The Keystone State's cial Boating Magazine

• VIEWPOINT BOATING ACCESSES

On June 20, 1986, the Fish Commission formally opened a new boat launching area at the site of the old Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia. This opening was the culmination of years of effort to provide a place for residents of southeastern Pennsylvania to launch their boats onto the Delaware River. Declared surplus by the federal government in 1981, the Commission received title to approximately 19 acres of waterfront property. A design for an area that would eventually accommodate 350 car/trailers was developed. Construction was scheduled to be accomplished in phases, and the first two phases were completed this spring. The area currently has room for 190 car/trailers and has three two-lane launch ramps and courtesy boarding docks. Twenty-four-hour security has been provided on the site, although the area is currently closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Reports indicate that this much needed access is receiving the use that was expected and will in future years become a very important part of boating in Philadelphia. While this access and others under construction in Cowanshannock in Armstrong County and Chillisquaque in Northumberland County are meeting some local needs, a recently completed conference of state and federal agencies involved in the development of boat launches and marinas held in Detroit has concluded that good boating facilities are sorely needed in many areas. It is estimated that there are currently about 16,000 public launch sites nationwide. The phenomenal growth in boating recreation, however, will place demand on facilities to quadruple the number of sites currently available by the year 2000. Meeting this need will require a concerted effort by local, state, and federal agencies. Investment by private industry must be encouraged, while at the same time assuring that access by the public is not denied. A major new organization has come out of the Detroit conference. The States Organization for Boating Access was formed. The purpose of this organization is to promote the acquisition, development, and administration of recreational boating facilities by providing a medium for the exchange of views and experiences; by fostering private, interstate, and federal-state cooperation and coordination in boating facility design, construction, and financing; by exchanging views, ideas, concepts, and experiences relating to all aspects of recreational boating facilities; and by increasing efficiency in the acquisition, construction, maintenance, and administration of recreational boating facilities. The Pennsylvania Fish Commission will become a charter member of this organization. The development of boating access is an important element in the economy of the Commonwealth. Let us know what you think, and look for good things to come.

Gene Sport Assistant Executive Director Bureau of Waterways Pennsylvania Fish Commission „J,,„ November/December 1986 Vol.3 No.6

The cover This issue's seasonal cover photograph, taken by Don BOAT Carey, shows the helm of a pontoon boat at Lake Wallenpaupack. It suggests that we reflect on the season Pennsylvania, past and anticipate and prepare for next season. Along these lines, if you're considering moving up in the skiing world, the article that begins on page Editor Michaels 4 can help you get — Art just the right slalom ski for your level of skill. Graphics/Layout — Ted Walke Photographer — Russ Gettig Circulation — Eleanor Mutch Choosing the Right Slalom Ski by Bruce Kistler You're not a tournament competitor, but you're not a beginner, either. These details let you take the next step 4 Cruising and Water Skiing in Pennsylvania State Parks by John K. Wiediger The author leads you around the state to Pennsylvania's best

The New Electronics for Small Boats by Gary Diamond The world of mass production and miniaturization has created some remarkable instrumentation for small boats 10 A Good Inflatable Is a Real Boat by Virgil Chambers At last! Consider these practical alternatives to john boats and small utility craft. And guess what? They're pretty stable, too! 12 Winter Storage and Your Sailboat by Kevin D. Kirkpatrick No sailor looks forward to these tasks, but we all know how costly a slipshod effort in this area can be. Check out doing the job right 14 Marine Batteries by Stephen Knox We depend so much on our batteries that their care and selection is very important 17 How Regulations Are Made by Dennis T. Guise Most fishing and boating laws are initiated by citizens. Here's how good ideas become regulations 22 Choosing Summer Homes for Boats by Tom Reinke Considering a new marina for next season? Here's a raft of specifics on how to choose 24 Waving by Frances Chase Courtsal You wouldn't think this simple jesture could elicit such a variety of responses, until you read the author's experiences 26 Pennsylvania Fish Commission Boating Thieves Are Eyeing Your Boat, Motor, Advisory Board Trailer T. T.(Ted) and by Art Michaels Metzger, Jr. What if a thief were casing out your gear right President Helen B. Lange now? Better read this advice just in case 29 Johnstown Leonard A. Green Chairwoman Joan R. Plumly Carlisle Sharpsville Vice President Ross J. Huhn Clayton Buchanan Boat Pennsylvania (1SSN0888-1561) is published bimonthly by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission.3532 Walnut Street, Harrisburg.PA 17109.0 1986. Subscription rates:one Jenkintown Salts burg Pittsburgh year,$4; three years.511; single copies are BO cents each.Second class postage is paid Marilyn A. Black Calvin J. Kern Leroy Guccini at Harrisburg. PA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Boat PA Circulation. Pennsylvania Fish Commission, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. For Meaville Whitehall Greentown subscription and change of address,use above address.Send all other correspondence David Coe Leon Reed Thaddeus Piotrowski to: The Editor, Boat Pennsylvania, P.O. Box 1673. Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. Editorial contributions are welcomed, but must be accompanied by a self-addressed. stamped State College Honesdale Bloomsburg envelope. Submissions are handled with care, but the publisher assumes no Mark Faulkner J. Wayne Yorks Edward J. Rogowski responsibility for the return or safety of submissions in his possession or in transit. The authors'views, ideas, and advice expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect Boalsburg Benton Holland the opinion or official position of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission or its staff. hoosing the Ri

heavyweight pricetags are designed for want to stick with what might be by Bruce Kistler serious "short line" tournament use called a "basic board." These least- here are hundreds of and are too much ski for the average expensive skis are usually made of brands and models of skier. Buying one of these for wood or wood-plastic laminates. In an slalom skis on the market. recreational use would be akin to industry that has gone overwhelmingly How do you pick the one using an Indy car to commute to to manmade materials, quality wood that's best for you? It work. If your objective is to impress skis are still an extraordinary value Tfoolhardy to buy a ski a long if properly would be people with expensive equipment, and will last time because of the brand name or because then go ahead and spend a bundle on cared for. Skis in this category you like its racy look or jazzy graphics the super ski. But if you want the best generally have flat bottoms, square or because some champion skier's performing ski for the money, read edges, and wide tails, a combination name is on it. Contrary to what you on. of features that makes them easy to might expect, and despite the get up on and stable to ride straight commercial hype designed to make Basic board, family use ahead. They are equipped with you think otherwise, the more If you ski only occasionally and are adjustable binders so that more than expensive ski is not necessarily better. content to ride leisurely without one person can use them and Top-of-the-line slalom skis with the drastic turns or cuts, you probably consequently are the best choice for

4 Boat Pennsylvania z

significantly, slalom skis were simply standard square-backed skis with double binders. These planks rode high and fast but were impossible to slow down to turn quickly and tended to pop out of the water if forced through the turn. To solve these problems, skiers mounted bigger keels on their skis. This met with little success. Then they discovered that if the skis were tapered toward the back, they would perform better. A narrower tail allowed the back of the ski to ride deeper in the water in the turn and thus held better. It was also discovered that a moderate level on the bottom edges helped the ski slow down at the buoy and therefore made it easier to turn. Too much bevel, however, made the ski sluggish. The next innovation may have been discovered by mistake. The story goes that one particular skier's slalom warped in such a fashion that the bottom took on a concave shape. Not wanting to give up his favorite ski, the skier used it anyhow and found to his astonishment that it worked much better than before! For many years the concave bottom design was the standard for tournament skiers everywhere. Then in the mid-1960s, a West Coast ski builder milled a much deeper but narrower concave in a ski that left a flat running surface on either side for greater acceleration out of the turn. Thus was born the famous tunnel concave that revolutionized slalom ski design and, with continued improvements in the edge bevels, led to an amazing string of new national and world records. The next advance came in family use. machines incorporate the most materials. Wood skis had the Included in this category are the sophisticated design features with but advantages of being inexpensive and "slalom" halves of combination pairs. one limited purpose in mind—to help easy to shape, but they were heavy In recent years the major ski the skier negotiate the zig-zag slalom and were not "dimensionally stable"— companies have begun producing course at the highest speed and the they would warp, split, swell, and higher-priced fiberglass combination shortest line length under tournament twist. This quality frustrated the ski pairs that include more advanced conditions. Made strictly for turning makers because even a minor change design features such as concave sharply and accelerating and in a ski's geometry can radically affect bottoms. These skis bridge the gap decelerating quickly, skis of this type its performance. By the end of the between the "basic boards" and the are difficult to get up on and decade, however, a number of intermediate-level slaloms. uncomfortable to ride flat, and manufacturers had perfected the consequently are of little value to the technology to produce tournament Top-of-the-line models recreational rider. model fiberglass skis with aluminum Before discussing the intermediate The evolution of the tournament- honeycomb or polycarbonate slaloms, let's look at the other end of grade slalom ski is interesting. Back in reinforced cores. These skis, which the spectrum—the top-of-the-line the 1950s, when tournament water ski were light, fast, durable, and tournament models. These exotic competition first began to grow maintenance-free, soon dominated the November'December 1986 5 The right size creates drag and slows the ski down Regardless of which price/ when the skier is coming into the performance category you are looking somdeJ6 buoy yet provides no resistance to .(p at, most slalom models come in three acceleration when the skier leans back or four different lengths. It is critical poi FLAT to pull out of the turn. The size and that you get a ski that is the right size

swam shape of the keels have also received for your weight. There is no absolute attention. Smaller keels are now the rule, but generally speaking, if you are trend in tournament models. 125 pounds or less you should Slalom designers have also added consider a ski in the 64-inch range; high-tech fibers such as carbon 125 to 175 pounds, a ski in the 66-inch graphite, kevlar, boron, and titanium range; and over 175 pounds, a ski in BEVELED to the fiberglass for added strength the 68-inch range or longer. It is better and improved dampening—that is, to for recreational skiers to choose a smooth out the unwanted vibration larger ski if they are on the borderline. caused by crossing the wake or skiing Check the manufacturer's in choppy water. recommendations on ski size if you The binders on touranment-grade settle on a particular model. skis are fixed to the wearer's foot size CONCAVE There is one sure-fire way to see if a and have high heel pieces, usually with particular model ski suits you and that "double wrap" reinforcing straps that is to try one before you buy. If provide extraordinary support for the another skier in your area owns one, ankle. Many competition skiers also ask if you can take it for a spin. prefer to mount a heel piece on the Specialty water ski shops often have rear binder to prevent the back foot demonstrators for this purpose, but from coming out during short-line few marine dealers and no discount TUNNEL CONCAVE runs. stores provide such a service. In just a few minutes you will be able to tell if Intermediates the "ski fits." Keep in mind, however, So what if you are somewhere in that a new ski may take some time to the middle as far as ability is get used to, but if the ski feels too concerned? You're not a seasoned awkward, chances are that it doesn't COMPOUND-RADIUS tournament competitor but you do fit your style and you may never get want a ski that will allow you to turn used to it. Try the ski several times if on a dime and cut aggressively, one you can. that will serve you well if and when When shopping for a new slalom, cross-section looking from you do get to running the slalom be wary of salesmen who may try to the front or back of ski course and entering tournaments. "snow" you into purchasing more ski Fortunately, the makers of water than you need. If, however, you find skis realize that skiers like you are one one that is honest and knows his of their biggest market segments and business, he can be very helpful in have produced the widest assortment making a selection that suits your of skis in this price! performance particular situation. range. Examine the ski closely and market. Although there was a lag, the Almost all the "intermediates" are compare it with others for quality quality of the binders eventually made of fiberglass, mostly from foam materials and workmanship. improved also. cores but some with aluminum Generally, the binders are an excellent Bottom configurations have honeycomb cores. Most have some gauge of the overall quality of the ski. continued to change. While tunnel type of modified concave or tunnel Look for good, sturdy binder material designs are still a major factor, concave bottom that combines high and hardware. While you may find a manufacturers have returned to a performance with smooth, easy few bargain store skis of dubious version of the edge-to-edge concave manners. There are longer models and quality, it is a credit to the industry on at least some of their models, and some with extra wide tails for heavier that most of the skis produced today more recently hybrid designs with skiers and those who want an easier are made to high standards. compound radius curves have starting ski. Intermediate-grade skis Therefore, the critical factors will be appeared that seek to combine the can be purchased with good quality finding the right design and the right best advantages of both the concave adjustable binders or with fixed size. and tunnel concave bottoms. binders.(High wrap or double wrap By matching the ski to your needs Another recent milestone has been binders are not recommended for and repressing the urge to buy the the introduction of wings or foils on other than experienced tournament "name," you can pick a ski that will the keels. Somewhat resembling the competitors.) Unless you are running come to seem like a best friend and wings of a jet fighter, these protrude short-line slalom, do not waste your will provide many hours of. skiing from the keel at a critical angle that money on keel wings. enjoyment. 6 Boat Pennsylvania ..--T!` Art- SC.

s the winter winds begin to howl outside and you snuggle a little closer to the fireplace Cruising and hearth, you fondly recall the warm, fun-filled days of last summer. Your motorboat was tucked away recently, hopefully after being properly winterized, and you can now begin to plan your Water Skiing excursions for the coming summer months. About now, your favorite water ski area or cruising lake is becoming colder and will soon be covered with a solid layer of ice, and only a few venturesome souls even care in they exist; the ice fisherman and rarer yet, the ice boater. But come summer, these currently tranquil settings abound with activity. Recognizing the need to serve the recreationist who Pennsylvania enjoys the fast boat, water skiing or just cruising the "seas" in comfort and luxury, the Commonwealth's Department of Environmental Resources(DER) Bureau of State Parks provides seven areas across Pennsylvania where watercraft State Parks of unlimited horsepower are king. Let's take a cruising and water ski trip across by John K. Wiediger Pennsylvania by visiting these state parks.

