VIEW FROM THE PILOTHOUSE

January 2016
Tides & Times
View From The Pilothouse
What a year 2016 will be! As I look forward to all the
possibilities, looking back and reflecting is always exciting,
too. 2015 was the year of significant change here at FHM:
the new public esplanade, new B & C docks, outside seating areas, the marina being 95% full and 20 more liveaboards than this time last year. Oh, did I mention the fuel
prices?! Yes, we have cheap fuel (though I cannot take real
credit for this), which is most definitely a change I am
happy about and hope holds true until spring.
2016 will be a year of waiting lists, increased inventory in
the marina store to accommodate occupancy, longer lines
at the laundry and, if I had to anticipate, a few lukewarm
showers due to the increase in marina residents.
Sunrise at Foss Harbor
Photo by Kevin Hamblin
IIn This Issue:
Keeping Your Boat
beautiful
2
Tell Us What You Want
in Your Store!
2
Pets on the Poop Deck
3
Classified Ads
3
Falling into Icy Water
4
A Live-aboard
Perspective
4
Thank YOU!
5
BIG Seattle Boatshow
5
West Seattle Marina Fire
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I am sure with that, the question will be "what are you going to do about that?”, to which we
ask that everyone be just a little patient! We are now maxed out in terms of space and our
ability to expand, with the only expansion taking place being the future replacement of the
entire main building—more on that later.
There is a possibility the city could get the next phase of the Esplanade rolling (gates 5 & 6) in
the fall/winter; as we progress through that process we will keep you posted. In the meantime, we will hope for good weather again and a terrific boating season! But before we get
too far ahead, we still have 3 months of winter to get through, so stay warm, check your
power cords often, watch for slick docks and monitor marina emails and texts
notifying you of dock water shutdowns.
Wishing you 12 Months of success, 52 weeks of laughter, 365 days of fun, 8760 hours of
joy, 525600 minutes of good luck and 31536000 seconds of happiness.
—Lori Natucci, General Manager
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How To Keep Your Boat Looking Beautiful
Crewed yachts maintain a standard of beauty that hardly seems attainable. Here are some of their secrets.
How all these megayachts keep their shine and beauty perennially intact can be a subject of envy for all of us on smaller ple asure craft.
Can we possibly reach this perfection, too? How a yacht looks depends on how much energy or money goes toward maintaining the
appearance. In the case of superyachts, it helps that they have large crews who must be kept busy every day. But following so me of the
practices from superyachts can keep your boat looking its best for years.

Cover That Fender: Keep your fenders wrapped in terry cloth to protect the hull from abrasion and dirty docks.

After A Run, Take A Shower: Hose down the hull carefully. Then jump into the dinghy and wipe it with vinegar to remove saltwater
spots on the glossy finish. Dark-colored hulls tend to show the salt more, requiring frequent vinegar treatment.

Keep Stainless Stain-Less: Wipe stainless steel and chromed bronze fittings with a chamois cloth often. Make polishing and waxing
these metals routine. Some metal-polishing products already include wax compounds.

Cover Up What You Can: External varnished brightwork should be protected from UV damage by Sunbrella covers. Take them off to
impress guests. Sunbrella covers should also protect stowed tenders, dinghies, outboard motors, barbecues, and other accessor ies.

Protect Upholstery: Use covers that can take wear and tear and food stains. If your boat's in the yard, or you're having a mechanic
aboard, cover decking and internal floorboards with tough plastic sheets with a nonskid pattern, sacrificial rugs, or carpeti ng.

Drop A Hint: To protect varnished floorboards from daily wear, put large baskets by the companionway so visitors get the hint and
take their footwear off at the dock or at anchor.

An Alkaline Shine: To keep engine rooms and engine spaces impressively clean, apply light acid or any alkaline teak cleaner to
aluminum diamond-patterned plate floorboards. If possible, take the pieces outside for this work, where they can be rinsed off e asily.

