegant alternative to paper towels, Mydrap napkins and
placemats come on a perforated roll and may be torn off
as needed.
Made of 100 percent cotton or linen, they may be washed and
reused repeatedly. Biodegradable and recyclable, they may
also be used for single use. Mydrap napkins and placemats
are available in prints and solids, including more than 20
colors. Choose from three sizes or stock your galley with a
complete array.
$26 roll of 25 Luncheon-size napkins // buymydrap.com //
855-359-7555
Harbor Sweets ChocolatesLongtime handcrafted chocolate maker Harbor Sweets
has uniquely gift-packaged chocolates for sailors and
land-lubbers alike.
Based in Salem, Mass., Harbor Sweets is best known for its
Sweet Sloops, a line of sailboats shaped in almond butter
crunch with a mainsail and a jib of white chocolate fl oating in
dark chocolate with pecan washing its sides. Still operating
from its original historic red brick building, the company has
made chocolates in molds and ganaches in copper kettles
since its 1973 founding. Many quantity options are available,
including custom corporate gifts.
$26.50 24-piece gift, $32.95 36-piece gift // harborsweets.com // 800-243-2115
Mount Gay Rum This season Mount Gay Rum offers a gift idea sure to warm
many a seafaring souls waiting out winter on shore. Not only
does the Nautical Limited Edition Bottle hold the sailor staple,
Mount Gay Rum Eclipse, it is also wrapped with the nautical
fl ag design of the letter “M.” This special bottle represents the
fi rst in a nautical series featuring these maritime signal fl ags.
Made with Barbadian sugar cane, molasses and pure water
fi ltered through the coral heart of the island, Mount Gay Rum
undergoes two different distillation processes before aging in
Kentucky oak barrels.
$17.99 // mountgayrum.com
Wrist Strap Fish FinderA real catch for your favorite fi sherman, the Wrist Strap Fish
Finder from Hammacher Schlemmer allows anglers to move
freely about as it reports on activity below, unlike other sonar
sensors with screens that must be handheld or affi xed to
the boat.
It operates in a wide 75-foot remote radius, transmitting
real-time views of fi sh and underwater terrain to the 1.25-inch
LCD display. The sensor reads depth to 120 feet with a wide
90-degree sonar beam and also measures water surface
temperature. It includes display backlighting and a pulse-lit
advanced sensor for night fi shing.
$139.95 // hammacher.com // 800-321-1484
greatlakesboating.com | 27
Mount Gay Rum This season Mount Gay Rum offers a gift idea sure to warm
many a seafaring souls waiting out winter on shore. Not only
does the Nautical Limited Edition Bottle hold the sailor staple,
Mount Gay Rum Eclipse, it is also wrapped with the nautical
fl ag design of the letter “M.” This special bottle represents the
fi rst in a nautical series featuring these maritime signal fl ags.
Made with Barbadian sugar cane, molasses and pure water
fi ltered through the coral heart of the island, Mount Gay Rum
undergoes two different distillation processes before aging in
Kentucky oak barrels.
$17.99 // mountgayrum.com
Harbor Sweets ChocolatesLongtime handcrafted chocolate maker Harbor Sweets
has uniquely gift-packaged chocolates for sailors and
land-lubbers alike.
Based in Salem, Mass., Harbor Sweets is best known for its
Sweet Sloops, a line of sailboats shaped in almond butter
crunch with a mainsail and a jib of white chocolate fl oating in
dark chocolate with pecan washing its sides. Still operating
from its original historic red brick building, the company has
made chocolates in molds and ganaches in copper kettles
since its 1973 founding. Many quantity options are available,
including custom corporate gifts.
$26.50 24-piece gift, $32.95 36-piece gift // harborsweets.com // 800-243-2115
Wrist Strap Fish FinderA real catch for your favorite fi sherman, the Wrist Strap Fish
Finder from Hammacher Schlemmer allows anglers to move
freely about as it reports on activity below, unlike other sonar
sensors with screens that must be handheld or affi xed to
the boat.
It operates in a wide 75-foot remote radius, transmitting
real-time views of fi sh and underwater terrain to the 1.25-inch
LCD display. The sensor reads depth to 120 feet with a wide
90-degree sonar beam and also measures water surface
temperature. It includes display backlighting and a pulse-lit
advanced sensor for night fi shing.
$139.95 // hammacher.com // 800-321-1484
28 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Nautical Cookie CuttersBoating-themed cookie cutters from Ann Clark Ltd. offer
many gift ideas in one. Use them to make tasty batches
of nautically themed treats for the sweet-loving sailors on
your list, or tie the cutters to the tops of packages for a
decorative add-on. They also make a fun hostess gift.
Hand-crafted in Vermont, these tin cookie cutters are
available in many shapes, including crab, crawfi sh, duck,
fi sh, lighthouse, lobster, loon, parrot, pelican, sailboat,
shell, shark and whale. Each has a sturdy tin handle and
comes with a colorful recipe card featuring a recipe for
cookies and frosting.
$3.99 // annclark.com // 800-252-6798
Yellow Leaf HammocksA Yellow Leaf Hammock not only provides the boat owner in
your life with another way to relax on the water, it also serves
as additional seating or sleeping space and enhances at-sea
décor. Made from luxe, ultrasoft yarn, these 100 percent
handwoven hammocks come in a range of bright, classic
nautical stripes—with the option to customize colors.
They are lightweight, easy to hang, weatherproof, fade-proof
and simple to clean. Each is woven with up to six miles of
yarn and 150,000 loops for extreme comfort and strength.
Special weaves are technically engineered to cradle you
weightlessly and never fl ip.
$135 Sitting Hammock, $160 Queen Hammock //
yellowleafhammocks.com
Aqua-Vu Micro ColorThis gift will get used year-round, whether at sea, on shore
or even while ice fi shing. At the size of a smart phone, the
Aqua-Vu Micro Color is a complete underwater camera
system that can fi t in your pocket. It has a full-color camera
that is the size of a quarter and comes with 50 feet of
22-pound test cable. The handheld monitor has a 3.5-inch
diagonal display that’s housed in a water-resistant case.
The camera can be rigged to look straight up and down or
sideways with the included directional fi lm. A built-in ambient
light sensor automatically turns two invisible infrared lights
on or off depending on the conditions.
$299 // aquavu.com // 866-755-6303
Back OrthoticBackJoy has introduced The Back Orthotic, designed to
reduce pain and discomfort. BackJoy’s design is shaped like
a seat—so it’s perfect for those at the offi ce, at home or at the
wheel of a car or boat. It’s made from a special plastic that
adapts to how a person sits and corrects posture by tilting
the pelvis forward to align the spine. It also lifts the pelvis and
cradles a person’s gluteus muscles, stopping back muscles
from tightening.
$39.95 // backjoy.com // 800-222-5569
Leatherman Wave Multi-ToolThe most popular full-size Leatherman tool now has larger
knives, stronger pliers, longer wire cutters and all-locking
blades. The Wave is an essential piece of equipment for
outdoor enthusiasts.
4 inches closed. 6.3 inches open as pictured.
$79.99 // Available at West Marine // 800-262-8464
Gill Elements FleeceThe Elements collection has added two new knitwear styles.
Both are classic heavyweight fl eece tops with soft thermal
lining and chunky knitted face. Both men’s and women’s
styles are available in a selection of contemporary shades:
dusky pink and loganberry for women, birch and navy for
men. The women’s style has a shawl-style collar with button
detailing, while the men’s style features a zip neck.
$135 // gillna.com // 770-945-0564
greatlakesboating.com | 29
30 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
I love boating in the fall. The colors of the trees lining the shore of the Potomac River, where I do most of my boating, are bursting with bright yellows, brilliant
oranges and deep reds. The slight nip in the air mixed with the aroma of coffee sitting in the cup holder next to my helm and the quiet coves coupled with the spectacular view easily convince me that there is nothing better than recreational boating. The waterways that bustle with activity in the summer often feel quite different in the off-season, which is why fall is a favorite time for many of us to explore along the waterfront or fi nd a quiet place to drop anchor and take in the scenery.
However, boating in the off-season carries certain risks, and
experienced boaters know to plan for every emergency before
heading out. Although most boating accidents occur in mid-
summer during the height of the boating season, the potential
for serious injury rises dramatically in the off-season when
fewer boaters and marine patrols are on the water to provide
immediate assistance. U.S. Coast Guard 2010 national
accident data show that approximately 1 in 10 July boating
accidents involved a fatality; in December, it was 1 in 6.
In the off-season the sun sets early and temperatures drop
fast. Depending on where you boat, icy water conditions can
put anyone who ends up in the water in real trouble. Fewer
boaters means fewer people to come to your aid or radio call
for help. Carrying extra gear and knowing what to do if you
encounter a problem could mean the difference between a
bad day and a really bad day.
The steps outlined here can make accidents less likely and
improve your chances of survival if something does go wrong.