November'December 1986 7 Bald Eagle State Park Marina, pictured here, offers facilitiesfor larger boats. This park is located in Centre County.

Remember that a state park launching permit or a be in the area for just a short period. Near the marina current registration issued by the Fish Commission is complex is a public launch ramp constructed and operated requiredfor all non-powered watercraft. Powered as a joint venture between DER and the Fish Commission. watercraft must possess a current registration. All safety This ramp is available on a first-come, first-served basis and equipment required by the Fish Commission is also boats are directly launched onto the Delaware River. required on state park lakes. Children under nine years of During periods of low tide, deep-draft watercraft age and all non-swimmers must wear a U.S. Coast Guard sometimes have difficulty using this ramp, but the nearby approved personalflotation device when on state park marina ramp is then made available to them. Of course, waters. unlimited boating, cruising, sailing, and water skiing abound on the Delaware River and its many protected coves. Neshaminy State Park Our trip begins in the southeastern corner of Beltzville State Park Pennsylvania at Neshaminy State Park, located on the From Neshaminy, our trip across the Commonwealth Delaware River near Croydon, in lower Bucks County. The now takes us up the Northeastern Extension of the day-use area of the park can be reached from State Road Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit 34, Lehighton, to Beltzville near the Street Road exit of Interstate 95. The park State Park, a short distance on Route 209. The park provides a large swimming pool (fee), extensive picnic surrounds Beltzville Lake, which is a U.S. Army Corps of areas, hiking and nature trails, and fishing in the Delaware Engineers flood control project in Carbon County. Park River. facilities include a popular swimming beach, numerous Across Neshaminy Creek from the day-use area is the picnic areas, warmwater fishing, and an extensive hiking boater's delight. The park provides a marina basin with trail system. Winter activities include a maintained ice slips for 191 boats up to 45 feet in length. Due to its skating area, ice fishing, the challenging ice boating, popularity, a lengthy waiting list does exist. Short-term sledding areas, and cross-country ski trails. transient mooring is sometimes available for those who will Unlimited horsepower boating and water skiing are the 8 Boat Pennsylvania focal points of the park on the 947-acre lake. The park and water skier, the 1,730-acre lake provides unlimited provides two launch ramps — the 3-lane concrete pad at recreation. Six paved launch ramps surround the lake, and Pine Run East on the north shore, and the 2-lane concrete a 360-slip marina and a boat dry storage area beckon pad at Preacher's Camp on the south side. Mooring areas boaters with watercraft up to 24 feet in length. Due to the are not available at Beltzville, but a major boat rental park's closeness to Raystown Dam, the mooring areas are concession exists with a variety of watercraft. Boaters not full, providing a unique opportunity for those desiring should be aware that the upper reaches of the lake (above to moor watercraft seasonally and use an uncrowded the Preacher's Camp access) and some coves are zoned "no- waterway. wake" because of the narrow, pristine setting. Water skiing Boat rentals are also available in the marina complex. takes place in a specially designated area, across from the Boaters desiring less crowded conditions than at Raystown park beach. and mooring at a far cheaper price need only look to Bald Beltzville Lake is popular with boaters and waiting lines Eagle State Park. at launch sites generally develop weekend afternoons. Boaters should plan to arrive early or use weekdays to Elk State Park avoid the congestion at the launch areas. Moving farther westward, you enter the Elk State Forest and find east of the small town of Wilcox on Route 219 the Shikellamy, Susquehanna State Parks undiscovered Elk State Park. From Beltzville, our trip takes us westward to two state The park surrounds another U.S. Army Corps of parks on the Susquehanna River, Shikellamy State Park Engineers impoundment known as the East Branch Clarion located at the confluence of the West and North branches Reservoir. The park provides a 75-site Class A of the Susquehanna River on Packers Island in Sunbury; campground, limited picnic facilities, and fishing. and Susquehanna State Park, located on the West Branch, Boaters and water skiers find unique opportunities on the in the city of Williamsport. narrow 1,060-acre remote lake. A paved launch ramp is Shikellamy State Park is located on the seasonal provided near the north end of the lake, near the impoundment Lake Augusta, created by the DER Bureau campground, along with extensive shoreline mooring. At of State Parks inflatable dam across the Susquehanna the southern end of the lake, the Corps also provides River. Picnicking, hiking, bicycling, and fishing are favorite camping and picnic facilities, a launch ramp, and the state visitor pastimes. Unique scenic overlooks are provided both park provides additional shoreline mooring. on the tip of Packers Island as well as the Blue Hill area of the park on the west side of the river. Presque Isle State Park Unlimited horsepower and water skiing reign on Lake Completing our journey across the Commonwealth, we Augusta's five miles of water, from the dam northward. A arrive at the flagship of the state park system's Presque Isle large paved launching ramp is located at the east end of the State Park. The sandy peninsula juts miles into Lake Erie park with extensive car and trailer parking available. A 100- providing the only surf swimming in Pennsylvania at its 11 boat marina is located on the west side and can beaches. This natural phenomenon has created Presque Isle accommodate boats up to 28 feet. Short-term transient Bay, which now protects the city and harbor of Erie, and in mooring is usually available, too. 1812, Commodore Perry's fleet. Susquehanna State Park is located on the Williamsport The state park provides countless picnic areas, swimming side of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, near the at the protected beaches, and extensive trail systems to Arch Street Bridge and U.S. routes 15 and 220. The park is observe this fragile, unique area, which has been declared a administered for DER by the city of Williamsport and national natural landmark. The park now boasts a new houses the paddle-wheeled riverboat Hiawatha. paved multipurpose trail. The park provides picnic facilities and many scenic views For the boater, a 498-slip marina accommodates of the Susquehanna River. For boaters using the unlimited watercraft up to 42 feet, and six launch ramps are available horsepower impoundment created by the Hepburn Street for day users. A boat rental facility is also available. dam, also DER operated, there is a paved launch ramp Sailing, cruising, fishing, and water skiing abound on located at the east end of the park, along with ample Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. parking. No overnight mooring is available. Of interest to The Department of Environmental Resources Bureau of many is the nearby Little League Baseball Museum and State Parks provides 113 recreational sites across the stadium. Commonwealth. Over 38 million visitors used these facilities in 1985, and many engaged in all types of boating. Bald Eagle State Park Boating areas ranged from the 20-acre lake at Parker Dam Continuing westward from Susquehanna State Park, you in Clearfield County to the unlimited resources found at need only travel a short distance to Bald Eagle State Park, Presque Isle and Neshaminy. For more information located on Route 150 between Milesburg and Lock Haven, regarding Pennsylvania State Parks, write for DER's and bordering the borough of Howard. The park surrounds Recreation Guide by contacting: Bureau of State Parks, another U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment, P.O. Box 1467, Harrisburg, PA 17120. officially known as the Foster Joseph Sayers Lake. The park provides a large swimming beach, picnic areas, lakeside hiking trails, and warmwater fishing, and a family John K. Wiediger, park superintendent with the Operations campground is located across the lake from the beach. All Section of the DER Bureau of State Parks, serves on Boat types of winter activities are also available. To the boater Pennsylvania's Editorial Advisory Committee. November!December 1986 9 opened up new vistas in offshore by Gary Diamond fishing for the small-boat owner. Although you give up a few creature The newest ost boaters now comforts in the smaller craft, speed, demand more from range, and versatility are a definite equipment offers small boats than at plus. fresh possibilities for any time in the past. What does all this mean to M To keep up with Pennsylvania boaters? For one thing, small-boat operators. that demand, manufacturers have it means improved hull construction designed trailerable boats that are for boats operating on some of the now capable of running to offshore larger lakes such as Erie and fishing grounds in search of Lake Erie Raystown where conditions can get gamefish that were previously mighty rough. Additionally, the accessible only to larger craft. marine electronics manufacturers have Improvements in hull design, come up with vast improvements that structural materials, and electronics are highly beneficial to small-boat 10 Boat Pennsylvania owners—some of which can improve highly sensitive devices that search out when it comes to electronic your boating and navigational skills. the bottom, provide you with a digital communications equipment and According to a recent survey by the readout, draw a graph of the bottom navigational aids. If you have no National Marine Manufacturers structure, and change sensitivity with experience with wiring marine Association, Americans purchased changing conditions. They have built equipment, take the boat to a more than 317,000 outboard-powered in alarms that tell you when the reputable dealer who does this sort of boats during 1985 with a total retail water's too shallow or when you pass thing for a living. A poor wiring job value of $759 million. In the Keystone over a fish. In fact, some of the newer or improperly installed equipment State, the boating public shelled out a machines will likely outperform any could put you and your passengers in whopping $84 million for boats, $36 chart or white-line recorder on the great danger. million for outboard motors, nearly market, and they don't require However, if you have experience in $4 million for boat trailers, and about expensive rolls of paper. They can wiring boats, you should have no $19 million for marine accessories. In even show you an exploded view of problems installing most new fact, Pennsylvania ranks 16th in the any depth within their range and electronic devices on a small boat. number of registered boats nationwide differentiate between two objects only The major difference between and the majority of these are small, a few inches apart. With equipment wiring a small boat and the larger outboard-powered craft. like this, what more could the avid craft is space. Small boats usually You'll notice that the dollar figure boater need? have only a console to work with, for marine accessories far exceeds the which means everything must be amount spent on trailers. The reason Loran placed in an area where it has no is that the new electronic gadgets are How about a Loran-C? It wasn't effect on the compass. now much less expensive than they too many years ago when it took If the boat is equipped with a were just five years ago. someone the size of a Philadelphia T-top, the majority of your equipment Eagles linebacker to carry a Loran to can be installed in this weatherproof Radios your boat. These highly accurate compartment. T-tops usually have a Foremost, most boaters have some navigational devices were strictly for fuse block installed when purchased, type of two-way radio in their boats. use on larger craft and cost several but if yours doesn't, be sure to have Whether it's a CB or a VHF, most of thousand dollars. But the world of one installed. Each piece of equipment the boating public feels strongly that mass production and miniaturization should be on a separate fuse. This the device should be required for has come through, providing boaters allows independent operation of each safety reasons. Not only does the with a Loran-C that's compact, unit if one fails. radio allow the boater to call for help lightweight, waterproof, accurate, and Keep all power cables as short as when he or she has mechanical easy to use. possible. This eliminates much of the problems, but the radio also provides The new machines are about the engine noise or interference problems current weather information 24 hours same size as depth finders, will tell associated with radios. Your Loran is a day, broadcast by the National you exactly where you are, where merely a sophisticated radio. Antenna Weather Service. This kind of you're headed, how long it will take cables are usually cut to specific information can be vital when you're you to get there, sound an alarm when lengths, but in many cases, they may in a large body of water where home you arrive or stray off course, and put be shortened. Before cutting the cable, port could be an hour or more away. all this information into memory for consult the owners manual to be sure Additionally, the radios are now future use. The Loran is a highly the cable length is not critical to the compact and water resistant, which valuable tool for both boaters and operation of the equipment you're permits installation in boats with only fishermen. Its accuracy is such that it installing. If the information is not a limited amount of space. In fact, I've can place you within 60 feet of any available in the book, drop a letter to seen I2-foot john boats with a VHF location you select, such as a buoy or the manufacturer, who can advise you radio installed under the bench seat. entrance to a marina. Fishermen in of the most efficient length. particular find the device useful when If you do not have a T-top on your Depth finders they discover an underwater piece of boat, you'll have to install the Depth finders have made great real estate that has unusual structure equipment in the console away from advancements during the past two holding lots of big fish. They can enter your compass. In many instances, this years. Not only are they more the location into the memory and let is not possible, but you can shield the compact, but they are waterproof and you return to that exact location compass with an aluminum plate some models are completely whenever you choose. Not only has placed between your electronic gear submersible. The days of the flasher- the size of the Loran been reduced— and the base of the compass to type depth sounder are numbered so has the price tag. A good machine prevent magnetic interference. since the advent of liquid crystal with 50 memory locations now sells After installation, be sure to check devices that do everything but tell the for less than $600. the operation of all equipment before time of day. venturing out, and don't let all these The LCD (liquid crystal display) Wiring and installation fancy electronic gadgets give you a units show that manufacturers have As with all electrical devices, proper false sense of security. Your compass capitalized on the micro-electronics wiring is critical to operation and is still your most reliable industry. Companies have created performance. This is especially true navigational aid. November'December 1986 11 A Good Inflatable Is a Real Boat by Virgil Chambers

