Spring 2013 Ensign - Tampa Power Squadron

Transcription

M a g a z i n e o f t h e U n i te d S t a te s P owe r S q u a d ro n s
®
Ensign
the
®
BOATING EDUCATION, FUN AND SAFETY
Summer 2013
theensign.org
Lake
Huron
Lights
PLUS
Shock at the dock
Skills event mixes fun, learning
Muskingum River cruise
01C1_COVER_Ensign_SUM2013nobox.indd 1
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Ship’s Store
Stock up on summertime favorites.
Pin it on
This 1.25-inch USPS
100th anniversary pin
features three colors
on soft enamel with
shiny silver plating
and a butterfly
clutch back. $10
Let your flag fly
The official USPS 100th anniversary ensign is perfect
for proclaiming your membership in the world’s finest
recreational boating organization. The 12-by-18-inch
heavy-duty canvas flag has embroidered details. Get
one for your own boat and one for a friend. $30
True blue
The key master
Hats off
This USPS key chain features brass hardware and a
blue ribbon on khaki webbing with the USPS ensign
proudly displayed. $6
Made of 100 percent cotton, this adjustable black cap features the USPS 100th
anniversary logo. $13
This poly-cotton navy blue men’s polo
features a flat-knit collar and cuffs,
matching buttons, side vents, a front
pocket, and double-needle armhole
seams and hem. (S–2XL) $27–$28
To order, call 888-367-8777 ext. 0 or visit www.shopusps.org for more great deals.
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contents
Bridge
4
Soundings
5
Provisions
6
Currents
7
V/C Gary Cheney, SN
Boating Gone Bad
10
Scorecard
12
Shipshape
13
Ship’s Library
17
Stargazer
25
Destinations
30
Waypoints
32
Last Horizon
38
Classifieds
40
Bitter End
41
Garmin GPSMAP 541s
sounder/chart plotter
Puny bilge pumps,
trim tips and more
Ohio’s Muskingum River
Cape Hatteras Light,
Transom tales & more
Stem to Stern
43
Ensign
the
Vol. 101 No. 3 SUMMER 2013
18
18
Lake Huron Lights
Two USPS members take to the shores
of Michigan to explore the state’s many
historic lighthouses.
22
28
22
SeaSkills
Created to bridge the gap between
taking classes and getting on the water,
SeaSkills makes boating safety fun for new
members.
28
The Mighty Mackinaw
As queen of the Great Lakes, this
icebreaker was an unstoppable force and a
formidable tool in America’s WWII efforts.
Cover photo:
istockphoto by Michael Westhoff
THE ENSIGN (ISSN 0744-3129) (ISSN 1949-2294
online) is published four times per year by United
States Power Squadrons, a nonprofit corporation
located at 1504 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC
27607-3906. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh,
N.C., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions
are $15 annually. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to THE ENSIGN, P.O. Box 31664, Raleigh,
NC 27622-1664. Copyright © 2013 United States
Power Squadrons
The Ensign magazine is printed using soy-based inks on
paper certified by the Rainforest Alliance to comply with
Forest Stewardship Council™ standards.
Summer 2013 The Ensign
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I Bridge I
Follow the money
U
SPS is putting the finishing touches on the
final 2014 budget now. It’s a difficult process.
There’s a lot we’d like to do and not enough
money to go around.
The Finance Committee, the Budget Committee,
the national officers and headquarters staff spend a
lot of time trying to figure out how to achieve the best
results and the most benefits with the resources at
hand. I think now’s a good time to look at our 2014
budget and highlight where the payback is for us, the
members. Here are some of our major expenses:
Insurance coverage comprises nine separate policies
V/C Gary Cheney, SN
that cover virtually all possible mishaps. Of special
National Treasurer
interest to members is liability coverage for everyone
engaged in squadron activities, especially officers and
instructors. We have a special policy to cover on-the-water training, Water Trainer
and the truck that pulls it. What does all this cost? About $140,000 a year.
The Ensign magazine, the USPS Compass, the Monthly Blast and our social
media sites are the heart of our communication throughout USPS. Not only do they
keep us up to date on current activities, but they also provide a platform for telling
the stories about notable squadron, district and national activities. Although we
have a small amount of advertising support, we spend about $230,000 a year on
USPS communications.
Travel expense reimbursement is available to, at last count, 165 national officers,
including district commanders and district educational officers. The majority is
for national meetings, but sending chief commander’s representatives to district
conferences and delegates to other meetings like NASBLA and IBWSS comprises
a significant and necessary part of the budget. Even though reimbursements cover
only a portion of the actual expenses, travel costs about $358,000 a year.
Headquarters/member services. Our headquarters devotes staff and facilities to
maintain member records and provide support for a wide variety of projects and
initiatives. The national directory, grants administration, accounting, the USPS
website, information database, Ship’s Store, warehousing, purchasing, BullEx fire
extinguisher simulators and more provide tremendous value to members at a cost
of about $500,000 a year—less than $13 a year for each member including the computer systems to manage it.
Headquarters/education. Similarly, a large portion of the headquarters staff and
facilities support our educational programs. All educational records for members and non-members are maintained, stored, and made available to members
and squadrons upon request. Headquarters maintains our course inventory and
processes educational orders. The ABC website is an important part of our public
education efforts and is supported by headquarters staff as well as the computer
systems to manage all of the education activities. What does education cost? Again,
about $500,000 a year.
Many smaller expenses add up to about $250,000. We get a lot for our money, and
by leveraging our expenses through our many volunteers, we get tremendous value
as well.B
4 The Ensign Summer 2013
04_Bridge_Ensign_SUM13.indd 4
Ensign
the
Publications Director
Yvonne Hill
Senior Editor
Amy Townsend
Assistant Editor
Tina Tibbitts
Art Director
Simone Tieber
Designer
Jason Lowsy
Regular Contributors
Larry Byrd, C. Henry Depew,
Don Dunlap, Charlie Feldschau,
Craig Grosby, Arnold Medalen,
Dave Osmolski, Gates Richards,
Burrage Warner, Bob Zimmerman
Email ensign@hq.usps.org
Phone 888-367-8777
Advertising Sales
Yvonne Hill
888-367-8777 x226
hilly@hq.usps.org
USPS HEADQUARTERS
888-367-8777
Dial “0” for customer service.
contactme@hq.usps.org
Fax 888-304-0813
M–F 0800-1630 Eastern
United States Power Squadrons
P.O. Box 30423
Raleigh, NC 27622
Employee Directory
theensign.org/hqstaff.htm
Submissions may be sent to The Ensign,
P.O. Box 31664, Raleigh, NC 27622-1664 or
ensign@hq.usps.org. The editor reserves
the right to edit and modify materials in a
style that best serves the needs of The Ensign. Articles, opinions and advertisements
do not reflect USPS policy or endorsement
unless so designated. Projects described in
The Ensign may be based on copyrighted
or patented plans or descriptions that
require permission for use or reproduction.
6/6/2013 9:09:19 AM
I Soundings I
M a g a z i n e o f t h e U n i te d S t a te s P owe r S q u a d ro n s
I had always been into fishing, but
only from the bank. When I moved out
West, the people I fished with all had
boats; we caught some really big fish
from those boats, and the next thing I
knew, a boat followed me home and is
now ensconced in my driveway. When
it needed a safety inspection, Past District Commander John McCoy showed
up, and the rest is history.
So how do we get others interested
in boating? The bottom line is we have
to help generate that initial interest.
Most of us aren’t going to start an
activity, particularly one that requires
real knowledge to do it safely, without
being introduced to the activity by a
current maven.
A few weeks ago, I was at the dock
when a young fellow came over and
asked directions to make sure he was
at the correct park. Having made it to
the right destination, he thanked me
and was on his way. A short time later,
he returned with a half-dozen others,
all members of a church youth group
picnicking in the park. We got to talking, and it turned out that not a single
one had ever been on a boat.
®
Ensign
the
®
Spring 2013
BOATING EDUCATION, FUN AND SAFETY
theensign.org
Top
shots
PLUS
Exploring Grand Turk
Weather turnaround
Magnetic solution
This letter has been long in coming.
Receiving The Ensign is one of the big
pluses, among many, of being a member of USPS. Thank you for continuing
to offer the print edition. I pick up
and put down (or not) my copy many
times.
My favorite features are the Stargazer (fabulous calendar of celestial
events), book reviews and product
reviews. (“Get a Grip” was excellent.)
I also appreciate the recognition of
members who have contributed above
and beyond. USPS has a lot of talent to
draw upon.
What prompted me to write this
time, however, was the Bitter End
article on the sunstone. I will be sailing
in Norway this summer, and by darn,
I want one of these stones! Thanks,
these little gems of information lead
me to appreciate The Ensign above and
beyond. –Mary Ann DeGraw
SPREAD THE WORD
People who decide to join USPS do so
because, first of all, they’re interested
in boating.
How did you get interested in boating? For some of us, it was a family
activity. Others went boating with
acquaintances and found out how
much fun it was. Something got us out
on the water, and we didn’t want to
come back.
–Steve Gatton
© E L M S C H R AT/ W I K I M E D I A CO M M O N S /CC - BY- S A- 3 . 0/G F D L
ABOVE AND BEYOND
The next thing you know, I split the
group in two, and took each group out
for a quick spin. You should have seen
the grins on their faces. They thanked
me profusely, offered me gas money
(no, thanks), asked me to join them for
dinner (no, thanks, dinner was waiting
at home) and asked more questions
than even I could answer.
Maybe in the future one or two of
these kids will think about getting
into a water-based activity, joining
the Navy or Coast Guard, becoming a
boater, or joining USPS.
Now I don’t advocate hanging out
on docks, trolling for someone to take
for a ride, but I do suggest that USPS
members talk up our wonderful activity. In addition to talking about boating and USPS membership, we need to
wear a lapel pin, put a sticker on our
vehicles and fly the USPS ensign when
we’re on the water.
USPS has been the best-kept secret
for way too long, and we need to share
our boating and experiences with
others. We’ve got to get the word out
because it won’t get out on its own.
LOCATION, LOCATION
In your article, “25 years and counting,” (Spring 2013, p. 30) you place the African
Queen in Naples, Fla. The picture shown is of the Queen’s home in Key Largo, Fla.,
at the Holiday Inn. For many years I worked as captain on a sailboat docked next
to it. I also enjoyed the acquaintance (and an occasional lunch—a hotdog) with its
owner, Capt. Jim (now deceased). –Albert J. Kurtz III
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I Provisions I
Light it up
Shine on
The Accon Marine
Telescoping LED Bow
Light enables owners
to position the light
at any height. This
solid 316 stainless
steel deck-mounted
light pulls up high
enough to clear the
trolling motor and
can be mounted
farther back than
conventional deckmounted lights. It
folds flush when
not in use and
features built-in
surge protection.
With the Shurhold Dual
Action Polisher, even
less-experienced users
can achieve the same
high-gloss professional
finish that pros do with
rotary buffer-polishers.
The polisher comes in a
canvas storage bag and
features quick-change
pads with Velcro backing, a ground fault circuit
interrupter, and a 20-foot
power cord.
Shurhold Dual Action Polisher
$160
shurhold.com
Accon Marine Telescoping
LED Bow Light
Starting at $420.14
acconmarine.com
Attractive
antenna
The Shakespeare 5218
VHF antenna has a
one-piece design and
mounts firmly with a
strong magnetic base.
The 19-inch black stainless steel VHF whip
antenna comes with 15
feet of RG-58 AU coax
cable and a PL-259
connector to further
simplify installation.
Shakespeare
Electronic Products
Group 5218 VHF
Antenna
$83.95
shakespeare-antennas.com
6 The Ensign
Take charge
Powermania Turbo M220
Battery Charger
$199
powermaniausa.com
Waterproof, corrosion- and shockresistant, the compact Powermania
Turbo M220 Battery Charger is ideal for
recharging 12-volt DC batteries aboard
small and medium boats. Featuring
three-stage smart charge and adaptive
loading, it automatically charges
connected batteries in the shortest time
possible. Equipped with extensive safety
features, the charger is pre-wired with
two sets of DC output cables.
Throw me a line
These floating multifilament polypropylene fender lines are softer and
more flexible than nylon lines. Easy to grip, lightweight, simple to clean, and
resistant to most acids, alkalis, oils, and gasoline, Soft Lines Fender Lines are
available in different colors, range in thickness from ¼ to ⅝ inches, and come
in 5-foot and 7-foot lengths.
Soft Lines Fender Lines
Starting at $8.10
softlinesinc.com
Summer 2013
06_Provisions_Ensign_SUM13.indd 6
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Currents I
I Currents
News and information from around the boating world
2013
4–8 Sep
Governing Board
Grand Hyatt
San Antonio
23–27 Oct
CPS AGM
Toronto
2014
29 Jan–2 Feb
Annual Meeting
Hyatt Regency
Riverfront
Jacksonville, Fla.
3–6 Apr
USPS Board of
Directors
14–17 Apr
IBWSS
5–8 Jun
USPS Board of
Directors
USPS members and guests attend
a breakfast at the Chicago Cultural
Center with Fox Valley Sail & Power
Squadron Cdr Cindy Rowland, JN,
sixth from left.
Commander awarded for
community service
T
he Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues presents annual community service
awards to women in each district in the county. Women are nominated by someone in
the district. Commander Cindy Rowland of Fox Valley Sail & Power Squadron was nominated by Diane Schneider, the retail events coordinator of Cabela’s in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Rowland has led the squadron in raising money for life jackets donated to a youth camp
in Wisconsin, participating in the annual Fox River cleanup, performing vessel safety checks
and providing public boating courses throughout the year.
“You just never know what one thing a person may pick up from a conversation, a class or a
boat show that just might save their life one day,” Rowland said. “That makes me feel like I’m
making a difference.”
Rowland received the Peggy Montes Unsung Heroine Award for District 15 at a breakfast at
the Chicago Cultural Center on 12 March 2013. –Natalie E. Witty
Celebrating
75 years
20–23 Nov
USPS Board of
Directors
JA M E S AT K I N S O N
10–14 Sep
Governing Board
Hyatt Regency
Crystal City
Arlington, Va.
Canadian Power and Sail
Squadrons kicks off its
75th anniversary year with
a flag relay ceremony with
help from United States
Power Squadrons and the
Windsor Yacht Club.
07-09_Currents_Ensign_SUM13.indd 7
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6/6/2013 9:06:13 AM
I Currents I
Boating News
Centennial pride blooms during
Daffodil Festival
T
his year marked the 80th year that Puyallup (pronounced pugh-al-up), Wash.,
held its world-famous Daffodil Festival. One of the events is a boat parade along
the Port of Tacoma waterfront.