By John M. MalatakChief, Program OperationsU.S. Coast Guard, Boating Safety Division
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greatlakesboating.com | 31
CONSIDER WORST-CASE SCENARIOS
There’s little to no margin for error in the off-season, so
consider every possible scenario, beginning with becoming
stranded. Be sure you have enough fuel to get where you’re
going and back again. The rule of thumb is one-third out, one-
third back, and one-third for emergencies. Wear your life jacket!
As a responsible boater you should always carry a fi rst-aid
kit, but in the off-season be sure you also have an on-board
emergency kit that includes a dry change of clothes; calorie-
dense snack food; fresh water; a thermos of coffee, cocoa,
or other warm beverage; duct tape; a waterproof portable
fl ashlight with extra batteries; fl ares and matches. Stow these
items in a waterproof bag to protect them. Also, remember to
stay away from alcohol when you’re out on the water. Not only
does it impair your judgment, but it also hastens the onset of
hypothermia. Wear your life jacket!
Carry a mobile phone only as a backup to your VHF-FM
marine radio. Mobile phones frequently lose signal and
are unidirectional; only one person receives the phone call
compared to many who may hear a VHF radio distress call.
If your boating activity takes you far from shore, consider
adding an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
(EPIRB) as well. Rescue 21, the advanced command, control,
and communications system created to improve search and
rescue, is currently being deployed in stages across the
United States. This new system enables the Coast Guard to
pinpoint the location of a distress call from a DSC-VHF marine
radio connected to a GPS receiver. If you get in trouble,
especially during the chilly off-season, every minute counts.
Life jackets are essential boating equipment in any season.
Lightweight infl atables are popular in the summer months;
however, in cold weather, fl oat coats and jackets will provide
buoyancy and additional insulation. While the boat is
underway, everyone should wear a life jacket at all times;
there is rarely time to put one on during an emergency. To
help rescuers fi nd you more quickly, consider equipping your
life jackets with devices such as whistles, strobe lights, signal
mirrors and/or personal locator beacons. If you do fall in, stay
with your boat where you can be more easily spotted.
Think about how you will retrieve anyone who falls overboard.
Climbing back in can be next to impossible in heavy, cold,
• Take a boating safety course as well as a fi rst aid and CPR course.
• Consult a chart and familiarize yourself with the area. Know where to wait for help and how to summon it, if you need it.
• Make sure your boat has enough fuel and is in good operating condition for winter weather. Ensure you have the required safety equipment on board, including fl ares or other visual distress signals, and that your running lights are in working order.
• Check the weather forecast. If it calls for rain, snow, fog or high winds, it is most likely not a good time to be on the water.
• File a fl oat plan. Tell a friend, family member or someone at the marina exactly where you are going, who is boating with you, and when you plan to return. Don’t stray from the plan, and if you do, alert the person holding your fl oat plan.
• Carry a VHS-FM marine band radio. In some inland waters a CB radio may be more appropriate. Use your mobile phone only as backup and put it in a waterproof container designed for cell phones.
• Take a GPS along with pre-set coordinates. If fog rolls in, you could be totally disoriented. Make sure you have extra batteries.
• Take along a well-stocked fi rst-aid kit.
• Pack a basic survival kit including blankets, matches, disposable lighter, some dense-calorie food and warm beverages like coffee or cocoa in a waterproof bag. Do not drink alcohol while boating. It can impair your judgment and may speed up hypothermia should you fall in the water.
• Invite a friend. Boating with at least one additional person means that if someone is injured or falls in the water, the other can summon assistance or help them back into the boat.
32 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
wet winter clothes—even for someone otherwise uninjured.
Consider providing a sling if your boat has no boarding
ladder. If you boat in cold weather often I would strongly
recommend that you practice (under warmer conditions) how
you would get back in your boat, as well as how you would
bring passengers on board under cold weather conditions.
KNOW WHAT TO DOIn autumn, those occasional warm days can be deceiving
because water temperature can be frigid. Simple steps
may turn a worst-case scenario of a swamped or capsized
boat into the best-case scenario for surviving cold-water
immersion. To reduce the risk, do not overload your boat,
avoid those situations that put you at risk of going overboard,
and make sure that everyone weatrs a life jacket.
Understanding the critical phases of cold-water immersion
and some basic techniques for delaying their onset greatly
increases your chance of survival. Cold shock is an initial
deep and sudden gasp, followed by hyperventilation. Keeping
your airway clear and wearing a life jacket greatly reduces
drowning risk. Try to avoid panicking, and concentrate on
your breathing. Cold shock normally passes in one minute.
Over the next 10 minutes you will lose the effective use of
your extremities. Concentrate on self-rescue; if that’s not
possible, keep your airway clear and wait for rescue. Remain
calm. Don’t try to swim—the movements associated with
swimming can cause body heat to escape 10 times faster.
Hypothermia means that a person is losing body heat faster
than it can be produced, but even in ice water it may take
an hour before a person becomes unconscious. (To
learn more about surviving cold-water immersion, visit
www.coldwaterbootcamp.com.) If you cannot get out of
the water and help is not immediately available, draw your
knees to your chest and wrap your arms across your chest,
hugging your life jacket in the Heat Escape Lessening
Posture (H.E.L.P.) and protecting the critical areas of heat
loss. If others are in the water with you, huddle together with
your arms around each other. Huddling in a group will help
conserve body heat, keep everyone together, and make a
larger target to spot in the water.
DON’T BOAT ALONE
With fewer boaters on the water, not boating alone is
especially important. If you are injured or fall in the water,
having one or two other people on board means someone
can help you back in the boat or call for assistance.
As a matter of routine—in winter or summer—every boat
operator should fi le a fl oat plan listing a description of the
A Coast Guard rescue boat crewmember throws a line to a man on
a capsized 17-foot boat. The four men had on life jackets and used
a marine handheld radio to notify the Coast Guard of their location,
which may have saved their lives.
U.S
. Co
as
t Gu
ard
ph
oto
greatlakesboating.com | 33
boat, the number of persons on board, the area where you’ll
be boating, and your anticipated return time. Leave it with a
friend, family member or someone at the marina. Should you
fail to return, a fl oat plan containing this basic information
can assist the local marine police or Coast Guard if they
need to initiate a search. Just remember, if you’re delayed for
reasons other than an emergency, inform those in possession
of your fl oat plan as soon as possible. Be sure to notify them
when you do return so the fl oat plan can be closed out.
The Coast Guard makes fl oat plan forms available online
at www.uscgboating.org/safety/fl oat_planning.aspx.
* * * * *
The U.S. Coast Guard reminds all boaters to “Boat
Responsibly!” For more safety tips and information,
visit www.USCGboating.org.
Heat Escape Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.)
• Dress in layers, and recognize that even slight changes in the weather can make hypothermia a threat.
• Take along extra dry clothing in a waterproof bag.
• Wear good quality, non-slip footwear; wear socks, even with sandals.
• Wear your lifejacket or fl oat coat/jacket. Cold water quickly saps your strength. Life jackets provide added insulation. If you fall overboard, wearing a life jacket could give you the time you need to safely re-board the boat. The fi rst reaction when hitting cold water is to gasp and suck in water. A life jacket can give you crucial minutes to regulate your breathing after the shock of falling in.
M ayor Rahm Emanuel wants to direct attention to Chicago’s other aquatic treasure, the Chicago River. At a September 19 press conference,
the mayor announced plans to make Chicago River the city’s next recreational frontier, clean and accessible for citizens and visitors alike as well as a source of commerce and economic prosperity. He likened Lake Michigan to the city’s front yard and the river to its backyard, calling it an asset that should be enjoyed and not avoided.
As Mayor Emanuel revealed the fi rst steps in his plan—new
boathouses, a new expansion to Ping Tom Memorial Park
and expansion of various river trails—he was joined by U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson.
The EPA showed support for these efforts and awarded nearly
$1 million in grants to community partners for river cleanup
and job creation.
“The Chicago River cuts through the entire city and isn’t
used as much as the lake,” said Tom Alexander, a spokesman
for the Emanuel administration. “[Mayor Emanuel] is really
committed to making the river something all Chicagoans
can enjoy. He understands one reason people don’t use it
is access, and he’s committed to giving it to them.”
The river reaches into more communities than the city’s
lakefront shoreline touches, winding deep into the west and
southwest neighborhoods. To engage those communities
and give them a chance to enjoy the water in, the Chicago
Park District and private sector partners will construct four
new boathouses. As of now, the timeline is dependent
upon funding completion; however, Alexander said early
estimations put the fi rst two opening in 2012 and the second
set in 2013. Graduate and undergraduate students from the
Illinois Institute of Technology are working with renowned
Chicago-based architects Jeanne Gang and Christopher
Lee to design the structures and their amenities.
As a conduit to the river, the boathouses will provide people
with a place to eat, watch the river and go out on the water.
Each will include a concession facility, offer an access point
and serve as an attraction. Rental and storage of canoes and
other vehicles for enjoying the river will also be provided.