inflatable is4 h alte or a utility craft, especially for rs on Pennsylvania's small, limited-access, shallow waterways. he number of boating water. The ease of transporting,launch- sportsmen who capsize their ing, and storing makes this boat an crafts each year is amazing. interesting option for the sportsmen. Sometimes it was a gust of On the market today, one has many Twind, choppy water, or a choices of style and size to fit individual sudden movement onboard that caused needs. The angler who prefers solitary the craft to roll. In any case, the early morning bass fishing might opt impromptu in-water situation occurred. for a small 2-person or 3-person craft, Considering the basic physical factors but a party of duck hunters may decide of small-boat construction, it really on a craft over twice that size. In either shouldn't be that surprising that many case, the choices are there. sportsmen take the sudden and unex- pected swim. As many boating anglers Outboards and hunters perfect their individual In selecting an outboard for the sporting skills, many times they neglect inflatable, you have a great degree of the need to become more boat-conscious. flexibility, just as you do with hard- Types of application of these coat- Perhaps the sophistication of today's construction boats. The size of the ings also help determine strength and boats gives a sense of infallibility. motor is primarily governed by the durability. A boat made from properly The inflatable is an alternative to the individual's needs and the manufactur- designed supported fabric is almost typical john boat or utility craft most er's maximum horsepower capacity rat- impossible to puncture, certainly im- often seen on the water. ing. Many times the boater will prefer possible under normal conditions met With the sailboater or serious pow- to lean toward the maximum outboard by most sportsmen. erboaters the craft is the sport. With motor allowed on his craft, to ensure The inflatable is also versatile. It anglers, hunters, and many campers, preparedness of power for any situation. needs little water and performs beauti- the craft many times is just another As a rule, inflatables accommodate a fully in shallow river conditions. piece of gear. These sportsmen tend to larger horsepower rating than a hard The sportsman is more vulnerable to view the needs and requirements of the boat of similar size. However, inflat- capsizing his craft because ofthe design craft in a far different light than other ables move very effectively, with a small of most boats used with his sport. boaters. While safety and reliability are lightweight engine, primarily because lnflatables are extremely stable and vir- equally sought after, size, portability, of their lightness and buoyancy. This tually uptipable. The size of the pon- adaptability, and cost may become the factor contributes to lower cost, both toons more than compensates for load determining purchasing factors. for the engine and in fuel consumption. weight,even when all the load is on one In purchasing a newer, larger craft, The cost of any craft is directly side. powerboaters also consider appearance. related to its performance. With an Most modern inflatables have two or The boater wants his craft to look as inflatable, you get what you pay for, more separate buoyancy air compart- good as it moves. Sailboaters, too, may and more in many cases. Remember ments, so even when completely prefer a decorative design of the hull that the capacity of an inflatable craft is swamped, the craft continues to sup- and colorful billowing sail. Appearance somewhat more than its wood, alumi- port its rated capacity. Should the ofinflatables is usually not an important num, or fiberglass counterpart. impossible happen and the boat through issue, although they are becoming, I nflatables need little maintenance to collision or other accident become through design, very attractive. keep them in top condition. A good- punctured in all the segregated cham- Consider why inflatables are becom- quality inflatable should last over 10 bers, the residual air trapped in tubes ing a more popular choice on our rivers, years. Many of the better ones have will keep the boat afloat. lakes, and streams. been in use for 15 years or more. An lnflatables are becoming the boat of occasional washdown or scrubbing is choice for many water-oriented sports- Convenience usually adequate to keep it in ready-to- men.The reliability, stability,swiftness, Because we call the boat used by the go condition. and convenience make the inflatable angler, hunter, or camper a piece of Common sense caution with gear highly prized for a successful outing. gear, let's decide how it fits in with the stowed onboard is all that is necessary The boat performs beautifully. sport. Here's where inflatables are to protect the boat. Obviously, knives Inflatables are safe, practical, and worth their weight in gold. Deflated, or sharp gaffs should be sheathed or economical. Their reputation is founded cleaned, and protected, the boat can be covered with a large cork to eliminate on durability and versatility. If you're boxed and stored in a garage with your the threat of damage to the boat (or contemplating buying or replacing that car, not instead of your car. Similarly, boater). A common misconception is item of gear called a boat, visit your with the addition of a good foot pump that inflatables puncture easily. The local marina or boat dealer and investi- (a standard piece of equipment in- fabric used in inflatables is of two main gate the advantages of inflatable boats. cluded with an inflatable craft), an types. Unsupported fabrics (not nor- You just might decide inflatable can be carried to the launch mally recommended)are those that are they're for you. site in the car trunk or station wagon— not reinforced. The better inflatables no trailering is required. Obviously, are constructed of support fabrics— Virgil Chambers is chief of the Com- launching is greatly simplified by this fabrics covered and reinforced with a mission Bureau of Waterways Boating boat that can be "slipped" into the coating of synthetic rubber or plastic. Safety Education Section. November'December 1986 13 Winter Storage and Your Sailboat

by Kevin D. Kirkpatrick

14 Boar Pennsylvania •19 - 1

jeopardize the safety of those who sail et's face it—preparing a with you. boat for winter storage is Once the boat has been emptied, a job no sailor looks wash it down thoroughly. Wash the forward to. Many view mast and boom, too. Flush all fixed Lthe process as the final act deck gear, like turning blocks and of the sailing season. Their boats are traveler track, with a forceful stream hastily stored away—an old tarp of fresh water. You will be surprised carelessly tossed over the lot—and at the amount of dirt and grime that forgotten until spring. When spring can accumulate in these tiny spaces. arrives, as it will in a few short Flush the inside of the centerboard/ months, that haste is usually daggerboard trunk. regretted. If yours is the type of boat that has A more productive approach is that an outer hull and inner hull liner, winter storage is the first step in the flush this space as well. Leave preparations for the next sailing hatches, inspection ports and drain season. It is an intermission, rather plugs open to allow moisture to than an end. The winter months escape and fresh air to circulate freely. provide the opportunity to Make a careful inspection of the accomplish many of the minor hull, deck and cockpit. Check for maintenance and repair chores small obvious and tell-tale signs of seasonal sailboats require. We can undertake damage. Make notes of any areas these tasks at a more leisurely pace, requiring repair or more careful with no loss of precious sailing time. inspection. Pay particular attention to Projects such as whipping frayed rope heavily loaded, high-stress areas, such ends, patching scratched or damaged as stays, shrouds, and rudder gel coat, or up-dating old hardware attachment points. If possible, make are only a few examples. The time sure that each has an adequate

.5% and energy we invest now and backing plate and that nuts and bolts i:;111.% :;110...4 throughout the winter months will are securely fastened. A few extra fba5C04151r;54-84 '' pay handsome dividends in spring. minutes spent in these areas may \ 111I II I I I While others are still ashore working prevent a disaster next season. -1KAN4, on their boats, we will be out sailing and enjoying the new season. Masts, boom Most sailboats today are equipped Beginnings with aluminum masts and booms. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of These lightweight extrusions are the process is deciding to begin. Too subject to enormous loads and often we delay the inevitable, hoping stresses throughout the sailing season, 0 for just one more perfect sailing so they should be inspected very weekend before we pack it in. Of carefully. Make sure that all fittings course, if that perfect weekend ever are securely fastened. Check for worn comes, there are still leaves to rake, or damaged hardware. Check sail storm windows to install and football tracks or luff grooves for nicks or games to watch. Before we can say, cracks that might damage or tear a "post-season playoffs," there is snow sail. Look for signs of compression in the cockpit. So unless you own a bending in the areas of the spreader 12-meter that you are campaigning in and boom attachment points. Check Australia this January, you had better for cracks around exit boxes for make plans. internal halyards and control lines. Begin the process by emptying the Pay particular attention to fittings boat of all loose gear and equipment. and attachment point for stays, Most of these items—PFDs, shrouds, main sheet, and yang. These cushions, and mooring lines, for tend to be the most heavily loaded instance—are best stored indoors. fitting on the mast and boom. Make Inspect each item for signs of seasonal notes of any areas requiring repair, wear. Keep a note pad and pencil replacement, or closer examination. handy to jot down any items that From their attachment points on require repair or replacement. Pay the mast, inspect the stays and particular attention to PFDs. shrouds. Check clevis pins, cotter Damaged or unserviceable PFDs are pins, and split rings for signs of wear illegal. More importantly, they or corrosion. Replace any that seem November!December 1986 15 questionable. Bear in mind that for foot, and leech—for loose stitching or padding. Remember to leave hatches, want of a 10-cent cotter pin, the entire chafe. Check individual sail panels for inspection ports, drain plugs, and rig can come crashing down. If you obvious or tell-tale signs of loose or bailers open to allow moisture to do not already carry a supply of spare missing stitching and chafe. Pay escape and fresh air to circulate freely. pins and rings, make a note of the particular attention to those areas The simplest method of covering types and sizes used in your rig and that are likely to come in contact with small sailboats may be a tent type of buy some. They can be indispensable. rigstays, shrouds, and spreaders. cover. This method utilizes the mast Check all swaged or pressed Check batten pockets for loose as a ridge pole. The mast carrier on terminal fittings for signs of fatigue, stitching or tears. Check individual your trailer and boom crutch provide distortion, or damage. Bends, kinks, battens for damage. If your inspection the uprights. If necessary, a simple or cracks in these types of fittings uncovers any damage, try to "X" brace between these two points seriously compromise their strength determine the cause and make a note will provide additional support for the and integrity. If you discover this type to correct it. mast. Chafe padding should be added of damage, have the fitting replaced Many minor sail repairs can be as necessary. The general rule is, by a professional rigger. They cannot accomplished at home by most "When in doubt, pad it!" be repaired. Check the wire rope used sailors. Repairs such as mending This simple framework can then be for stays and shrouds for broken small holes or tears, replacing frayed covered with any sort of waterproof strands (meat hooks). Finally, coat or missing stitching, or applying chafe tarp. The poly-type tarp is relatively the spars and shrouds with a light film patches are a few. Major repairs, such inexpensive, readily available, and of lubricant, such as WD-40. This as large tears, should be left to a comes in a wide range of sizes. Silver inhibits corrosion. professional sail loft. Many lofts offer duct tape makes excellent reinforcing Most control lines will be special, offseason rates for minor patches on ply tarps and will mend manufactured from low-stretch repair work and cleaning. most small rips and tears. To reduce polyester (Dacron) fiber. The three windage and the possibility of rips worst enemies of these synthetic fibers Trailers and tears, pass the tie-down lines are: friction (chafe), ultraviolet Most small sailboats are trailerable. under the boat rather than tying them radiation (sun), and imbedded dirt. A boat, no matter how well-equipped to the trailer. This keeps the tarp With proper care and maintenance, or maintained, is of little use if it closer to the boat and minimizes these lines can provide many seasons cannot be transported from your flapping. With this sort of "tent," rain of useful service. All loose lines home to your favorite sailing spots. tends to run off rather than puddle on should be removed from the boat, When was the last time you checked the tarp. inspected for damage, and stored in a the trailer wheel bearings for wear or For the more fastidious sailor, cool, dry place. If your inspection repacked them with grease? When "shrink wrapping" is available from uncovers damage or chafe, try to was the last time you checked its tires many full-service marine dealers and determine the cause and make a note for signs of cuts or cracking? How boat yards. This particular method of to correct it. The useful life of most often do you check the hitch coupling storing may be the next best thing to lines can be extended by "turning" it mechanism or lubricate the winch moving your sailboat indoors. Of end-for-end (reversing direction). This mechanism? course, it isn't cheap and can only be alters the bearing (friction) points at Trailer lights always seem to be a used for a single winter and then fairleads and turning blocks. Before source of problems. When was the discarded. A random survey of full- storing, it is a good idea to tag and last time you checked the system or service marine dealers in the south- mark each line with a piece of cleaned the contact points? Do you central Pennsylvania area, for masking tape. have spare bulbs? Now might be a example, indicates that costs range good time to find out if the jack and from $50 to $80 for a I7-foot Sails lug wrench from your towing vehicle daysailor. A suit of working sails (main and will work on your trailer. If not, it is No matter how or where you store jib) for the average daysailor can cost better to find out now, so that the your boat, you should make periodic from $400 to $1,000. Add another proper tools can be added. inspections over the winter months. If $300 to $600 for a spinnaker. Unless the boat is stored outdoors, you you have money to burn, it makes Weather protection should check it every other week or good sense to protect your investment The final step in the winter so. Tie-down lines may loosen. Small with proper care and maintenance. preparation process is securing the rips and tears may develop. Sails should never be left on the boat boat and rig against the elements. Equipment may require additional over the winter. They should be Wind, rain, ice, snow, and sun can anti-chafe padding. A few minutes of removed, inspected for damage, and combine to wreak havoc with small prevention now may save you hours stored indoors in a cool, dry place. boats. Any items left on the boat over of cure next spring. Begin your inspection by laying the the winter should be properly padded sails out on the lawn. Make a rough to minimize the chafe damage to boat sketch of each sail and note any and gear caused by vibration. These Kevin D. Kirkpatrick is education problem areas. Check corners first. items should be padded at any point director and aformer commodore of Look for damaged cringles that they are likely to rub. Old the Pinchot Sailing Club, in York (grommets). Check the edges—lugg, carpeting makes excellent anti-chafe County. 16 Boat Pennsylvania