Nice And Neat: Anti-chafe leatherwork on the loops of dock lines looks seamanlike and protects the lines.
-Tom Zydler
What’s in Your Marina Store? What Would YOU Want?
Foss Harbor Residents, we need your feedback!
Did you know you may request your favorite
food, beverage or sundry staples to be sold in
our store? Especially with us being at capacity
with live-aboards, we want to make sure you
feel right at home. So, don't be bashful, tell us
what you want! Please e-mail your
suggestions to melynda@fossharbor.com
Thank you!
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CLASSIFIEDS
Submit your classified to
melynda@fossharbor.com
It’s FREE!
Brandy's Attic
755 Broadway
Tacoma
253-468-2636
Foss Harbor residents, mention this ad and get 40% off most items, excluding
consignment and layaway items. Offer valid January 1 - 31, 2016. Happy New Year!
Looking for a Fun and Exciting Part-Time Office Position?
Puget Sound Sailing Institute is a local sailing school offering sailing
classes, vacations, sailing club and excursions and we are looking for a
qualified Part-Time Office Assistant! Job is located at Tyee Marina in
Tacoma and training would start in the beginning of February. Hours
can be flexible but you must be able to work mornings on Saturdays
March – October. Pay based on experience. For a full job description
or more questions please contact the PSSI Office Manager, Lindsey at
info@pugetsoundsailing.com or 253.383.1774. Thanks for your interest!
Pets on the Poop Deck
This is Libby,
the sweetest
and most gentle
one eyed
wonder dog you
will ever meet.
Libby’s life may
have started out
Just look at that smile!
a bit ruff, (pun
intended) but
now she is thriving on board M/V Lusty Lady
with her loving owners. Thanks Susan & Phillip!
Do you have a pet on your poop deck? Send pics to
melynda@fossharbor.com
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FALLING IN ICY WATER: WHAT TO DO
Courtesy of US Swim School Association
FALLING INTO ICY WATER IF YOU'RE A COLD WEATHER CRUISER CAN
BE LIFE THREATENING. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN
CRUISING IN THE COLD!
If you are a cold weather cruiser, or a live-aboard who keeps your boat in the water all
winter, avoiding an unexpected swim in icy water could be a lifesaver. If you do fall in,
however, it's important to know exactly what to do. If you fall overboard, slip off the
dock, or otherwise end up in the freezing waters, remember these important tips:
Brace Yourself: This may be difficult to do at first, due to the immediate change in
body temperature and shock from the cold water, as the body’s immediate reaction is
going to be to gasp for air and hyperventilate. Breathing in the freezing water increases
the chance of drowning.
Jen Brett
Keep Calm: Do not flail your arms; this will release more body heat. The body loses 32
times more heat in cold water than in cold air. Panicking will do nothing; keep your head above the water, grab onto
ice, the hull, or dock if you can.
Do Not Undress Winter Clothes: Keep winter clothing or foul weather gear on while in the water. It will not drag you
down; it will help keep in body heat and any air inside the clothing will help you float.
Throw, Don’t Go: Never enter the water to rescue someone. If someone is there to help you it is safer for that
person to throw a lifesaving device, halyard, or any other rope into the water, wait until you grab hold and then tow
you to safety. Otherwise, you could both end up in the water.
Get Warm: Once out of the water, seek medical attention to bring body temperature back to normal.
A LIVE-ABOARD PERSPECTIVE
Below is an e-mail we recently received that warmed us to the core. We
found it to be a poetic description of the live-aboard life. Thank you for your feedback; whether it be positive or constructively negative, we value it!
Subject: Re: December 2015 Newsletter
Hi Foss Harbor Team,
I just wanted to drop you a "Well done" note about the overall tone and spirit of the marina newsletter and events
culture you have helped nurture.....It makes me wish I lived aboard again. Especially with all the great opportunities to
interact with the other tenants at the marina. For us life aboard was a very pleasant experience. Stepping aboard our
boat from a daily work life "on land" was a special moment, each day.
From your first step, as the boat dips acknowledging your weight, you immediately are more in touch with the water
borne environment all around you. Wind, waves, waterfowl, seals and storms are all part of the daily envelope while
aboard - a unique experience usually not part of a "on-land" residence. And while privacy can be an issue with others
living just across the dock from you, these "close" neighbors can also be the watchful eyes and ears of help to safeguard your boat while you're away. One of the most enjoyable aspects of marina life was the community closeness
with all the different tenants and their boats. From the worst fixer upper, to the most expensive yacht, if you lived
aboard, we all have so much in common. From the casual head nod of recognition, to the warmest, "c'mon aboard",
living dockside is one of the most fulfilling ways a person can live.
Thanks for doing all that you do to help make living aboard an even more enriched lifestyle.
Eric
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THANK YOU!
If you didn ’ t make it to Foss Harbor ’ s Christmas
party, tsk tsk! Of course, there ’ s always next year.
We gave away over $2000.00 in prizes, enjoyed
food prepared and brought by our dock mates,
indulged at the open bar, awarded prizes to our
lighted boat decorating contest winners, and had an
all-around smashing good time. Foss Harbor staff
would like to thank all in attendance as well our generous sponsors:
Skip & Jan Anderson & FLAGSHIP MARITIME ACADEMY - DAVE ’ S DIVE SERVICE - Dennis Thompson &
NAPA—John Miller & TACOMA MUSICAL THEATRE - Tracy Wright & AFFORDABLE MASSAGE - PUGET
SOUND BOAT SOLUTIONS - Paul Morrison & FLEET FEET TACOMA - Kerstin Hilton & IF WISHES WERE
FISHES - SAVI DAY SPA - LEMAY MUSEUM - THE SOCIAL BAR & GRILL - Gwen & ROCK THE DOCK PUB MUSEUM OF GLASS - COMMENCEMENT BAY MARINE SERVICES—HOTEL MURANO - WEST MARINE - Dave Overbo & CANYON
COFFEE CO - Karen Gamboa & KK SEWS
Thank you all for a fantastic evening!
Come see us at the 2016
January 29-February 6
Stop by the Foss Harbor
booth at the BIG Seattle
Boat Show; we’d love to
see you there!
Two boats catch fire, sink at West Seattle Marina
SEATTLE -- Throngs of firefighters and first responders were called to a West Seattle
marina Tuesday night after two moored boats went up in flames. Calls began to come in
just after 8:30 p.m. about a fire at a Harbor Island marina located in the 1300 block of SW
Spokane Street. The fire burned away the lines tying the two boats to the dock, causing
them to drift off into the Duwamish as crews blasted them with a water cannon. Two other
boats and several structures at the marina were also damaged, according to the Seattle
Fire Department. The boats were unoccupied at the time and no one was injured in the fire.
While fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire, these incidents
are always scary reminders of why we make sure our power plugs are secure, outlets dry
and avoid having all heaters and other electrical equipment running all at once, which can
overload circuits. If you have questions regarding proper electrical set-up, feel free to email
our Operations Manager, Scottie Monett, at Operationsmgr@fossharbor.com.
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