September/October 1984 80C Pennsylvania Sailing page 4 Canoeing page 8 Kayaking page 13 Water Skiing page 28 Powerboating pages 16, 26 The Keystone State's Official Magazine for Canoeists, Kayakers, Powerboaters, Rafters, Sailors, and Water Skiers WEARING PFDs Before the 1930s, the so-called life jacket was no more than a bulky, uncomfortable device found in life rafts aboard seagoing vessels. In 1932 the Fish Commission enacted its first motorboat regulation concerning equipment requirements, stating that motorboats "should be equipped with fire extinguishers, and life preservers sufficient in number to take care of the capacity of the boat." In 1971 the life preserver requirement was extended to include nonpowered craft. This regulation was certainly a major step in water safety, but it still did not ensure that the capsized and overboard boater would stay afloat in an emergency. Most boaters still found the devices cumbersome and chose not to wear them. Even though the law states that most boats need only carry the device aboard for each person, the evidence is clear—we most strongly encourage all boaters to wear their PFDs. Pennsylvania boating fatality statistics, which match Coast Guard data, suggest that 85 percent of those who died in boating accidents would not have perished if they had been wearing a PFD. Furthermore, visitors to the Harrisburg headquarters, who take a look at the boating accident data, depart with the firm conviction that they will from now on wear their PFDs, not just have them available in their boats. The Fish Commission is dedicated to maximizing optimum boating opportunities in Pennsylvania, but the Commission also regards wearing a PFD an essential ingredient in that pursuit. Ralph W. Abele Executive Director Pennsylvania Fish Commission SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1984 VOL. 1 NO. 3 The Cover Pennsylvania powerboaters enjoy Lake Wallenpaupack on this month's front cover, photographed by Don Carey. For practical information that all powerboaters may BOAT to page 26. eventually need to know, turn Pennsylvania"! Over the Bounding Erie Main with MORC by Dave Heitzenrater The Midget Ocean Racing Club(MORC) is alive and well and competing in Erie 4 Paddle Your Own Canoe—and Portage it, too! by CliffJacobson You don't have to have Charles Atlas to portage your canoe, but you do have to lift and carry it sensibly. Here's how 8 The Eskimo Roll by Leann R. Diehl Here are the step-by-step procedures for learning this Buying page 24 difficult but essential kayaking maneuver 13 A Rescue Line for Small Boats by Charlie Walbridge Here's the lowdown on buying or making your own Racing page 4 throw-line device 16 Consider Design and Technique in Purchasing a Canoe by Greg Proteau Canoes are designed and built to do some things better than others. Let this information help you match your needs to what's currently available 24 Towing by Virgil Chambers Sooner or later, most boaters give or receive a tow Follow this advice so your towing proceeds without Rescuing page 18 hitches 26 Learn to Barefoot Waterski the Easy Portaging page 8 Way by Jack Davis Viewpoint 2 The author describes the latest advances in technology Currents 20 and gear that let you best learn this difficult Safety 20 technique 28 Mall 21 Susquehanna Enchantment Calendar 22 by Ron Frymire Come along with the author on one of Pennsylvania's STAFF Rolling page 13 most scenic float trips 29 Editor / Art Michaels Graphics / Ted Welke Pennsylvania Fish Commission Boating Advisory Photographer / Russ Gettig Board Circulation / Eleanor Mutch Ross J. Huhn, President Staff Assistant / Jayne Povleski Saltsburg Clayton Buchanan, Chairman Marilyn A. Black. Vice President Pittsburgh POSTMASTER: Send 3579 forms to Pennsylvania Meadville Nicholas Apfl Fish Commission, P.O. Box 1673, Harrisburg, PA Fairless Hills 17105-1673. Pennsylvania Angler (ISSN0031-434X). Walter F. Gibbs Theodore T. Metzger 01984 is published monthly. Second class postage paid at Titusville Johnstown Charles Chattaway Harrisburg. PA. Subscription rates: one year. $5: three Monongahela Leonard A. Green Joan R. Plumly years.$14: single copies are 80e each. For subscription and Sherwood Krum change of address.contactAngler Circulation.Pennsylvania Carlisle Jenkintown Commission. P.O. Box Harrisburg, PA 17105- Fish 1673. Calvin J. Kern Jerome E. Southerton Hawley 1673. Address all other correspondence to: The Editor.Penn- Leon Lyon sylvania Angler, P.O. Box 1673. Harrisburg.PA 17105-1673. Whitehall Honesdale The authors views, ideas, and advice expressed Robert L. Martin J. Wayne Yorks Bellefonte in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official position of the Pennsylvania Fish Bellefonte Benton Commission or its staff. g• Over the Bounding Erie Main with MORC •0 41111W photos by the author een sailing competition and fun describe the MORC fleet based