The four planned locations are the River Park Boathouse
at Argyle Street and the river; the Clark Park Boathouse at
Roscoe Street and Rockwell Avenue, east of the river; Ping
Tom Memorial Park Boat House, north of 18th Street, through
the under-bridge connection, west of the St. Charles line
railroad tracks; and the 28th and Eleanor Boat House between
Loomis and Fuller streets on Eleanor, across the river from
Ashland Avenue.
“The river fl ows through communities that are so diverse,”
says Margaret Frisbee, executive director of Friends of the
Chicago River, an organization dedicated to improving the
river’s health for the enjoyment of all. “This is symbolic of
saying, ‘this river belongs to everybody, and we’re going to
give it to you and help you access it.’”
By Jenifer Fischer
Chicago’s Next Boating Frontier
Co
urte
sy Frie
nd
s of th
e Ch
ica
go
Rive
r
34 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
The Chicago Park District chose locations that have the basic
infrastructure and recreational visitor capacity to support
boathouses. The sites also align with trail extensions Chicago
Department of Transportation is making along the river. The
improvements will provide better access for runners, bikers
and walkers.
The Chicago River development plans also include opening
a new expanded area of Ping Tom Memorial Park. The vast,
open park includes a bike path and space for people to
recreate, but it needs an access point, said Alexander. In
a press release, the City of Chicago said the park refl ects
its “commitment to river development with a $6 million
investment in new parkland, riverwalk, native plantings,
topography, new vistas, boat landings, and a ‘disappearing’
staircase into the water.”
In addition to improved access, continued cleanup efforts will
help renew the river’s image. While much improved in recent
years due to stricter laws, its waters suffered much pollution
when it was reversed to fl ow from Lake Michigan into the
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal more than 100 years ago.
It then served as a dumping ground for sewage and other
waste, carrying it away from Chicago.
The EPA will provide the City of Chicago with free technical
assistance to help manage stormwater and meet the Obama
administration’s water quality standards for the Chicago and
Calumet rivers, which were ordered in May as part of the
Clean Water Act.
Additionally, two EPA grants were announced at the press
conference. A $518,467 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
grant was awarded to the Friends of the Forest Preserve.
The funds will be used to control invasive plants in the river
system and forest. The second grant awarded $300,000 to
OAI, Inc. to assist with environmental workforce development
and job training.
“The families and businesses of Chicago know that the
Chicago and Calumet rivers and the Great Lakes are vital
to their health, their environment and their economy. The
EPA is proud to be working with our state and local partners
on ensuring that we are supporting clean, sustainable
communities that can thrive and create good jobs,” said EPA
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson at the press conference. “We
have heard for years that we have to choose between our
economic strength and our environmental health, but again
and again Chicago has proven that this is a false choice.
Today’s announcements are another example of our ability
to support job creation and environmental protection.”
Alexander said the river cleanup efforts have been and will
remain ongoing, “It’s a process, and it’s going to take some
time to get the river cleaned up. It’s not like you can wave a
magic wand to clean it up. The grants give it an effi cient and
targeted manner.”
Frisbee said that while the Clean Water Act is a process,
progress is being made all the time and this announcement
fully commits the city as a partner for improving water quality.
Friends of the Chicago River’s mission has always been
to make the river accessible for all and healthy for wildlife
and people to share, and the group applauds the mayor’s
announcement and believes that the river can be used for
commerce and meet health and accessibility goals.
As for job development, it is diffi cult to anticipate numbers at
this point; however, the Emanuel administration anticipates
many construction and permanent jobs will result. In addition,
there will be jobs related to recreation on and near the water
such as water taxis, tour boats, restaurants and event hosting.
Alexander estimates some 200 people from different
environmental, recreational and aldermanic groups
were presenet at the September press conference. The
announcement elicited overwhelmingly positive feedback
from many different organizations and interest groups.
“The Chicago River has not seen a better day for more than
a century. This is a great project for the citizens of Chicago
and its 28,000 boaters and their families who will enjoy this
new boating haven,” said Great Lakes Boating Federation
Chairman F. Ned Dikmen.
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
greatlakesboating.com | 35
36 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Great LakesGreat Lakes Forever and Budweiser announced the winners of this
year’s Great Lakes Forever Art and Photography contest. Kayla Lewis
of Guelph, Ontario, won the grand prize for photography, and Deborah
Maris Lander of Chicago, Ill., won the grand prize in the new expanded
original artwork category.
Lewis’ photograph showed a
man fi shing against a colorful
sky. Lander, the art winner,
hand-printed her submission
using an etching from a
copper plate. She described
her piece as “a plea to nurture
our lakes and wildlife. The hands that make up the bird’s feathers embrace and hold;
the surrounding frozen water offers up its charms as a place to enjoy and protect. The
obscured words hidden in the layers of water are our continued human and worthwhile
attempts at responsible stewardship.”
The winners’ work will be featured on specially designed beer coasters distributed to
bars and restaurants throughout the Great Lakes region. The coasters will also include
information on getting involved in Great Lakes protection.
For the past seven years, Great Lakes Forever and Budweiser have partnered to
celebrate the lakes by inviting photographers from across the region to submit their
best images demonstrating the majesty of the Great Lakes. This was the fi rst time
artists of any two-dimensional media were invited to participate.greatlakesforever.org
GREAT LAKES ART, PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
NOAA SUPPORTS HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTSNOAA awarded nearly $5 million to eight projects supporting
habitat restoration throughout the Great Lakes Areas of
Concern. NOAA’s Restoration Center is funding three
shovel-ready projects and fi ve engineering and design
projects. This allows NOAA to support both current efforts
to restore the Great Lakes as well as future projects that,
once implemented, will have signifi cant benefi ts to Great
Lakes restoration.
NOAA provides fi nancial and technical assistance to remove
dams and barriers, construct fi sh passage, clean up marine
debris, restore coastal wetlands, and remove invasive species
in the region.
Implementation projects include:
• Wayne Road Dam Removal and Habitat Improvement
Project (Wayne, Mich.)
• Lower Black River Habitat Restoration (Lorain, Ohio)
• Habitat Restoration in the Maumee Area of Concern
(Oak Harbor, Ohio)
Engineering and design projects and future implementation
impacts include:
• Muskegon Lake Hydrologic Reconnection and Mill Debris
Removal (Muskegon, Mich.)
• Little Rapids Habitat Restoration Project
(Sault St. Marie, Mich.)
• Clinton River Spillway and Fish Habitat Restoration
(Clinton Township, Mich.)
• Buffalo River RiverBend Habitat Restoration project
(Buffalo, N.Y.)
• Lower Black River Fish Habitat Restoration Project
(Lorain, Ohio)
These projects are supported by the NOAA Restoration
Center with funding provided by the U.S. EPA via President
Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
greatlakesrestoration.us
greatlakesboating.com | 37
Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk joined original sponsor Sen. Frank
Lautenberg of New Jersey to introduce the Clean Coastal
Environment and Public Health Act of 2011, which would pay
for state and local beach health monitoring, speed public
notifi cation, and—most importantly—support removal of
pollution that can make people sick and close beaches.
The bill, S. 1582, introduced in late September, came on the
heels of the largest annual Great Lakes volunteer event—the
September Adopt-a-Beach™ Cleanup— held Sept. 17, as part
of the International Coastal Cleanup. Thousands descended
upon their favorite Great Lakes beaches to clean up debris and
monitor water quality. With beaches serving as the economic
engines of coastal communities throughout the Great Lakes,
days lost to pollution are dollars lost for local businesses.
The Senate bill would amend the federal Clean Water Act
to reauthorize the Beaches Environmental Assessment and
Coastal Health (“BEACH”) Act through fi scal year 2015. Since
its passage in 2000, the BEACH Act has improved public
health nationwide by authorizing the U.S. EPA to award grants
to develop comprehensive beach monitoring and public
notifi cation programs for state and local recreational beaches.
While the BEACH Act has been authorized at $30 million,
no annual appropriation has ever exceeded $10 million.
As a result, many beaches are not tested or are monitored
less frequently than needed. Full funding of the act will
be necessary to support the elimination of pollution and
protection of public health.
greatlakes.org
ALLIANCE APPLAUDS BILL TO CLEAN UP GREAT LAKES BEACHES
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced
that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is setting aside
approximately $6 million for federal agencies to sign up
unemployed workers to implement restoration projects in
federally-protected areas, on tribal lands and in Areas of
Concern in the Great Lakes Basin. EPA will fund individual
projects up to $1 million. To qualify for funding, each proposed
project must provide jobs for at least 20 unemployed people.
Funded projects will advance the goals and objectives of the
GLRI Action Plan, developed by EPA with 15 other federal
agencies in 2010. Projects must provide immediate, direct
ecological benefi ts; be located in areas identifi ed as federal
priorities such as national lakeshores or areas of concern;
include a detailed budget; and produce measurable results.
