Richard J Fachini

Published: Saturday, March 24, 2012 7:00 am
By: Richard J Fachini

DON'T FORGET THIS FORM – There are quite a few items you will always want to have aboard when your boat leaves the dock. The off-season is a perfect time to sit down and make a list of these items. One of the most important items to have on your boat is a FLOAT PLAN. It should be complete before you go boating and left with a reliable person you can depend on to notify the Sheriff's Office or the U. S. Coast Guard should you not return as scheduled. Do not file this plan with the Sheriff's Office or the U. S. Coast Guard. If you are delayed on your trip, and it is not an emergency, inform those with your float plan in order to avoid an unnecessary search.

In brief, the float plan should contain the name of the person reporting, phone number, description of vessel, and the names of the persons aboard. Other information should include the number and type of engines, marine radio and number, the trip expectations, make of automobile, license plate number and location of where the automobile is parked.

IMPROVING OUR NAVAL SECURITY – If you're cruising some of the major ports in the next few years, you're likely to see more of the Navy's new Screening Escort Vessels, on the water in New York Harbor. Although the 64 foot aluminum deep-vee monohulls carry U. S. Coast Guard markings and fly the Coast Guard ensign, they are actually owned by the U. S. Navy. As a domestic law-enforcement agency, the Coast Guard has the duty to accompany military vessels in and out of harbors, enforcing a 100-yard security zone. These modern deep-vee hull boats have twin diesel-powered waterjets and can push the top speed to more than 30 knots.

A PROBLEM YOU WILL WANT TO FIX – When your depth sounder is not up to par, you may need to do a little homework. If your sounder operates but has no bottom readings, you may need to do the following: Inspect the transducer for marine growth, damage or any obstructions around the face of the transducer. Inspect the transducer for signs of damage or paint coating. Inspect the connectors and pins of the display unit and the transducer, checking for corrosion. Verify that your sounder is not trying to read a depth beyond its range. Consult your operator's manual for the unit's sensitivity specs and check that your settings are correct. Check for excessive propeller cavitation. Also, nicked or bent props on high speed boats can aggravate this condition.

GIVE A HELPING HAND WHEN YOU CAN – The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is urging all Americans to say something when they see something. Under its America's Waterway Watch program, the USCG is asking the public to report unusual surveillance of vessel or waterside facility operations, unattended boats near bridges, unusual diving activities, unauthorized vessels operating in restricted areas, or any other suspicious activity. To report something, call the National Response Center at (877) 24-WATCH or radio the USCG on channel 16. For imminent threats, call 911 or use channel 16.

FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP MAY BE GOOD FOR YOU – Limited spare time, money, and lack of skills are the main reasons why some people who dream about boating may be cautious about making the move. These obstacles can be reduced by finding another option to buying a boat. Fractional boat companies split a boat into equal shares, and then lease the shares to members. Members have guaranteed access to the boat a set number of times per month. The company handles things like slip fees, boat maintenance and repairs, and insurance, and the member pays a fixed monthly membership for use of the boat. Fractional ownership is available for sailors and powerboaters, and the number of fractional bases around the United States is growing each year. The largest fractional boating company in the United States is the Freedom Boat Club. They have over 400 boats, 50 bases nationwide and over 5,000 members. When a prospective member joins a fractional boating base, the first step is to pay the initiation fee. This is generally anywhere from $2,500 to $6,000. New members are trained by the base. The base provides a thorough combination of classwork and practice on the water. The monthly membership fee, which varies by company and boat model, averages $200 to $500 per month. All expenses except fuel are included in the monthly membership fee.

BOTTOM-LINE – These words of wisdom come from Christopher Robert Buzzelli who is from Michigan but is now studying at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Christopher worked at a variety of fine dining cuisine restaurants and received various cooking awards including the Art Institute of Michigan Scholarship for Leadership, Enthusiasm and Talent in 2010. The Chef says, "Today is a gift. That is why we call it the 'present.'"

tags: Fractional Boat Ownership