Traveling Along the ICW and the Chesapeake Bay? Beware of Flood Debris From Hurricane Sandy

Be on the lookout for floating debris from Hurricane Sandy. Debris like this that
could seriously damage the hull of your boat. 

Normally this time of year, boaters have to be concerned about cooler water  temperatures, rapid temperature swings, and being more self-reliant as fewer  boaters are on the water to help in a potential emergency. With the recent  storms, however, you can add one more to  the list: a dramatic increase in the number of submerged objects lurking on or  just below the surface of rain swollen rivers, lakes and bays.


The fact is that small boats moving at high speeds can be sunk easily by striking a submerged object, whether it's a tree, parts of buildings, fences, landscape timbers or other debris washed down in recent storms.

What's the best precaution? Slow down after significant rain events and post extra lookouts  - the more eyes the better. It's really a problem for any boat as running gear and out drives can be damaged and lead to water coming in.

MILE MARKER "0" AICW BLOG  HAS THESE FOUR TIPS:

Before you go: Have all of the safety and communications gear aboard  and ensure the bilge pumps are working and there is no debris in the bilge.  It's always a good idea to have an extra bailer or two aboard, such as a  bucket, emergency hand pump or even a cut-off detergent bottle. Also understand  that navigational aids may have shifted.

Stop for any "thud": If you hear a thud, always stop the boat immediately  and inspect the bilge or storage compartments for damage - then check again a  short while later. A crack can  open up after a boat has bounced around a while. Another sign of damage is the  boat may feel "funny" or less responsive, a sign that water is coming aboard.

Put on life jackets: If you find water coming aboard - even if it's just  a trickle - immediately put on your life jacket and notify the Coast Guard as  you could lose the power and the ability to send a distress call on your VHF.  It takes only seconds for a trickle to get worse.

Be prepared to improvise: If you do find a hole in the hull, bilge pumps alone  may not stem the tide. Use anything you may have aboard such as towels, wooden  bungs (keep them handy for plugging round holes such as prop shaft logs), or other gear to wedge into holes or cracks.

This blog is brought to you by the staff at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery located in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia. http://www.skipjackmarinegallery.com  Be safe!

Hurricane Sandy Heads North: The Perfect Storm for the Northeast?

Hurrican Sandy is heading up the Atlantic coast.

She's just a day old - and even though no hurricane watches or warnings have yet been posted for the eastern US - Hurricane Sandy is getting some big time attention from forecasters because of unique circumstances that could make her more threatening. Some the forecast models predict Sandy will move into the Northeast next week, merging with another weather system with the potential to form a "Perfect Storm." Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) says regardless of how the predictions pan out, boaters need to take heed.

"It gets more interesting as we get closer to the weekend," said BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. "A lot could change, but if you're a boat owner anywhere from the mid-Atlantic to New England, moving up your winter haul-out plans before the storm arrives would be a good idea." And if you can't, you won't regret taking some basic hurricane preparation steps now to help keep your boat safe if this storm touches down near you. "Regardless of whether Sandy meets up with the Great Lakes cold front for a storm of 'historical proportions' as one weather blogger put it, heavy rains and gusty winds could impact much of the Northeast," added Adriance.

Basic, heavy weather preparation includes removing all sails and biminis, clearing the decks of any removable equipment, making sure scuppers and drains aren't blocked, and adding extra lines and chafe gear. If deck scuppers and drains aren't cleared of fall leaves, heavy rains can sink a boat stored in the water, even if it is docked inland at a protected location, or cause water damage to a boat stored on the hard.

Vessels in slips on open water with little wave protection are most vulnerable. The best plan is to remove the boat and store it on high ground. BoatUS has found that when storing boats ashore, using tie-downs secured from deck cleats to anchors embedded in the concrete pad or screwed into the earth with helical anchors can nearly eliminate most storm damage.

Trailerboats should be stored away from trees with the bow up and the drain plug out, with any loose gear removed, and a rope or strap cinched tight securing the boat firmly to the trailer. If a boat cannot be removed from a boat lift, the drain plug should also be removed and the vessel tied securely to its lifting machinery.

BoatUS.com/hurricanes offers easily downloadable storm planning materials including up-to-the-minute storm tracking tools with live satellite images, a hurricane preparation worksheet, an in-depth Boater's Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes, and checklists for what to do before and after a hurricane strikes. Sample hurricane plans for boat and yacht clubs are also offered.