The GLRI Action Plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014,
ensures accountability by including measures of progress
and benchmarks for success over the next three years. It
calls for aggressive efforts to address fi ve urgent priority
focus areas, including cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot
areas of concern; combating invasive species; promoting
near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted
run-off; restoring wetlands and other habitats; and tracking
progress, education and working with strategic partners.
glri.us
EPA’S $6 MILLION CHALLENGE TO RESTORE GREAT LAKES, CREATE JOBS
GLOS LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITEThe Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), working to
coordinate and enhance the network of observations and
data access in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River
system, recently launched its new website—www.GLOS.us.
Developed for Great Lakes data users, the new website
provides improved access to Great Lakes data, products
and tools and the latest GLOS projects.
The website features a new design, product launch pages,
relevant news and events, access to the Lake Views newsletter,
and more information about GLOS projects and recent
activities throughout the Great Lakes. The website went
through a series of in-person and virtual user tests to ensure
that it meets the needs of different types of data users.
The updated site makes accessing meteorological and
hydrodynamic data needed to operate daily nowcast models
more effi cient—and makes it easier for state, local and
federal partners to collaborate on the development and
implementation of these systems.
GLOS.us
38 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Great LakesMichigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has joined forces with
six Great Lakes attorneys general to expand a coalition to fi ght
the spread of aquatic invasive species like Asian carp and
zebra mussels passing between the basins of the Great Lakes
and Mississippi River via Chicago-Area Waterways. Schuette
and the Great Lakes attorneys general are reaching out to
colleagues in other states affected by aquatic invasive species
by asking them join them in demanding immediate action
by federal authorities to develop a permanent ecological
separation at Chicago. Such a barrier would halt the spread of
and damage caused by aquatic invasive species.
In July 2011, the Army Corps of Engineers released a list of
40 aquatic invasive species with the highest risk of traveling
through the waterway in either direction. Of those species,
30 pose a high-risk to the Mississippi River Basin and 10,
including Asian carp, pose a high-risk to the Great Lakes Basin.
Great Lakes leaders joining Schuette in the effort include:
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, Ohio Attorney
General Mike DeWine, Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda
Kelly, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, and New
York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
The Great Lakes attorneys general will target their outreach to
27 states that have already been affected by invasive species
fi rst introduced to the United States via the Great Lakes, many
arriving in the ballast water of ocean going vessels.
NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST AISBEING FORMED
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division
of Watercraft was presented the Marinas and Harbors
Award from States Organization for Boating Access
during the association’s national boating access
conference in La Crosse, Wis., Sept. 29. The award
recognizes the Division of Watercraft’s efforts leading
to design and construction of a new state park marina
on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie’s western basin,
according to ODNR.
The project was recognized for its scope of design and
complexity that utilized effective engineering principles,
innovative designs and use of updated safety and
accessibility standards resulting in an expected long life
span and reduced maintenance needs for the marina.
The Division of Watercraft also was recognized by
SOBA and received a State Boating Access Program
Excellence Award for management of Ohio’s
Cooperative Boating Facility Grant program that was
fi rst established in 1967 to provide local communities
with funding support for construction of public boating
access facilities.
From 1967 through 2010, the Division of Watercraft has
provided more than $58 million in grant funding for 201
boating access projects statewide. Project grant awards
have ranged from canoe/kayak access development to
large boat access projects costing between $25,000 and
$2.1 million.
ohiodnr.com
BOATING FACILITY NATIONAL AWARDS
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Offers vigorous economic and political spport to boaters on the Great Lakes and on the inland waterways from the Mississippi to the Atlantic Coast
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October 2011WHERE BOATERS GO FOR NEWS
40 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Fishing
MILITARY FAMILIES RECEIVE RODS AND REELS DONATIONThousands of military youth and their families across America now
have a better chance to experience some of our greatest pastimes—
fi shing and spending time in the great outdoors—thanks to a
robust partnership between The Recreational Boating and Fishing
Foundation (RBFF) Take Me Fishing campaign, the Sierra Club Water
Sentinels, the National Military Fish Wildlife Association (NMFWA),
and Zebco, America’s largest manufacturer of rods and reels.
In 2009, the Sentinels partnered with NMFWA to distribute rods
and reels to military families, but the initiative took off a year later
when RBFF provided its full support and connected the Sentinels
with Zebco’s refurbished rod and reel program. Since the program’s
launch, more than 87,620 youth have benefi ted from the program, with
1,866 rod and reel sets distributed to 60 military bases in 21 states.
The most recent donation of 700 Zebco rods and reels was shipped
to the Sentinels, who distribute the gear to members of the NMFWA
for repeated use by families on military installations.
Since 2005, RBFF’s Take Me Fishing campaign has played a critical role in helping generate nearly $20 million for state
conservation efforts and introducing more than 1 million youth and newcomers to boating and fi shing.
sierraclub.org/watersentinels
Ten of the Midwest’s fi nest chefs competed for $1,000
and American Culinary Federation accolades on Nov. 1
at the University of Minnesota’s Salute to Lake Superior’s
Sustainable Fisheries.
“With National Seafood Month [in October] it seems
appropriate to highlight Minnesota’s inland sea and the
commercial lake herring fi shery it supports,” said Jeff
Gunderson, director of the University of Minnesota Sea
Grant Program. “Of all the Great Lakes, Lake Superior is
the outstanding example of how a native fi sh population can
recover to the point where it creates 57 jobs and stimulates
about $10 million in economic activity in Minnesota.”
Minnesota Sea Grant organized the Salute with cooperation
from the American Culinary Federation and the Minnesota
Zoo’s Fish First Program. Each of the competing chefs
was given two lake herring to turn into an entrée meant
to impress judges, including Minnesota Monthly’s Dara
Moskowitz Grumdahl. The public was invited to sample lake
herring while talking to the chefs that prepared it.
seagrant.umn.edu/fi sheries/salute
SUPERIOR FISH SALUTED BY TOP CHEFS
greatlakesboating.com | 41
FOUNTAIN TEAM CAPTURES MASTER ANGLER TITLE The A-Team, a professional angling team aboard a 38-foot high-
performance Fountain center console fi shing boat, took Master
Angler honors at a fi shing tournament certifi ed by Guinness
World Records as the world’s largest.
A record-breaking crowd of 2,200 participants fl ocked to
Dauphin Island, Ala., to compete in the 2011 Annual Alabama
Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. By the end of the two-day tournament,
1,992 anglers had checked in at the weigh station, and the
Fountain Powerboats A-Team had taken the very top prize.
The A-Team crew of Alden Thornton, Chris Bazor, Carl Carder, Zack Seals, and Elliot Cain were forced to contend with some of
the worst weather in the history of the 78-year tournament as they chased down the winning fi sh. fountainpowerboats.com
PROGRAM WORKS TO SOLVE BARRIER PROBLEMS The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded more than $1.5
million in 2011 through the National Fish Passage Program
to support projects in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Ohio and Missouri. Funding will support the
removal of 20 fi sh passage barriers, reconnecting more than
545 stream miles, as well as survey and monitoring activities.
These projects are supported by an additional $3.2 million in
matching, nonfederal funds.
Construction of millions of culverts, dams, dikes, water
diversions, and other artifi cial barriers impound and redirect
water for fl ood control, drinking water, electricity, irrigation
and transportation—all changing the natural features of rivers
and streams. Balancing the importance of stream connectivity
for local fi sh species with the construction of these structures
is a conservation challenge.
Through the National Fish Passage Program, the Service
and its partners have begun to reverse the harmful impacts
of artifi cial barriers to native fi sh species and the aquatic
environment. The Fish Passage Program uses a voluntary,
non-regulatory approach to work with municipal, state, tribal
and federal agencies, as well as non-governmental agencies
to reopen and improve aquatic habitats in streams and rivers.
The program provides funding and technical expertise to
partners to remove or bypass dams and other obstructions
tracks—all to allow fi sh to swim through.
fws.gov/fisheries/fwco/fishpassage
The National Recreation and Park Association announced
in August recipients of the 2011–2012 Take Me Fishing
Initiative in partnership with Recreational Boating &
Fishing Foundation.
Take Me Fishing supports local park and recreation agencies
and youth service organizations that work to connect
young people ages 6 to 15 with nature and engage them
in recreational boating and fi shing. The goal of the initiative
is to provide children and families with opportunities to
participate in boating and fi shing programs that will lead
to continued participation in healthy outdoor activities, a
lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship, and an
understanding of water and boat safety behaviors.
NRPA AWARDS $175,000 TO GRANTEES This year’s grant program was awarded in three categories:
New Programs – Five parks and recreation agencies with little
or no previous fi shing and boating programs were awarded
$15,000 in grant funds to start new fi shing and boating
programs in their community.
Program Sustainability – Five parks and recreation agencies
received $10,000 grants to enhance and develop existing
fi shing and boating programs.
Audience Development – Ten grants of $5,000 were awarded
to communities where established fi shing and boating
programs existed.