Gale Incorporated

W

engines engines

fact fact

demand demand

to to

they they

Sailboats Sailboats

that that

burn burn

boat boat

between between

batteries, batteries,

provide provide

boat boat power power

by by

The The

crank crank

Marine Marine

Stephen Stephen

of of

may may

have have

is is

may may

an an

the the

large large

our our

not not

requires requires

running running

anchor anchor

the the

charges. charges.

those those

draw draw

though.

typically typically

depend depend

become become

radio radio

boating boating

occupied occupied

same same

powerboat powerboat

engines. engines.

on on

light light

a a

and and

lights lights

Knox

Even Even

on on

e e

start start

dependent dependent

qualities qualities

boats. boats.

batteries batteries

an an

a a

huge huge

have have

lives. lives.

have have

battery battery

the the

depth depth

all all

its its

indispensable

for for

the the

when when

That That

with with

burst burst

a a

battery battery

night.

power power

Whether Whether

all all

Not Not

low low

a a

engine,

of of

to to

finder, finder,

days

become

night night

diesel

same

on

your

of of

all all

our

run run

load

drain

to

power

of of

to

our

sail,

or

us

Batteries

constructed constructed car car

deep deep

a a

inside inside

the the

cycle cycle

discharged discharged

from from

carried carried

goes goes

current current cycles.

different different

provide provide

immediately immediately

without without

period. period.

For For

batteries batteries

be be

marine marine

continuous continuous

Just Just

For For

Marine Marine

by by

batteries. batteries.

marine marine

starting starting

on on

cycle cycle

different different

batteries batteries

a a

the the

the the

as as

for for

starting starting

They They

for for

consequently consequently

powerboat's powerboat's

damage.

as as

more more

are are

batteries batteries

there there

battery. battery.

small small

batteries batteries

types) types)

your your

deep deep

hours hours

between between

a a

automotive automotive

with with

large large

designed designed

recharged, recharged,

short short

can can

They They

low low

support support

are are

loads, loads,

are are

battery battery

are are

automatic automatic

load load

cycle cycle

are are

heavier heavier

or or

be be

current current

for for

inboard inboard

designed designed

The The

(both (both

are are

different different

period. period.

built built

each each

even even

almost almost

charging charging

different different

Marine Marine

there there

that that

more more

different different

to to

battery. battery.

to to

internal

usually

furnishes furnishes

as as

types types

cases cases

be

the the

charge

heavier heavier

starting starting

days days

over over

must must

engines engines

they they

are Starting

bilge bilge

expensive.

to to

fully

demands

batteries

plates

and and

system.

from

provide

a a

Deep

and

there there

boats.

would

be

long

pump

than

high

and

are

the

is

from from

store store

frequently, frequently,

freeze.

and and

consumption consumption

cell cell

the the should should

leave leave an an

trouble

amount amount add add

construction construction

that that

the the

depend depend

anchor anchor

starting starting

of of

cost cost

the the starting starting

the the to to

and and

through through

overcharging overcharging to to current current

the the

clean clean There There their their

to to

is is

home, home,

running. running.

winter, winter,

is is regularly. regularly.

recharged recharged

your your

heavier heavier

battery battery

battery battery

batteries batteries because because

provides provides

Add Add

maintenance maintenance

maintenance. maintenance.

Hydrometers Hydrometers

better better

to to

running. running.

If If

The The

If If

Quality Quality

You You

With With

Most Most

the the aid aid

start start

use. use.

important important

engine engine

specific specific

cell cell

hydrometer hydrometer

most most

requires requires

is is

water. water.

how how

cell cell

all all

more more

your your

check check

water water

batteries batteries

rated rated

the the

it it

it it

or or

same same

in in

is is

left left

take take

water water

only only

-free -free

The The

should should

the the

in in

in in

you you

when when

is is

the the

just just

number number

construction, construction,

on on

the the

boxes. boxes.

required required

battery battery

battery battery

the the

of of

boats boats

is is

the the

no no

November! November!

your your

generally generally

Two Two

moving moving

specific specific

to to

efficient efficient

power power

also also

a a

boat boat

The The

the the

so so

on on

than than

batteries batteries

dead dead

then then

current.

starting starting

our our

water water

the the

as as

Your Your

A A

cells cells

your your

engine engine

gravity gravity

directions directions

care care

should should

cool cool

danger danger

spot spot

other other

anchor anchor

rating.

service. service.

minimum minimum

frequent frequent

night. night.

the the

is is

is is

it it

the the

the the

charge charge

is is

safety safety

deep deep

are are

The The

required; required;

batteries batteries

basement. basement.

need need

will will

batteries batteries

available available

also also

connections connections

Because Because

water water

is is

is is

batteries, batteries,

heavier heavier

to to

automotive automotive

a a

is is

is is

dockside dockside

tell tell

and and

provides provides

or or

require require

of of

charging charging

cells, cells,

spot spot

to to

potential potential

them them

battery's battery's

gravities. engine engine

laid laid

required required

always always

inexpensive inexpensive

battery. battery.

clue clue

operation. operation.

routine routine

immediately

check check

used used

furnish furnish

most most in in

The The

have have

cycle cycle

it it

December December

them.

carry carry

of of

of of

periodically periodically

battery battery

two two

start start

require require

light light

you you

feature. feature.

If If

approximate

while while

level level

has has

the the

watering, watering,

that that

marine marine

up up

each each

supplied supplied

it it

charge charge

to to

we we

maintenance

in in

duty. duty.

will will

only only

deep deep

also also

of of

always always

batteries batteries

as as

important

lifting lifting

how how

water

being being

is is

the the

the the

battery

fully fully

for for

You You drained drained

the the

a a

its its

the the

we we

morning

and and

and and

If If

system system

maintenance

must

the the

water

in in

years years

when when

will will

problems

not

a a

the the

leak.

ever ever

cell.

must must

little

not not

batteries

only only

health.

provide

terminals

to to

engine(s)

had had

The

the

cycle

backup

1986 1986

high

the the

A

battery

to to

Marine

batteries

it, it,

want want

and and

at

out out

overall

charged.

too too

engine

straps

not

start

record

with

deliver

then

record

fail.

read read

of

and

you

cells.