Among the 46 boats in this year’s parade was a USPS flagship entry from Tacoma
Power Squadron, proudly displaying the USPS 100th anniversary banner. Boats
from Poverty Bay Sail & Power Squadron and Olympia Sail & Power Squadron also
motored past the crowds of spectators. Daffodil Festival details are available at
thedaffodilfestival.org. –Steve Erickson, Trudy Brown and Bobbi Jensen
The Ensign
writer wins
publishing
award
T
he Ensign writer Marlin Bree was
honored by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association during the
23rd Annual Midwest Book Awards.
He and his late wife, Loris, received the
annual Pat Bell Award, which has gone
to only three other individuals. The
2013 award “recognizes those who have worked tirelessly to further the success
of independent publishing” and is the highest honor MIPA bestows.
Bree’s company, Marlor Press, publishes nonfiction titles such as “Wake of the
Green Storm,” “In the Teeth of the Northeaster,” and “Heavy Weather Boating
Emergencies.”
He started the company after successes with “Alone Against the Atlantic” (which
he wrote with sailor Gerry Spiess) and ghost writing “How to Measure Managerial
Performance.”
Winner of two Boating Writers International Grand Prize Awards for articles
published in The Ensign, Bree has also served as a judge and committee chair for
the awards.
8 The Ensign
Cruisers share info on
waterway hazards
As cruisers head north along
the Atlantic Coast for the summer, marinas, boat clubs and
launch ramps become hives of
local boating activity. But boaters may get a surprise on the
waterways, as winter storms
and hurricanes have deposited new shoals, changed inlet
topography and created new
navigational hazards.
To help boaters steer clear of
trouble, liveaboards and authors
Tom and Mel Neale started a
complimentary email service,
East Coast Alert, available at
boatus.com/eastcoastalert.
Having sailed the East Coast
for more than 28 years, these
well-connected cruisers have an
extensive network of credible,
reliable resources, including
fellow boat owners, marina and
waterfront business staff, bridge
tenders, state and local government resources, and friends who
share news on a range of topics.
Recent alerts included warnings about shifted buoys and
shoals, dredging activities,
changes to drawbridge operating hours, construction, barge
activity, fluctuating water levels,
U.S. Army Corps operations, and
in some cases, newly found navigational hazards lurking just
below the surface.
GPS coordinates show boaters
where the problems exist. Divided by region for easy reading,
general alerts are emailed every
two weeks, but critical alerts,
such as unannounced bridge or
inlet closures, are sent immediately. The Neales also distill U.S.
Coast Guard reports and Local
Notices to Mariners.
“Whether you boat on Biscayne Bay or Down East Maine,
our periodic alerts let you know
what’s changed and how to
Summer 2013
6/6/2013 9:19:24 AM
I Currents I
avoid problems. They’re not just for
ICW snowbirds, and we strive for accuracy as we know how bad advice can get
you into trouble,” said Tom, who with
his wife, Mel, raised a family aboard
and cruise an average of 3,000 to 5,000
miles per year. –BoatU.S.
Changes to boating laws
warrant attention
A number of state and local boating laws
and policy changes have taken effect
in 2013. Boaters should review boating
laws in their home waters and in states
where they plan to boat this year.
New regulations cover aquatic nuisance species, gasoline spark-ignition
marine engines, approved boating
education course completion and boat
operator minimum age, among others.
“Boating isn’t like driving a car,” Sea
Tow Foundation Executive Director
Gail R. Kulp said. “The laws can vary
greatly as you cross from one state into
another and, unlike the highways, there
isn’t always signage on the water to let
you know that you have drifted into
another state with different rules and
regulations.”
The National Association of State
Boating Law Administrators offers information about recreational boating
safety laws and policies within the 50
U.S. states and territories at nasbla.org.
–Sea Tow
Warning device gets attention
The Coast Guard is now using a nonlethal signaling device to support its
ports, waterways and coastal security
mission. The LA51 warning device is
considered safer than others used by
the service.
If boaters do not respond to Coast
Guard marine radio calls or comply
with instructions in case of a security violation, personnel will fire the
LA51 warning device from a 12-gauge
military shotgun, producing a flash and
bang at a range of 100 meters. At that
point, boaters should immediately turn
to Channel 16 for instructions.
To view a video of the LA51 in use, go
to bit.ly/14spxmh. –U.S. Coast Guard
CPS celebrates 75 years
Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons
celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013.
The first Canadian squadron, Windsor Power Squadron, was created in
1938. Today CPS has 155 squadrons and
26,000 members.
CPS will celebrate its anniversary
during its 2013 Annual General Meeting in Toronto at the Delta Chelsea
Hotel 23–27 Oct. Located in the heart
of downtown Toronto, the hotel provides easy access to many attractions
and provides a great venue for the organization’s meetings, luncheons and
expos. For more information, visit
agm.cpstoronto.ca.
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TheEnsign_4c_7.5x4.875.indd 1
5/30/13 10:00 AM
9
6/6/2013 9:22:20 AM
I Boating Gone Bad I
L
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Swimmer gets a
shock to the system
A close call and lessons learned
By Bob Kunath
M
ost marinas have a rule against
swimming. Knowing better
but being not much of a rule
follower, I rarely hesitated to jump in
when the heat got to me. During our
2005 Great Loop cruise, my boat, Sans
Souci, and three others stopped at our
friends’ floating dock on Lake Ontario.
Last to arrive, we rafted to one of
the other boats. The other boats had
already hooked up to the 30-ampere
shore power, but our friend offered
to run an extension from a wall
outlet in the boathouse to our boat.
10 The Ensign
Not wanting to run the generator, I
accepted. The reverse polarity light
flashed briefly when I turned on the
switch, but everything ran OK, so I
ignored it.
LESSON NO. 1:
Never ignore a reverse
polarity warning.
We had tied up in 4 feet of exceptionally clear water, so early the next
morning, I decided to check the running gear and hull. I lowered the swim
ladder and started down the steps. As
soon as I touched the lake bottom, I
felt a vague vibrating sensation in my
arms. I had no idea what was causing it but decided to get out of the
water fast! I started up the ladder
but couldn’t move my arms and legs.
They were paralyzed. I was being
electrocuted!
My head and chest were above
water, and I yelled for help. When
my wife, Carol, and the other boaters came running out, I yelled for
them to shut off the power. They did,
but the few terrifying moments in
between seemed like hours.
After they cut the power, I could
move my legs and shakily climbed
out of the water. After examining the
60-year-old boathouse’s power, we
found there was no ground (green)
wire to the outlet and the polarity
was reversed. My boat was feeding
110-volt AC current into the water via
any through-hull metal. Electric current must always return to its source,
and for a time the current found a
conductor to ground—me!
Summer 2013
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I Boating Gone Bad I
LESSON NO. 2:
Always test a power source with a
polarity checker before trusting it
with your life.
I’ve since learned that it only takes 20
milliamperes of electrical power to
cause muscle paralysis and 50-65 mA
to cause fibrillation and cardiac arrest.
The effect on the swimmer often looks
like drowning but is actually called
ESD, electric shock drowning. Causing heart stoppage and instant death,
a 200 mA exposure will electrocute a
swimmer. A 15-ampere house circuit
delivers 75 times that power.
My head and chest were
above water, and I yelled
for help. When my wife,
Carol, and the other
boaters came running
out, I yelled for them to
shut off the power.
Although not a very good conductor,
freshwater can pass enough current
to paralyze muscles or stop a heart. If
this had happened in brackish water
with higher conductivity, more current
would have been passed to me with
disastrous results. That’s not to say
that you won’t be killed in freshwater;
it can depend on the water’s mineral
content and conductivity. The captain of the boat next to us, a retired
paramedic, told us he had been called
to a freshwater dock in Illinois where
two young brothers died under similar
circumstances from ESD.
Sans Souci’s ladder isn’t grounded to
the bonding system. My guess is that
with the reversed polarity, the positive side of the 110-volt current led to
the boat’s running gear and ground
plate on the transom, a few feet from
the ladder. From there, the best path
to ground was the ladder, me and the
lake bottom, which I reached while
still holding the ladder. A shorter path
to ground, water deep enough to reach
my chest or slightly more conductivity in the water could have turned this
scary close call fatal.
Unfortunately, raw 110-volt power
can enter the water at a marina in
many ways, from the improper use of
battery chargers to defective dock and
boat wiring—even if the source is a
portable generator or boat inverter.
LESSON NO. 3:
Maybe that ‘no swimming in the
marina’ rule is a good one.
Although this happened eight years
ago, the danger still exists. In July
2012, a houseboat wiring problem
caused a similar disaster in Missouri
when two boys, 10 and 11, died climbing down the houseboat’s ladder and
into the water. The 10-year-old died at
the scene; the other, a few hours later
in the hospital.
Another youth, a girl, was hospitalized and recovered; eight adults who
entered the water to help were also
injured, but they had not fully submerged as the boys had.
According to local news reports, the
houseboat, owned by the 11-year-old’s
grandfather, had frayed 110-volt AC wiring at the swim ladder. The best advice
about swimming near a boat hooked to
shore power in any fresh or brackish
water marina is don’t do it. B
Over the past 45 years, Venice (Fla.) Sail & Power Squadron members P/Lt/C Bob Kunath, SN, and his wife, Lt/C
Carol Kunath, P, have owned about a dozen sail and powerboats, ranging from small open lake boats to large offshore
vessels. In 2005, the couple completed a two-year Great
Loop cruise aboard their Pacific Seacraft 38T trawler,
Sans Souci, logging 9,000 miles. For the past seven years,
they have covered Eastern and Western Lake Michigan,
including Green Bay and Door County, as cruising editors
for Waterway Guide.
HOW TO
PREVENT ESD
The conditions required for
electric shock drowning always
result from the lack of an effective safety ground, either on a
boat or dock. Inspect your dock
and boat regularly and ensure
that all wiring components
are sound.
Check the polarity and ground
using an inexpensive polarity
checker. You can purchase a
110-volt/15-amp polarity checker
at hardware stores and a marine
30-amp checker at most marine
suppliers. You can also check
leakage using an AC/DC clampon ammeter.
Many new boats have an
Equipment Leakage Circuit
Interrupter (ELCI), which can
detect and stop current flow
when a leakage over 30 mA
is detected. ABYC standards
recommend such devices on all
new boats, but compliance is
voluntary. Consider adding one
to your boat.
AC/DC
clamp-on
ammeter
Equipment Leakage Circuit
Interrupter (ELCI)
10_11_BoatingGoneBad_Ensign_SUM2013.indd 11
11
5/29/2013 3:29:24 PM
I Scorecard I
BOTTOM LINE
Garmin GPSMAP 541s
chart plotter/sounder
$639.99 w/no transducer
$699.99 w/dual-frequency
transducer
garmin.com
Pros
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ease of use
Simple menu navigation
Bright screen
Pre-loaded U.S. coastal charts
Built-in sounder module
NMEA 0183 & NMEA 2000
connectivity
Cons
• Low-resolution screen
Hands-on navigation
Compact, easy-to-use chart plotter
By Bob Mueller
T
he Garmin GPSMAP 541s chart
plotter/sounder interfaces with
NMEA 2000 networks for engine diagnostics, weather instruments
and more. Preloaded with U.S. coastal
charts, the chart plotter has an SD card
slot, which can be used to load additional charts and transfer waypoints,
routes and tracks. The GPSMAP 541s
includes a built-in sounder module for
direct connection to a transducer for
depth and fish-finder functions.
The extremely bright 5-inch diagonal color display is easy to read in
direct sunlight and shade; however,
you should reduce the brightness in
the dark to preserve your night vision.
Although initially disappointed with
the 234x320-pixel resolution, I had no
12 The Ensign
problems reading the display.
Easy to navigate with arrow keys,
the interface features well-designed
screens and an intuitive menu structure. On the main screen, you can
choose the major functions: chart,
sonar or a combination. Additional
options appear when accessories, such
as XM weather or NMEA 2000 engine
diagnostics, are attached.
An industry standard NMEA 2000
connection allows the GPSMAP 541s
to interface with a variety of other
devices, including engine diagnostics,
weather instruments, sail instruments,
VHF/DSC and AIS.
The preloaded U.S. coastal charts are
easy to read, contain great detail and
allow for a 3-D view.
The spot soundings are clear and
easy to read. Shoreline detail and land
masses are clearly marked and labeled,
and navigational aids are easy to
identify. My only complaint was with
chart clutter, as it’s difficult to decide
how much information to display on a
chart.
The sounder module performed
flawlessly. One version of the GPSMAP 541s includes a transom-mount
transducer, but I used an Airmar
in-hull transducer for these tests. The
sounder held a bottom lock at various
speeds, saw the fish and determined
the approximate bottom composition.
The GPSMAP 541s offers a few different mounting options. The mounting bracket included can be affixed
just about anywhere, allows for full
articulation and is secure. You can also
surface-mount the unit.
The Garmin GPSMAP 541s is a nice
fixed-mount chartplotter for any recreational boater. B
P/C Bob Mueller, JN, of Ohio’s Berea
Power Squadron is an America’s Boating Course instructor, a vessel examiner
and a Squadron Emergency Response
Assistance Team leader. A longer
version of this article appeared on
gpstracklog.com.
Summer 2013
12_Scorecard_Ensign_SUM13.indd 12
5/29/2013 3:30:26 PM
I Shipshape I
Answers, tips and advice to help you get the most out of the boating life
Quick Tips
Get grounded
When refueling gas
cans or portable boat
tanks, take them out
of your vehicle and put
them on the ground.
This will help prevent
static electricity
buildup, which could
start a fire.
–William Lewis
Pass the sniff test
No matter how well
you try to dry towels
on a boat, they always
start to smell. Instead
of a bath towel, I use a
synthetic drying chamois onboard. Found in
the automotive section,
the towels don’t need
drying. You just wring
them out and return
them to their package.
–Dylan Serrage
Safe storage
When storing ice eaters
over the summer, store
them prop shaft/prop
down to keep the
seal from drying out,
which could admit
water next fall.
–Rudolph C. Zinn
Email your questions,
tips and advice to
ensign@hq.usps.org.
Take a number
Registering your DSC marine radio
Y
ou finally got rid of that old VHF
radio and purchased a new DSCenabled unit. Now what?
You can do many things with these radios,
not the least of which is registering a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number
and activating the automatic distress calling
feature.