Erie MetroParks in Huron, Ohio, received the New
Program grant.
nrpa.org
42 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
MarinasLocated on the scenic Vermilion River in northern Ohio, Romp’s
Marina will celebrate its 55th anniversary in 2012. Romp’s offers
easy access to Lake Erie with an ideal location that is about
one half mile downriver from the marina, far enough away to be
protected from storm and wave conditions. Three generations
of family ownership have transformed this area from marsh
land into one of Lake Erie’s best known marinas.
This full-service marina can provide dockage for 250 boats with
lengths of 13 to 34 feet. Amenities include a complete service
department, marine store with fuel and oil products, full-service
pump-out station, and modern restrooms with showers.
Temporary dockage is available for visitors on a fi rst-come,
fi rst-served basis.
In addition, the marina has a heated pool, a multi-sport court, picnic shelters, a snack bar that offers homemade sandwiches and
fun food, an ice cream stand, a mini golf course, and two play areas for children.
The Romp family looks forward to serving both the boating public and the surrounding community of Vermilion for many years.
romps.com // 440-967-4342
MARINA PROFILE: ROMP’S WATER PORT
Lock 12 Marina and the Finch & Chubb restaurant in
Whitehall, N.Y., will permanently close this fall. The marina
owners say the closing is largely due to a no-charge
docking wall maintained by the New York State Canal
Corp., which has provided free electricity to boaters for
about a decade. Other factors that have forced the closing
are the poor economic conditions, spring fl ooding and
Tropical Storm Irene.
NEW YORK MARINA TO CLOSE
Together with state and city offi cials, New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Commissioner Joe Martens has announced the opening of
the Downtown Plattsburgh Boat Launch.
The boat launch is located off Dock Street on the shore
of Lake Champlain just south of the mouth of the Saranac
River. The facility includes three launching and retrieval
lanes with docks on each side of the ramp and along the
shoreline. There are 31 designated vehicle and trailer
parking sites, 12 car-only parking sites, and additional
parking in the adjacent parking lot.
The ramp and docks are built in compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act. Three accessible parking
spots have been designated—two spots are for a vehicle
with trailer, and one is for a vehicle only. The size of the ramp, the number and location of docks, and the ample amount of
parking ares also ideal for fi shing tournaments and boating events held by the city each year.
DEC staff designed the boat launch and oversaw its construction. State Capital funds were used to pay for construction of
the $627,000 facility. The City of Plattsburgh will be responsible for managing and maintaining the boat launch.
OPENING OF PLATTSBURGH BOAT LAUNCH
N.Y. S
tate De
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greatlakesboating.com | 43
In early October, the Ottawa County Parks Commission
heard recommendations from the consulting fi rm Edgewater
Resources of St. Joseph, Mich., that a new $3 million marina
on Lake Macatawa replace the current Parkside Marina in Park
Township. The new site would include a fi xed or fl oating dock
system for 100 boats—20 more than the current marina—and
would have slips ranging in size from 30 to 45 feet. Additional
features would include a boater services building with public
restrooms, a parking lot for 110 vehicles, a breakwall, and a
public promenade that would allow people to walk along the
shore. The county, which would own the marina, could opt
to lease it to a private operator or have the present marina
operator oversee the enterprise.
A fi nal decision on whether to move forward is expected in
December or January.
The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) released a new
publication entitled Best Management Practices for Clean
Marinas. Available to all marinas, the manual includes
management, operation, maintenance and construction
practices to safeguard the environment. The guide was
compiled from existing state and federal guidance, rules and
regulations pertaining to the marina industry.
AMI produced this manual as a guide for marinas in states
that do not have clean marina programs or for states or
localities looking for advice to start a new clean marina
program. This book is not meant to replace state programs
and AMI continues to encourage marinas in states with clean
marinas to contact those programs for information.
Besides management practices, the guidebook also
includes templates for Spill Prevention Control and
Countermeasure Plans and Stormwater Pollution Prevention
Plans. These plans can be completed online and distributed
to required agencies.
Best Management Practice for Clean Marinas is available at
no charge to those wanting an electronic copy. Hard copies
are available for a nominal fee to cover printing, postage
and handling. AMI members can access a copy by going to
the members-only section of www.marinaassociation.org.
Non-members can receive a copy by contacting info@
marinaassociation.org or calling 866-367-6622.
PROPOSED COUNTY MARINA ON LAKE MACATAWA
AMI RELEASES GUIDE FOR MARINAS
MARINALIFE ANNOUNCES SUMMER PHOTO CONTEST WINNERSThis summer Marinalife members entered photographs into
the second annual Summer Photo Contest. The contest
featured three submission categories including Best
Pet Photo, Best Cruising Photo and Best Sunset Photo.
Marinalife received hundreds of photographs showing
beautiful sunsets and fun,and adventurous moments with
friends, family and, of course, pets.
The winners of the 2011 Photography Contest are:
Best Pet Photo – Syd and his dog Rudder aboard his Abaco
dinghy in Hopetown, the Bahamas, by Cynthia Merrill
Best Sunset Photo – Sunset photo taken from Sheffi eld
Island in Norwalk, Conn., by Frederick Becton Condit
Best Cruising Photo – Raft up at Tices Shoal in Barnegat
Bay, N.J., by Carol Jones
44 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Cruising
USEPPA ISLAND CATBOAT RENDEZVOUS The biannual Catboat Rendezvous will be held on 80-acre Useppa
Island in Southwest Florida from Feb. 25 to 28.
Participants need not own a catboat or be from Florida to attend the
event. Entrants are encouraged to come a day or two early and stay
a few days after the activities end. There will be plenty of sailing,
races for the world championship 15-foot Sandpipers, a beach
party and other fun events.
For sailing information, email Mike Albert: [email protected] or
Jay Taylor: [email protected]. For housing, call Useppa Island Club: 239-283-1061 and mention Catboat Rendezvous
2012 for special rates.
Starting from the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia in January
2012, World ARC will take its participants on a 16-month trip
of a lifetime, sailing around the world, crossing three of the
fi ve great oceans. This world yacht rally is a mix of organized
legs and free cruising to some of the most beautiful sailing
destinations in the world.
World ARC participants come from all walks of life. Some
have taken early retirement or sold their businesses, while
others are taking a sabbatical. Some sail the whole route as
a couple, and others have friends and family join as crew at
different destinations. Some participants join for half a rally to
or from Australia, so that they can enjoy extended cruising in
the Pacifi c.
World ARC yachts and crews hail from North America, Europe
and Australia. The members of the World ARC events team
are multi-lingual, so language is never a barrier.
Because the fl eet of 20 to 30 yachts meets for social activities
in every destination, there is plenty of time to get to know
fellow cruisers.
Most World ARC yachts are a mix of production cruisers such
as Beneteau, Bavaria and Jeanneau, and classic cruisers
including Amel, Hallberg Rassy and Oysters. World ARC
proves that with some preparation and planning, a standard
cruising yacht is perfectly capable of making a successful
circumnavigation.
worldcruising.com
PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR 2012 WORLD ARCROUND THE WORLD RALLY
GREAT LAKES CRUISE SETS SAIL IN 2012Adventure travel company Adventure Life recently unveiled
a series of new for 2012 Great Lakes cruise options aboard the
Yorktown, a spacious 257-foot luxury American cruise ship.
The 12-day cruises depart from Duluth, Minn., and Detroit, Mich.
Highlights of Adventure Life’s Great Lakes Cruise tours include:
The Bruce Peninsula, a prime destination for nature enthusiasts;
Georgian Bay Islands National Park, composed of some 60 islands
and among the Great Lakes’ most picturesque regions; Manitoulin,
the world’s largest freshwater island; Mackinac Island, a Victorian-
era haven where cars are forbidden and bicycles share the road
with horse-drawn carriages; Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a
40-mile stretch of pristine natural wonders along Lake Superior’s southern coast; and Apostle Islands.
Departure dates for the 2012 Great Lakes cruise options begin in June and fi nish out the season in September. Adventure Life is
also offering cruises on the Yorktown throughout coastal New England and the historic Antebellum South.
adventure-life.com
catboats.org
greatlakesboating.com | 45
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA YACHTS ANNOUNCES PROMOA 30-year anniversary is a very big deal in the recreational boating
industry. Anticipating its big Three-Oh, Southwest Florida Yachts
announced a three-year “Berth Day” party culminating in 2014.
Barb Hansen, co-owner and manager, said the chartering fi rm
will give charter customers free cruising days in 2012, 2013 and
2014 on all power and sailing vessels.
Those who book a cruise of three days or longer during the
winter season, between Dec. 15 and April 30, will get one free
cruising day, while those who cruise in the summer season will
get two free cruising days.