for

be

one

it

is

g

of

easy

low

to

it 17 newal applications are returned to the Commission because of incorrect The Law and You addresses, which delays processing. by Perry D. Heath Q: During the winter months, I plan to Q: May I register my boat with the build a boat. Do I need to contact the Dedicated to the sound conservation U.S. Coast Guard instead of pur- Fish Commission for any permits or of our aquatic resources, the protec- boat registra- tion and management of the state's chasing a Pennsylvania licenses? tion? diversified fisheries, and to the ideals A: No, not until you have completed of safe boating and optimum boating A: Yes, you may have your boat the boat. After the boat is built you Opportunities. Guard; documented by the U.S. Coast must submit completed Form PFC-286 EXECUTIVE OFFICE however, it must weigh five net tons or for a capacity plate if the boat is less Ralph W. Abele, more along with other additional than twenty (20) feet in length and is Executive Director requirements. Howard T. Hardie, designed to carry two or more persons, Administrative Assistant and if it is to be propelled by machinery Dennis T. Guise, Q: I operate a "documented" boat on or oars as its principal source of power. Chief Counsel Lake Erie. Does a waterways conser- Ross E. Starner, Also, if you desire to use any type of Comptroller vation officer have the authority to motor on the boat, you will be required BUREAU OF board my boat? to submit an application for a certi- ADMINISTRATIVE A: Yes. ficate of registration. SERVICES 717-657-4522 Paul F. O'Brien. Q: May I affix my 1987 registration Director Q: This winter I am going to build a Allison J. Mayhew, Personnel decal on my boat as soon as I receive it boat and trailer. Can I get a license plate John Hoffman, Real Estate from the Fish Commission, or must I Glen Reed. Federal Aid from the Fish Commission for my Mary Stine, Licensing wait until March 31? homemade boat trailer? A: Yes, you may affix your decal as BUREAU OF FISHERIES A: No. The boat trailer is considered a AND ENGINEERING soon as you receive it from the motor vehicle and the license plate must Commission. 814-359-5100 be secured from the Pennsylvania De- Edward R. Miller. P.E., partment of Transportation. Applica- Assistant Executive Director Delano Graff, Fisheries Q: Must I report my change of address tions for the license may be obtained can I wait James Young, for my boat registration, or from notary publics, motor clubs, and Construction & Maintenance until I receive my renewal form from other sources. K. Ronald Weis, the Commission? Architectural & Engineering A: By law you must report your Perry D. Heath is deputy chief of the BUREAU OF address change within 15 days to the Commission Law Enforcement Divis- WATERWAYS Commission. Each year numerous re- ion. 717-657-4538 Gene Sporl, Assistant Executive Director Edward W. Manhart, Drinking, Boating Angling and Boating Law Enforcement Virgil Chambers, and the Law Hotline Boating Education Drinking, Boating and the Law is a Keystone State boaters and anglers OFFICE OF new Fish Commission pamphlet that can learn the latest water conditions INFORMATION provides answers to the most and hotspot information about 717-657-4518 Commonwealth Cheryl K. Riley. Director commonly asked questions concerning waterways across the Larry Shaffer, Publications boating and alcohol. The publication from the Fish Commission Fishing Stephen B. Ulsh, Education offers answers to questions such as: and Boating Hotline. The information Dave Wolf, Adopt-A-Stream Coordinator May I drink while on my boat? What is updated regularly. For the latest, Media Relations is meant by "under the influence"? call 717-657-4444 (not toll-free). Art Michaels, Magazines How many drinks will put me past the Boat Pennsylvania legal limit? Is beer less intoxicating Editorial Advisory than whiskey? How will the law Publications List Committee enforcement officer test me to Virgil Chambers, Chairman determine if I am under the influence? The Fish Commission has available (Chief, Boating Safety Education law enforcement officer a great variety of publications for all Section, Bureau of Waterways, Does the Pennsylvania Fish Commission) require my permission to test my boaters. For a free copy of the Joe Greene (Boating Education blood alcohol content? What happens Commission's recently revised and Specialist, Pennsylvania Fish Commission) if I am caught? updated publications list, send a janet R. Mayer(Special Programs For a free copy, send a self- business-sized self-addressed, stamped Coordinator, Pennsylvania Fish addressed, stamped envelope with envelope with requests to: Publica- Commission) Charles Walbridge (canoeing) requests to: Publications Section, tions Section, Pennsylvania Fish Jack Davis(water skiing) Pennsylvania Fish Commission, P.O. Commission, P.O. Box 1673, Gus Neuss, Jr.(sailing) Box 1673, Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673. Tom Reinke (cruising) John Wiediger(DER Bureau of State Parks) 18 Boat Pennsylvania MAIL A friend of mine who often fishes The week of June 2-6, 1986, will Lake Erie says that he doesn't need a stay fresh in my mind for a long time. Yes, it happened to me, and once is compass anymore because he bought I must admit that small boat handling enough! Where did all that water a new Loran-C. I say he's making a is a lot more involved than I had come from? mistake. What do you say?—Eric anticipated. The Ohio-Pennsylvania Couldn't figure out what happened, Friend, Philadelphia, PA Small Craft Training College was a and when I finally got it going, it was terrific success. all mushy. Took me a while to wise A compass is a vital piece of Instructors Lorraine Wilson and up, shut it down, and take a look. equipment, especially for someone Bill for basic canoeing, and Katrina, Opened the rear hatch (it's a bass fishing the big waters of Lake Erie. Mike, Brent, and John for river boat) and found water where it Calibrating it and knowing how to use canoeing are all tops in my book. shouldn't have been. Lots of water, it properly are also important. Your With their expert guidance and care halfway up the sides of the batteries! friend may have made the comment we all learned many lessons in one Luckily, I could just reach the hole because of the remarkable capabilities short week, the bottom line being a with the plug, bending my body over of Loran-C. Some units, probably the deeper appreciation of canoeing and the back of the transom, but that kind your friend has purchased, can small craft operations. Wallenpaupack water is cold in April! give you course and direction if you Many thanks for Janet Mayer, Joe I think my arm had hypothermia for a already know the TDs(numbers used Greene, Virgil Chambers, and Pam while. The bilge pump did its job and by the device to reveal a location) of Dillon for organizing and conducting my partner and I enjoyed a good day your position and destination. These the training college.— Vice Flotilla fishing.—Ed Rauch, Norristown, PA same units can constantly reveal the Commander Ura P. Shumate, U.S. distance to the destination as you go, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Manheim, PA Forgetting to put the plug in afflicts and the estimated time it takes to get a lot of people. The Commission has there, given your current speed. available a free sticker that reminds Loran-C units are electronic wizards, This is just a note to say that boaters about the plug at launch time. and they are tremendously helpful, I think your publication Boat For a free sticker, send requests and a but don't let the device replace your Pennsylvania is outstanding. Your self-addressed, stamped envelope to: basic navigation skills.—Ed. editorial in the September/October Boating, Pennsylvania Fish 1986 issue ("Viewpoint") hit the nail Commission, P.O. Box 1673, right on the head, and the other Harrisburg, PA 17105-1673.—Ed. I would like to commend your articles were excellent, particularly magazine for the excellent coverage of "Danger Lurks in Your Small Boat," I currently teach the section on aids the Ohio/ Pennsylvania Small Craft by Art Michaels.—F. P. Maher, to navigation to a class of 60 as part Training College. Janet Mayer did an manager, Office of Recreational of the US Power Squadrons Public excellent job of covering the event, in Boating, Toronto, Ontario Boating Class at Mt. Lebanon High addition to her other duties during the School here in Pittsburgh. I consider venture. this one of the most important Even though it was the inaugural sections in the course, particularly for the small craft college, it did not Sailing Instruction from a safety point of view. show it. Virgil Chambers and Pam Since our course material does not Dillon ran a very fine school. They The Sailing Industry Association cover USW MS, I rely heavily on your continue to be leaders in their field. has a toll-free number that you can excellent article in the November/ Paul Gregory, chief Division of call to find the nearest sailing December 1985 issue. In fact, Ted Watercraft, Ohio Department of instruction. The service lets you Walke's graphic of the buoys and Natural Resources. specify the kind of sailing you want to their usage is so good that I spent $5 learn—boardsailing, basic sailing, and had an overhead projector advanced sailing, or blue-water sport. transparency made of it in color. I want to thank you and the The toll-free number is 1-800-447-4700. I have seen the Fish Commission's Pennsylvania Fish Commission for small colored sticker displaying these sponsoring me as a scholarship buoys and their meanings. I would student to the Ohio-Pennsylvania Correspondence Tip like to give these to the class for their Small Craft Training College. As a boats. Please send me about 50 of teacher, I am sure that my experiences If you ordered subscriptions, these, if possible. there will be beneficial to my students. publications, and other items from the I think Art Michaels and his staff I also appreciated the opportunity to Fish Commission, and if you need to are doing a super job with Boat meet and discuss safety issues with correspond with the Fish Commission Pennsylvania. In addition to non-teaching aquatic professionals. about your order, be sure to include presenting interesting and colorful The first Ohio-Pennsylvania Small in your letter the 7-digit number on articles about Pennsylvania boating, it Craft Training College was a rousing the back of your cancelled check. This sells safe boating without preaching. I success, and I hope that this becomes number appears directly below the promote it every chance I get.— an annual event.—Gerry B. Sechrist, stamp,"Pay to the order of the state Malcolm McDonald. Pittsburgh, PA Lewisberry, PA treasurer." November'December 1986 19 outboards, typically those that are Chesapeake Bay operated with remote steering. How does a boater determine if his Conference rig is propped right? The dealer Workshops on fisheries, boating, usually sets up a rig with a good all- wildlife and water quality, bay around propeller. However, you may education, community water quality, purchase a second-hand rig or have to toxics, and new agriculture technology change props yourself sometime. will highlight the Pennsylvania What then? Chesapeake Bay Conference. The The Mercury Outboards boating conference will be held February 28, authorities say the best way is to 1987, at Gettysburg College, and it is choose a prop that permits the sponsored by the Pennsylvania outboard motor to run at the Thaddeus Piotrowski Department of Environmental manufacturer's recommended RPM Resources and the Chesapeake Bay level at wide-open throttle. This Named to Commission. information will appear in the owner's Boating Advisory Board For more details and registration guide. The instrument needed to materials, contact Pat Weiss at determine RPM is a tachometer. In Thaddeus "Ted" Piotrowski, of 717-236-1006. many cases, this device comes with the Bloomsburg, was named recently to outboard as standard instrumentation. the Boating Advisory Board by If it doesn't, buying a tach is a good Governor Dick Thornburgh. Prop Pointers investment. Mr. Piotrowski earned a bachelor Few pieces of hardware bedevil Not only does a tachometer confirm of science degree from California (PA) pleasure boaters as much as a that you have the correct prop, but it State Teachers College and a master's propeller. Everyone knows they're warns you of problems. For instance, degree from Penn State. Since 1971, important, but often there is a lot of a change in RPM may indicate that he has been active in the U.S. Coast confusion about which prop is the your boat bottom is fouled or that Guard Auxiliary. He has taught many right one for a particular rig. your prop has been damaged. boating safety and seamanship classes, Owners of small outboards, up to Whether you invest in a tachometer and he's supervised sailing classes. His about 40 horsepower, don't have or not, it's a good idea to have a spare leadership role in the Auxiliary much of a problem because the prop in case the one on your outboard includes his serving as public standard prop that comes with the is damaged. It's amazing how many education officer, membership engine works fine in most people who would never drive a car training officer, courtesy motorboat circumstances. But the selection gets without a spare tire regularly go out examiner, and flotilla commander. more complicated for bigger on the water without a spare prop.

Gifts order form (Please print clearly) QUANTITY PRICE TOTAL Ball cap — "Fish $5.00 Your name Pennsylvania" Ball cap — $5.00 Address Apt. "Pennsylvania Boater" City State Zip Fillet knife $18.75 "Paddle $1.00 Signature Pennsylvania" Account # if renewing Pennsylvania $3.00 Anglers' Gift card to read From Cookbook PLAY $2.00 TO memberships PA Angler $61$16 magazine Address Apt subscriptions City State Zip Boat PA $4/$11 magazine SUBTOTAL Publications Section subscriptions Pennsylvania Fish Commission Make checks payable to: Pennsylvania Fish Commission. Please use check P.O. Box or money order for remittance, and be sure your name and address appear 1673 both on this form and on your check. All prices include shipping and Harrisburg. PA 17105-1673 handling Send completed form with full payment to:

Art A,ItchaelS

Safety

Fueling

consider consider

fueling. fueling.

carelessness. carelessness.

vent vent

by by

boat boat

spark spark

can can

air, air,

when when Because Because

Most Most

Always Always

Virgil Virgil

it it

be be

fires. fires.

design, design,

can can

fueling fueling may may

more more

They They

this this

gasoline gasoline

boat boat

trigger trigger

Here Here

settle settle

Chambers

exercise exercise

winter winter

Common Common

explosive explosive

a a

poor poor

are are

fires fires

are are

boat—gasoline boat—gasoline

in in

an an

vapor vapor

caused caused

the the

so so

additional additional

maintenance, maintenance,

explosion.

occur occur

extreme extreme

that that

bilge. bilge.

than than

sense sense

is is

by by

heavier heavier

next next

just just

dynamite.

improper

Even Even

can can

ideas ideas

caution

season

vapors

after

than

pre-

and

one

to

• •

• • • •

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

gone, gone,

again again

clear clear

spout spout

spark spark

auxiliary auxiliary

the the

allow allow

away away gasoline gasoline

covered covered throw throw

is is

gasoline, gasoline, touch touch

dency dency

tainer tainer leaks. leaks.

tures tures

the the

the the

least least seeping seeping

line line

ings ings

it it Open Open

all all

light light

your your

weather weather

hatches. hatches.

water, water,

because because

well well

buildup buildup

motor, motor,

proof proof

nozzle nozzle

when when

ment ment

need need

produce produce Here Here

might might

Gasoline Gasoline

Close Close

When When

Check Check

your your

Always Always

Shut Shut

When When

Never Never

Try Try

Check Check

Prepare Prepare

Do Do

must must

compartments compartments

After After

boat boat

bilge bilge

tank tank

around around

on on

before before

five five

that that

boat.

the the

on on

are are

light, light,

and and

fans fans

start start for for

from from

for for

fueling. fueling.

to to

and and

or or

Tighten Tighten

all all it it

be be

and and

the the

to to

not not

safest safest

in in

while while

off off

and and

into into

all all

of of

board board

November/December November/December

fueling fueling

into into

loosen loosen

metal metal

be be

smoke smoke

a a

leave leave Let Let

filling filling

for for

the the

all all air air

and and

and and

motor motor

fueling, fueling,

must must

smoldering.

contact contact

10 10

heat. heat.

minutes. minutes.

leaks. leaks.

with with

expansion. expansion.

is is

fuel fuel doors, doors, tank. tank.

liquid liquid

remove remove

the the

static static

spark.

with with

shake shake

fuel fuel

the the

dirt dirt

outboard outboard

vapors vapors

windows, windows,

fill fill

use use

fueling. fueling.

stored, stored, motors motors

spark

your your

the the

fuel fuel

more more

of of

the the

refueling.

dock dock

the the

the the

in in

bilges. bilges.

air air

oil oil

everything everything

pouring. pouring.

container.

Extinguish Extinguish

entire entire

a a

be be

before before

in in motor.

fumes.

connections connections

Turn Turn

the the

spark

a a

can can

preventing preventing

them.

a a

tank, tank,

from from

pipe pipe

air air

Sniff Sniff

near near

electricity, electricity,

the the

vibrations vibrations

Be Be

boat.

boat boat

propane propane

lines lines

strainer/ strainer/

well. well.

-proof.

tank tank

engine engine

flashlight flashlight

into into

windows, windows,

with with

drawn drawn

a a

prevents prevents

fueling fueling

wipe wipe

when when

portable portable

from from

Use Use

blow blow

that that tank tank

ruin ruin

seal seal

separate separate

rag rag

Overcome Overcome

sure sure

When When

-proof -proof

off off

a a

and and

or or

a a

Store Store

doors, doors,

around around

gas gas

or or

fuel fuel

and and

nightfall. nightfall.

Then Then the the

a a

from from

only only

fueling fueling

pump, pump,

after after

low low

in in

This This

a a

possible. possible.

up up

tank tank

electric electric

could could

it it

through through

or or

separate separate

and and

open. open.

completely—

air air

gas gas

tips.

keep keep

and and

funnel. funnel.

tobacco tobacco

a a

tank.

motor.

connections

the the

vapors vapors

which which

in in

system system

extra extra

forced forced

tanks tanks

frequently,

and and

vapors vapors

fire fire

switches switches

or or

explosion

ports, ports,

all all

1986 1986

strain strain

and and

a a

use. use.

pockets pockets

approved

circulates

tanks.

gas gas

batteries.

a a

with with

keep keep

water. water.

prevents

gas gas

oil oil

the the

dock dock

another

the the

Closing

make make

aboard

spilled

tightly

If If

equip-

rough

Never

open-

could

for for

gaso-

lines,

from

Pour from

Grit,

mix-

tank

con-

can,

out.

into

that

and

ten-

you

are

for

the

the

to or

at

in

21

If

a - . ,

.; • .:47,-„.••". -* Pr ow Regulations ,1461) Are

go No 11( Made 11410tittoiAriANoci toodrid -flouomMtWOWNIlime

Fish Commission meetings are open to waters of the Commonwealth and

the public, as are Boating Advisory makes recommendations on proposed WaIke

Board meetings like the one pictured boating regulations. The 10-member Ted

here. The Boating Advisory Board Fish Commission makes regulations on by advises the Fish Commission on all fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, matters relating to boating on the along with regulations in other areas.

illustration

22 Boa: Pennsylvania by Dennis T. Guise includes two members at large with Getting public input particular expertise in boating matters, The procedures for consideration considered the new passenger carrying and review of proposed regulations boat rules and unanimously authorized may vary depending on the nature of hen you register their publication as a notice of pro- the proposal. The Fish Commission your boat, you re- posed rulemaking. The Commission's uses a variety of techniques to gain ceive a booklet that action did not mean that the commis- public input. The example concerns a contains a summary sioners had finally approved the new simple, noncontroversial regulation. If vy of Pennsylvania's boat- proposal; it meant only that they a proposal sparks widespread or intense ing regulations. Have you ever won- believed it was worthy of public review debate, the Commissioners may direct dered how these regulations are made? and comment. that public hearings be held, or they Have you ever had an idea fora boating The Fish Commission's chief counsel may take other steps to encourage regulation and wondered where to send and the Office of the Attorney General public participation. it? then reviewed the proposed regulation Often, public input is sought before a The General Assembly has entrusted for legal concerns, and the Office of proposed regulation is first drafted so the Pennsylvania Fish Commission Budget and Administration assessed its that your Fish Commission can take with broad authority to regulate fishing fiscal impact. After these required re- advantage of your ideas and concepts. and boating in Pennsylvania. The Com- views were completed, the proposed Do you have an idea for a needed mission's regulatory authority also ex- regulation was published as a notice of regulation? Why not send it in or tends to reptiles, amphibians,and other proposed rulemaking in Pennsylvania discuss it with your commissioner or aquatic organisms. The seasons, size, Bulletin on July 19, 1986, and public local waterways conservation officer? and creel limits with which all anglers comments and suggestions were in- Many Commission regulations, particu- are familiar, as well as the various rules vited. The Commission received two larly the special boating regulations on that boaters follow, are all Fish Com- public comments about the proposed specific waterways, are the direct result mission regulations. Violations of Fish regulation. of suggestions from interested boaters. Commission regulations are criminal The proposal, with changes authored What's the Fish Commission philo- offenses; violators are subject to fine or by staff in light of the public comments, sophy with regard to rules and regula- imprisonment. next goes back to the Boating Advisory tions? The fewer, the better. The Fish Board for a final look. After the Commission considers and adopts only Regulation proposal recommendations of the Boating Ad- those regulations that it finds necessary Let's trace the birth of a typical Fish visory Board are obtained, the Com- and appropriate for better fishing and Commission boating regulation. Boats mission is scheduled to vote on the boating in Pennsylvania. Read your carrying passengers for hire are subject revised proposal at its public meeting summary booklet and follow the rules to particular regulatory requirements. on October 20, 1986, in Johnstown. and regulations. Not only will you stay In early 1986, the staff of the Bureau of The newly adopted regulation will out of trouble, but you'll be helping to Waterways conducted a detailed review again be circulated for required legal provide better and safer boating for of the existing regulations on boats and technical reviews before publica- everyone. carrying passengers for hire and deter- tion in Pennsylvania Bulletin. The mined that they needed updating. A regulation will be able to take effect on first draft on some new regulations on the date of its final publication in the Dennis T Guise is the Fish Commis- passenger-carrying boats was prepared Bulletin. sion chief counsel. and circulated for staff comment. The proposal went through several drafts before the next step in the process. All regulations relating to boats and boating are reviewed and considered by the Commission's Boating Advisory Fish and Boat Code of 1980 Board. This board consists of 5 citizen members, appointed by the governor, as well as the executive director of the The Pennsylvania Fish Commission makes and enforces rules and Fish Commission, the assistant execu- regulations under the authority of the Fish and Boat Code of 1980. The Fish tive director for the Bureau of Water- and Boat Code is a direct descendant and consolidation of laws dealing with ways, and a representative of the fishing and boating that are more than a century old. Department of Environmental Re- The Pennsylvania Fish Commission has a proud tradition as an sources. The Boating Advisory Board independent body with a single-minded dedication to serving the anglers and reviewed the proposed regulation and boaters of Pennsylvania. The Fish Commission is an independent recommended approval at its March commission as a matter of state law,and its principal funding comes from the 1986 meeting. boaters and anglers of Pennsylvania. In April, the proposed regulation The Fish Commission listens to the anglers and boaters of Pennsylvania came before the 10 members of the Fish when it makes regulations and when it carries out its many other important Commission. The Commission, which functions.

November/December 1986 23 Choosing Summer Homes for Boats by Tom Reinke arinas are much The water and electrical service blowing parallel to the length of the more than places to should be checked closely. In some slip can make it impossible to stop park your boat. For instances, the voltage and amperage when pulling into the slip or many boaters they available on the docks cannot handle impossible to back out of a slip. M are departure points today's power-hungry boats, and in In some areas, security is an issue. for day-long or weekend adventures. other situations water faucets or Some marinas are equipped with For others they are places to escape pressure may be lacking. locking gates at the beginning of each to, a place to get away from it all. At a more subtle level, but equally dock, and others may have locks on They are also places to meet new important, are the construction and gates at driveway entrances or parking people, or exchange stories with the layout of the slips. The docks areas. Other factors that contribute to boating neighbors and friends. themselves should be safe and sturdy. security are the presence of a No two marinas are alike. Some They also should be level and even manager's residence on the property cater to motorboats more than with a surface rough enough to and the number of weekend or sailboats, and others are just the provide a grip when wet. The pilings summer live-aboards. opposite. Some are posh and should be sturdy and have pegs for expensive, while others are dominated holding docklines above the height of Fees by unpretentious smaller craft. the boat bows. The fees for a seasonal slip at most After you have rented slips at One of the nicest touches are finger marinas are based on the length of the several different marinas, you realize piers, narrow piers that extend a few boat. Generally, the longer the boat, that each has a personality of its own feet out from the dock between slips. the higher the fee. The basic charge and you begin to know what to look They are wonderful for boarding. includes the slip for the season, for to distinguish one from the other. They allow the crew to get on board usually defined as four to six months, It's possible to describe the physical from the side of the boat, the type of plus water and electrical service. This attributes to look for in a marina, but entry boats were designed for, rather means that the fellow without 110-volt often times that's not the whole than climbing over bow or stern service on his boat ends up paying the picture. What really sets one marina pulpits. same as the fellow a couple of slips apart from the other is the subjective The layout of the slips is equally down with every conceivable electrical or intangible part, the sense of important. In some marinas, slips at appliance including air conditioning. whether or not you like it, for the far end of the dock are considered In Pennsylvania, the lowest fees are whatever reason. best, while in other marinas slips found at the state-owned marinas, and Here are some ideas on the things closest to shore are sought after. On that helps to explain the long waiting to look for—the tangible part—but one hand, it can become a real chore lists at these facilities. the important part is up to you—to to walk the length of a 150-foot to Most marinas charge separate fees determine if you think the facility is 200-foot pier every time you want to for winter storage plus other services the right place for you and your boat. get to your car or the marina office. they provide, such as haul-out, On the other hand, if you occupy the launching, and any commissioning or Physical facilities first slip on a long pier, you can get winter lay-up services. Winter storage As in real estate, the most the feeling that there is a neverending may be on a flat rate, a monthly rate, important part of a marina is location. stream of people walking past you as or a monthly rate per foot. In For the most part, that means being you sit in the cockpit of your boat. addition to the storage, there may be close to your home and close to the The final consideration on the a fee for blocking the boat. waters you boat in. Sometimes it's not layout of the slips is direction of the Haul out and launching generally possible to achieve both of these prevailing winds and the presence of are priced by the foot and goals, and a trade-off is required. currents. For sailboaters and commissioning or lay-up services are Within that compromise, most motorboaters alike, strong winds can usually based on hourly rates. boaters tend to use their craft more if make docking and pulling into a slip a they are closer to home. treacherous maneuver. This is Marina life The physical facilities are the first particular true if the channel between Marinas tend to be quiet during the thing to look at. Obvious things like rows of slips is narrow. week and come alive on weekends. As showers and restroom facilities are Prevailing crosswinds can drive boating families arrive on Friday important. So is the availability of small boats into pilings or possibly night and Saturday morning, the pace fuel and ice as well as electrical and into other boats. For sailboats, which of activity quickens. The atmosphere water service out on the docks. may be under power, strong breezes becomes friendly, relaxing, and 24 Boat Pennsylvania sometimes even festive. elaborate schedule of events during type of boater they cater to and Each marina seems to have a the summer. Other marinas have no whether there is a club for slip renters. unique personality. To some extent, planned activities or organized That's a basic checklist of what to this personality is associated with the groups. look for in a marina. While all these type of boats berthed in the marina When selecting a marina, it makes things are important, they do not and the type of boating waters. A sense to try to get a reading for the equal the importance of the one factor small-boat marina in a popular fishing types of boaters who keep their boats that is the real reason for selecting one area will have a lot of fishermen in it. there. If you find a marina with marina over the other—the fact that A predominantly sailboat marina may groups of people with boating you like it. have a lot of racing sailors, and a interests similar to yours, the summers large marina with large and small will be much more enjoyable. One of motorboats and sailboats will have a the best ways of checking out a Tom Reinke writes the boating wide variety of people in it. marina is to visit it on a weekend and columnfor the Philadelphia Inquirer. Some marinas are well-organized talk with boaters there. It's also a He serves on Boat Pennsylvania's with their own yacht clubs and good idea to ask the manager what Editorial Advisory Committee. November!December 1986 25 by Frances Chase Courtsal hen my college class representative asked. on a form sent to all of us before reunion one time, what my favorite pastimes were. I was very tempted to list waving W from sailboats. Waving seems to me never to ha se had adequate consideration and respect. the first time I can recall seriously trying it. I s'as immediately reprimanded and gisen a firm restriction. That was by Jim Wales, a sailor who grew up in Marblehead and who has sailed around the world. Jim's rule was that no one in a sailboat waves to anyone in a motorboat. I tried faithfully to follow his instructions for a long time. After many years. I hase now discarded that one rule in favor of evaluating each situation on its own merits. Some of my most satisfying responses. as you shall see, have come from people on powered vessels of some sort. The circumstances and the nature of the communication between people have become of primars. importance to me. As a beginner. I was especially joyful with my waving because I do lose sailing and the water. Also. I didn't know how to do much else on board. With time I have come to value some waves over others. such as those to a skipper who has picked up a mooring while under sail, or after a well-executed jibe. I especially enjoy waving to another woman at the tiller of a passing boat. Sailing a Lightning Us with live numbers on the sail on Pymatuning. I wave w ith special enthusiasm to anyone who appears in a I.ightning with onls four numbers on the sail, and most especially so to anyone in an old-timer with onk three numbers on the sail. That might indicate the start of a long. successful sailing career. One summer when we were sailing from Block Island ith no mark due to be sighted until about noon. we waved at any boat that was out there. you can be sure. On that same trip, coming down the Connecticut River from Essex. we were followed by an ancient schooner sailed by a skilled young skipper with a motley young crew. We shared with them the experience of having the railroad bridge go up just at the last moment, which required a lot of jibing and such in a pool north of the bridge. Eventually. the wind direction was such that our jib was of no use and his great sail area brought him alongside and then on by us. just at the lighthouse at the end of the river. We did much waving. That kind of encounter makes up the bulk of one's experience in waving, and it represents a feeling of much comradeship.

et's consider for a moment this issue of exceptions to the L rule about motorboats. One day my husband. Don. and I were out in our four-meter, a 21-foot double-ended keel boat of a class briefly popular in Hingham Harbor. on Massachusetts Bay. The wind blew up pretty fresh my husband had a reputation then for never going out except when the small craft warnings were flying and the wind was coming right out of the mouth of Scituate Harbor, our home port then. The harbor entrance tends to shoal up so the waves can be 8 to 10 feet high. It must have taken us a dozen tacks. carrying only a storm trysail. to make the harbor entrance, a narrow one. Imagine our pride when a lobster man who passed us, one of a group notorious for ignoring the existence of any form of pleasure boat. waved to us! In the Florida Keys we found it virtually a necessity to wave to motorboats because one encounters so few sailboats. We certainly turned our backs haughtily on those amazing Amazonian vessels, which, before the fuel

•••••••=8111111.111m,-- 1le 1' shortage, churned along in such great numbers, oblivious to not for long. The man in the stern was obviously a very all others, and caused us to pitch about, haughtily. But sensitive and responsive human being. He would not do in many times we waved to skippers of motorboats who his partner in the kayak by interrupting their admirable made an obvious effort to slow down and avoid causing rhythm, but he did not neglect to respond to me. He such discomfort. These skippers consistently responded to a nodded and bowed gloriously from the waist, and never wave with enormous enthusiasm, perhaps because we altered his timing with the paddle. Waving brings you in appreciated their thoughtfulness, maybe because they were contact with many fine people. ex-sailors themselves, perhaps because there's not much else Racing caused me another embarrassment and produced to do in a day on one of those boats. At least they picked a one warning: Be tactful when tacking. Once in a race I nice way to pass the time. spotted the child of a friend, who I had not seen for a long Also on the trip in the Florida Keys 1 got a lot of rather time, crewing on a boat we were trading tacks with. When odd waves in a very short time. We had sailed 30 miles that we were close enough I waved enthusiastically. The girl day, starting from Plantation Key and ending at the Ocean waved back happily but the skipper glared icily at me. I had Reef Club, on the ocean side of Key Largo. After the waved after we crossed his bow. Very bad form! passage by power under the bridge for US 1, we found that the main halyard had gotten hooked on a light platform, so he day after the long sail to the Ocean Reef Club was my husband had been forced to shimmy up the mast—not a TI the day of one of my most unusual waving experiences. pleasant experience for anyone aboard then. The day ended We were sailing from Adams Key to Elliott Key and things with a race with the sun while the dinghy made every effort were getting a bit slow with a light breeze. Far up in the sky to swamp if it couldn't get loose, not being pleased by any I saw a jet plane. My husband told me it was an F-104 on a arrangement of its painter. Very annoying and time- training flight. Just for amusement I waved. Imagine my consuming! A chartered 26-foot sloop, ours was certainly astonishment when the plane clearly waved from side to the shortest and possibly the last sailboat to arrive there side—a sort of rocking motion while zooming straight that day. And I was bloody tired. ahead. My husband estimated that it was flying at about As we powered along a pier to our assigned space, many 3,000 feet. A moment later the pilot turned and came back people on the various boats tied to the pier were, to put it toward us, and to our neverending amazement, swooped bluntly, staring at us. One woman was doing the dishes, one down very low, less than 100 feet above the water and going was mixing cocktails, many were just looking out the about 250 miles per hour. Did we wave! Ours was the only window and doing nothing else. I waved to each as we boat in the area and his the only plane. Soon he turned and passed by. went very high over head, again waving from side to side. It is for sure that timing in waving is a subtle and To our further astonishment he came back again at about significant element, and my waves at that point were timed the same height, always being careful to stay well away to be just a bit defiant, I must admit. I got a startled look from us to avoid mixing with our mast or even, heaven from each one and also eventually from each one a wave. forbid, our shrouds. When he turned for the third time, I One old duffer was standing at the end of a road at a ramp, had the wit to hop down the companionway, grab the all done up in cap and blazer and white ducks,just camera from its hook and get a picture of him, which I had looking at us in an aloof fashion. I waved to him, and he to shoot from under our boom. Now, that's waving! wasn't even on a boat . . . I certainly caught him by It is no doubt significant that I was wearing a red jacket surprise. After due consideration, he apparently decided it that day. Foul weather gear in something like high-visibility could be a worse breach of etiquette to fail to wave when orange would serve the same advantage, I'm sure. No waved to, than to wave to a perfect stranger, so he gave me proper sailor will go out without lots of special equipment, a carefully rationed wave. you all know, but that is the only special equipment I can think of that I would recommend for anyone with a serious ow that I think of it, I realize that was not the only time interest in waving. N I waved to people on land. The entrance to Great Salt I have to admit that I do not have a perfect response Pond on Block Island is narrow. My husband, the type to score. I recall once in the Virgin Islands I waved and was use about five gallons of gas in two weeks of sailing, spurned. Perhaps I had gotten too casual because the naturally entered that harbor for the first time under sail. In natives take such delight in their boat-handling skills and in addition, our 13-year-old son was at the tiller for the first going fast—indeed in a great many things, even off the half of the entrance. The whole thing was making me water. The unfailingly wave with gusto when one waves to decidedly nervous—it is much healthier to work than to sit them in passing. But once entering Little Harbor on Peter and watch, so I turned to waving and had a jolly wave with Island we passed the Peter Island launch, which apparently two women who were out on a point watching the boats had delivered important guests to the Chubb house there. pass in and out. They couldn't have been more than 100 The blond man, with rigid posture, standing up at the helm, feet from us. chose not to respond to my wave. No wonder that Salt water is not a requirement either for successful Norwegian bunch eventually had to sell out. waving. I waved happily to two people in a kayak on When one considers that life on earth apparently is an Pymatuning not too many years ago. We were racing our electro-chemical accident but nevertheless has existed in Lightning in a drifter. Being second crew, I had less than specifically human form for well over a million years, such nothing to do. Fortunately for me, two people passed in a distinctions seem more than faintly absurd. Why not enjoy kayak. I waved but immediately realized that neither one our brief moment on earth and share that could let go of a paddle to wave back. I really felt bad, but joy? I, for one, shall continue to wave. • 28 Boai Pennsylvania Thieves are Eyeing Your Boat, Motor, and Trailer by Art Michaels

oats, motors, and trailers until I'm ready to load the gear in the morning and after dark, so a thief are easy to steal. They're boat at the ramp. parks next to your trailer, unhooks it often unprotected, Another way to ensure the safety of from your vehicle and attaches it to unguarded, and out in the your equipment, and to aid in its his, and drives off. He knows it's Bopen at homes, launch recovery if it's ever stolen, is to take it likely hours until you'll discover the sites, and winter storage areas. to a local law enforcement agency, many crime, and even then, unless a phone Small boats, motors, and trailers of which will inscribe your name and is nearby, it may take hours longer to are the most frequently stolen items other identifying marks on your report the theft. because they can be carried off more equipment for free. Don't become a victim of this quickly than larger, heavier gear. crime. Lock the trailer tongue to your Whether your rig is at home in the At the ramp, parking lots vehicle's hitch ball. Sure, any lock can yard or driveway, parked at the When you arrive at the ramp and eventually be broken, but if a thief launch ramp, or stored for the winter, launch your boat, your trailer is needs any more than two or three thieves could be casing out your probably the easiest item to steal. minutes to steal something, he'll likely equipment, waiting for the moment to Launch ramp parking lots are choose another target. strike. Here are ideas on how to foil frequently deserted because everyone You will find a trailer lock for this them, and how to keep your hard- is on the water, especially early in the purpose for less than $8 in many earned boat, motor, trailer, and other gear safe.

On the road While you're traveling to and from the launch ramp, keep all gear out of the boat, or if your boat has lockable storage compartments, use them. When you stop for gas or food, any passerby could lift a lose, visible item from your boat quickly and quietly, and you may not discover its loss until you're miles away from the scene of the theft, hours later. Be sure that none of your equipment is visible in transit. To ensure the safety of your gear even further while you're on the road, never leave your rig unattended, even for the shortest coffee break. While traveling, I use a gear bag for

all the items I put in the boat at the Michaels launch site. This equipment includes a Art liquid crystal display depth recorder, a The lock shown here is best used to lock the trailer hitch to the vehicle hitch VHF radio, and binoculars, all of ball. In this way, a thief has a difficult time stealing your trailer vthile you're which are small but expensive items. fishing. Notice that there's little room near the locking hole. The lock is made The bag stays locked in the car trunk so that using a saw to remove the lock is difficult.

November!December 1986 29

$10.400V UV

are are

enticement enticement

secure, secure, attached.

or or

is is

safe safe

most most

lock lock

damages damages

can't can't

Motors

your your

each each

the the hitch hitch

of of

best best

from from

is is

support support

car car

Still, Still, vandalism, vandalism,

wire wire

with with

may may cavity cavity than than

one one

another another the the

for for

will will

put put

thief thief

into into

tongue tongue

Lock Lock locking locking

is is

it's it's

coupler coupler

lifting lifting lock lock

catalogs.

idea idea

placed placed

padlock padlock ball. ball.

marine marine

manipulated manipulated

However, However,

properly properly

Small Small

time-consuming.

Considering Considering

While While

You You

not not

pickup, pickup,

the the Another Another

When When

If If

Instead Instead

actually actually

a a

wheels wheels

locked locked

trunk. trunk.

tow tow

the the

force force

trailer trailer

while while choice choice

the the

the the

a a

not not

between between the the

trailer, trailer,

time time cases, cases,

$16. is is

take take

the the

The The

could could

removing removing

clean clean stealing stealing ball.

