Shopping in Hampton Roads: Skipjack's Nautical Store & Art Gallery in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia

Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery storefront located on the riverfront in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.


This Upscale Retail Store in Olde Towne Portsmouth features Everything Nautical for the Collector and Coastal Homeowner.

By Allen B. Graves

Portsmouth museums.

If you're planning a visit to Norfolk, Virginia Beach or any other cities in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, make sure that you save time and set your course to the quaint historic seaport of Portsmouth, Virginia for a fun-filled day of shopping, dining and experiencing the historical Olde Towne-Downtown riverfront area. Olde Towne's High Street corridor ( a seven block corridor from Effingham Street to the riverfront) is the heart of the downtown shopping and dining district. This seven block area boasts over 30 restaurants, pubs and eateries to choose from and is one of Hampton Roads finest dining destinations. High Street is also Portsmouth's "arts and antiques" district with a diverse selection of fine antique shops, art galleries, unique boutiques and five museums including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, and the Lightship Portsmouth Museum, The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, Courthouse Galleries, and the newly expanded and doubled in size (reopening late April 2011) Children's Museum of Virginia .

Seaboard building

One of the most unique and best known stores in Olde Towne is Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery. Skipjack is located at the rivers end of High Street and next to the High Street Landing or basin, where the paddle wheel ferry arrives throughout the day carrying passengers across the Elizabeth River from Downtown Norfolk to Olde Towne Portsmouth . One High Street is the address of the famous Seaboard Railroad building. The passenger rail terminal built in 1894 was a busy center for nearly sixty-years, during a time when the railroad dominated Portsmouth's economic activities, giving the city its motto, “where the rail meets the sea".

Schooner Virginia

This up-scaled nautical retail store and gallery is situated in the first floor level of the building with it's front doors opening onto the High Street Park and seawall and just steps away from the encased Hog Island Lighthouse Fresnel lens. Colorful vintage signal flags fly below trade signs painted in black with mounted raised gold letters stating "MARITIME ANTIQUES, NAUTICAL DECOR, MARINE ART and SCHOONER VIRGINIA". The dark-green painted storefront wood work surrounds wall to wall tall windows offering a picturesque view from inside of the bustling riverfront yacht and ship activities that travels the busy Intracoastal waterway. Once inside, you will be greeted by the proprietors of Skipjack, Joe and Alison Elder. This large, mostly open front showroom houses Skipjack's collection of nautical accessories, decor and wares- a special blend of handcrafted nautical items made exclusively for Skipjack together with their own nautical apparel and jewelry. Skipjack is also the official "SCHOONER VIRGINIA" ships store carrying SCHOONER VIRGINIA apparel and merchandise to help raise funding and awareness for the State of Virginia's ambassador vessel. Skipjacks broad and focused collection of nautical wares makes this the perfect Olde Towne shopping destination for the nautical enthusiast.

A great shopping experience for the nautical enthusiast at Skipjack Nautical Wares.

Schooner Virginia and other nautical accessories at Skipjack Nautical Wares

Nautical instruments at Skipjack nautical Wares and Marine Gallery

A view of Skipjack Nautical Wares front showroom.

To the back left corner is the entry into the main gallery that is split into two separate areas. The first section features a fine collection of both new and antique Chelsea clocks and barometers, old and new marine instruments, and ship models including a vast collection of ship in a bottles by North Carolina master model builder Jim Goodwin. The main gallery also houses their collection of vintage and out of publication books on maritime subjects and a portion of the original marine art and prints. Through the fabric-paneled walls is Skipjack's design center that accommodates their picture framing department, prints and a selection of antique and vintage ship grates set aside for custom nautical furniture such as coffee tables, side tables, and occasional tables

Ship in bottles by master model builder Jim Goodwin

Chelsea clocks & barometers at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery

The main gallery leads into the newest part of Skipjack's art gallery, the foyer gallery that displays the majority of original marine art blended with nautical antiques, sea chests, and three dimensional marine-themed works of art. Skipjack Marine Galleries changing art shows are shown in this long foyer space. Skipjack also leases the foyer gallery for private parties, business gatherings, wedding receptions and other small events.

A section of Skipjack's Foyer Gallery.

An original marine casting by Bill Osmundsen on display in Skipjack nautical Wares & Marine Galleries Foyer Gallery.

The upper deck level of Skipjack's Foyer Gallery.

Panoramic view of Skipjack, the Hog Island Lighthouse lens and the riverfront.

Preview 360 degree panoramic views of Skipjack's showroom by Virginia photographer Allen B. Graves.

Portsmouth Visitor Information Center

For more information about Portsmouth, Virginia and the historic Olde Towne district, you may also want to stop by the Portsmouth Visitor Information Center located at 6 Crawford Parkway in Olde Towne offers visitors an abundance of informational brochures about area attractions and is open seven days a week. (757) 393-5111, (800) PORTS-VA
Another information center is Starboards Coffee kiosk located at High Street Landing, at the corner of High and Water streets. Betsy Cartier is a great source for finding out what is currently happening in Virginia's quaint historic seaport. Also, David Cartier writes a column titled "A New Day in Olde Towne" that is by far the best source for Olde Towne news and events.

About the author: Allen B. Graves is a writer and photographer that resides in Charlottesville, Virginia. You can visit his website at http://www.viewva360.com/

Reviews Make a Difference

By ActiveCaptain

The one feature that boaters seem to appreciate the most on ActiveCaptain is the reviews. Captains love to read them and love to write them. Everyone appreciates the opportunity to speak their mind and to see the uncensored opinions of others.

But what you might not realize is that your reviews can make a significant difference in the boating experiences of all of us.

We've had a unique perspective these past 5 years. Not only have we seen an ever increasing volume of user reviews, we've often interacted with the marinas who are receiving these reviews and have witnessed an interesting trend.

There was a time when it was not uncommon that a less than positive review would generate a call to us and even threats of a lawsuit.

Tens of thousands of reviews later we are finding an increasing number of marinas that are using their reviews, both positive and negative, to offer better services. The smart marina knows that when customers talk, they should listen. This is something we all benefit from. A great example of this happened last week.

Morningstar Marinas - Golden Isles, St. Simons Island, Georgia has 21 reviews and averages almost 5 stars. That's a pretty incredible accomplishment. But even the best business can have a bad day. Recently a boater complained in a review about the bathrooms. Golden Isles didn't make excuses or get angry. They took action. They fixed the problem with the bathrooms and then apologized to the captain who had the bad experience through an ActiveCaptain message.

You know the cool result of this example? That captain went back and added a couple of stars to their review for Golden Isles because they were listened to and the rest of their experience there was exceptional.  How great is that?

The moral of this story? Your opinions are important, not only to your fellow boaters but also to the marinas you visit. Be heard, write reviews - and not just when things go wrong. A positive review lets a marina know what they're doing right so they'll keep doing it.

To see Golden Isles marker, go to:
https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=31.166176&lon=-81.415042&t=n&z=14

We at Mile Marker "0" AICW  also very much appreciate your comments as well and want your stay here in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and especially here in Olde Towne Portsmouth to be the best that we can offer. We encourage you to write and leave comments about your visit, our marinas and services available to you. This is how we can weigh our performance and see where we need to improve.

 We're looking forward to seeing you again this spring and beyond. Let us know how we do. Have a great day!
Joe Elder
Mile Marker '0" AICW

A Backup GPS: BoatUS Smart Phone App Will Get You Home When Your Boat Won't Share Your Location

ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 15, 2011 - When your boat breaks down on the water or runs out of gas, calling for an on-the-water tow is simple. The hard part, sometimes, is being able to tell the BoatUS towing fleet precisely where to find you, which can delay a safe tow home.

Now, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers the only smart phone "App" that helps you call for a tow in a hurry and also adds helpful location and tracking features just for boaters, sailors and anglers. And you don't have to be a BoatUS or BoatUS Angler member to download the free App.
"The new BoatUS App can greatly improve towboat response times due to the accuracy of the GPS latitude and longitude technology built into these high tech phones," said BoatUS Vice President of Towing Services, Jerry Cardarelli. "The moment you hit the App's 'Call Now for a Tow' button, it automatically provides us with critical information before our crew even answers the phone. We think the App really adds a new layer of comfort and peace of mind."
Available for iPhones and Android phones, the App is available by going to www.BoatUS.com/app. Once uploaded to your smart phone and information is entered, the App is ready to go and gives boaters three choices: Call Now for a Tow, Share Your Location, and BoatUS Directory.

 
Call Now for a Tow
When "Call Now for a Tow" is activated, the App operates similarly to the roadside assistance operator system built into General Motors vehicles - data, including your boat's precise latitude and longitude, it's make, length, your emergency contact information, whether you have a working VHF radio aboard, and your smart phone number, are automatically provided to the BoatUS 24-hour dispatch centers before voice communication takes place. "The first thing we'll ask is if everyone onboard is safe, and then we'll use this critical information to arrange for a tow," said Cardarelli.
BoatUS members with the association's nationwide roadside Trailer Assist service can also take this App with them from the water to the road to summon help for a disabled vehicle or boat trailer (while towing). Trailer Assist will even winch your rig out of a slippery boat launch ramp when you're stuck in the mud.
 
Share Your Location
The "Share Your Location" feature makes it easy to privately send text messages or emails containing your latitude and longitude with a Google map link, alerting your friends to where the fish are biting, or where the big raft up is on Saturday afternoon.
Additionally, anytime the App is activated it automatically displays latitude and longitude at the top of the phone's display - regardless of cell coverage. This feature turns a smart phone into a backup GPS, essentially allowing boaters to use the latitude and longitude information to give to rescuers via VHF radio. (BoatUS reminds boaters that a VHF marine radio should be any boater's first choice for emergency communications.)
The BoatUS Towing App can also work well with your float plan, allowing you to easily text or email loved ones ashore, allowing them to "track" your trip on the BoatUS online Member Service Locator map. The App also gives smart phone users the option of seeing their own location on Google maps (when their cell phone's Internet connection is operable).
 
BoatUS Directory
Lastly, the "BoatUS Directory" feature allows boaters to join or renew membership with the association very easily over the phone, get a quote for BoatUS insurance, file an insurance claim, see BoatUS news online, or speak to the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water.
For more information, go to BoatUS.com/app.

###

About BoatUS Towing Services:
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing over half a million members with a wide array of consumer services, including on-the-water towing assistance provided by TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist Pacific. Combined, these two towing fleets offer North American boaters the largest network of US and Canadian towing ports with over 290 locations and over 600 towing assistance vessels - more than double that of any other service provider. 

Boaters, Anglers Will Now Need Extra Vigilance When Filling up at the Gas Station

when E15 starts to appear in gasoline stations,
boaters must heed the warning on the pump and shouldn't even think about using it in a boat.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 7, 2011 - With the EPA's recent decision to allow the use of gasoline with up to 15% ethanol (E15) in 2001 and newer model cars and trucks,Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) <http://smtp.boatus.net/t?r=5&c=12206&l=1217&ctl=20384A:6FC1F9A8D816BD1214141FE9751FC738&>says that trailerboaters will need to remain extra vigilant when filling up their truck and trailered boat at the local gas station. That's because while E15 could be fine for the tow vehicle, it's not good -nor authorized by the EPA - for use with boats. A strong solvent, ethanol has been known to degrade marine fuel systems, damage engines, add safety concerns, and lead to expensive repair bills.

"When filling up at gas stations, boaters are used to pulling up to the pump and filling up the tow vehicle first, and then putting the same fuel nozzle into the boat," said BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. "If that happens with E15, it could be a big mistake."

The EPA intends to put a warning on the pump - a small label with the exact wording yet to determined. "This is going to be a lot different from the choices offered to boaters today, where it's nearly impossible to misfuel gas or diesel engines, or where there are few consequences when choosing 87 octane over a higher 93 octane gasoline, for example," added Adriance.

All of this means that when E15 starts to appear in gasoline stations, boaters must heed the warning on the pump and shouldn't even think about using it in a boat. Here's why:

* *Going Lean isn't good:*In addition to hydrogen and carbon found in regular gasoline, ethanol also contains oxygen, which means less air (or conversely, more fuel) is required for combustion. The term "enleanment" is used to describe what can happen when there is too much air and not enough fuel. While most cars and trucks on the road today have closed-loop systems that car adjust to prevent enleanment, most boats have open-loop systems which do not, adding a greater risk of heat-related damage to your boat's engine with E15.

* *Compatibility questions:*Many components on a boat come in contact with ethanol-laden gasoline, including fuel lines, fuel tanks, fuel pumps, fuel injectors, carburetors, pressure regulators, valves, o-rings, and gaskets. The compatibility of these components with any blend greater than E10 is currently unknown. The failure of only one of these components in your engine could lead to failure or, worse, a fire or explosion.

* *A "good" thing isn't what it seems:*Phase separation is what happens when gas becomes over-saturated with water, leading the water/ethanol mixture to separate from the gasoline and fall to the bottom of the tank (where the engine's fuel pickup is located). However, since ethanol absorbs water more readily than gasoline and it burns harmlessly through the engine, adding more ethanol to gas will decrease the chance for phase separation. You'd think that would be a good thing, right?

However, as you increase the amount of water in ethanol, this mixture also becomes more acidic, increasing the potential to corrode metal, including aluminum fuel tanks.

Also keep in mind that once gas has phase separated, the only remedy is to completely empty the tank. While BoatUS believes fuel additives in general are a good thing, it has not seen evidence of any additive being able to restore phase-separated gas back to its original state.

* *Your warrantee won't help you:*Marine engines are only warranted for use with up to 10% (E10) ethanol.
For more information on ethanol, go toBoatUS.com/seaworthy/ ethanol.asp <http://smtp.boatus.net/t?r=5&c=12206&l=1217&ctl=20384C:6FC1F9A8D816BD1214141FE9751FC738&>.

Or, to ask a question or see a discussion on where to find ethanol-free gas at marinas, go the BoatUS ethanol message board athttp://my.BoatUS.com/forum

<http://smtp.boatus.net/t?r=5&c=12206&l=1217&ctl=20384E:6FC1F9A8D816BD1214141FE9751FC738&>.