The company maintains 11 power yachts from 32 to 50 feet at
its headquarters at Marinatown Marina in N. Fort Myers, just off the Caloosahatchee River. This provides convenient access
to the scenic and protected Gulf cruising channels around Pine Island and along Sanibel-Captiva and other Gulf of Mexico
barrier islands. The fi ve-vessel sailing fl eet charter base is Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda on Charlotte Harbor. Casting off
from either location gives charterers access to what many consider the number one cruising area in the United States.
swfyachts.com // 800-262-7939
GREAT LAKES CRUISING CLUB EXPANDS ONLINE SCHOOLFollowing last year’s successful launching that drew more than
500 registrants, the Great Lakes Cruising Club School has
expanded its webinar curriculum for 2011–2012. Great Lakes
recreational boaters may now choose from more than 30 online
tutorials conducted by experienced GLCC-accredited sail or
power boating colleagues and specialists.
Cruising Club membership is not required.
Live, on-screen presentations with visual
aids provide an opportunity for participants to
interact with the instructor and each other in a
virtual classroom. Sessions typically run from
60 to 90 minutes and only require a computer with speakers,
browser and a reasonable-speed Internet connection.
This year’s topics include introductions to several favored
Great Lakes cruising areas, navigation skills, negotiating
locks, boat and engine maintenance, women’s forum, energy
management, fi berglass repair basics, weather, writing for
the boating market, the Trent-Severn waterway, provisioning,
cruising with pets, marine photography and more.
Feedback by 2010–2011 enrollees has been
enthusiastic, endorsing the content and
effectiveness of online learning, instructor
qualifi cations, ease of interaction and low
cost. There are no tests.
If you register and miss a live presentation you
can access a recording of your webinar for six weeks. Or,
within that period you can still register and view the recording.
For further information and a listing of subjects and
instructors go to www.GLCCSchool.com.
46 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
National
Cars 4 Causes, “The Charity that Gives to Charities,” offi cially
introduced its boating donation program, Boats 4 Causes,
with an August website launch.
The Boats 4 Causes program accepts used boat donations
and allows donors to designate a charity of their choice to
receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the boat.
Operating as an informal division of Cars 4 Causes since
1997, the boat program has seen a rise in boat donations over
the last year and a half and a tremendous increase in demand
for donated boat sales.
Boat donations since 2009 have risen 62 percent, and the
average price received per vessel has jumped 20 percent.
Overall, funds raised from boat donations have increased
100 percent during this period. This increase, along with a
difference in demographics between the vehicle and boat
donors’ bases, prompted Cars 4 Causes to give the Boats 4
Causes brand its own platform to appeal to this expanding
donor and buyer base.
Boats 4 Causes donation program is simple and
straightforward. Donors start the process by fi lling out a
donation form located on the website or by calling one of
Boats 4 Causes donation specialists.
boats4causes.org // 855-800-2628
CARS 4 CAUSES INTRODUCES BOATS 4 CAUSES
The National Marine Manufacturers Association has
purchased the Power Boat Docking Challenge from Culp
Concepts, helping demonstrate how fun docking can be with
practice and proper instruction.
The Power Boat Docking Challenge is an interactive experience
that pits the boater against other show attendees, who compete
against the clock, steering and docking a 4-foot, twin engine,
remote-controlled power boat, using a life-size helm station
found on a traditional boat, down a 20-foot pool into a marina
and ultimately a slip, for a chance to win a host of prizes.
Midwest 2012 NMMA boat and sportshows featuring the
Power Boat Docking Challenge are:
New York Boat Show, New York, N.Y., Jan. 4–8
Chicago Boat, Sports & RV Show, Chicago, Ill. Jan. 11–16
Atlanta Boat Show, Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 12–15
Kansas City Boat & Sportshow, Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 19–22
Baltimore Boat Show, Baltimore, Md., Jan. 19–22
Atlantic City Boat Show, Atlantic City, N.J., Feb. 1–5
New England Boat Show, Boston, Mass., Feb. 11–19
For a complete list of NMMA boat and sportshows scheduled
for 2012, visit www.boatshows.com.
NMMA PURCHASES POWER BOAT DOCKING CHALLENGE
NICB RELEASES WATERCRAFT THEFT REPORT The National Insurance Crime Bureau released its latest
report on watercraft theft and recoveries in the United
States. The report, which came out in September, examines
watercraft theft and recoveries from January 1, 2009, through
May 31, 2011, as contained in the National Crime Information
Center for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
Overall, there were 16,115 reported watercraft thefts during
the period. There was an 11 percent decrease in thefts from
2009 (7,485) to 2010 (6,663). Of the total reported thefts for
the period, 6,343, or 39 percent, were recovered.
Florida led the states with the most thefts followed by, in
descending order, California, Texas, North Carolina and
Michigan. The top fi ve for recoveries, also in descending
order, were Florida, California, Texas, Washington and
North Carolina.
Of the thefts where a boat type was indicated, the “all other”
category recorded the most thefts. “All other” includes
canoes, dinghies, dories, johnboats, kayaks, lifeboats,
paddleboats, sculls, skiffs, etc. Behind “all others” were, in
descending order, jet-skis, runabouts, utilities and cruisers.
Watercraft categories are described in the NCIC code manual.
nmma.org
nicb.org
greatlakesboating.com | 47
HAGERTY 2011 MARINE HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Hagerty Insurance, the worldwide leader in wooden boat and
classic car insurance, has announced the 2011 inductees
into the Hagerty Marine Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame pays
homage to individuals or organizations that have signifi cantly
contributed to the preservation and awareness of the hobby.
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Chris-Craft icon
Chris Smith, Century Boat pioneer Chuck Miklos and
California Classic Boats founder Al Schinnerer.
“This year’s inductees have had a huge impact on the classic
boat lifestyle that represents the breadth of the hobby,” said
Hagerty Classic Marine Insurance founder Louise Hagerty.
“Chris Smith crafted these beautiful boats, Chuck Miklos
helped bring a community of similar-minded enthusiasts
together and Al Schinnerer fulfi lled a need that benefi ted all
wooden boat owners.”
Capsizing and falling overboard into cold water are major
hazards for hunters. During hunting seasons, most waters
are cold enough to pose a serious hypothermia threat.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers these tips for make
hunting on the water safer and more enjoyable:
• Leave a fl oat plan with someone at home.
• Transport fi rearms to the boat unloaded, cased, muzzle fi rst, with the action open.
• Always wear an approved and properly fi tted life jacket when in a boat.
• Know the weather forecast for the area.
• Never overload your boat.
• Always stay seated when shooting from an open boat.
• If an accident occurs, stay with the boat and use distress signals.
• Unless clothing is creating a hazard, donot remove extra clothing. It can help prevent hypothermia.
When overboard without a lifejacket, the following techniques
can help you stay afl oat:
• Trap air in chest waders by bending your knees and raising your feet then lying back in the water.
• Trap air in hip boots by bending your knees and lying on your back.
• Place an oar under the knees and another behind the back and shoulders.
• Stuff decoys inside your jacket.cgauxpa.blogspot.com
BOATING SAFETY TIPS FOR HUNTERS
TIDAL CHRONOSCOPEChronGlobal Tidal Chronoscope, an iPhone application that
offers tidal conditions and forecasting, along with lunar
and solar positions in a Swiss-watch display, was launched
in September.
The application, developed by ChronGlobal Corporation,
includes real-time monitoring of the tides via a sophisticated,
virtual wristwatch featuring the current level of worldwide tides,
along with lunar and solar position at the user’s location. The
app works utilizing the GPS feature of the iPhone tapping into a
database of over 9,400 worldwide stations. It can tell users tell
the current state of the ocean tides at their location instantly
and track any other tide location in the world at the same time.
Additionally, the application offers a virtual wristwatch for
following the daily lunar movements, and an additional
virtual watch for following the daily position of the sun. The
app allows users to set the watch up to seven days into the
future and can predict the tides for any day, hour or minute
in order to plan open-water excursions ahead of time.
The company is also creating applications for the iPad and
Android platforms.
chronglobal.com
hagertymarine.com/hof
48 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
Sailing
North America’s annual big-boat regatta, Key West Race Week, has
much to celebrate. A new Title Sponsor, early one design class and
sponsor commitments, and grand prix news are some of the reasons
that the 25th anniversary will be a memorable gathering.
Quantum Sail Design Group will be the Title Sponsor for 2012. Its support
will enable Premiere Racing to produce another quality event that will
be held from Jan. 16 to 20.
The attributes of Key West racing remain unchanged: quality
competition, top-tier race management, reliable breeze and warm
January temperatures. It is the sole, annual national and international
big boat event in the U.S., and with no other comparable regattas that
time of year globally.
Classes committed include the Melges 32 and 24, Farr 40 and 30. J/Boats will be well represented with
their J/105 and J/80s. Other one design classes are in discussion with Premiere Racing.
A 2012 innovation will be J/Boats specifi c handicap classes. IRC Racing will be presented in the form of a
TP52 (modifi ed) class and a group of smaller boats in the 36- to 43-foot range.
