TOP OFF
THE GAS TANK OF YOUR BOAT
Whether we like to admit it or not, it is time
to get our boat ready for what we refer to as
“the off-season.” With any fuel that sits in a
tank for a long time, it is important to add a
stabilizer. But the stabilizer does not prevent
‘phase separation’ of the fuel. Once this
occurs, additives and water separators can’t
help. If you have to store gas over the winter
in a portable tank, keep the tank out of the sun
and in a well ventilated area away from ignition
sources, keeping in mind that gasoline fumes are
heavier than air. Next spring when you start
the boating season you will already have a tank
full of gas. Not a bad way to kick off the
season!
MICHIGAN STUDENTS LEARNING THE LAKES
Stand on the banks of the Clinton River on a
weekday morning or afternoon and you will see
the “Clinton Friendship” cruising down the
river. You may hear the sound of young
enthusiastic voices on the bow of the boat.
Classroom teachers have brought their students
on a field trip to learn more about the Clinton
River, Lake St. Clair, and the Great Lakes. The
Great Lakes Education Program is designed to
provide students, targeting 4th grade, with
hands-on activities aboard ship as well as pre
and post activities in the classroom. Before
the field trip, students study topics such as
the water cycle, food chains, Great Lakes
geography, water uses, and groundwater. While
aboard, the boat students participate in eight
different stations led by MSU extension staff
and volunteers. These activities include
navigation, marlinespike, plankton studies,
bottom sampling, weather, dissolved oxygen,
carbon dioxide, turbidity, and water
temperature. Samples of aquatic plants and
organisms collected during the activities are
sent back to the classroom for further study and
discussion. Ask a student whose been on the
cruise what they think of it and they will tell
you they had a lot of fun and learned lots of
new things. The Great Lakes Education Program
is sponsored by the Macomb Michigan State
University Extension and Michigan Sea Grant.
For more information, call the MSU Extension at
586-469-6430.
STOP THIEF
Lower units and propellers are easy to steal, so
you will want to protect your boat by storing it
in well-lit and well-trafficked areas, and
installing prop, sterndrive or outboard locking
nuts from marine security companies. These
units are designed with a free-spinning collar
that turns if attacked by quipping tools without
first being loosened with the key.
FREE SAILING RACE INFORMATION
This free newsletter will improve your racing
results. If you are interested in learning more
about how to sail fast, don’t miss this new
monthly newsletter called “Speed and Smarts”.
This informative 12 page publication is packed
full of practical, hands-on tips about strategy,
boatspeed, tactics, rules and more. Whether you
are a crew or skipper, this newsletter will help
you sail smarter. To receive a free issue, mail
your name and address to: Speed and Smarts, PO
Box 435 Easton, CT 06612.
HELP YOUR DIET ALONG
While calorie cutting and exercising do help you
drop pounds, you are bound to hit a plateau
after six months. Your body adjusts to your new
habits, so it needs fewer calories to function.
But don’t let this frustrate you. Instead, use
these tips to keep off the weight you have
lost. Walk farther: Experts say 90 minutes of
daily activity can help you avoid regaining
weight. Seek support: Dieters who visit chat
rooms or meet monthly with others keep off more
weight. Join a site like
www.weightlossbuddy.com or talk in person
with friends who are also dieting.
THANKS TO THE JAIL INMATES
Cutting trees and limbs out of the Clinton River
was fun for inmates of the Macomb County Jail.
The cleanup effort is focusing on a site in
North Clinton River Park – located between Van
Dyke and Clinton River Road near the M – 53
expressway in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
Inmates usually help the We Are Here Foundation
twice a year and we tip our hats their way for
the fine efforts.
LIVING IT UP
What is better than relaxing beside the ocean at
a luxury resort, being waited on hand & foot
with a cool beverage at your side? How about
doing the same thing aboard a megayacht for
about $780,000 per week? The converted 400 foot
cruise ship “Alexander” has accommodations
aplenty, with 27 staterooms that could entertain
you and your entourage of 80. There is also a
27 seat cinema that doubles as a video-equipped
conference room. It also offers four tenders, a
pair of PWCs, and an outdoor bar, swimming pool,
and Jacuzzzi. WOW!
COSTLY SUPER BOWL ADS
General Motors Corp. will not spend any money
advertising in the next Super Bowl game in
February 2009. They are in the midst of a broad
restructuring that involves cutting expenses by
$10 Billion. The top five Super Bowl
advertisers from 1988 – 2007 are: Anheuser–Busch
$274 million; Pepsico $193 million; General
Motors $77 million; Time Warner $68 million; and
Walt Disney $51 million.
BOTTOM LINE
It may be true that man does not live by bread
alone, but look at those getting along on the
crust.