Company, Company,

axle axle

as as

completely. completely.

the the

padlock. padlock.

a a

could could

securely securely

to to

isn't isn't

wheel wheel

supply supply

the the

vehicle, vehicle,

coupler coupler

that that

lock lock

is is

motors motors

tongue tongue

see see hitch hitch

you you

thief thief

accomplishes accomplishes coupler coupler

secure secure

your your

your your

lock lock

thieves thieves

use use

the the

you you

you're you're

and and

trailer trailer

Of Of

the the

of of

from from

bulky bulky

closed, closed,

for for

locked. locked.

and and

wheel wheel

for for

getaway getaway

and and

a a

still still

way way

coupler coupler very very

be be

attached attached

it it

take take side side

thief thief

that that

a a

also also

easily easily

the the

course, course,

trailer trailer

the the

your your

could could

back back

lock lock

ball. ball.

and and

trailer trailer

trailer.

a a

park park

prevents prevents

the the

that's that's

keeping keeping

stores stores

sure sure

trailer trailer

a a

lock lock

rig rig

taking taking

as as

on on

This This

to to

of of

isn't isn't

turning, turning,

thief thief to to

you you

easy easy

and and

on on

closed closed this this

tongue.

and and

to to wheel wheel

wheels wheels

of of

coupler coupler

steps steps

covers covers

run run

simply simply

the the

locking locking

alternatives, alternatives,

dissuade dissuade

about about

If If

Made Made

may may

the the

a a

trailer trailer

the the

Lock Lock

made made

on, on,

for for

at at

closed closed

look look

your your

still still the the

the the

with with

the the

easily easily

even even

strategy strategy

hooked hooked

hitch hitch may may

is is

your your

lock lock

can't can't

and and to to

to to

lock lock

if if

you you

lock, lock,

tongue tongue

heavy

a a

the the

the the

trailer trailer

tow tow

cutting. cutting.

not not

your your to to

could could

but but

anyone anyone

your your

on on

not not

axle axle

water water

launch launch

the the

wire wire

steal, steal,

steal steal

on on

and and

the the

but but

elsewhere.

tow tow for for

your your 20hp 20hp

by by

unscrews lock lock

is is

want want

have have

mail-order

sells sells

safeguard

same same

more

trailer trailer

thing thing

the the

it it

ball. ball.

until until

be

while while

the the

a a

this this

hooked hooked

vehicle's

each each

-gauge

realize realize

to to

a a

hitch hitch

in in

Master

trailer

coupler

until until

a a

the the

trailer trailer

in in

up up

good

tongue

all, all,

can't can't

prevents

your your

invite

vehicle

thief

too. too.

is is

coupler

trailer.

hole hole

remove

thief

for for

or or

hitch

to

your the

The

from

to to

tactic

ramp

Still,

place

he

thing.

and

to

off

trailer

the

side

a

is

less

ball

you

use

less

In

car

he

be

to

to

is

cost cost

engine.

the the

This This

small small

use use

that that

so so

key, key,

lug lug

a a

thieves thieves difficult.

with with

a a and and

is is and and Props throughout throughout

the the

against against

protecting protecting

remove remove

engine engine

engine engine to to

prop prop

the the

thief thief

small small

devices devices easily easily transom transom

the the

this, this,

prop, prop, buy buy remove remove

are are if if

the the using using

you you

work work

basement. basement.

your your

bracket. bracket.

when when

boat's boat's bracket. bracket.

holding holding

puts puts

stainless stainless

highly highly

you you

not not

The The

Similarly, Similarly,

You You

The The

In In

Inspect Inspect

At At

You're You're

the the

that that

lock lock

a a

prop prop

long long stolen stolen

engine engine

gas gas

road, road,

store store

a a

to to

at at

about about

fits fits

and and

a a

lock lock

but but

it it

any any

can't can't

rig rig

custom-made custom-made

with with

home home

for for

the the keyed keyed

lock lock

engine engine

stand stand

you you

uncommon, uncommon,

with with

can can

mounting mounting transom transom

key, key,

the the preventive preventive

carry carry

in in

to to

to to

problem problem

put put

can can

moving moving

engine engine

line, line,

sold sold

a a

the the

your your

the the

for for

unattended unattended

visible visible

The The

forget forget

all all

A A

bolt bolt

off off

when when

case, case,

you.

transom transom

small small

his his

making making

the the

vulnerable vulnerable

its its

works works

it it

surprising surprising

your your

steel steel

use use

more more

lock lock

unscrew unscrew

If If

launch launch $20.

your your

from from

it it

this this

the the

thief thief

take take

but but

long long

during during

in in

the the

the the

hub hub

mount mount

lock, lock,

with with

to to

without without

lifts lifts

if if

some some

transom transom

to to

from from

car car

your your

engine engine

engine's engine's

that that

boat boat

a a

a a

theft theft

you you

the the

lock lock

you you

lock lock

lock lock

engine engine

don't don't

you you

lock lock

it. it.

it it

the the

it it

engine engine

prop prop

thief thief

winter, winter,

prop prop

than than

with with

padlock padlock

can can

locked locked

the the

your your like like

caps. caps.

trunk. trunk.

bracket.

bolt bolt

it it

wheels wheels

to to

around around

stops stops

called called

method method

connects connects

site.

engine engine

It's It's

from from

theft theft

distance, distance,

and and mount. mount.

best best

off off

the the

spent spent

securely securely

engine. engine.

the the

use use

prop. prop.

can can

untouched,

is is

an an

transom, transom, in in

and and

your your

is is

still still

while while an an

speed.

in in

does does

removing removing

or or

protecting protecting

always always

other other

is is

that that

unprotected

a a

mounting

propeller propeller

never never

You You

the the

then then

carefully carefully

from from

season season

place, place,

a a

engine engine

insurance

well motor motor

it's it's

the the

simple. simple.

garage garage

along along

Small Small

automobile

other other must must

"Prop-lok,"

still still

is is

the the

for for

easily easily

to to

chain chain

device device

a a

is is

isn't isn't

These These

boat boat

for

then then

that that

holds holds

boat, boat,

you're you're

If If

also also

bundle bundle

-practiced

same same

can't can't

Prop Prop

items.

the the

chain chain

too too

removed

in in

the the

build build

mounting

run run

to to

the the

work. work.

you you

save save

if if

custom

the the

detaches

from from

and

engines

too

to to

place.

the

or

without

the the

remove

leave

engine

might

is

Buy Buy

wise wise you

shaft.

big big

engine

like a

to to

and

locks

the

boat

the

get

theft

way

a

can,

on

the

way,

or

the

on

see

nut

for

A

the

a

to

casing casing

equipment. equipment.

the the tried tried

and and

the the

your your

of of

a a

where where safeguarding safeguarding

sure sure

money money

of of

and and one one

is is gear? gear?

and and

serial serial

then then steal, steal,

my my

the the ready ready

numbers numbers Lock Lock

place. place. stealing stealing

home, home,

your your

boat boat

foot foot

If If

secure, secure,

cartop cartop register register

trailer.

you you

powered powered

powered powered

not not boat boat

If If

quietly quietly

thief thief

boats boats

your your

Small Small

vulnerable vulnerable

padlock padlock

boats, boats,

theft, theft,

Those Those

not not

The The

I I

you you In In

Thieves Thieves

the the Finally, Finally,

you you

One One

your your

At At

street. street.

boat boat

numbers numbers

12

remember remember

registered. registered.

do do wheel. wheel.

never never

trailer trailer

it's it's

you you

to to

to to

it it

boat, boat,

addition, addition, outside, outside,

theft theft

trailer trailer can can

small small

the the

they they

-footer -footer

I I

numbers numbers

home, home,

for for

visible visible

because because

driveway, driveway,

If If

you you

out out

same same the the

have have

use use

kayaks, kayaks,

takes takes

to to

couldn't couldn't

it, it,

way way

so so

then then

on on

you you

steal steal

own own

14

best best

your your

boats

November! November!

either either

could could

you you

to to

days days

small small

have have

written written

boat.

coupler coupler

carry carry

the the

or or

-foot -foot

burn, burn,

once once

No No

is is

other other

without without

your your

an an

live, live,

if if

another another

prefer prefer

prefer prefer

motor, motor,

within within

You You

because because

boat boat

your your

What What

at at

to to

to to

won't won't

to to

strategies strategies

a a

to to

small small

gear.

longer longer

place place

it, it,

from from

you you

ever ever

on on

your your

boat, boat,

upside upside

road.

engine, engine,

park park

locks, locks,

are are

these these

the the thief thief

they they

when when

store store

your your

prevent prevent

So So

no no

be be

and and

store store

of of

off off boats boats

so so

register register

semivees semivees

either.

did did

take take

rig rig

could could

either, either,

paper—one paper—one

list list

is is

in in

trailer. trailer.

down down

to to

to to

had had

closed, closed,

gone gone

if if

stolen. stolen.

need need a a

your your

impede impede

launch launch

matter matter

trailer, trailer, another another

unless unless

the the

trailer trailer

it it

a a

to to

boats boats

December December

looking looking

it it

but but trailer.

right right

plain plain

are are

it it canoes canoes

they they will will

someone someone

steal steal

to to

half-hour, half-hour,

boat boat

work work

in in

important

your your

down down

small small

no no

I I

quickly quickly

steps steps

your your

under under

and and

chain chain

occur occur

to to

you you

used used

do do

for for

street.

get get

my my

the the

them them

until until

in in

harder harder many many

no no

boat, boat,

your your

safeguards,

have have

If If

produce produce

are are

such such

now? now?

and and

sight sight

or or or or

you you

unregistered No No

at at

what what

site site

trailer trailer

and and

canoes canoes

both, both,

an an

in in

have have

rig rig

the the

protecting

to to

the the

the the

wallet. wallet.

theft theft

matter boat boat

deterrent deterrent

on on

are

at at

to to

a a

it it

to to

home.

remove

your

light. light.

the the

I I

1986 1986

and

list list

non

to to

one one

accessible

john

difficulty

motor,

protect

light,

were

non

where where

have

with with

work work

your

as as

store

wrote recovery

the the

other

trailer trailer from

rig

to to

could

me me

thieves

to

but

easily,

report

of

dark.

at

and

-

12

are

ever

-

trace.

the

11

side

Be

that

A

a

-

for

it

to

is 31 ATCH HESE GIFTS! Ball caps Choose from two kinds — "Fish Pennsylvania" and "I'm a Pennsylvania Boater." These hats feature high- quality mesh with rugged denim. The fishing cap has a handy license holder on the left side. One size fits all, with convenient plastic-pegged adjustment.

, Fillet knife ---;-))))))/ Here's a fillet knife for the discriminating angler-chef. The 6-inch stainless steel blade extends through a handle of ivory-colored Delrin, which is contoured for a firm grip. Embedded in clear acrylic in the handle is the inscription "PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION — Established 1866," and the familiar Fish Commission keystone logo appears on the handle. This knife is a utensil of quality. Paddle Paddle Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Section-by-section detailed descriptions of some COB 18 Pennsylvania waterways highlight this publication, a fifl-' 1 36-page guide for all Keystone State canoeists. In additio you'll find useful information on canoe safety, planning

(I„ trips, camping, and white water. Each waterway is divided into numbered sections, keyed to the map, with detailed descriptions. • ,4 Pennsylvania Anglers' Cookbook This 168-page Commission classic belongs in every angler's kitchen. You'll find a thorough treatment of every aspect of fish cookery with recipes for everything from bass to walleye. The book also contains the details on smoking, pickling, canning, and freezing fish, and special chapters include information on preparing frogs, snakes, PonasOrsola mussels, and turtles. Two special sections have recipes for batters and sauces. All recipes and other preparations were solicited from Pennsylvania Angler readers. PLAY membership The Pennsylvania League of Angling Youth (PLAY) is a educational program specifically designed for youngsters. Members receive a colorful jacket patch, a quarterly newsletter, special Fish Commission publications, and

Keysgo,•52.• access to the PLAY Correspondence Center. V Pennsylvania Angler, Boat Pennsylvania subscriptions Pennsylvania's official fishing and boating magazines let you give the gift of year-round fishing and boating fun. Both magazines offer first-hand information on Pennsyl- vania waterways, rules and regulations that affect your sport, where to find the best action, and how to improve your skills. An announcement card will be sent to gift subscription recipients. You have a boating The order form for these gifts friend in Pennsylvania appears on page 20

Mom., dintItte51 -r4. 111Mmai...