Premiere-Racing.com
KEY WEST RACE WEEK – 25 YEARS AND COUNTING!
US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Development Program added an additional Laser and Laser Radial Open Clinic to the recent
opportunities for young sailors aspiring to be the best in the U.S. The clinic was hosted on Nov. 12 to 13, in Houston, Tex., and
was run by US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics coaches Luther Carpenter and Mike Kalin.
sailingteams.ussailing.org/Selection/2012_US_Sailing_Development_Team.htm
US SAILING DEVELOPMENT CLINIC FOR ASPIRING OLYMPIANS
2012 ATLANTIC CUP ANNOUNCED: CHARLESTON-NEW YORK-NEWPORT
The second running of The Atlantic Cup will kick off May 12, 2012 from
Charleston, S.C. The Atlantic Cup is a dedicated professional Class 40
race held annually in the U.S. with a focus on running an environmentally
responsible event.
The 2012 race will showcase the top Class 40 sailors in the U.S. as they
race a 648-nautical mile off-shore leg double-handed from Charleston
around the infamous Cape Hatteras then north to New York City. Once in
New York there will be a brief stopover before competitors start the coastal
leg of the race. The coastal leg will take competitors along the same course
as the 2011 race: 260 nautical miles, south out of New York to a turning
mark off the New Jersey coast before heading north to Newport, R.I. Winning the distance legs
alone won’t be enough to be crowned Atlantic Cup Champion. Once in Newport, competitors will
race a two-day, inshore series with a crew of six. The combined overall winner of both stages will
be the Atlantic Cup Champion. The prize purse will be at least $30,000, making it again one of the
largest purses for sailing in the United States. atlanticcup.org
greatlakesboating.com | 49
Media mogul Ted Turner returned to the sport he mastered
many decades ago when he helmed American Eagle—the
12 Metre he once owned and raced around the world—in the
2011 12 Metre North American Championships held in Newport,
R.I., last September. Turner’s skills earned him fi rst place in the
Traditional Division as well as the Pine Brothers Sponsor Trophy
for Best Overall Performance.
This was the last 12 Metre event to be scored for the Ted Hood
Championship Trophy, given for best performance over the 2011
season. This was awarded in the Grand Prix/Modern Division to
Victory ’83; in the Traditional Division to American Eagle; and in
the Classic Division to Northern Light.
This year’s event inaugurated the Ted Turner Trophy, awarded for
an individual’s contribution to the 12 Metre Class on and off the
water. Turner himself presented the magnifi cent trophy to Guy Heckman, who campaigns USA.
For more information, contact Vice President Americas Fleet, Herb Marshall, at [email protected].
The 4th Annual Carlos Aguilar Match Race (CAMR), presented
by Ulysse Nardin/Trident Jewels & Time, will be held in the
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Charlotte Amalie Harbor on
Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.
Eight women’s and eight open teams representing some of
the best match racers in the world will put their skills to the
test in fast-paced highly-competitive sailing action along the
spectator-friendly waterfront.
Women’s and open champions in this International Sailing
Federation (ISAF)-provisional Grade Two event are awarded
an Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver and Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine
Diver precision timepiece, respectively.
The St. Thomas Yacht Club and the Virgin Islands Sailing
Association are organizing authorities for the CAMR,
namesake for the late Carlos Aguilar, who was an avid
sailor and match racer.
carlosmatchrace.com
CARLOS AGUILAR MATCH RACE
2011 12 METRE NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND RADIAL
The diversity of the World ARC 2012-13 fl eet will refl ect those
of previous World ARC events. There are currently 42 boats
confi rmed to be part of the rally. Two thirds of the fl eet will
complete the whole circumnavigation, and the other third will
either be with the fl eet until Australia or join the rally at this
halfway point.
The skippers and crews of the fl eet are drawn from more than
13 nationalities. There largest contingent by boat are from
America with eight entries followed closely by seven from the
United Kingdom. Other nations represented amongst the 150
crew registered so far are Austria, Canada, Germany, France,
Japan, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
and Slovenia.
The fl eet is also comprised of many different boats types
ranging from 11.5 to 20.8 meters. The most numerous build of
boat is Jeanneau with six different models followed closely by
fi ve Hallberg Rassys. There are also six multihulls in the fl eet
with almost all representing different boat manufacturers as
well as several newly built yachts taking part in the event that
were launched this summer.
World ARC 2012-13 brings this all together to provide an
interesting experience as the participants set sail from Saint
Lucia on Jan. 8.
worldcruising.com
DIVERSITY DESCRIBES 2012 ROUND THE WORLD RALLY
Courageous, USA and Victory sail in the Grand Prix/Modern Division at the 2011 12 Metre North American Championships
Billy B
lack
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50 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
BUOYROPE 2-IN-1 DOCKING LINEThe BuoyRope is a quick-docking line that enables sport boats
and personal watercraft to simultaneously set their fenders to
the right height and secure them to the dock. For larger vessels,
it serves as a fully adjustable fender holder up to 5 feet.
When not in use, the BuoyRope can function as a tie-down
for infl atables other gear. It is 5 feet long and comes with one
stainless steel double-gated LoopClip.
$22.95 // 866-282-2379 // buoyrope.com
GOST™ FREEZER SENSOR A new sensor from Global Ocean Security Technologies helps
prevent problems created by failed freezer compressors. The
IP-rated, wireless, battery-powered GOST Freezer Sensor
monitors temperature inside onboard food-storage and bait
freezers. It alerts up to fi ve people with a voice phone call if the
temperature rises fi ve degrees above freezing—0°C or 32°F.
The GOST Freezer Sensor is available as an add-on to GOST
Marine Magellan Insight, Premier or Value Package vessel
monitoring systems.
$479.99 //954-565-9898 // gostglobal.com
ROCNA GALVANIZED ANCHORSRocna Original multipurpose galvanized anchors offer a solid
design and RINA type approval to the highest level of Super
High Holding Power. Independent tests have shown them to
exceed the RINA SHHP proof load up to 6.7 times and surpass
the breaking strength of the recommended G40 chain. A hot-
dip galvanized fi nish covers the entire surface of every Rocna
with protective zinc, including the hollow roll-bar’s interior, for
extra durability.
The RINA type approved Rocna Original line ranges in weights
from 9 to 243 pounds. Larger models up to 606 pounds and
stainless-steel fi nishes are also available.
Starting at $159.99 // rocna.com
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greatlakesboating.com | 51
SafetyBright’s 9-in-1 SafetyPuck and Safety PlugLite provide
emergency assistance for those on land or water. The SafetyPuck
offers 360 degrees of light coverage in an array of illumination
patterns. Waterproof and buoyant, it is visible for up to half a mile
and runs for up to 100 hours on a rechargeable battery.
The mini LED PlugLite provides more than six hours of continuous
light. It plugs into any 12V or 24V car charger universal socket or
cigarette lighter and fully charges in two hours.
SafetyPuck, $39.95 //PlugLite, $19.95 // safetybright.com
SEA-FIRE FM-200 SYSTEMSFG and FD Sea-Fire pre-engineered suppression systems
employ FM-200, EPA-approved alternative to halogen that is
safe for people and leaves behind no oily residue, particulate
or water. Reaching extinguishing levels in 10 seconds or less, it
stops combustible, electrical and fl ammable liquid fi res.
The FG series protects enclosed engine compartments
covering areas from 25 to 240 cubic feet and is available in 20
sizes. The FD series protects areas from 150 to 1,500 cubic feet.
Its cylinders are refi llable and come in 54 standard model sizes.
$248 // 800-445-7680 // sea-fire.com
FISH’N RAIL SYSTEMThe Fish’n Rail is a security and support railing system for
boats that allows disabled and physically impaired anglers to
enjoy fi shing again. The Fish’n Rail system is manufactured
from aviation-grade stainless steel and offered as individual
components that may be assembled to meet different angler
needs and boat confi gurations. It is designed to last the
lifetime of the boat and conforms to Americans with
Disabilities Act specifi cations.
Starting at $1400 // 800-879-3726 //thefishnrail.com
SAFETYPUCK AND SAFETY PLUGLITE
52 GLB | Dec/Jan 12
BO
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& F
EE
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ULTRA-FOAM AQUA-CLEAN™Thetford Marine’s newly reformulated Ultra-Foam Aqua-Clean
Kitchen and Bath Cleaner cleans well, saves time and has
received Design for the Environment recognition. All products
carrying the EPA/DfE logo do not contain inorganic phosphates,
hazardous solvents or environmentally harmful surfactants, and
they use only the safest possible ingredients.
Its foaming bubbles work immediately and offer extended
contact time, which limits dripping and running so less product
is needed. Gentle, non-abrasive and safe on seals. Great for
removing soap scum, rust stains and hard water spots.
$8 // thetford.com // 800-543-1219
CABLE BUDDYCable Buddy is a kit designed to lubricate inside the steering
cable jacket for inboard, outboard and I/O engines. It virtually
eliminates corrosion and all wear in the inner cable, where
most problems occur. When used properly, Cable Buddy also
prevents freezing to minus 40° F.