at the Erie Yacht KClub. MORC(pronounced mar-see) is the Midget Ocean Racing Club, an international organization that promotes handicap racing for sailboats up to 30 feet in length. MORC currently has more than 70 active stations throughout the United States and Canada. Presque Isle Station 31 was granted its charter in 1972 to serve eastern Lake Erie and currently has over 60 regular members. The station sponsors 28 to 30 races each year, which are held in the protective waters of Presque Isle Bay and in the open waters of Lake Erie. The races vary in length, including five nautical- mile bay races, 15 nautical-mile lake triangles, and 42 nautical-mile races to various Lake Erie ports, such as Ashtabula, Ohio; Port Dover, Ontario; and Dunkirk, New York. Several races begin in the evening and continue throughout the night. SeptemberlOctober 1984 5 Port Dover Series and the United States in this highly mile olympic course race; and a long One of the highlights of the season competitive fleet. distance race of approximately 100 is the annual Port Dover Series. It Several yacht manufacturers were miles. The regatta concluded with begins with the pre-dawn blast of the represented with boats and crews, as social events and an awards dinner. starting gun on a cool mid-June well as numerous sailmakers, all of We welcome sailing competitors morning, as the yachts, ranging from whom were hoping to be able to claim and other interested persons and a Catalina 22 to a C&C 30, head east victory for their boats and sail sailing enthusiasts to join us at our from Presque Isle Bay and north to designs. events. Canada. Some 10 or 12 hours later Northwestern Pennsylvania was the boats finish the race in Long Point well represented with seven boats Dave Heitzenrater is secretary' Bay and rendezvous at the Port Dover racing from Erie, several of which treasurer of MORC Presque Isle Yacht Club. The Series continues on were using sails designed and Station 31 in Erie. He served as Saturday with a 15-mile lake race and constructed in Erie by Bierig station commodore in 1980. Dave concludes Sunday with the return trip Sailmakers. competes regularly in the Midget to Erie. Generally, a good time is had The International Regatta consisted Ocean Racing Club's events in his J24 by all, except for those who may have of five races held on Lake Erie: three Blackwatch, and he's sailed all over navigated too close to a long, narrow I2-mile olympic course races; one 25- Lake Erie. sand bar in mid-Lake Erie known as Long Point, Ontario. Year-round activities Although the racing ends, Station MORC Sailboats 31 does not stop its activities in November. Education and outdoor MORC boats range from about 20 may soon take a back seat as state-of- activities continue throughout the feet to 30 feet in overall length, and the-art sails are made of mylar, kevlar year. In the past, the station has carry a skipper and crew numbering and dynac. conducted seminars on topics such as from three to eight men and women. Some of the owners spare no understanding the racing rules, the A typical 24-footer has a maximum expense or effort in preparing their design and development of sails and beam of about nine feet with draft of crafts for racing. Most crews spend sail cloth, fundamental racing tactics, four feet and displaces 3,200 pounds several hours wet sanding the boat weather forecasting, sail selection, and including a I,000-pound lead keel. A bottom to a mirrored finish, which trim. The station has also sponsored competitive 30-footer displaces up to has been previously painted with a lectures and programs by various 8,000 pounds with a 3,200 pound keel graphite-based antifouling paint. A sailmakers and national sailing figure, having a draft of six feet. An few skippers have even changed the Gary Jobson, tactician aboard Ted ultralight displacement boat(ULDB) size, weight, and shape of their keels. Turner's Courageous, as well as 30 feet long displaces as little as 3,600 Some have added or removed internal sponsoring social events and trips to pounds with a I,800-pound fin keel ballast, lengthened and added carbon out-of-town boat shows. for ballast. Some of these boats carry fibers to their mast and spreaders, and The international and local well over 1,000 square feet of sail believe it or not, taken a saw and organization promote safety when under spinnaker. shortened their boats by two or three throughout the year by requiring These boats are generally feet. These are extreme cases. About safety equipment, which generally constructed of fiberglass, but some of 95 percent of the boats are standard exceeds the standard U.S. Coast the hi-tech designs use several layers fiberglass cruising boats that are raced Guard requirements, and the of wood veneer saturated with epoxy, as they are produced by the organizations also requires boat design especially designed for this purpose.