There’s more to this procedure than meets
the eye, but once you have your radio set up
properly, a simple two-second push of a button will send out a distress call identifying
your vessel to the U.S. Coast Guard along with
your position and the time of your distress
call.
First, wire your radio to the existing power
wires from your old unit. Red is positive, and
black is negative. Be sure to put the correctsize fuse in the red wire circuit. The radio’s
By Dave Osmolski
manual will list the current draw, and often as
not, the manufacturer will include a properly
sized fuse right in the wiring. A word of warning here: Never operate your transmitter with
the antenna disconnected. You will fry the
transmitter if you do. And as always, consult
a professional if you do not feel comfortable
working with your boat’s electrical system.
Next, look on the back of the radio for the
GPS input. Connect these wires to the output
from your GPS/chart plotter. The input wire
is red, and the ground, again, is black. Make
sure you have or purchase a compatible GPS/
chart plotter. Your dealer can help if you are
unsure of which model to buy.
Hook up your antenna; then switch on your
radio and GPS/chart plotter. In addition to
the channel display, you will see a display that
shows the latitude/longitude position >>
13-16_ShipShape_Ensign_SUM2013_v2.indd 13
13
6/3/2013 9:24:44 AM
I Shipshape I
>> and most likely the time as well.
This indicates you have done a good job
with your wiring.
Now it’s time to get your MMSI
number. USPS members are fortunate, as the organization maintains an
MMSI registry that’s easy to access and
relatively easy to use. Go to usps.org/
php/mmsi, the USPS registration site. I
had never done this before, so I had to
register, but you can also use this site
to update your registration information. You will need to answer questions
about yourself and your contact information. After registering, you can log
in to the MMSI registry. Just follow the
instructions.
There are no questions regarding
your radio, its serial number, FCC ID
or anything else! The questions include
the vessel name and registration, your
name, cell phone numbers and emergency contacts. Some questions didn’t
seem to apply to me or my vessel, so
I left these unanswered and had no
problems. The vessel capacity question
puzzled me, but I finally established
that it wanted the weight capacity. Do
not enter units, such as pounds; just
enter the number. When you finish,
click on the box indicating the process
is complete, and your MMSI number
will be issued along with a printable
certificate.
Next, follow the instructions in your
owner’s manual to enter this unique
number into your radio. Should you
ever have an emergency, simply push
and hold the red distress button on
the front of your radio for two seconds
to send and re-send all the necessary
information to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Remember: Distress indicates a lifethreatening emergency. Do not push
the red distress button if you have run
aground or have run out of fuel. Better
yet, take the USPS seminar on VHF radios, and learn to use them properly. B
D/Lt/C David H. Osmolski, JN, of
Charlotte Power Squadron, has been repairing boats since high school when his
first boat, a canvas-covered canoe with
cedar ribs, leaked in gallons per minute
and required constant repair.
iPad Chart Plotter
Great backup system, also entertains navigators
E
veryone knows “there’s an app for that,” but with the proliferation of apps,
finding the best one for your needs can be a challenge. Here’s a solution that
works well for my boat.
Using electronics in a marine environment brings special considerations; in
addition to choosing a device and an app, you must also consider
•
•
•
•
placement (dry, secure, readable),
shockandvibration,
batterylife,and
GPSsignalaccuracy.
Which device and app?
I chose an iPad because of the greater availability of apps. If buying a new iPad,
you have three choices to make:
• iPad 2 or new iPad: New iPad has higher resolution display, making it worth
the extra cost
• Memory: 16GB is adequate for GPS apps, but you might need more later
• WiFi-only or WiFi plus cellular: WiFi-only devices don’t include embedded
GPS; this comes only with the WiFi plus cellular versions, which cost $200
more. You can buy a superior external GPS for $100, but that adds another
gizmo to charge and worry about.
Two of the best marine navigation iOS apps I’ve found are the iNavX Marine
Navigation and Navionics Marine & Lakes: USA from the App store. iNavX is a
handy digital viewer for NOAA raster charts with GPS-derived position and speed
superimposed. Raster maps have the advantage of showing the same information
6/3/2013 9:24:58 AM
I Shipshape I
as paper charts, and you can update
them for free; however, just like paper
charts, the text does not change size
relative to map features as you zoom,
so when you zoom out, text is too
small to read. Also, when you get to the
edge of a chart, you have to figure out
the name of the adjoining chart and
load it.
The Navionics app uses vector
charts, which are seamless and
customizable. Separate versions of
Navionics Marine & Lakes: USA are
available for the iPhone ($9.99) and
an HD version for iPad ($49.99). The
latter turns your iPad into a high-end
chart plotter, only easier to use.
Where to place it?
You’ll tire pretty quickly of holding
your iPad by hand, but where to put it
obviously depends a lot on your boat’s
configuration. Things I considered
were 1) visibility to the navigator, 2)
protection from spray, 3) positioning out of direct sunlight if possible,
4) secure but temporary mounting,
5) shock protection, and 6) access to
power.
I couldn’t accomplish these goals
perfectly. My boat has a sloped area
in front of the navigator (formerly for
paper charts) that was big enough for
the iPad and near a DC power outlet.
I placed FrogsFeet suction cup hooks
under the iPad to hold it in place and
provide shock absorption. Although
not designed for this purpose, the
padded hooks are exactly the right
opening for an iPad, and the special
suction cups have amazing holding
power that doesn’t weaken over time.
(Made in the USA and available on
amazon.com, a set of four FrogsFeet
costs about $10.)
I didn’t put the iPad in a waterproof enclosure, but if you anticipate
wet conditions, put it in a Dry Case
sleeve ($39, wirelessemporium.com) or
equivalent.
Battery life: external power
The iPad uses quite a bit of power
when running a mapping application,
especially with the screen brightness
turned up for readability in sunlight.
This makes it run hot and draws down
the internal battery in a few hours.
If a DC outlet is available, you can
eliminate power worries by using a DC
charger with a 2.1-amp USB port. I use
a Kensington K33497US PowerBolt
Duo Car Charger, which has one 2.1amp USB port for an iPad and a 1-amp
USB port for a phone. If using a waterproof sleeve, you’ll have to get by with
the internal battery because you can’t
seal the sleeve with the cable attached.
?
KNOW
Did
You
Boat
trim
GPS signal
Although the WiFi plus cellular
iPad includes a GPS chip, it’s not
WAAS compatible, which means
position errors of up to 200 feet. The
WiFi-only iPad has no GPS, though
navigation apps may work when near
geo-referenced WiFi points. The solution to both problems is an external,
Bluetooth-linked GPS. Be careful which
one you buy, because not all Bluetooth
GPS units are compatible with Apple
operating systems. One that works is
the Dual XGPS 150A (about $100 on
Amazon). It comes with a rubber sticky
square that holds it nicely on a smooth
surface. It has an internal rechargeable
battery that lasts for a full day, so you
can put it on your dash. Power comes
from the internal battery and iPad connection via Bluetooth. Dual provides a
useful free app for checking the unit’s
operation; it shows battery charge level
and allows you to monitor the satellite
constellation in use.
Conclusion
I found the iPad/XGPS150/Navionics Marine & Lakes combination to
be as accurate as my Raymarine chart
plotter but with an easier interface.
Drawbacks: I found it difficult to read
in direct sunlight, the iPad runs hot,
and I had to reset the app when it lost
communications with the XGPS150.
Despite those minor annoyances, I
recommend this setup as an excellent
backup navigation system. Even better,
the iPad is a great way to keep your
navigator entertained!
Two factors in
particular affect
an outboard
runabout’s trim:
Tilt of the outboard motor
When the motor is tilted inward,
the bow is pushed downward,
causing the stern to rise. When the
motor is tilted outward, the bow
rises. When the propeller shaft is
parallel to the waterline, the boat
becomes flatter in the water and
runs more efficiently.
Loading the boat
Because of their weight, the seating of passengers is especially
important in small boats. One extra
person can greatly affect the boat’s
trim and performance.
Place passengers so that the
boat is trimmed with its designed
waterline parallel to the water’s
surface. Generally, passengers
should be behind the point of contact of the hull with the water.
Although capacity is usually
listed on the boat, you can get a
rough estimate by multiplying the
boat’s length times its width in feet
and dividing by 15 to get the number of passengers.
–Larry Stout
–Sandy Trevor
15
5/29/2013 3:31:56 PM
Beef up your bilge pump
oes your boat suffer from PBP:
puny bilge pump? Many boats,
even larger, high-end boats, have only
two or three pitifully undersized bilge
pumps. Your safety depends on your
bilge pump being up to the job.
The job depends on your boat and
how you use it. If you have an enclosed
cabin boat that sits at the dock all
summer, the 750 or 1,000 gallon-perhour pump that came with it may be
enough to pump rainwater and spilled
beer out of the bilge. But if you go
offshore in an open center console and
get caught in rough seas, that wave
you take over the stern could fill your
cockpit with 1,000 gallons of sea water
in 10 seconds. Can you wait an hour
for your puny 1,000 gph bilge pump to
remove 8,500 pounds of water?
Even if you don’t venture offshore,
If you go offshore in an
open center console
and get caught in rough
seas, that wave you
take over the stern could
fill your cockpit with
1,000 gallons of sea
water in 10 seconds.
you could encounter other hazards,
such as a lost prop shaft, a broken
exhaust hose, a leaking seacock or
through-hull fitting failure. Any of
these could result in your boat quickly
filling with water. Will your bilge
pump keep up until you can to stop the
leak or get help?
Protect yourself and your boat by
installing a bilge pump with adequate
USPbSers
Mem e
Sav
15%
Go Online or over
the phone by calling
800-733-7663 and use
Promo Code: C15502
http://www.redroof.com/partners/US_Power_Squadrons/
–Bob Russell
Anchor snubbing bridle
A
n anchor snubbing bridle takes the strain of the
chain rode, reducing wear on your boat, acting as a
shock absorber and silencing the chain.
To construct a bridle, use three-strand nylon line,
and splice two eye loops to go around your port and
starboard bow cleats. Splice these two lines together a
distance equal to the height of the bow above water. The
diameter of the line used depends on the size of your
boat; see the chart for a guide to three-strand nylon
rope size.
In addition to taking the strain off your anchor
windlass, the bridle will also lower the point of pull on
the boat somewhat, and more importantly, it will tend
to stop the boat from hunting to port and starboard in
wind. As the boat tries to oscillate, the pull will alternately change from one of the bridle cleats to the other,
correcting the hunting motion. –Ken Bloomfield
Boat size
Rope size
Under 26 feet
½–inch
26–32 feet
9⁄16–inch
32–40 feet
⅝–inch
40–50 feet
¾–inch
K E N B LO O M F I E L D
D
capacity. You want one that keeps you
afloat long enough to get to safety. A
20– to 30–foot boat should have at
least two 2,500 to 3,500 gph capacity
bilge pumps installed. Remember that
through-hull fittings and discharge
hoses must be large enough to handle
this flow rate, or you defeat the purpose of a high-capacity pump. If the
thought of drilling a new hole in your
hull gives you the chills, have your
mechanic do the installation.
Finally, don’t forget that your bigger
bilge pumps will draw more power
from your batteries. Make sure your
batteries are in top condition and large
enough to run your new pumps. Again,
consult your mechanic if you have any
questions.
For more information on sizing and
installing bilge pumps, pay a visit to
yachtsurvey.com/bilge_pumps.htm.
6/7/2013 2:10:26 PM
I Ship’s Library I
Quick Picks
Skeletons of the deep
Boat Log & Record
Marlin Bree
Marlor Press, $17.95
Q Tabbed sections
make this log easy to
use as a complete record of your boat and
voyages. Daily navigational data
you enter may later be useful during fog or rough weather. Practical
information and checklists make
this book indispensable for both
sailors and power boaters.
This well-written book focuses on three periods of
Chesapeake Bay history. The first section deals with the
steamer New Jersey, which sank in 1870 and was found
in 1973, and examines its impact on marine archeology.
Next comes the search for the Kent Island settlement,
the first English colony established in 1631 in what
became the state of Maryland. The last part describes
how a fleet of World War I wooden steam-powered
freighter hulks came to rest on the bottom of Mallows
Bay and what became of them.
Each meticulously researched section includes
background information, details of the search and its
results. Donald Shomette, an underwater archaeologist,
has written extensively about the Chesapeake Bay.
If you like history of out-of-the-way happenings, this
book is for you. –C. Henry Depew
Handbook of Offshore
Cruising
Jim Howard
Sheridan House, $29.95
Q Illustrated with
superb line drawings, the
second edition covers
everything from choosing a boat
to maintaining your health while
cruising. The author also mentions
books that cover certain cruising
topics in depth. This is an excellent
book for beginners and experienced cruisers. –Burrage Warner
Wooden Ship
Jan Adkins
WoodenBoat Books,
$12.95
Q A great introduction to wooden boat
construction, this book shows
readers how a whaler is built.
Excellent illustrations depict the
stages of ship construction. Although not a technical discussion,
the 47-page book covers a surprising amount of detail.
–C. Henry Depew
Mud, Muscle and Miracles
Charles Bartholomew
and William I. Milwee Jr.
GPO, $58
Q This well-written history of marine salvage in
the U.S. Navy has more than 200
photos, diagrams and maps. The
authors’ sense of humor, depth of
coverage and excellent footnotes
make it a worthwhile read. A free
PDF is available at www.history.
navy.mil/pubs/MudMuscleMiracles.
pdf. –C. Henry Depew
A sailor’s story
The Life of a Sailor
Frederick Chamier
Naval Institute Press
$27.95
In this captivating autobiography, naval novelist
Frederick Chamier describes how he entered the Navy
at age 13 and was assigned to the Salsette, a frigate
commanded by a friend of his father, Capt. Bathurst.
While bound for Constantinople aboard the vessel,
Lord Byron befriended Chamier. In another instance,
Chamier describes how another ship he was on, the
Menelaus, was trapped by 13 French vessels but escaped with slight damage as it slipped out of danger
under full sail.
Promotion in the British Navy was mostly by
patronage, and Chamier, whose grandfather was an
admiral, eventually became captain of his own ship.
The book provides one of the few personal accounts
of a British Navy midshipman during the 1800s.
–Burrage Warner
A novel voyage
This fictional account of a voyage from England to
Virginia’s Jamestown Colony in 1611 is based on extensive
research from documents of the era.
In an imaginary narrative, Capt. Tristram Hame describes
his preparations for the Guyft’s journey, which covers
financing, provisioning, cargo and crew. While he considers
the safety of the vessel, passengers and cargo primary, the
venture also had to be profitable.