This system includes a stainless steel nut with plug and
sealing washer, oiling tube assembly and Max-Lube steering
cable lubricant. Cable Buddy’s lube nut fi ts motors with 7/8
inches x 14 pitch threads.
Starting at $34.99 // davisnet.com // 510-732-9229
NMMA FC-W® CAT LICENSED MARINE OILSMarine engines are commonly exposed to harsh conditions,
and now boaters can protect them with Royal Purple’s new line
of NMMCA FC-W Catalyst Compatible multi-vis 30-weight and
40-weight, four-stroke High Performance Marine engine oils.
FW-Catalyst Compatible designation is given by the National
Marine Manufacturer’s Association for oils that have been
tested and have exceeded the performance requirements of
bench tests for viscosity, corrosion, fi lter plugging, foaming
and aeration.
$9.60 per quart // royalpurple.com // 281-354-8600
greatlakesboating.com | 53
T
F
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T
F
S
Email your text-only advertisement to:
Free classified boat advertisement offer limited to one per reader.
Photographs may be added for $25. To upload a picture and pay, visit:
greatlakesboating.com/classifi eds.
All classifi ed ads are subject to publisher’s approval. Space is limited. Free
ads will be accepted on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis. Advertisements
for the March/April 2012 issue must be received by January 16, 2012.
Complimentary 25-word classified boat advertisements in the March/April 2012 issue.
(NO STRINGS ATTACHED!)
GOT A BOAT TO SELL?FREE ADS
54 GLB| Dec/Jan 12
MA
RIN
E M
AR
T
SAILBOATS1981 30’ Catalina Tall Rig: Wheel, Autohelm 4000, furling, extra light air genoa, knotmeter, depth, radio,compass, Atomic 4, 2-blade folding MaxProp, stove, microwave, icebox, new Catalina interior, VC 17 bottom, cradle, and many extras. White hull with brown stripe/sail cover/ and wheel cover. Well maintained. $22,500. Call [email protected]
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL A MARINA?
CONTACT: Eddy A. Dingman, CNS (847) 987.6626COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL, NRT
NATIONAL GOLF AND MARINA PROPERTIES GROUP
Visit: http://golfcourseandmarinasales.com
MISCELLANEOUSEAST COAST BOW THRUSTERS, INCSeeking a sales rep to promote bow and stern thruster installations in the Great Lakes region.
START IMMEDIATELYExcellent opportunity for the
right person. Call Joe: 845-551-1975
www.ecbowthrusters.com
POWERBOATS1966 28’ CC Model 283 “F” Sportsman: LOA, 10’6” beam, 185 h.p. single screw, cuddy cabin, Great Lakes only, full cover, new custom 2-axle Loadmaster trailer, extra prop, extensive accessory list, clear title for hull & trailer, ownerŠs & operator’s manuals stored under cover, color photos available, $20,000 obo. Call 847-577-6613 [email protected]
TO ADVERTISE
IN GLBplease email:
greatlakesboating.com | 55
EV
EN
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CA
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AR
DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARYFLORIDAJANUARY 16-20QUANTUM KEY WEST RACE WEEK
Key WestKey Westpremiere-racing.com
JANUARY 27-29JACKSONVILLE BOAT SHOW
Prime F. Osborn III Convention CenterJacksonvilleboatjax.com
FEBRUARY 16-20MIAMI INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
Miami Beach Convention CenterMiamimiamiboatshow.com
ILLINOISJANUARY 6-8GATEWAY LET’S GO FISHING SHOW
Gateway CenterCollinsville
letsgoshows.com
JANUARY 12-15CHICAGO BOAT, SPORTS
& RV SHOW
McCormick Place North
Chicagochicagoboatshow.com
JANUARY 26-29STRICTLY SAIL CHICAGO
Navy Pier
Chicagostrictlysailchicago.com
FEBRUARY 24-26BOATSHOW IN SPRINGFIELD
Illinois State FairgroundsSpringfi eldtheboatshowinspringfield.com
INDIANAFEBRUARY 17-26INDIANAPOLIS BOAT, SPORT & TRAVEL SHOW
Indiana State FairgroundsIndianapolisrenfroproductions.com
IOWAJANUARY 13-15QUAD CITY BOAT, RV, & VACATION SHOW
RiverCenterDavenportiowashows.com
JANUARY 20-22IOWA BOAT & VACATION SHOW
UNI-DomeCedar Fallsiowashows.com
FEBRUARY 10-12CEDAR RAPIDS SPORTS, BOAT, RV, & VACATION SHOW
Coralville Marriott Conference CenterCoralvilleiowashows.com
KANSASFEBRUARY 16-19KANSAS SPORTS, BOAT & TRAVEL SHOW
Kansas ColiseumValley Centeragievents.com
KENTUCKYJANUARY 25-29LOUISVILLE BOAT, RV & SPORTSHOW
Kentucky Exposition CenterLouisvillelouisvilleboatrvshow.com
MARYLANDJANUARY 19-22
BALTIMORE BOAT SHOW
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimorebaltimoreboatshow.com
MICHIGANJANUARY 12-15
ULTIMATE FISHING SHOW
Suburban Collection Showplace
Novishowspan.com
FEBRUARY 11-19
DETROIT BOAT SHOW
Cobo CenterDetroitdetroitboatshow.net
FEBRUARY 15-19
GRAND RAPIDS BOAT SHOW
DeVos Place
Grand Rapidsgrboatshow.com
MINNESOTAJANUARY 12-15MINNESOTA SPORTSMEN’S BOAT, CAMPING & VACATION SHOW
Saint Paul RiverCentre
Saint Paul
(763) 755-8111
JANUARY 19-22
MINNEAPOLIS BOAT SHOW
Minneapolis Convention Center
Minneapolisminneapolisboatshow.com
FEBRUARY 15-19DULUTH BOAT, SPORTS TRAVEL & RV SHOW
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center
Duluthshamrockprod.com
56 GLB| Dec/Jan 12
MISSOURIJANUARY 19-22KANSAS CITY BOAT & SPORTSHOW
Bartle Hall
Kansas Citykansascitysportshow.com
FEBRUARY 8-12ST. LOUIS BOAT & SPORTSHOW
America’s Center & Edward Jones DomeSt. Louisstlouisboatshow.com
NEW YORKJANUARY 4-8NEW YORK BOAT SHOW
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
New Yorknyboatshow.com
FEBRUARY 15-19CNY BOAT SHOW
New York State FairgroundsSyracusecnyboatshow.com
OHIOJANUARY 6-8
TRI STATE FISHING EXTRAVAGANZA
Lesourdsville Expo Center
Middletown
rvexpo.net
JANUARY 7-15OHIO RV AND BOAT SHOW
Ohio Expo CenterColumbusohiorvandboatshow.com
JANUARY 13-22MID-AMERICA BOAT & FISHING SHOW
International Exposition (I-X) Center
Clevelandclevelandboatshow.com
JANUARY 20-29CINCINNATI TRAVEL, SPORTS & BOAT SHOW
Duke Energy Cincinnati Convention CenterCincinnatihartproductions.com
FEBRUARY 9-12COLUMBUS SPORTS, VACATION
& BOAT SHOW
Ohio Expo Center
Columbushartproductions.com
TENNESSEEJANUARY 12-15
NASHVILLE BOAT & SPORTSHOW
Nashville Convention CenterNashvillenashvilleboatshow.com
WISCONSINJANUARY 20-29
MILWAUKEE BOAT SHOW
Wisconsin Expo Center
Milwaukeeshowspan.com
FEBRUARY 9-12LACROSSE BOAT, SPORTS TRAVEL & RV SHOW
LaCrosse Convention Center
LaCrosseshamrockprod.com
CANADAJANUARY 14-22TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
Direct Energy Centre
Toronto, Ontario
torontoboatshow.com
FEBRUARY 17-20CENTRAL ONTARIO BOAT SHOW & SALE Careport Expo Centre
Hamilton, Ontarioboatshowandsale.com
FEBRUARY 23-26OTTAWA BOAT, SPORTSMEN’S & COTTAGE SHOW
Lansdowne Park
Ottawa, Ontariosportsmensshows.com/Ottawa/index.html
FEBUARY 24-26LONDON BOAT, FISHING & LEISURE
SHOW
Western Fair Grounds
London, Ontarioboatcottagefishingshow.com
Advertiser Index
Chicago Harbors/Westrec BC
Cleveland Boat Show 25
Contender Boats IBC
Cruisers Yachts 7
Detroit Boat Show 17
Dock Suppliers 21
Essex Credit 1
Fountain Power Boats 2
Kenosha Home 53
Lake Forest College 10
North Point Marina IFC
Princecraft Boats 11
Pro-Line Boats 5
Progressive Insurance 3
PumpOutUSA 21
ValvTect Petroleum 33
DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY