Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2015 i Soundings

I think the sea has thrown itself upon me and been answered, at least in part, and I believe I am a little changed — not essentially, but changed and transubstantiated as anyone is who has asked a question and been answered.” — Hart Crane One thing I’ve noticed as I age is acceleration in the passage of time — not day-to-day so much as year-to-year. 2015 is rushing by so fast that I sometimes feel captive in a speeding vehicle, watching the scenery whoooosh by: snow, snow, snow, mud, forsythia, tree buds, lilacs, leafy canopies, heat waves shimmering on the horizon … STOP! As far as I’m concerned, we’ve arrived. Summer is the destination, but Time, that runaway vehicle, won’t slow down. I am seriously considering opening the door…

Test your knowledge with these Coast Guard license exam prep questions from the National Captain’s Institute captains.com 1. INTERNATIONAL RULES: Your vessel is underway and fishing with trolling lines. Which statement is true? A. You must sound one prolonged, two short blasts. B. You must keep out of the way of sailing vessels when there is risk of collision. C. You have the right of way when overtaking power-driven vessels. D. all of the above 2. INTERNATIONAL RULES: A vessel sounding one short blast indicates: A. the vessel intends to alter course to port B. the vessel intends to alter course to starboard C. the vessel is altering course to port D. the vessel is altering course to starboard 3. INTERNATIONAL RULES: A distress signal: A. consists of 5 or…

Boating is, without question, one of the finest family activities around. Although we can all extol its many joys and benefits, we must acknowledge that there are a few negatives. One of the biggest, keeping thousands of would-be boating enthusiasts ashore, is seasickness. This affliction is caused primarily by the side-to-side rolling that comes from interactions between a boat’s hull and the sea. If that rolling can be mitigated, the incidence of mal de mer is reduced, and everyone is a lot happier and healthier. Larger yachts, as well as smaller yachts of moderate speed, have had a number of choices in roll control over the years. Bilge keels and paravanes (flopper stoppers) are often employed on long-range, displacement-hulled cruising boats. Active systems, using either fins or rotors, are common…

When you grow up with Long Island Sound pretty much in your backyard, boats and boating come naturally. And those early years can stamp a person as a boater for life. Home for young John Fuller was the Indiantown section of Old Saybrook, Connecticut, on the Sound’s north shore, not far from the Connecticut River. His first boat was an 8-foot dinghy powered by “ash breeze” — a pair of oars. An outboard Starcraft followed, and the 54-year-old nuclear plant worker has been a water rat ever since. “I guess I was hooked on boating around 10 or 11 years old,” he says. “I love everything about being on the water.” Fuller has had a small fleet over the years, from the outboard runabouts of his youth to a 28-foot…

When your vessel enters the channel of Three Mile Harbor, you can sense that this deep water harbor in East Hampton is different from most others. The harbor is surrounded by nature preserves, beaches, restaurants, and beautiful homes. Three Mile Harbor is just a short ride from of some of the world’s finest ocean beaches and just three miles to the retail shops, historic landmarks, museums, theaters, art galleries, restaurants, and night clubs in the villages of East Hampton and Amagansett. Seacoast Enterprises Associates, Inc. (SEA) operates 4 of the marinas in Three Mile Harbor. Halsey’s Marina & Gardiner’s Marina are peaceful locations for enjoying time on your yacht. These protected and picturesque marinas will accommodate vessels from 20 - 110’. The marinas have fixed and floating dockage, air conditioned…

There’s something about a Fife. As the legendary designer himself put it, the secret of a great yacht is that it should be “fast and bonnie,” and his creations were certainly that. William Fife III was born to William Fife and his wife, Mary, in 1857 in Fairlie on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. A third-generation boatbuilder and designer, he was apprenticed to his father and then worked at several other yards to advance his education. When the Royal Yachting Association was formed in 1875 to standardize racing rules, Fife and his rival G.L. Watson were very involved in establishing the rule changes. By the time Fife returned in 1886 to take over the business from his father, his reputation as a designer had been well established. Tea magnate…

Gyroscopic stabilizers have emerged as one of the fastest-growing technologies on today’s boats. Many designers and builders are setting aside space for their installation. The information here is from Seakeeper, which has been selling gyros since 2008. • Number of recreational boats with Seakeeper systems: 2,400 • Number of boatbuilders that offer Seakeeper as an option: 150 • Models delivered with Seakeeper as standard equiment: MJM 50z, Sea Ray 650L Fly • Number of boats 50 feet or under with a Seakeeper: about 150 • Smallest boat with a Seakeeper: 32-foot Sea Vee center console • Largest boat with a Seakeeper: 215-foot Palmer Johnson • Boats smaller than 50 feet offered with Seakeeper: Viking 42, Winter Custom Yachts 40 and 45, Scout 420 LXF, Sabre 42 and 48 Salon Express,…

The northbound migration is in full swing at Mile Zero as I write this, the lightcolored boats sporting brown mustaches from the tannin-rich waters of the blackwater rivers and swamps to the south. As you exit the lock in Great Bridge, Virginia, the small-town and rural nature of much of the Ditch north of Florida suddenly changes into the military and industrial complex that comprises the last few miles as you count down to Mile Zero. It can be a long few miles, too, especially if a coal train drops the Norfolk Southern bridge just south of Portsmouth. Usually about 10 a.m. there is a burst of boats passing out of the Ditch and into the Bay, boats that left Great Bridge at 8 a.m. and are itching to put…

Who We Are: Nestled in between a protected residential area and Hammonasset Nature Preserve, Cedar Island Marina is a perfect choice both seasonally and as a transient. Consistently rated one of the best marinas on the Connecticut Shoreline, we invite you to view our full-service facilities and to meet our expert staff whose experience in the marine industry is unmatched. At Cedar Island Marina, we offer more than just a slip to tie up at. We offer a community of diverse boaters and a complete summer experience. From those looking to go fishing early on a Saturday morning, those looking to relax with their families on a Sunday afternoon, or those looking to stay up way too late on a Friday night, we are confident you will find like-minded individuals…

Now open with easy access via Tampa Bay, the new Rattlesnake Marine Center is an all-in-one destination providing expert yacht maintenance, repair, refitting and everything in between. Here, skilled technicians do complete paint jobs, from the water line to the top deck and hardtop. Expertise in interior design and refurbishing means furniture, carpeting, hardwoods, wall and ceiling coverings are done right. Engines are kept in prime condition, from minor repairs to major work including prop removal, reconditioning and shaft work. The center’s technicians boast more than 100 years of combined experience, with many having worked on historic Rattlesnake Point for their entire careers. Now, a fresh new approach has been added by two seasoned yacht owners. After ending their search for a better yacht tender by creating Carbon Craft, currently…

S.S. Sweeney, Jack Sweeney’s boat-shaped home, rose from the ashes of his fire-destroyed cottage on Hitchcock Lake in Connecticut. “I raised my kids here, love the site and the water,” says Sweeney, a 76-year-old pharmacist. “So rebuilding the house as a tug with living quarters, decorated with our nautical things, seemed appropriate.” After living in the Wolcott house for 15 years, Sweeney wants to downsize. The two-bedroom, one-bath house on six-tenths of an acre and has a swimming pool, a 179-foot waterfront, and a pier, float and launch ramp. It is on the market for $575,000. The 2,000-square-foot, year-round home’s high planked bow faces the lake. Wraparound windows on the “forward cabin” give the living room and its custom sunken bar panoramic lake views. Sliding glass doors to starboard of…

A U.S.-registered steamer heads out of Havana, Cuba, passing the famous El Morro castle, known formally as Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro. The massive fortress has loomed over the entrance to Havana harbor since 1589, when the Spanish built it to defend the city. Originally a chain was strung across the water from El Morro to the fort at La Punta. In later years, El Morro was used as a navigational aid; a lighthouse was added in the 19th century, as well as a school for light keepers. During the 20th century, Havana grew into an international maritime center. Ernest Hemingway, through his stories and exploits, made it a center for big-game sportfishing. The novelist fished the local waters in his 35-foot Wheeler Playmate, Pilar, which is…

Mariners are extra suspicious, “they”say, because of all the bad things that can happen on a boat. “They” don’t know squat. Boats are inanimate objects. I’m an educated guy, and I certainly know that my boat doesn’t respond to hocus-pocus. So I’m not worried about this bunk. I don’t need to worry because I know she takes care of me. I just have to listen to her. She’s told me a few things over the years, and we get along well without the need for superstitious rites. For example, she’s told me: • If you want a port hole to leak, put a laptop under it. • If you want the head to stop up, invite guests for dinner. • If you want the freshwater pump to fail, wash your…

It was a gray day off California. Under a thinning blanket of fog, the Pacific was yawning and stretching to wake up, its surface barely rippled. But aboard the J Class yacht Endeavour, a 130-foot steel colossus with a displacement of 160 tons, the rhythmic up and down of the residual swell was noticeable. Spreading every ounce of her giant canvas to capture what little breeze there was, Endeavour was making just enough way to cut a fizzy bow wave with her long, slender hull. The mood among the guests on deck was relaxed. It was their first time on a J Class, and they quickly adjusted to the taste of champagne sailing, even though most of them were, quite frankly, on a beer budget. These yachts with endless bow…

Maybe you’ve painted yourself into a corner, promising your nephews a shot at a fish thrice their combined weight. Maybe after a couple of months of hard scratching inshore, you need a change of venue. Maybe it’s something more universal: the pull of the seaward horizon, a primal need to clear the inlet and instead of hooking right or left you just keep going straight — 50, 100, 300 miles past the last road sign. Whatever the impetus, you’ve crossed a tipping point: There’s a canyon run in your near future. It’s exciting but a little nerve-wracking, especially once you’ve begun asking questions of experts, trying to average out the often conflicting opinions and/or advice. There’s the boat and its attendant systems, the crew and their experience (individual or collective)…

Constitution Marina on Boston Harbor is located on the historic Freedom Trail in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston. We’re just a couple of minutes to downtown Boston. Best of what Boston has to offer - we are the destination of choice for weekend boaters and yacht owners from around the world. As a full service facility we provide all of the comforts and amenities that make your stay relaxing and enjoyable by providing a true resort experience. Just Imagine -you’ll be minutes from Historic sites such as Bunker Hill, the Old North Church (one if by land, two if by sea!), Paul Revere’s home, The Boston Common, the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, The State Capitol, the Boston Tea Party site and the USS Constitution. Make plans - to spend…

NORWEST MARINE invites you to visit our full-service facilities, meet our friendly team, or browse our well-stocked ship store (special orders arrive daily in the summer). Whether you’re looking to go fishing early on a Saturday morning, relax with your family on a Sunday afternoon, or stay up late on a Friday night, we are confident you will find like-minded individuals here. Come for the season or drop in for a transient stay, and you’ll see why Norwest is a perfect choice for dockage. Our marina is located on the sheltered Pawcatuck River-- safe from storms while offering direct access to Watch Hill, Block Island, Fishers Island, and Sandy Point. Dock with us and enjoy all the amenities Norwest has to offer. Your slip comes equipped with electrical hook-ups, water,…