Throughout the voyage, we learn about the technology
of the day and Hame’s skill as he guides the ship south to
latitudes where it will encounter easterly winds, much like
the route Columbus took. From the Caribbean Islands, he
sails north to his destination.
An enjoyable novel—if it can be called that—I found it
more a story about navigation in the age of discovery
and an insight into the way we developed the navigation
techniques we use today. –Dave Osmolski
Books
not Ensign
sold through
USPS. 2013
Check with publishers for purchasing information.
17
The
Summer
17_Library_Ensign_SUM2013.indd 17
Ghost Fleet of
Mallows Bay and
Other Tales of the
Lost Chesapeake
Donald G. Shomette
Tidewater Publishers
$29.95
Voyage to
Jamestown
Robert D. Hicks
Naval Institute Press
$29.95
17
5/29/2013 3:39:54 PM
Fort Gratiot
Lighthouse
Port Sanilac
Lighthouse
Lake
Huron
Lights
Land cruisers follow the
shore to find and photograph
historic lighthouses.
By Peter H. Hames
18 The Ensign
M
y wife, Suzann, and I flew to Detroit, Mich., in late
May 2012 to visit and photograph as many Lake
Huron lighthouses as possible. We spent a week
driving from Port Huron, above Detroit, to Mackinaw City,
at the tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, following the Lake
Huron coastline.
We planned to visit up to 20 lighthouses in five days, staying
in a different hotel each night and enjoying a leisurely drive
along the coast to the next destination.
Port Huron, Mich.
Completed in 1825 and rebuilt in 1829, Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
is Michigan’s oldest. Located at the entrance to the St. Claire
River from Lake Huron and north of the Blue Water Bridge to
Canada, the lighthouse is part of Port Huron Museum.
Also part of the museum, the Huron lightship, built in 1920,
stands 96.5 feet tall, has a 24-foot beam and a 9.5-foot draft.
Powered by a single-compound reciprocating steam engine
fired by two coal-fired Scotch boilers, Huron was a relief vessel for other lightships. Beginning in 1935, the ship guarded
the Corsica Shoals off the mouth of the St. Claire River. After
being decommissioned in 1970, the lightship was replaced by
a lighted buoy.
Port Sanilac, Mich.
Leaving Port Huron, we headed north along the coast with
Summer 2013
18-21_F_MILighthouses_Ensign_SUM13.indd 18
6/3/2013 9:27:54 AM
Peter H. Hames I Lake Huron Lights
Tawas Point
Lighthouse
Alpena
Breakwater
Light
Suzann navigating. Although we knew the lighthouses’ locations, we didn’t have street addresses and couldn’t locate
them on our GPS. Tracking down some of the lights was like
a treasure hunt.
On our drive up the thumb of Michigan, we stopped to
photograph Port Sanilac Lighthouse. Although it is privately
owned and closed to the public, we found public parking south
of the lighthouse with access to a breakwater that extends into
Lake Huron, forming the harbor. Fitted with a railed walkway,
the breakwater provides a safe and accessible location from
which to photograph the lighthouse.
We took some great photos during the town Memorial Day
celebration, which was taking place in the harbor with music,
the National Anthem and a three-gun salute.
Halfway between the Point aux Barques Lighthouse near
the tip of Michigan’s thumb and Fort Gratiot at the entrance
to the St. Claire River, Port Sanilac Lighthouse was built in
1886 so vessels wouldn’t have to run blind along a 40-mile
stretch of coastline that was beyond the visibility range of the
other two lights.
Harbor Beach, Mich.
In the early 1870s, the federal government built two offshore
breakwaters at Sand Beach Village to provide safe refuge
for ships caught in bad weather between Saginaw Bay and
the St. Claire River. Completed in 1885, the Harbor Beach
Lighthouse replaced an earlier structure at the elbow of the
main breakwater. To photograph it, we had to walk to the end
of a fishing pier in Bathing Beach Park.
Port Hope, Mich.
One of Michigan’s most famous lights, Pointe aux Barques
Lighthouse guards the point at which northbound vessels
turn west into Saginaw Bay. Located on the tip of the thumb,
the original lighthouse and keeper’s dwelling had to be rebuilt in 1857 due to severe weather damage. The must-visit
museum contains artifacts and a chart with the locations and
details of more than 90 nearby shipwrecks.
East Tawas, Mich.
Built in 1876, Tawas Point Lighthouse sits at the end of Ottawa
Point, which forms a natural shelter for Tawas Bay, another
safe harbor during Lake Huron storms.
Located in Tawas Point State Park, the lighthouse is open
for seasonal tours. Please check https://www.michigan.gov/
tawaspoint for information. Although the lighthouse and gift
shop were closed, we were able to photograph the buildings
and grounds.
Harrisville, Mich.
Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, just north of Harrisville, Mich.,
is halfway between the northern point of Saginaw Bay and
19
5/29/2013 3:41:53 PM
Lake Huron Lights I Peter H. Hames
Old Presque Isle
Lighthouse
New Presque
Isle Light
Thunder Bay Island. Built in 1869, it’s one of the area’s most
picturesque lighthouses. Next to the gift shop beside the
lighthouse and keeper’s quarters sit two large rudders from
shipwrecked sailing vessels.
Thunder Bay
The Alpena Breakwater Light guards Alpena Harbor in
Thunder Bay. Built in 1875, the first beacon was replaced once
in 1877 and again in 1914, this time with a steel structure that
continues to serve the harbor. Directions from downtown Alpena to the breakwater led us to the parking lot and a paved
walkway where we had a good view of the light.
Presque Isle, Mich.
Ten miles north of Alpena, we found the road leading to
Presque Isle, which has two lighthouses located on the opposite ends of the peninsula.
Old Presque Isle Light, built in 1840, marks the southern
point of Presque Isle, which forms a natural harbor and
provides shelter from Lake Huron storms. The 30-foot-high
light was operated until 1871 when the taller New Presque
Isle Light (113 feet) was completed. We visited and photographed both. The Presque Isle Marina breakwater provides
a great view of the Old Presque Isle Light as seen from the
water.
20 The Ensign
Rogers City, Mich.
We visited the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum, which
celebrates the men and women who sailed on Great Lakes
steamers, especially Bradley Transportation Company ships.
Built in 1927, the SS Carl D. Bradley was the largest selfunloading steel steamer on the Great Lakes. On 18 Nov. 1958,
the Bradley left Gary, Ind., and headed for Rogers City. Hit by
heavy gales, the ship broke in two and sank off Gull Island in
northern Lake Michigan. Only two of the 35-man crew survived. The museum has pictures, seaman’s papers and other
artifacts for each crewmember as well as photos of the ship
under way and at the bottom of Lake Michigan.
While visiting the museum, Suzann and I met Frank Mays,
one of the two survivors. Mays’ book, “If We Make It ’til Daylight,” tells the story of how he and First Mate Elmer Fleming
clung to a raft all night in a freezing gale until they were finally
rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sundew. Rogers City
was home to 22 of the Bradley’s crew.
About 6 miles north of Rogers City is a road leading to
Forty Mile Point Lighthouse. Built in 1896 to provide a strategic landmark between the Presque Isle and Cheboygan
lighthouses, the 52-foot tower incorporates a duplex keepers’
building. We visited the lighthouse and gift shop and met a
guide named Don who showed us around. On 19 Oct. 1905
in a fierce Lake Huron storm, the Joseph S. Fay was towing
Summer 2013
5/29/2013 3:42:01 PM
Peter H. Hames I Lake Huron Lights
Cheboygan
Crib Light
Old Mackinac
Point Lighthouse
another vessel (both fully loaded with iron ore) when the
other vessel broke free, taking part of the Fay’s stern with it.
The Fay’s captain beached his vessel near the lighthouse, and
all but one of the crew survived. I strolled 200 yards up the
beach from the lighthouse where some 150 feet of the ship’s
huge wooden side, metal rods and spikes rest in the sand.
Cheboygan Crib Light near Gordon Turner Park marks
the breakwater for Cheboygan Harbor. Constructed in 1884,
it had a flashing red fourth-order Fresnel lens with a 159candlepower kerosene-powered lamp.
The light was placed on a crib a quarter mile from shore,
requiring the keeper to row out to man the light each night.
Removed from service in 1984, the light was given to the city
of Cheboygan and placed in its current position on the breakwater. In 2001, two members of the Great Lakes Lighthouse
Keepers Association assisted the city in restoring the structure.
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse provided a first-class shore
light within the Straits of Mackinac and marked the Mackinac Harbor entrance. Situated at the northernmost point of
Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, the lighthouse offers a commanding view of not only maritime traffic passing through
and across the straits but also the Mackinac Bridge to the
Upper Peninsula. When it opened in 1957, the bridge served
as a navigation aid, making the old light station obsolete.
Mackinac State Historic Parks acquired the property in 1960.
The group is restoring the lighthouse and has opened it to the
public during the summer.
Mackinaw City, Mich.
P/R/C Peter H. Hames, AP, of Houston Sail & Power Squadron is a Leadership Development Committee coordinator,
D/21 Operations Training chair, and Houston Sail & Power
Squadron Operations Leadership chair. A Life Member, he has
been boating more than 65 years. He and his wife, Suzann, live
on Texas’ Lake Conroe, where they enjoy fishing, water-skiing
and sailing with family.
McGulpin Point Lighthouse, lit in 1869, sits on a bluff overlook-
ing the Straits of Mackinac, 2 miles west of Mackinaw City.
Deactivated in 1906, the lighthouse was a private residence
until recently. Emmet County purchased the lighthouse in
2008. The following year, the county replaced the missing
light and lantern room and converted the residence into a museum. The lighthouse is being restored to its 1890 appearance.
Completed in 1892 to replace McGulpin Point Lighthouse,
Suzann and I enjoyed good weather for all but the last day
of our lighthouse adventure. We had so much fun finding and
photographing the lighthouses that we’re looking forward to
our next trip. B
21
6/4/2013 3:20:03 PM
Clockwise from top left:
P/C Karin McLean, JN, teaches the finer
points of marlinespike seamanship. Photo
by Steve Erickson
P/C Ginger Marshall-St. Arnaud, AP, works
the crowd for raffle tickets. S. Erickson
Lt/C Matthew Lombardi demonstrates the
“marriage saver” headsets for the Docking
course. Photo by Victoria Ericksen
Seattle Sail and Power Squadron members
put on the SeaSkills event. S. Erickson
SeaSkills
l
t
a
t
i
e
a
d
c
a
n
Out of the classroom and onto the water
By Mike Toot
W
ant to try something fun—something
that gets new members onto boats,
teaches valuable skills and provides a
casual social atmosphere? Put on a SeaSkills event!
Many members had joined Seattle Sail & Power Squadron
after taking America’s Boating Course, and the squadron
wanted to involve them at more than the classroom level.
SeaSkills was envisioned as an event that would help bridge
the gap between new members taking classes and getting onto
the water.
SeaSkills was first proposed by Charlie Swift, husband of
22 The Ensign
Commander Cathy McDonald, who, with the help of Ginger
Marshall-St. Arnaud and Jean Moore, took the idea and ran
with it.
Program goals
Introduce skills-based training. SeaSkills provides introductory courses for new and existing members, demonstrating
how easy it is to take training out of the classroom and onto
the water to provide real-world skill building in a fun social
environment.
Expand new member involvement. Based on surveys, a majority of new members joined the squadron for education and
Summer 2013
22-24_F_SeaSkills_Ensign_SUM13v2.indd 22
6/7/2013 1:15:19 PM
p
v
a
e
t
P
S
p
t
d
Clockwise from bottom left:
Lt/C Dave Berger, S; P/D/C Barbara
Erickson, JN; and Donna Berger
celebrate with a dinner of grilled
salmon, salad, grilled vegetables,
and dessert. S. Erickson
Cdr Cathy McDonald, JN and Lt/C
Jean Moore, P, are the brains of the
operation. V. Ericksen
A glorious sunset closes out the day.
V. Ericksen
New members and old hands are
ready to tackle a full day of learning
and fun. S. Erickson
limited their participation to classes. By designing an event
that combined a traditional welcome, a squadron rendezvous
and real-world application of classroom skills, we hoped to introduce these new members to other aspects of the squadron.
Increase rendezvous participation. After an 18-month decline
in rendezvous participation, the squadron wanted a way to reenergize these events. SeaSkills provided a mini-rendezvous
at a centrally located, easy-to-reach marina with heavily reduced mooring fees, thanks to squadron negotiations. With a
creative mix of courses, SeaSkills had something for everyone,
and the planning committee personally invited friends and
new members to the event.
Develop future squadron leaders. Squadron friendships
promote camaraderie and encourage squadron success, developing long-term members who serve on committees and
accept leadership roles. With SeaSkills, the bridge made an
effort to invite others in planning, preparing and presenting
this event.
that interested them. Delivering useful, practical information,
the courses were held on members’ boats to keep class sizes
manageable and provide ample opportunity for questions.
Some members taught sessions on topics that interested
them and others taught subjects they had taught in USPS
classes. The course list included engine maintenance, knots
and line splicing, vessel safety, marine electronics, docking
and mooring, anchoring, small sailboat skills, long-distance
cruising, compasses, and even a course on roasting, grinding
Planning
and brewing your own cappuccino aboard a boat—practically
a requirement in Seattle!
The courses were bookended by a lunchtime barbecue and
an optional catered dinner that evening. Food and friendship
have always been partners, so it was a foregone conclusion
that they would be featured in SeaSkills.
SeaSkills took three months to plan. The program’s centerpiece would be deliberately short, half-hour courses designed
to keep interest and energy levels high.
Instructors presented each course three times during the
day to give members multiple opportunities to attend courses
The squadron held its second annual
SeaSkills event on 11 May 2013. More
than 70 USPS members attended,
many of whom were new members.
We presented seminars and hosted
dinner from 14 boats.
23
5/29/2013 3:43:49 PM
SeaSkills I Mike Toot
We had 42 sessions with six different
sessions scheduled in each half-hour
time slot. A ship’s bell rang on the
half hour to remind instructors and
students that the next course
was starting.
The event
From top:
Everyone enjoys
food, fun and great
conversation on
Friday afternoon.
V. Ericksen
Participating boats
put on all their
finery. S. Erickson
The registration
table is the first
point of contact
for Saturday’s
attendees.
V. Ericksen
About half the presenters brought their boats to the marina
on Friday, 11 May 2012, for an appetizer buffet and a warm,
friendly, relaxed evening with none of the jitters normally
associated with putting on a major squadron event.
The next morning, a gentle sunrise painted Shilshole
Bay Marina in pastel pink and blue, promising spectacular
weather with a cloudless sky and an invigorating sea breeze.
After coffee, donuts and coffee cake, we donned hats and
sunscreen for the bright day ahead. The rest of the presenters’
boats arrived throughout the morning.
By 1100 hot dogs sizzled on the grill as squadron members
handed out program information, introduced new members
to older ones, sold raffle tickets and handed out dinner
assignments.
Skill presentations took place aboard 14 member boats
from 1300 to 1630. We had 42 sessions with six different sessions scheduled in each half-hour time slot. A ship’s bell rang
on the half hour to remind instructors and students that the
next course was starting.
After the presentations, light appetizers helped participants recharge their batteries after a day in the sun. A local
restaurant catered and served dinner aboard member boats,
which each had four to six attendees randomly assigned to
encourage conversation and extended one-on-one time.
The planning committee collected feedback forms from
all participants and entered the forms into a raffle. Prizes
included a VHF marine radio and basket of picnic goodies.
We received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many
folks asking how they could help with next year’s event. Preliminary results showed that the squadron met all four of its
program goals.
In Sept. 2012, the squadron received the USPS Member
Involvement and Retention Award during the Detroit Governing Board Meeting for its SeaSkills event.
The squadron held its second annual SeaSkills event on
11 May 2013. More than 70 USPS members attended, many
of whom were new members. We presented seminars and
hosted dinner from 14 boats. The event was a spectacular
success, and we are looking forward to many more years of
hosting this event! B
Mike Toot, JN, loves sailing almost as much as he loves his
wife, Victoria Ericksen, JN. The Seattle Sail & Power Squadron members sail their Island Packet 31 Ars Vivendi around
Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.
24 The Ensign
Summer 2013
6/3/2013 9:31:47 AM
Arnold Medalen
S
M
T
1
2
W
3
T
F
4
5
I Stargazer I
S
6
Pleiades
Venus
7
8
9
10
11
12
Cassiopeia
“Lazy W”
14
Full moon
15
New moon
First-quarter moon Last-quarter moon
16
17
18
19
13
Big
Dipper
Full moon
New moon
Full moon
21
22
Venus
28
New moon
23
24
Full moon
moon
Thunder
Moon NewMars
29
30
Pleiades Cluster
Scorpius
25
26
Orion
27
New moon
Big Dipper
31
Jupiter
Little Dipper
Meteor shower
Sagittarius
“Teapot constellation”
Dates to remember
1
4
5
Venus is low in the west
at sunset with Regulus
2½ fist-widths to the
upper left.
Tonight is good to view
the Pleiades Cluster,
3 finger-widths to the
moon’s upper left, and
Aldebaran, 1 fist-width to
the lower left.
Aldebaran is 2 fingerwidths to the moon’s
right this morning. At
around 1500 UT, Earth
reaches aphelion, its
farthest distance from
the sun at 1.01670 astronomical units (94 million
miles) away. Aphelion
varies from 2–6 July.
Earth is 3.1 million miles
more distant than it was
at perihelion on 2 Jan.
13 Look north in the early
evening to see the Big
Dipper with its handle
pointing upward. Follow
the pointer stars at the
end of the bucket 3 fistwidths to the North Star,
Polaris. Continue along
that line to Cassiopeia,
known as the Lazy “W”
constellation.
15 Tonight the moon passes
within ½ finger-width of
Spica. Viewers in Hawaii
will see the moon occult
Spica.
16 Saturn is 2 finger-widths
to the moon’s upper right
tonight.
18 The moon is in the head of
Scorpius, the Scorpion, this
evening. Antares, the Heart
of the Scorpion, is 3 fingerwidths to the lower left.
21 Venus passes within
½ finger-width of Regulus tonight. Low in the
west at twilight, they set
1½ hours after the sun.
The moon is at perigee,
56.2 Earth-radii (222,000
miles) away.
22 Low in the east before
dawn, Mars passes less
than 1 degree from
Jupiter. Look quickly; the
sun rises less than
2 hours after the planets,
The Summer
Triangle
dominates the
eastern evening
sky, with Vega in
the east;
Altair 3 fistwidths to the
lower right; and
Deneb 2 ½ fistwidths to
Vega’s lower
left. Get out the
binoculars
later this month
as Jupiter, Mars
and Mercury
put on a show.
Gemini Twins
Mercury
Full moon
July
2013
20
Scorpius
which will soon be lost in
the glare.
Spring Equinox
26 Before dawn, the bright
star
3 fist-widths below
Summer
Solstice
the moon in the southwest is Fomalhaut. The
same distance above the
moon sits Alpheratz in
the constellation
Andromeda, the Chained
Princess, daughter of
Cassiopeia and Cepheus.
28 High in the south at
first light, the moon is
between Alpheratz,
2½ fist-widths to the
upper right, and Mira,
2 fist-widths to the lower
left in the constellation
Cetus, the Sea Monster.
30 Rising 1½ hours before
the sun, Mercury reaches
its greatest elongation
west of the sun and
should be visible before
the sky brightens. With
your binoculars, try spotting Mars, 3 finger-widths
above Mercury, and
Jupiter, 1½ finger-widths
to Mars’ upper right.
Fall Equinox
Winter Solstice
use binoculars
Get even more
stargazing
opportunities at
uspsstargazer.
wordpress.com.
25-27_Stargazer_Ensign_SUM13.indd 25
25
6/3/2013 9:33:42 AM
Cassiopeia
“Lazy W”
Full moon
New moon
I Stargazer I
Pleiades Cluster
Scorpius
S
M
T
W
T
F
1
2
Big Dipper
Orion
Jupiter
Mars
Jupiter
4
5
6
Mars
Gemini
Twins
7
8
Saturn
Little Dipper
August
2013
Astronomers
predict a good
year for the
Perseid meteor
shower, with
the best viewing
11–13 Aug.
before dawn.
Jupiter, Mars
and Mercury
linger near the
western horizon
before dawn
all month. The
highest, Jupiter,
outshines Mars,
to the lower left,
and Mercury,
close to the
horizon.
Get weekly
star updates
delivered to
your inbox.
Sign up for the RSS
feed at uspsstargazer.
wordpress.com.
26 The Ensign
12
9
Venus
Mercury
11
S
3
Full moon
New moon
13
Venus
14
10
15
16
17
Saturn
25
19
Scorpius
Full moon
New moon
20
21
Green
Corn Moon
Spring Equinox
26
27
22
Full moon
New moon
29
Winter Solstice
New moon
3
4
7
Aldebaran is 1 fingerwidth to the moon’s
lower right before dawn.
Over the next few days,
the moon passes three
planets in the pre-dawn
sky. This morning look
for Jupiter, 3 fingerwidths to the moon’s left
or lower left, and Mars,
3 finger-widths to
Jupiter’s lower left.
This morning, the moon
slips past Jupiter and
Mars, now 3 fingerwidths to the moon’s
upper left. Mercury is
1 fist-width to Mars’
lower left.
The moon sets within a
few minutes of the sun,
giving us dark skies for
the next few evenings.
At dusk, look for Venus
near the western horizon.
Next, look for Arcturus
high to the upper left,
more than 4 fist-widths
from Venus. Saturn will
appear to Arcturus’
lower left, and Spica to
24
30
Gemini
Twins
Jupiter
Orion
31
Gemini Twins
Dates to remember
1
23
Summer
Triangle
Fall Equinox
28
Summer Solstice
Full moon
Full moon
Sagittarius
Meteor shower
18 Perseid
meteor
shower
Cassiopeia
“Lazy W”
Meteor shower
Saturn’s lower right.
9
11
The sun sets an hour
before the moon tonight.
As the sky darkens, look
for Venus 3 finger-widths
to the moon’s upper
right. Only 5 percent of
the moon’s surface is
illuminated.
Tonight, the bright star
2 finger-widths to the
moon’s upper left is
Spica. The Perseid
meteor shower peaks
over the next few nights.
Viewing will be better
after the moon sets, 2 to
3 hours after sunset.
to the moon’s upper left
tonight. Spica is 4 fingerwidths to the moon’s
lower right.
15 Antares is 4 fingerwidths to the moon’s
lower right tonight.
22 Tonight, lean back and
look straight up; the two
bright stars overhead are
Vega in the constellation
Lyra, the Lyre, and Deneb
in the constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Both stars
Spring Equinox
are part of the Summer
Triangle.
24 Tonight, Alpheratz is
3 fist-widths above theSummer Solstice
moon, Hamel is 1½ fistwidths to the left, and
Almach is 3 fist-widths
to the upper left. The
slightly brighter star
1½ fist-widths to
Almach’s lower left is
Mirfak in the constellation Perseus, the Hero.
28 High in the southeast
before dawn, the moon
lies between the Pleiades, 4 finger-widths to
the upper right, and
Aldebaran, 2 fingerwidths to the lower left.
Orion, the Hunter, is
beyond Aldebaran.
31 Jupiter is 2 finger-widths
to the moon’s left before
dawn, with the Gemini
Twins 1½ fist-widths to
the lower left.
Summer 2013
5/29/2013 3:45:37 PM
Ne
“Lazy W”
Full moon
New moon
Pleiades Cluster
Scorpius
Cassiopeia
“Lazy W”
Full moon
New moon
I Stargazer I
Big Dipper
Orion
Pleiades Cluster
Scorpius
S
M
1
2
Gemini
Twins
T
3
W
T
4
Big
Dipper
Full moon
Jupiter
8
9
Meteor shower
Full moon
10
11
12
Sagittarius
“Teapot constellation” Scorpius
Venus
15
Saturn
16
Spring Equinox
Sagittarius
Meteor shower
New moon
New moon
17
18
Saturn
Fall Equinox
New moon
Spring Equinox
Fall Equinox
24
29
19
Orion
20
Full moon
Gemini Twins
26
Full moon
September
2013
21
Big Dipper
Pleiades Cluster
New moon
27
Little Dipper
Orion
Orion
Pleiades
30
New moon
Scorpius
Winter
25 Solstice
Fall
Summer Solstice
14
Pleiades Cluster
Harvest Moon
Summer
Solstice
23
13
Full moon
Scorpius
Full moon
Venus
22
Cassiopeia
“Lazy W”
Little Dipper
Gemini Twins
7
Cassiopeia
“Lazy W”
Big Dipper
S
6
Little Dipper
Gemini Twins
Orion
F
5
Meteor shower
New moon
28
Big Dipper
Jupiter
Sagittarius
Winter Solstice
Gemini Twins
Spring Equinox
Dates to remember
1
In the east before dawn,
the moon stands between
the Gemini Twins, 1 fistwidth to the upper left,
and Procyon, the same
distance to the lower
right. Brilliant Jupiter is
1 fist-width directly above
the moon. The equation
of time is zero.
5
Low in the west at dusk,
the first light you see
is Venus, followed by
Saturn 1 fist-width to the
upper left and Spica less
than 1 finger-width to
Venus’ lower left.
7
Only a few days old, the
moon sets soon after the
sun, making stargazing
easier. Ursa Major, the
Big Dipper, sits a bit left
of north with its handle
pointing to the upper
left. The pointer stars at
the end of the bucket
point to Polaris, less
than 3 fist-widths to the
upper right. Looking right
(east), you can easily
make out Cassiopeia, the
Meteor shower
Summer Solstice
Little Dipper
Fall Equinox
Sagittarius
Winter Solstice
19 The full moon (1113 UT)
Lazy W constellation.
closest to the autumnal
Turning farther right
equinox is called the
(south), you can see the
Fall Equinox
Harvest Moon.
Summer TriangleSpring
to Equinox
Cassiopeia’s upper right.
22 Today marks the first
Sagittarius and Scorpius
day of fall, the autumare easy to spot near the
nal equinox, as the sun
horizon. FinishingSummer
the Solstice
Winter Solstice
crosses the celestial
turn (west), you can see
equator into the
Arcturus, the bright star
Southern Hemisphere.
in the middle of the sky.
23 The Pleiades Cluster is
8 Venus is to Spica’s up3 finger-widths to the
per left, and the moon is
moon’s upper left this
less than 1 finger-width
evening.
to Venus’ left. All three
occupy a 1½-finger-width 25 In the south before
dawn, bright Aldebaran
diameter circle.
is 2 finger-widths to the
moon’s lower right. To
to the moon’s right.
the moon’s lower left,
Orion dominates the
11 The moon is 3 fingersouthern sky.
widths above Antares,
the red-orange heart of
28 The moon is between
Scorpius.
Jupiter, 3 finger-widths
to the upper left, and
Procyon, a little more
above Venus low in the
than 1 fist-width to the
west at dusk. Venus pulls
lower right.
to Saturn’s left over the
next few nights.
On the move,
Venus passes
Spica and then
Saturn. On the
8th, the moon
passes less than
one degree from
Venus. Bring
your binoculars.
Spica and
Saturn move
closer to the
horizon each
day, while Venus
slides to the left.
P/C Arnold Medalen, SN,
of Diablo Sail & Power
Squadron boats with his
wife, Patricia, aboard
Shelly C in the California
Delta and San Francisco
Bay. He began writing
about the night sky after
taking Navigation in
the early ’90s.
27
5/29/2013 3:45:47 PM
THE
MIGHTY
MACKINAW
Queen of the Great Lakes
By Michael A. LeButt
T
en days after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941,
the U.S. Congress passed legislation to construct
the most powerful icebreaker in the world. Its
name was Mackinaw.
The Toledo Shipbuilding Company began construction but soon went bankrupt. The American Shipbuilding
Company completed the job at a total cost of $10 million.
Ninety-five percent of the iron ore used in the war effort was
mined from the vast deposits of Minnesota and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Along with the coal and limestone necessary to
manufacture steel, iron ore needed to travel by water to the
Great Lakes’ steel mills. The Mackinaw kept the shipping lanes
open longer in the winter when solid ice could grow four feet
thick with windrows two to three stories high.
At 290 feet long with a beam of 74 feet 4 inches and a displacement of 5,252 tons, the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw
was up to the task. Its 1 ⅜-inch high-tensile steel hull was laid
with a 1 ⅝-inch mild steel ice belt below the waterline. With
frames spaced 16 inches apart, Mackinaw could break 3-footthick solid ice while moving steadily ahead at 3 knots with a
ballasted draft of 19 feet. To clear thicker ice and windrows,
Mackinaw would back up and ram. Top speed in open water
was 15 knots.
Although Mackinaw now sports the traditional red hull
designating Coast Guard icebreakers, it was originally painted
all white with no markings to camouflage it from air attacks.
A 12-foot-diameter propeller at the bow pulled water from
under the ice, weakening it in advance of the ship while keeping the hull flushed to prevent re-freezing of churned ice.
Pumps moved 160 tons of water from heeling tanks from one
side to the other in 60 to 90 seconds to rock the Mackinaw’s
round bottom and free it from the ice’s grip. There’s no record
of Mackinaw ever being beset in ice from which it could not
be freed.
The ship’s twin 14-foot-diameter stern propellers were
driven by electric motors powered by 10-cylinder, opposedpiston, two-cycle Fairbanks Morse railroad locomotive
engines. Six of these 2,000-horsepower monsters could be
brought online to meet demand. Mackinaw carried enough
fuel to circle the earth one-and-a-half times.
Mackinaw would periodically visit the lower Great Lakes
when thick ice or an endangered ship required, but its primary
areas of operation were the Straits of Mackinac (between
Lake Huron and Lake Michigan); the St. Marys River, including the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. (between Lake Huron
and Lake Superior); and Lake Superior’s Whitefish Bay. Its
home port was Cheboygan, Mich., at the tip of Michigan’s
Lower Peninsula.
Mackinaw’s motto was “We move ships when no one else
can.” While it could still perform every mission thrown at
28-29_Mackinaw_Ensign_Sum2013.indd 28
5/29/2013 3:47:52 PM
MICHAEL LEBUTT
Michael A. LeButt I The Mighty Mackinaw
CO U R T E SY O F I C E B R E A K E R M AC K I N AW M A R I T I M E M U S E U M
A HELPING HAND
it, Mackinaw simply got too expensive to operate. It needed
a large crew, which meant a big payroll and many mouths
to feed, and replacement parts could no longer be found
for its 1940s-era diesels. After 62 years of breaking ice,
Mackinaw was retired in June 2006 and replaced by a new
Mackinaw (WLBB-30) at a simultaneous decommissioning/
commissioning ceremony.
Now operated as the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum, the retired USCGC Mackinaw is berthed in Mackinaw
City, Mich., the village for which it was named. The museum
is open from mid-May to mid-October. For more information,
visit themackinaw.org. B
P/Lt/C Michael LeButt, SN, of Tip of the Mitt Sail & Power
Squadron, has been sailing for more than 60 years and has
logged thousands of miles on the Great Lakes and coastal
California, where he lived aboard his 40-foot cutter, True
North. Recently named District 9’s Instructor of the Year,
he is also a Coast Guard Licensed Master.
In May 2012, Tip of the Mitt Power Squadron members
volunteered to clean, paint and ready the Mackinaw for a
new season of visitors. Clean-up crew: David Campbell, P;
P/C Bob D’Alcorn, JN; P/C Jim Ellis, AP; Sarah Tietjen; Lt/C
Tom Tietjen, SN; Eric Eide, S; Pat Kutsch; Trent Kutsch; Paul
Tietjen; Janet Eide; and Lt/C Bill Lovett, P
P/C Jim Ellis, AP, paints
the ticket booth.
P/C Bob D’Alcorn, JN, cleans
the pilothouse.
NEW & IMPROVED
Mackinaw (WLBB-30) is a multi-role vessel. In addition
to being an icebreaker, it’s also a lighthouse and buoy
tender, and it carries law-enforcement weaponry and
containment booms for oil spills.
Like its predecessor, it can break through solid ice
while moving forward at 3 knots. The new cutter is
smaller and has a unique propulsion system powered
by Caterpillar diesels. Electric motors sealed in submerged teardrop-shaped pods hang below the hull
and can turn 360 degrees, aiming the propellers in any
direction. Combined with bow-thrusters, this configuration makes for excellent maneuverability.
28-29_Mackinaw_Ensign_Sum2013.indd 29
29
6/3/2013 9:38:43 AM
I Destinations I
Cruising back
in time
Exploring Ohio’s
Muskingum River
By Ruth Burd
T
en of us trailered four boats 740
miles to Zanesville, Ohio, for an
81-mile historical cruise down
the Muskingum River. We traveled
through nine locks with hand-cranked
wooden doors and crumbling stone
walls to Marietta, Ohio, with few amenities such as restaurants, hotels or
marinas along the way.
The group included Bill and Linda
Chastain on My Valium; Jim and Dee
Hoover on Little Bird; Dave Moore and
Lynn Kearney on Phoenix; and Norm
Champion, Gail Savidge, Rich and me
on Teacher’s Pet.
We launched the four boats in
Zanesville, Ohio, with plenty of extra
gas aboard. While the men drove the
trailers to Marietta, the women visited
the Longaberger Company, the largest
manufacturer of handmade baskets in
the U.S.
We saw few signs or channel buoys
30 The Ensign
We saw few signs
or channel buoys
and no mile markers along the river,
which made it difficult to know exactly
where we were at
any given time.
and no mile markers along the river,
which made it difficult to know exactly
where we were at any given time.
All but one of the locks had a single
chamber. Once inside a lock, each
boat’s crew would wrap a line at bow
and stern around cables tied vertically
along the lock wall. Then we watched
the lockmaster hand-crank the rickety
gears to open and close the doors to fill
and empty the chamber. This laborintensive process occurred numerous
times each day but took only 20 minutes per lock.
Due to low water, we had several
mishaps during the beginning of the
trip. One boat hit a log in 4 feet of
water, raising the bow and tipping
it sideways. The boat wasn’t taking
on water, so we continued cruising.
But when the boat was loaded on the
trailer at the end of the trip, we could
see a 2-inch piece of wood had pierced
the hull and was acting as a plug.
As the trip continued, another boat
became stuck in shallow water. The
boat sent to rescue it also got stuck,
requiring us to jump into the river and
pull both boats into deeper water like
in the movie “African Queen.” Overheating problems eventually troubled
both boats. Having taken on debris,
their engines weren’t cooling properly.
Towing two boats, we looked for a
dock and launch ramp.
Summer 2013
30-31_Destinations_Ensign_SUM13.indd 30
5/29/2013 3:50:27 PM
I Destinations I
With the locks closing as darkness
approached, we decided to drop anchor
and spend the night. In the morning,
both tows continued until Bill found
a man on a dock who volunteered to
drive him to Marietta to get his boat
trailer. After retrieving his boat, Bill
assisted Dave in retrieving his vehicle
and boat, as well.
The remaining two boats continued
through the locks to the campground
where we would spend the night.
Norm and Gail stayed at a Victorian
inn in a restored mill that overlooked a
dam. We were leery of being the water
taxi to the inn because the small dock
was well into the dam’s danger buoys;
however, the lockmaster assured us
that boats docked there all the time
and that it was safe. With boats in tow,
Bill, Linda, Dave and Lynn joined us at
the campground, where we grilled out
and talked until dark.
Often overgrown with vegetation,
the narrow canals leading to the
remaining locks sometimes extended
for a mile. We saw few boats on this
stretch, but once we saw a dredge
under power.
With no mile markers and no dam
warnings ( just danger buoys and a visual of the waterfall), navigating was a
challenge. Our unhelpful paper charts
lacked detail and often wouldn’t even
show all the bridges. With no electronic charts of the river available, we had
truly traveled back in time.
The Muskingum River ends where
it meets the Ohio River in Marietta.
There we found a marina with showers
and electricity. Ah, civilization! B
Far left: The Zanesville
railroad bridge opens at
a prearranged time.
Above: Cruise captain
P/C Norm Champion,
JN; P/C Ruth Burd, AP;
P/C Rich Burd, AP; and
P/C Gail Savidge, P, take
a lunch break aboard
Teacher’s Pet.
At left: Linda Chastain,
P, and Bill Chastain, P,
on My Valium enter the
lock chamber.
Below: Cruisers enjoy
the quiet and calm
along the scenic
Muskingum River.
P/C Ruth Burd, AP, and her husband
P/C Rich Burd, AP, Land of Lincoln
Power Squadron members from Springfield, Ill., have trailered their 27-foot
Monterey to a variety of ports. They
have cruised the North Channel in upper Lake Huron, Canada’s Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway, Lake
Erie, Lake Michigan, the Arkansas and
Mississippi rivers, and both coasts of
Florida. Rich thinks Teacher’s Pet was
named for him, but Ruth says the boat
is her real “pet.”
30-31_Destinations_Ensign_SUM13.indd 31
31
5/29/2013 3:50:41 PM
I Waypoints I
S
Camaraderie aboard
a clipper ship
F
U
SPS members from across the
country joined North Carolina’s
Cape Lookout Sail & Power Squadron
members for a weeklong Caribbean
sailing excursion aboard Star Clipper,
a 360-foot, four-masted barkentine.
Our group of 35 accounted for onefourth of the tall ship’s passengers,
and our common bond gave us instant
camaraderie.
Star Clipper departed St. Maarten
19 Jan. for seven less-traveled southern
islands, including Dominica, Guadeloupe and Antigua. Shore excursions
were available at each island, except
tiny Íles des Saintes.
At the end of the all-too-short
voyage, participants asked, “Where
are we going next?” The tall ship
excursion was the trip of a lifetime.
A slide show is available at
clsps.org/starClipper.html.
f
t
i
a
b
s
C
fi
t
t
w
–Richard J. Tobacco
Lake Arthur rendezvous
T
wice a year, Lake Charles Sail & Power Squadron
members take their boats south on the Calcasieu
River, east along the Intracoastal Waterway, and
north on the beautiful Mermentau River to visit the
charming town of Lake Arthur, La. Many other members travel by land and meet up with the boaters.
The group spends at least three days at the pier,
enjoying the town’s friendly hospitality, outstanding
restaurants and unique nightlife. –Nancy G. Rogers
32 The Ensign
.
r, La
rthu 46'
A
e
Lak 0°04.8 2'
N 3 °40.29
2
W9
Summer 2013
32-35_Waypoints_Ensign_SUM2013.indd 32
6/6/2013 10:05:52 AM
I Waypoints I
Sailing sparks learning
F
or three years, Greenwich Sail & Power Squadron has worked with the
Young Mariners Foundation of Stamford, Conn., which serves children
from low-income families with the help of the Boys & Girls Club.
After assisting with the initial fundraiser, squadron members gave firsttime sailors a two-hour introduction to safe boating. Young Mariners’
instructors taught the children swimming, CPR/First Aid and environmental
awareness, supplemented by training from a local sailing school. Then members of the squadron and local yacht clubs took the children for afternoon
sails, highlighting safety and providing instruction.
Over four Saturday mornings, second-year students took America’s Boating
Course, adapted by the squadron for the fifth- and sixth-graders. This was the
first class to obtain Connecticut Safe Boating Certificates online. D/2 Educational Officer George Hallenbeck was on hand at the Boys & Girls Club with
the eight children on eight computers, and everything went smoothly.
Graduating students received USPS caps and certificates of completion and
were sworn in as squadron members. –Susan Ryan
D/C Susan
Ryan, JN, and
Lt/C Andy
Cummings,
JN, with
recent
America’s
Boating
Course
graduates,
who all
passed with
scores above
90 percent.
Kevin Wing
displays the
burgee he
won for acing
the exam.
“The sailing
program
showed
me how to
learn,” Wing
said, “how to
focus.”
P/C Ben Bee, AP; P/R/C Horst
Boettge, SN; and Lt Temple
Meek, JN, of Golden Corner Lakes
Sail & Power Squadron brave
the elements in Charleston, S.C.,
for two hours in a 19-foot open
center-console boat to complete
their Cooperative Charting mission.
GEORGE A. SCHILLER II
Neither winds nor
choppy waters
Tow
Marin er Park
a, Lo
N 38° di, Calif.
0
W 121 6.602'
°29.8
83'
Certifiable fun
O
n 17 Oct. 2012, Rich Holden and I
launched my Whaler from Tower
Park Marina in California’s Sacramento River Delta for an Inland Navigator
Advanced Powerboat Handling skills
course taught by D/25 Educational
Officer Norm Pennington.
The boat carried seven slalom
course buoys, anchors, 40 feet of line
for each buoy, our course syllabus and
lunch. Les and Curt Johnson followed
in Curt’s 24-foot runabout, our test
vessel. Ralph Price, Bob Burget and
Norm Pennington were already at
Devil’s Isle, our event base.
With the slalom course set, we
learned the 17 exercises required
for certification. After familiarizing
ourselves with the test vessel, we
demonstrated docking, high-speed
on-the-water maneuvers, approaching
range markers and crew overboard.
We also had to power through the slalom course and back down it. Although
it was serious learning, everyone had
fun, and five Diablo Sail & Power
Squadron members became certified.
–Dave Humphrey
33
6/6/2013 10:12:34 AM
I Waypoints I
A patriotic moment
D
H
uring Poverty Bay Sail & Power
Squadron’s May rendezvous in
Port Orchard, Wash., members were
surprised to see the USS John C.
Stennis enter the bay and proceed to
its home port of Bremerton, Wash.
Sailors stood in formation around
the flight deck, returning after a
long deployment. We waved flags to
welcome them home. –John Green
I
n late January, Marco Island Sail & Power Squadron and the U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary sponsored hands-on flare and fire extinguisher training in Marco Island,
Fla. More than 100 people attended the event, which was held at the Marco Island
Yacht Club with approval from the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S.
Coast Guard.
Participants ignited one handheld flare and one aerial pistol-launched flare
each, most for the first time, as it’s only legal to do so in an emergency. All flares
used were outdated. The Civil Air Patrol videotaped the event to train pilots
involved in air/sea operations.
One valuable insight gained was to wear protective gloves when igniting handheld flares. The slag is so hot that many people extinguished their flares before
they burned out. Because of the short 5–7 second burn time and high failure
rate, we learned to carry more aerial flares on board than required. The Civil Air
Patrol pilots had a difficult time seeing handheld and aerial flares in daylight but
could clearly see handheld smoke flares.
The Marco Island Fire Rescue Department provided hands-on fire extinguisher
training. Participants learned how heavy a firefighter’s protective gear is.
Before leaving the dock, know how to use your flares and make sure they aren’t
outdated. The failure rate for expired flares was 18 percent for handheld flares, a
whopping 73 percent for 12-gauge aerial pistol-launched flares, and more than
90 percent for Skyblazer aerial flares with a built-in launch tube. –Carl Thieme
d
slan lub
co I
Mar acht C '
.) Y
14
(Fla 5°57.7 7'
N 2 °42.74
1
W8
ELENA BUDKINA
Flare training teaches safety lessons
The full version of this article was originally published in the Marco Island, Fla., Marco Eagle.
34 The Ensign
Summer 2013
6/6/2013 10:30:38 AM
I Waypoints I
Tokyo members venture
south for fun, friendship
ina,
Mar
a
m
a
Hay Japan 7'
.96 '
0
5°16
N 3 °34.00
9
3
1
E
L
ast October, Tokyo Sail & Power Squadron members traveled south to Hayama, Japan, where they enjoyed a day on
the water and a barbecue with their hosts from Hayama Marina. More than 25 members joined 15 people from the marina
for the event, organized by Kobayashi-san.
A little after 1000, four sailboats took members out on the
water under clear skies and light winds. The boaters ate lunch
at anchor in a small bay within shouting distance of the Emperor’s summer home. The water roiled with schools of small
fish, and much larger bora, a type of mullet, leaped all around.
After more sailing, the boats returned to the marina. By
1500, the barbecue was fired up in the boatyard, where a pianist played live music. Everyone feasted on vegetables, chicken, pork, sausage and yakisoba, and drank cold beer and wine.
At sunset, thank-you speeches were followed by an invitation
to karaoke. We enjoyed the day with our hosts from Hayama
Marina and are looking forward to next year’s event.
Beaming for the camera: Suzuko Mall; Lt Eugene Mall, S;
Masayuki Maruo; Euan MacGregor; Jerry Brady, S; and
1st/Lt Randy Erskine
–Warren Fraser
The
o
Roo dore
Mem seve
Oys orial lt
Pa
te
N 4 r Bay, rk
0°5
N.Y.
2
W7
3°3 .408'
1.95
5'
ELENA BUDKINA
Cdr Marco Rojas,
N, with Town
of Oyster Bay
Councilman Chris
Coschignano and
Environmental
Commissioner
Neil Bergin
Squadron spearheads cleanup
O
yster Bay Sail & Power Squadron helped sponsor the Oyster Bay Harbor
cleanup as part of the International Ocean Conservancy environmental
preservation effort.
Early on 15 Sept. 2012, squadron members set up a hospitality tent along
the waterfront in Oyster Bay’s Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park to serve
coffee and donuts to organizing volunteers. Throughout the morning, members distributed bottled water and energy bars donated by Whole Foods.
An estimated 250 people turned out for the cleanup, including many school
groups. According to the Town of Oyster Bay Environmental Resources
Department, volunteers collected 1.76 tons of debris. The volunteers also
removed two derelict floating docks from the water, a small boat cart from the
sea grass and assorted debris from the beaches. –Len Hecht
Small-scale
sailing fun
Crystal River (Fla.) Sail & Power
Squadron member P/C Pete Ward,
JN, judges a race at Cub Scout Pack
449’s Rain Gutter Regatta, during
which scouts sail handmade boats
down a 10-foot rain gutter.
–Joanne Hepner
35
5/29/2013 3:54:06 PM
© ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/YINYANG
Deep in the heart
of Texas
Dress code
Mon.–Thurs., 2–5 Sept.
USPS casual or other
appropriate attire
Thurs. evening Western
or other casual attire
Fri., 6 Sept.
USPS blazer (preferred), district/departmental polo shirts or
other appropriate attire
Sat., 7 Sept.
Daytime Uniform F
Men: Regulation longsleeve white shirt with
black four-in-hand tie,
black uniform trousers,
black belt (if worn),
black socks, black
shoes, or other appropriate attire
Ladies: Regulation
long-sleeve white shirt,
black skirt or slacks,
black crossover tie,
black shoes, black
purse (if carried) or
other appropriate attire
Evening USPS blazer
with tie or other appro-
priate attire
36-37_meetings Summer.indd 36
A top meeting venue, San Antonio has something for everyone, and our meeting hotel, the new Grand
Hyatt San Antonio, sits at the heart of it all. One of two Hyatt hotels on the River Walk, the Grand Hyatt (600 East Market St., grandsanantonio.hyatt.com, 210-224-1234) provides beautifually decorated
modern rooms in a pleasing environment.
While you’re there, enjoy a serene stroll along the River Walk’s winding, tree-shaded walkways,
where you’ll find a variety of restaurant choices to please the pickiest eaters and entertainment options for both the young and the young-at-heart. Nearby downtown San Antonio also features many
restaurant, shopping and entertainment destinations, including the La Villita Historic Arts Village
and Market Square, the largest Mexican market this side of the border.
Eat, meet and have fun
San Antonio has plenty to entertain you. Plan to come early. USPS rates start Friday, 30 Aug., and run
through Sunday, 8 Sept. In-hotel social activities include a Thursday evening fiesta, Saturday lunch,
and a Saturday evening dinner-dance. In addition, the area is home to many reasonably priced restaurants as well as upscale eateries. The hotel restaurant has one of the best breakfast buffets you’ve ever
seen as well as both indoor and al fresco dining.
To make your stay in San Antonio memorable, the National Meetings Committee has planned many
exciting activities in addition to our meetings, leaving you ample time to visit the area’s many theaters, galleries, parks and plazas, many of which are free and open to the public year-round. Exciting
tours and social programs scheduled during the week will give you a fun, relaxing break between busy
workdays. What a great opportunity to extend your stay and enjoy a rare San Antonio vacation!
Getting there by air
Approximately eight miles from the Grand Hyatt San Antonio and the downtown area, the 24-hour
San Antonio International Airport is at the junction of northeast loop 410 and Highway 281 North,
with easy access to and from the interstate.
Ground transportation
The Go Airport Shuttle (210-281-9900, citytoursinc.com/airport-shuttle) costs $19 one way or $34
roundtrip. The shuttle runs from 0700 to 0130 daily and picks up and drops off at the hotel entrance.
The shuttle stops at other hotels and will take longer than a taxi. The recommended taxi service is
Yellow Cab (210-222-2222), with a one-way airport-to-hotel fare of around $30.
Reserve your room
Make your reservations at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio by 9 Aug. to get the USPS rate, $139 for
single and double occupancy and one-bedroom suites for $239. Make, modify or cancel reservations
at usps.org/php/reservations or by calling 800-233-1234. Make sure you get the United States Power
Squadrons rate. Call Don Clark at 352-861-2176 if you have problems with reservations.

36 The Ensign
Plan your stay
Summer 2013
6/7/2013 9:00:45 AM
San Antonio
USPS 2013 Governing Board 1–8 Sept.
© ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/YINYANG
ACTIVITIES REGISTRATION >> Reserve online at usps.org/php/reservations
Rank
First
MI
Last
Grade
Cert. No.
Rank
First
MI
Last
Grade
Cert. No.
Address
City
Home phone
Cell/Office
State
ZIP
Squadron/District
Dietary restrictions?
Email address
First time attending a national meeting?
Wednesday, 4 Sept.
Saturday, 7 Sept.
0900–1400 Golf Outing
1100–1400 Ladies Reception & Luncheon, all welcome
You’ll board a shuttle bus or van at 0800 from the hotel to one of the
Hyatt resorts for 18 holes of golf. Both men and women are invited to
attend. Either bring your own clubs or rent them there. Ticket price
includes transportation to and from the course. Club rental and lunch
are extra.
Quantity ______ @ $48 before 10 Aug., $50 after
Total ______
You’ll board a bus for a tour of the Alamo, Mission San José, Mission
Concepción and El Mercado before returning to the hotel.
Total ______
Thursday, 5 Sept.
1200–1400 Members Luncheon (cash bar 1200–1230)
Enjoy lunch with fellow USPS members and guests.
Total ______
Enjoy a wonderful meal and fellowship with USPS members and guests.
Total ______
Convention Package Deal Discount Bundles
Convention Package Deal 1a or 1b, $171 per person
0900–1500 All-day Tour of San Antonio
Enjoy the Alamo, a riverboat ride, the Japanese Tea Garden, the
Buckhorn Saloon & Museum, and the Texas Ranger Museum. After
lunch on your own at the Alamo Plaza see Mission San José, Mission
Concepción and El Mercado.
Total ______
1830–2200 Fiesta Dinner Party in the Hotel
Total ______
Friday, 6 Sept.
0730 Convention Breakfast
Kick off the convention-style meeting with breakfast and an opening
keynote address.
Total ______
0900–1500 All-day Tour of San Antonio
Total ______
1830–2200 Reception and Banquet
1330–1630 Half-day Tour of San Antonio
Enjoy the Alamo, a riverboat ride, the Japanese Tea Garden, the
Buckhorn Saloon & Museum, and the Texas Ranger Museum. After
lunch on your own at the Alamo Plaza see Mission San José, Mission
Concepción and El Mercado.
Total ______
Thursday Dinner Party, Friday Convention Breakfast, either Saturday
Members Luncheon (1a) or Ladies Luncheon (1b), and Saturday Night
Banquet. Deadline: 1 Aug. 2013
Convention Package Deal 2a or 2b, $206 per person
Wednesday Half-day Tour, Thursday Dinner Party, Friday Convention
Breakfast, either Saturday Members Luncheon (2a) or Ladies Luncheon
(2b), and Saturday Night Banquet. Deadline: 1 Aug. 2013
Quantity Package Deal 1a _____ or 1b ______
Total _____
Quantity Package Deal 2a _____ or 2b ______
Total _____
Total quantity tickets: ______
Total amount due: $________
RV information Visit usps.org/lc/highwaymariners.
Tickets Reserve tickets online at usps.org/php/reservations using a
credit card or mail form and check made out to 2013 Governing Board,
USPS Headquarters, P.O. Box 30423, Raleigh, NC 27622. Call 512-9131512 for more information or email hyoas@flash.net.
Activity reservations must be secured or postmarked by 10 Aug. 2013. After 10 Aug., call or email for instructions. Refund requests made after 15 Aug. will be honored
only if the tickets are resold. All tickets must be picked up at the member activities registration area no later than one hour before the event, except for Ladies Luncheon, Members Luncheon and Banquet tickets, which must be picked up by 1000 Saturday, 7 Sept. 2013. Agenda and additional details may be found at usps.org/php/
reservations.
Our meeting hotel is Grand Hyatt San Antonio. Reserve online at usps.org/php/reservations or by calling 800-233-1234 or 888-421-1442. Identify yourself as a member
of USPS, Group ID 15454123. Request the USPS rate of $139 plus tax per night.
#
36-37_meetings Summer.indd 37
Mar/Apr 2007 The Ensign
37
6/6/2013 10:38:42 AM
I Last Horizon I
“Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning
of the bar,
When I put out to sea …”
DEBRA ALLEN
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Martin W. Arndt, SN
Senior Member, 14 mm
Fort Macon (NC) Squadron/27
P/C Francois R. Barfuss, AP
Life Member, 29 mm
Darien (CT) Squadron/2
P/Lt/C Lincoln Baxter II, N
Buzzards Bay (MA) Squadron/14
P/C Jasper C. Boles Jr., SN
Life Member, 41 mm
Lake Hartwell (SC) Squadron/26
Lt Robert G. Borchak, S
Senior Member, 9 mm
Grosse Pointe (MI) Squadron/9
P/C Roy S. Brown Jr., AP
Life Member, 34 mm
Lake Charles (LA) Squadron/21
P/C William J. Buchanan, SN
Life Member, 28 mm
Delhigh (PA) Squadron/5
P/D/Lt/C Harold W. Butler, SN
Emeritus Member, 61 mm
Austin (TX) Squadron/21
P/C Kenneth C. Crebbin, SN
Life Member, 34 mm
Diablo (CA) Squadron/25
38 The Ensign
Joseph “Jay” F. Cusick, AP
Fort Macon (NC) Squadron/27
James R. Dorsey, S
Taunton River (MA) Squadron/14
P/C Jacqueline A. Dundon, SN
Life Member, 25 mm
Grand Traverse Bay (MI) Squadron/9
Mary Lou Evans, AP
P/C Paul M. Feliu, AP
Life Member, 26 mm
New Orleans (LA) Squadron/15
Carole M. Fitzmaurice
Peace River (FL) Squadron/22
P/C John J. Fitzmaurice, AP
Gail F. Forbes, S
2 mm
Ten Mile (PA) Squadron/7
Lani Gaskill, P
Fort Vancouver (WA) Squadron/32
Ebenezer Gay, P
Senior Member, 8 mm
Lt Paul B. Goldman, AP
Senior Member, 9 mm
South Shore (NY) Squadron/3
Lawrence D. Greenberg, AP
Delaware River (PA) Squadron/5
Thomas A. Grewenig
Beaufort (SC) Squadron/26
P/C James H. Hambrick, SN
Life Member, 30 mm
Pompano Beach (FL) Squadron/8
P/D/C Robert S. Haynes, P
Life Member, 26 mm
Newport (RI) Squadron/14
P/C Claud E. Hefner, SN
Life Member, 30 mm
Charlotte (NC) Squadron/27
P/C William G. Heiler, AP
Life Member, 26 mm
Saginaw Bay (MI) Squadron/9
P/Stf/C Edith Y. Heyser, SN
Main Line (PA) Squadron/5
Melvin L. Hibbets, SN
Life Member, 35 mm
Mid-Coast (ME) Squadron/19
Summer 2013
38-39_LastHorizon_Spring2013.indd 38
5/29/2013 3:58:13 PM
g
I Last Horizon I
P/C Charles P. Hundley, AP
P/C Colin R. McKay, SN
P/Lt/C Donald E. Stewart, P
Life Member, 31 mm
Life Member, 39 mm
4 mm
St. Petersburg (FL) Squadron/22
Bremerton (WA) Squadron/16
Harris Chain (FL) Squadron/23
Herman H. Klein, P
P/C Henry P. Mertens, SN
Life Member, 35 mm
Life Member, 34 mm
Staten Island (NY) Squadron/4
P/C Anthony V. Kloszewski, P
Senior Member, 7 mm
Erie (PA) Squadron/11
Rick W. Knapton, P
Fort Vancouver (WA) Squadron/32
P/C Gary LaMarca, AP
Harold M. Miller
Stark County (OH) Squadron/7
P/C Alfred W. Minch, SN
P/R/C Robert E. Murphy, SN
Senior Member, 9 mm
Life Member, 46 mm
Great South Bay (NY) Squadron/3
Chicago (IL) Squadron/20
Maggie Lang
Martha R. Nye, P
Honorary Member
Senior Member, 9 mm
Vulcan (AL) Squadron/17
P/C John S. Lansberry, JN
P/C Rocco G. Orsini, AP
Life Member, 37 mm
Life Member, 26 mm
Bremerton (WA) Squadron/16
Swiftwater (NY) Squadron/6
P/D/C Robert G. Larsen, SN
Life Member, 31 mm
Lake Hartwell (SC) Squadron/26
Lt/C Kenneth A. Lewis, JN
3 mm
Charleston (SC) Squadron/26
P/C Loy Lovelace, JN
Bellingham (WA) Squadron/16
P/C Gary G. Lytle, AP
P/C Robert D. Marcy, JN
St. Croix (VI) Squadron/33
John G. Marshall, JN
Santa Clara (CA) Squadron/25
Mary L. Rank
Mansfield (OH) Squadron/7
P/C Arthur P. Reichling, SN
Hugh L. Sulfridge, AP
Saginaw Bay (MI) Squadron/9
P/C Stanley J. Surowiec, JN
Life Member, 25 mm
Norwich (CT) Squadron/1
Janet A. Vrolijk
Mid-Coast (ME) Squadron/19
James M. Wallace Jr., P
Anna Maria Island (FL) Squadron/22
Lt Gerald A. Wertman, SN
Life Member, 29 mm
P/D/C John “Jack” L. Whitehill, AP
Spokane (WA) Squadron/16
Barbara Wyatt
Senior Member, 9 mm
Britta M. Yeabower, AP
Life Member, 46 mm
Westchester (NY) Squadron/2
P/C Kenneth F. Rice, JN
Robert L. Richards, SN
Senior Member, 9 mm
Buzzards Bay (MA) Squadron/14
Lt Charles L. Rush, JN
Life Member, 31 mm
P/C Jane P. Sands, AP
Life Member, 26 mm
P/C William D. Smelter, SN
Merit mark awards
Senior Member, 5 merit marks
Life Member, 25 merit marks
Emeritus Member, 50 merit marks
How to submit
Last Horizon honors USPS members
who have crossed the bar. Family,
squadron commanders or other
authorized representatives may
submit reports at theensign.org/
lasthorizon.htm.
Photos and memorials may be
sent to ensign@hq.usps.org for
publication on our blog at theensign.
wordpress.com.
Life Member, 30 mm
San Carlos Bay (FL) Squadron/22
38-39_LastHorizon_Spring2013.indd 39
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5/29/2013 3:58:23 PM
I classifieds I
BOAT INSURANCE
ACCESSORIES
WANTED
Didn’t Cover That?
Maybe I can help. Call Capt. John Smith,
ASA, CMC, FACFEI, DABFE experienced
marine surveyor/forensic investigator
with sterling credentials. My specialty
is investigating boat accidents.
843-846-9561
Service and Sales We offer expert
sextant service, from a simple tune-up
to a complete overhaul, with the largest
supply of replacement parts for Plath
and Tamaya sextants in the U.S. Discount
on service for USPS members. Call
617-482-8460 for shipping instructions.
New Astra and Cassens & Plath sextants
at very competitive rates for USPS
members. Robert E. White Instruments,
www.robertwhite.com
Marine surveyor Captain John Reichardt
Accredited Marine Surveyor, SAMS, AMS,
ABYC-standards certified. Covering all of
New England. Member ABYC, SAMS, USPS;
508-813-4053, captnjohn1@comcast.net,
captainjohnmarinesurveyors.com
Log Racing??? An interesting navigational challenge plus a fun social activity.
Enter your boat in a Predicted Log
Regatta. www.predictedlog.org
CLASSIFIED AD RATES & DEADLINES
The Ensign classified ads are $1 per word with a $25 minimum. Artwork
is $25 per column inch. Payment by check or credit card in U.S. currency
must accompany order.
Submit materials at theensign.org/classifieds or mail to The Ensign,
P.O. Box 31664, Raleigh, NC 27622. For more information, email ensign@
hq.usps.org or call 888-367-8777.
Fall 2013 deadline: 15 Aug.
ATTENTION USPS MEMBERS Save
10% with your membership number at
Landfall when you order paper charts,
books, traditional navigation tools,
flags, clothing, footwear or soft goods.
No Web orders. Please call 800-9412291 or stop by our showroom at www.
landfallnavigation.com
INSURANCE
Attention USPS Members Call 800-5537661 for USPS Boat Insurance quotations.
Lawrence Fox Agency, Massapequa,
N.Y. Established 1959. Designated Agent
USPS/Jet-Ski® Program. Liability only
available. www.boatinsurancestore.com
LIVING THE DREAM
WITH CAPTAINS ALYSE & CHRIS CALDWELL
POWER BOAT TRAINING
Connecticut Members Yacht and small
boat insurance with USPS or other
marine companies. Please call Ross
Hatfield at 203-256-5660. Service@
HatfieldInsuranceAgency.com. Keep your
life jackets within reach.
LIVE AND LEARN ABOARD OUR 44ft. BOAT IN FLORIDA!
772-205-1859 chris@CaptainChrisYachtServices.com
Boating is fun ... we’ll show you how!
For only $15 a year or $25 for two years, you can give a subscription to The
Ensign magazine. Mail checks to The Ensign, P.O. Box 31664, Raleigh, NC 27622.
Please begin a subscription for
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40 The Ensign
Summer 2013
Exp. date
I Bitter End I
A lighter look at the boating life
Standing watch
B
TRANSOM TALES
Buying their 2008 37-foot Nordic Tug fulfilled
David and Sandra Rigby’s long-held dream.
Their boat’s name reflects the New Freedom
they looked for and found after retirement from
U.S. government service.
R A L P H H AG E N
GEORGE DOERNER
uilt in 1803 to warn ships about dangerous Diamond Shoals, Cape Hatteras
Light on North Carolina’s Outer Banks is located on Hatteras Island.
Damaged during the Civil War, the tower was replaced with a new one
in 1870. At 210 feet above sea level, Hatteras is the tallest brick lighthouse in the
United States.
Just off Cape Hatteras, the Gulf Stream collides with the Labrador Current. Turbulent water and frequent storms in the area eroded the shoreline and threatened
the lighthouse. In 1935, a steel skeleton lighthouse was built farther back from the
sea. Revetments erected by the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress
Administration lessened the erosion, and the brick lighthouse began operating
again in 1950.
When erosion once more threatened Cape Hatteras Light in 1999, the tower
was cut from its base, hydraulically lifted onto steel beams and moved a half mile
inland along railroad tracks. For a fee, visitors can climb the lighthouse’s 268 steps
for a spectacular view. –Bridget Doerner
41-42_BitterEnd_Ensign_SUM13.indd 41
41
6/3/2013 11:54:37 AM
I Bitter End I
“Everywhere
the sea
is a teacher
of truth.”
Where away?
DAV I D K . A K I N
–Hilaire Belloc
Email ensign@hq.usps.org by 31 July with the location depicted above for
a chance to win a free gift from the USPS Ship’s Store. The winner or winners
will be chosen at random from all correct responses. The Spring 2013 winners,
Donald Exelby, Mara Hartman and Walter D. Coyle, and many others identified
the Holland Harbor Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. The Ensign is also looking for
future Where Away? photo submissions. If you have a location you would like to
feature here, email a high-resolution photo to ensign@hq.usps.org.
“The art of the
sailor is to
leave nothing
to chance.”
–Annie Van De Wiele
TRANSOM
TALES
Warren and Doris
Hamstead named
their Sea Ray
340 Salty Paws
in honor of their
standard poodles,
Charlie and Harry,
who have been
boating all their
lives. The couple
and their sea dogs
enjoy days on the
water near Ocean
City, Md.
42 The Ensign
Summer 2013
41-42_BitterEnd_Ensign_SUM13.indd 42
5/29/2013 3:57:00 PM
I Stem to Stern I
CONTACTS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT
Chief Commander
John T. Alter, SN
jtausps@connectnc.net
Cooperative Charting
R/C John J. Rodgers, SN
john.rodgers@rodgers.org
Leadership Development
R/C Susan L. Darcy, JN
susan@darcy-systems.com
National Executive Officer
V/C Robert A. Baldridge, SN
robertb@wilsonwarehouse.com
Environmental
R/C Thomas D. Myers, JN
tdmafton@ec.rr.com
Member Benefits
Kristi Watson Anderson, P
kayakladyfl@att.net
National Educational Officer
V/C Bob Brandenstein, SN
robert.brandenstein@verizon.net
Government & Partner Relations
R/C Mary Ann Jensen, SN
jensene@msu.edu
Membership
R/C Mary Paige Abbott, SN
paigeabbott@att.net
National Administrative Officer
V/C Louie Ojeda, SN
louiedot@bellsouth.net
Marketing & Public Relations
R/C Kenneth H. Voight, AP
kvoight@digitalpublishing.com
Squadron Activities
R/C Paula F. Mizell, JN
paula.mizell@gxs.com
National Secretary
V/C Jean L. Hamilton, SN
witchofendor@earthlink.net
National Treasurer
V/C Gary P. Cheney, SN
gpc.usps@gmail.com
Immediate Past Chief
Commander
Frank A. Dvorak, SN
fa.dvorak@comcast.net
APPOINTED OFFICERS
National Flag Lieutenant
P/V/C Joseph R. Mesenburg, SN
jmesenburg@aol.com
National chaplains
R/C Louis M. Reitz, AP
lmreitz@juno.com
P/C Lois M. Nehmer, SN
kennehmer@comcast.net
P/Stf/C Rodney Landsman, AP
reb.jupiter.rod@gmail.com
National Meetings
R/C Donald C. Clark, JN
clarkcubed@aol.com
Safety
R/C Thomas Roscoe, AP
troscoe34@gmail.com
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT
Assistant Educational Officer
R/C Donald C. Fiander, SN
dcfiander@aol.com
Assistant Educational Officer
R/C Robert R. Palmer, SN
r2pmhp@mindspring.com
Basic Public Education
R/C Richard L. Carson, JN
padipro@gulftel.com
Boat Handling
R/C James J. Runge, SN
j.runge@sbcglobal.net
Boat Operator Certification
R/C Chris L. Windeler, SN
cwindeler@mac.com
Parliamentary advisor
Benjamin H. Sooy III, AP
Educational Outreach
R/C Wilbur G. Hugli, SN
wilhugli@cox.net
GENERAL COMMITTEES
Electro-Mechanical Systems
R/C George R. Hallenbeck, AP
gwlk@aol.com
Nominations
R/C James R. McCurry, AP
jmccurry@atmc.net
Rules
R/C Artemas M. Pickard, SN
apick@maine.rr.com
STANDING COMMITTEES
Finance
R/C Lee Popham, AP
popham@earthlink.net
Law
R/C David L. Allen Jr., SN
dallenjr@sc.rr.com
Planning
R/C Kathryn J. Simkins, AP
tolenut@comcast.net
Inland & Coastal Navigation
R/C John P. Cook, SN
john_p_cook@comcast.net
Instructor Development
R/C Arthur A. Mollica, SN
artmollica@usfamily.net
Marine Environment
R/C Charles J. Wells, SN
cjwglb@verizon.net
Offshore Navigation
R/C Steven R. Abbott, SN
srabbott@att.net
Program Partner Relations
R/C John M. Malatak, AP
john.malatak@comcast.net
Publishing
R/C Priscilla B. Clarke, AP
pbc@buffalo.edu
Squadron Development
R/C Gerardo J. Caprario, JN
capgerry@hotmail.com
SECRETARY’S DEPARTMENT
Assistant Secretary
R/C Peter W. Mitchelson, SN
EuroPWM@mindspring.com
Communications
R/C Guy J. Anastasio, SN
nag723@verizon.net
FIND IT ONLINE
USPS website
usps.org
Subscribe to
USPS Compass
usps.org/newpublic2/
compass.html
Change your address
addresschanges@hq.usps.org
Renew dues and contribute
usps.org/dues
Shop the Ship’s Store
www.shopusps.org
Discover your
member benefits
usps.org/national/admin_
dept/membenefits.htm
Learn about
the VSC program
safetyseal.net
Heritage and Protocol
R/C Donald C. Schult Sr., AP
schultdc@gmail.com
List or find
a squadron activity
usps.org/national/boatact,
click “Cruises & Rendezvous”
Information Technology
R/C Miguel Long, JN
mlongl@hotmail.com
Find local knowledge
usps.org/national/PortC
Operations Manual
R/C Tracy L. Simpson, AP
d30usps@gmail.com
Ship’s Store
R/C Bruce A. Albertson, SN
bruceaa@aol.com
Know the USPS rules
usps.org/national/om
Help desk
Stf/C Kristi Anderson, P
help@usps.org
TREASURER’S DEPARTMENT
Asst. Treasurer & Budget Director
R/C Nigel E. Hargreaves, SN
euroneh@mindspring.com
Budget Officer—Executive &
Administrative departments
R/C Ronald Osburn, SN
ozbrn@bellsouth.net
Budget Officer—
Educational Department
R/C William R. Gillette, AP
bigille@earthlink.net
Budget Officer—
Secretary’s Department
R/C Kenneth Wilkinson, AP
kdwilkinson@earthlink.net
CONTRIBUTE
Century Endowment Fund
P/C/C Frank Dvorak, SN
107 Cascade Key
Bellevue, WA 98006-1003
425-643-7788
fa.dvorak@comcast.net
Educational Fund
Barbara Spraggins
P.O. Box 30423
Raleigh, NC 27622
barb6195@cox.net
USPS Mission To promote recreational boating skills and
boating safety through education, hands-on training, and
civic activities while providing fellowship for members.
43 Stem to Stern.indd 43
43
5/29/2013 3:59:43 PM
SAVINGS EXCLUSIVELY FOR USPS MEMBERS
up to an
additional
B OAT O PERATOR C
ERT IFIC AT ION
ON - TH E - WATE
R CO UR SES .
P LEASE CALL FOR MO
RE INF OR MATIO
N.
FO R TH E
800-763-8777
CAPITALIZE ON YOUR USPS MEMBERSHIP
Enjoy the best service, reliability and coverage in the
industry for dues-paying USPS members.
• For every USPS Education Course
and annual Vessel Safety Check passed,
you can earn credit on your premium
• Expanded and simplified navigation
areas – Bahamas, Caribbean & Mexico
coverage available
• Coverage for individuals, partnerships &
• Hurricane safe-harbor reimbursement
with no policy limits
• Free $10,000 coverage for
medical payments
• Free $1,500 personal effects coverage
• Immediate Binding
corporate/business owners
Take a minute of your time and get a quote by calling us
at 1-800-763-8777 or get a quick quote online at
www.uspsboatinsurance.com
USPS Boat Insurance Program
C OMPETITIVE
RATES .
Ad.indd 44
USPS_Ensign_8.25x10.75_9FIN.indd 1
G REAT C OVERAGE . P AYMENT O PTIONS . 24-H OUR /365-D AY C LAIMS S ERVICES
5/29/2013 4:01:30 PM
9/9/10 3:00:35 PM

Spring 2013 Ensign - Tampa Power Squadron

Transcription

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