Any boat owner seeking the services of a professional delivery captain to move a vessel to a safer location can go to the BoatUS Captains Locator at BoatUS.com/procaptains. Boaters can also sign-up to receive advisories from the National Hurricane Center as they are issued, as well as detailed maps of the forecast track, wind bands and more at Boatus.com/hurricanes/signup.asp.

Putting a Boat Away for the Winter? What You Need to Know About E-10 Gas

Putting a Boat Away for the Winter? What You Need to Know About E-10 Gas

ALEXANDRIA, Va., October 23, 2012 - Nearly full tank or nearly empty tank? That is the big question facing boaters now in the midst of preparing their boats for the long winter hibernation. The concern is ethanol - an octane enhancing gasoline additive that has some unfortunate, harmful side effects on marine engines. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has some tips learned from fuel industry insiders on how to store a boat with E-10 gasoline (containing 10% ethanol) over the winter.

• The octane issue: Some boaters choose to leave their boat's gas tank mostly empty over the winter, and then refill in the spring in the hopes of "refreshing" the fuel to regain any octane loss. However, a nearly empty gas tank introduces a bigger problem: the strong possibility of phase separation with the E-10 gas. Incidentally, over long winter storage periods, E-10 gasoline loses octane at about the same rate as non-ethanol gasoline.
• The path to phase separation: Ethanol (an alcohol) can attract and absorb water - about 10 times more than regular gasoline - and still burn harmlessly through the engine. However, there comes a tipping point when the ethanol can no longer absorb the water, and the alcohol will separate out or "phase separate" from the gasoline. When this happens, the solution of water soaked ethanol will settle to the bottom of the tank, which is where the engine's fuel system pick-up is located. Can you see where we are headed with this?
• More water, less absorption: The problem with leaving a tank mostly empty is that it increases the tank's "lung capacity" to breath in moist air (water) through the tank's vent. If the tank is mostly empty over the winter, there will also be less E-10 gas in the tank to absorb the moisture. This combination of more water and less capacity for absorption greatly increases the chances of phase separation. Adding fresh gasoline in the spring would not remedy the problem - the phase-separated ethanol remains separated at the bottom of the tank.
• The Water Separator issue: E-10 can hold up to 1/2 percent of water by volume and up to that concentration the water molecules will dissolve in the gasoline forming a soluble mixture that will pass through a water separator and burn harmlessly in your engine. The only time water will collect in a tank and not be absorbed is if phase separation has occurred, and by then it will be too late. A water separator is not a solution to the phase separation problem.
• The Fuel Additive issue: Fuel additives are good for many reasons and should be used when laying up a boat for winter, but no additive will stand up to a good-sized slug of water. And once too much water has entered the tank and the gas has begun to phase separate, no additive will return the fuel to its original state. The only solution to phase-separated gas is to have a professional drain the tank and start anew.

The best advice for storing E-10 in your boat's gas tank over winter:
Keep the tank nearly full. This greatly reduces the volume of moist air that can enter the tank via the fuel tank vent when temperatures fluctuate in the fall and spring. With any fuel, an antioxidant (found in many additives) will help keep it fresh during lay-up. Finally, never plug up a fuel tank vent - it creates pressure that could cause dangerous leaks in the fuel system.
For more information go to www.boatus.com/seaworthy/ethanol.asp. A free, downloadable winterizing checklist is available at http://www.BoatUS.com/seaworthy/winter.

3rd Annual Coast guard City Celebration

Communication and Social Navigation

I received this e-mail from our friends at ActiveCaptain this morning and thought that it should be shared. Unforeseen hazards are a common event while traveling the Intracoastal Waterway.  

A most interesting thing happened last week - something of a milestone for ActiveCaptain and perhaps a vision of what the future will be like. It seems that a storm knocked down a couple of trees clear across the Dismal Swamp at MM 21 and 18. The trunk was on one side of the canal with the branches touching the other side. It appears as if a few approaching boats decided that they could make it anyway (note to self: stop and turn around if you ever encounter a situation like this). Needless to say, multiple boats got tangled in the branches and had to be towed.

Photo from Bob Starita and Sheila Peterson as they travel aboard their Lagoon 380 catamaran Neverland.

While waiting to get through, one alert captain used the internet to create an ActiveCaptain hazard at the exact location where the tree had fallen. Hazards have special priority in our verification process and we saw it come in within a few minutes. To warn others quickly, we decided to call the South Mills Lock tender since most boats were northbound and would be going through that lock. Twelve rings and an automated message later proved there was no one actually at the phone. So we wrote to the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center. The director, Donna Stewart, hadn't heard about the problem. She got in contact with the Army Corps of Engineers and yadda, yadda, yadda, the trees were removed that evening.

So think of the loop that happened here. From witnessing the hazard to fixing it, all because of internet communication and a series of reliable verifications. That is a very powerful capability that our entire community can create by working together and sharing information.

ActiveCaptain helps in creating this new type of navigation. Whether you are guided through shoaling by the boats that proceeded you, or you select a marina because of previous reviews, or you're able to go to the grocery store because of services listed for a particular anchorage that someone else experienced, you are using social networking. We have a new term for it: Social Navigation. It's a complement to your other navigation capabilities. And as we're all finding, it's an important element in selecting a particular destination and figuring out how to get there safely.

Expect to see more about Social Navigation from ActiveCaptain. We have many more ideas and are developing some new capabilities that use these social aspects as we move forward together.


Karen and Jeffrey Siegel
aCappella
Castine, Maine

Do you have a story to share with other boaters traveling the ICW? Send your story and pictures so we can spread the word. You can e-mail me your story to me at: cjosephelder@gmail.com. Hope to hear from you soon!

Virginia Symphony Uncorked at Hospital Point - OpSail 2012 Virginia

In conjunction with OpSail 2012 Virginia, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth will host an unprecedented event at Hospital Point featuring the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, a Wine & Tapas Tasting, and premier Fireworks Viewing.  

The concert is Free, but reserve 

your tickets for the Wine Fest today! 

(Click on the picture below to enlarge)

Maritime Funnies

The marina contract said slip-side parking!

Some days it really helps to seek out the humorous side of life. Here are a few pics that folks have sent me through the years. Please e-mail us your captions for these pics. Have a funny day.

Yacht for sale. Comes complete with dinghy!

The chart says that there's a bridge around here somewhere!

Bill, I think the burger's are done.

Tiltallating!

FOR SALE! This ones going fast.

U.S. Coast Guard maximum capacities. XX weight  XX pesons.

The latest smart design in economical trawlers.

Yachting. Cuba style!

Ralph. They said go to the end of High Street and turn!

Traveling the AICW in style. Or,  For me for my birthday!

Yachting....recession style.

Three Safety Tips to Safely Get You Through the Spring Fishing and Boating Season

 Unusually warm weather here in Portsmouth, Virginia,  may make some
 forget that cold waters still lurk beneath the keel.

In many parts of the country, people are asking when did winter end and spring begin? Anglers and boaters are taking advantage of the  unusually warm weather, but some may be forgetting that cold waters still lurk  beneath the keel. Here's three easy safety tips that will  help you get safely through the spring fishing and boating season.

Refresh your memory: Take a boating safety course now from the comfort of your own home. We recommend the no-cost BoatUS Foundation Online Boating Safety course, which is designed so that you can stop and then continue at any time, includes videos that demonstrate important safety devices such as flares, shows the rules of the road, how to get help in an emergency, and the best way to fit a life jacket to a child so they will not slip out. Go to BoatUS online boat safety course. It may also help you save money on boat insurance and meet your state's requirements for boating safety education.

Don't allow the warm weather to let your guard down: The air temperatures may be downright balmy, but deceptively cold  waters increase the risk of hypothermia even on a "T-shirt" day. Also remember  there are fewer boats out on the water that could come to your aid. Bring extra  layers or change of clothes and rain gear this time of year. Remember, water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air does, so you cool much more rapidly in water!

Plan on how to get back in the boat: If you  accidentally went overboard, do you have a way to get back aboard? You may be  surprised how hard this can be - especially if you are alone or haven't  prepared for it. It could be as simple as having a rope with looped foot holds  affixed to a cleat that can easily be grabbed from the water. The BoatUS  Foundation also tested after-market boarding ladders for small jonboats, RIBs  and larger center console boats. You can view these tests at BoatUS market tests.  A hardcopy of the tests along with a ranking of the best ladders can also be  found at BoatUS.com/foundation/boardingladders.

Have something to share? We'd love to add your comments. Just write in the box below.

Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmer's Market 2012

The weekly market will start again on Saturday April 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and is planned to continue until December 22. Seasonal fresh produce; artisan breads, pies, cakes, scones, savory biscuits, brownies, cookies and other baked goods; beef, poultry, eggs, and seafood; jams and jellies, salsas and sauces; plants and flowers; hand-crafted soaps and more. Several farmers specialize in heirloom produce and free-range poultry and eggs, and most products are locally grown/raised without the use of chemicals or hormones. Portsmouth’s Master Gardeners sell potted herbs and are available for free consultation about gardening in the region and special programs and workshops.

FirstEvents Weekends in Olde Towne Portsmouth:

Special events are planned each month to coincide with the Farmers’ Market and Antiques to Flea Market. See the City events site for details. First Friday events include Concerts in the Courtyard at the Courthouse Galleries Museum. Saturday events take place in the Courtyard (next to the farmers’ market), the new Children’s Museum of Virginia, and the Naval Shipyard Museum, all within a short walking distance of free parking.

Also, Olde Towne Portsmouth's Downtown High Street corridor (between the riverfront and Effingham Street) offers a great selection of antique shops, art galleries and unique boutiques for your shopping pleasure and some of the finest restaurants and pubs in Hampton Roads, and many offer patio dining so you can take in the views. There's plenty to do to fill up your day, so shop, dine and experience Hampton Roads best kept secret, Olde Towne Portsmouth

Portmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market offers seasonal fresh produce; artisan breads, pies, cakes, scones, savory biscuits, brownies, cookies and other baked goods; beef, poultry, eggs, and seafood; jams and jellies, salsas and sauces; plants and flowers; hand-crafted soaps and more.

Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers’ Market starts at the northwest corner of High Street and Court Street (opposite the Visual Arts Center) and runs west along High Street and north along Court Street.

There is free parking on the street and in the nearby parking garages at:
441 Middle Street
County Street Parking Garage (300 Country Street)
Crawford Garage (Water Street)

In case of unexpectedly cold weather or rain, the January 21 market will be located here.

Here's the link to the Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market website.

Ethanol and Old Outboard Boat Engines Don't Mix

Gas with ethanol greater than 10% should  never be used with any boat engine. 

Ever since E10 gasoline (gas containing 10% ethanol) became widely  available several years ago, the nation's largest recreational boat owners  group, BoatUS, has received hundreds of calls and emails complaining about boat  engine problems. The majority of complaints concern older outboard motors,  those made before about 1990. BoatUS' Seaworthy magazine asked Mercury Marine's Ed  Alyanak and Frank Kelley, who between them have over 60 years of experience, to  find out what's made these decades-old outboards more susceptible to ethanol's well-known problems and what owners can do.

1. Vulnerable hoses: In the mid 1980's new  standards (SAE J1527) for fuel hoses were developed for "gasohol," which was  known to deteriorate rubber and plastics. Since then, problems with hoses have  largely gone away, but that doesn't mean they are maintenance free. Tech Tip:  Any hose older than 10 years should be replaced. Here's another way to test  rubber fuel hose condition: wipe a clean rag along the hose. If you smell gas  on the rag, replace the hose immediately.

2. Carburetors: O-rings and rubber  carburetor parts on older engines tend to get hard and brittle when exposed to  ethanol and then break off in bits and pieces causing clogs, misfires and  shutdowns. Pre-1990 carburetors were also made from alloys that didn't stand up  to ethanol, leading to corrosion that can cause tiny fuel orifices to clog,  resulting in hard starts and poor running. Old carbs are also "dumb" in that  they were designed to run on only one type of fuel. Ethanol, however, has more  oxygen and affects the air/fuel ratio, causing engines to run leaner and  hotter. Tech Tip: The best solution with old outboards is to run straight gas -  if you can find it. Some mechanics may also have the ability to "recalibrate" a  carburetor to tolerate E10 (note: gas with ethanol greater than 10% should  never be used with any boat engine).

3. Plastic fuel filter bowl: Some older engines  may have plastic fuel filter bowls. Tech Tip: If you still have one, replace immediately with a metal bowl.

4. Fuel fill gasket: Keeping water out of the  fuel tank is even more important with ethanol as it can eventually lead to the formation of two separate solutions in the gas tank (water  and fuel), also known as phase separation. The process is more  common on older boats which are more likely to have accumulated water at the  bottom of the tank. Once phase separation happens - the tipping point when  water in the gas is either harmlessly ingested or transformed into a corrosive  mixture no engine will run on - there's no going back. No fuel additive can  restore E10 back to its normal state. Tech Tip: Age and exposure to ethanol can  rot fill gaskets or O-rings. Replace them every few years.

If phase separation has occurred, it is necessary to completely remove all free water from the system and replace the fuel before continuing operation.

5. "Gunk" in the tank: It is still possible that  some old outboards and boat fuel systems have yet to sip a drop of E10. But  once your boat drinks its first tankful, ethanol will "scour" or dissolve the  gunk that's been coating the tank walls (and hoses) for years. Tech tip: You  may want to think about hiring a professional to have the tank drained  completely of any gas and water at the bottom before adding your first load of  E10. If not, keep a supply of filters on hand - they will clog quickly. Always  use a fuel stabilizer and avoid using octane boosters that contain ethanol.

For more information on  ethanol and boat engines, go toBoatUS.com/seaworthy/ethanol

Are you traveling the AICW and have pictures or information concerning the Virginia- North Carolina region to share? Please e-mail them to skipjacknauticalwares@gmail.com. so we can share them with others traveling the AICW.  Have a great day and a safe passage.  Joe Elder, MilemarkerO.blogspot.com.

Dismal Swamp Waterway Open-AICW

Traveling the Dismal Swamp on the ICW. Photo courtesy of the "Tellico Lady."

News from ActiveCaptain


The Welcome Center at the Dismal Swamp added a review a couple weeks ago providing an update on the Dismal Swamp:

https://activecaptain.com/X.php?lat=36.506911&lon=-76.355795&t=h&z=17

They also asked that we let all east coast boaters know that their waterway is open and ready for visitors. In addition, the ACOE crane barge, Elizabeth II, is going through the canal to make sure it is clear of debris for boaters. There are a few hazard markers along the Dismal Swamp route from last Fall - please update or delete them if the hazard no longer exists.


Thanks to all of the contributors there is no more reliable source for up-to-date information on the Dismal Swamp or anywhere else you cruise.


Are you traveling the AICW and have pictures or information concerning the Virginia- North Carolina region to share? Please e-mail them to skipjacknauticalwares@gmail.com. so we can share them with others traveling the AICW.  Have a great day and a safe passage.  Joe Elder, MilemarkerO.blogspot.com.

Boating News: Five Wintertime Tasks To Save Gas This Summer

With fuel costs on the rise, the nation's largest boat owners' group has five fuel saving tasks  that can put a dent in your summer fuel bills. All of these tips from Boat  Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) are time tested to reduce fuel  consumption, and boaters can accomplish most of them now while their boats are  in winter layup - before the boating season begins

Lighten  the load: It's one of easiest  no-cost things to save on gas, and applies to just about every boat type on the  water - power, sail or fishing. With the boat on jack stands or in the garage,  jump aboard and take a good look at what you really need and clear out all of  that junk under the floorboards, in lockers, or in less-used storage areas. And, if she's already in in the slip, remember that water  weighs over eight pounds per gallon. Carrying more than necessary in freshwater  and waste tanks is almost as bad as flushing money down the head.

Get  a tune-up: An annual engine tune-up,  whether you do it yourself or ask a marine professional, is a must for any  powerboat owner. It's also likely to save you the most money on gas in the long  run.

Check  the prop: To avoid any delay in  launching this spring, take your motor's prop to your marina, dealer or local  prop shop now while they are less busy and can repair any dings. It's also good  to have a discussion on your current boating needs.

Trailering fuel-saving tips: Check tire pressure for proper inflation, ensure you  have a tight fitting cover to decrease wind drag. Also, a five or six mile per  hour decrease in towing speed will give a noticeable decrease in fuel  consumption.

Pay less for gas: Join BoatUS for only $24/year and the member fuel discount can be as much as $.10 off  each gallon of fuel at over 340 BoatUS Cooperating  Marinas. It's one of the Association's more popular member benefits and can pay  for itself in as little as one or two fill-ups. For membership  information, visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.

Dismal Swamp Canal - Closure for Lock Maintenance

South Mill Lock,  North Carolina.

On Wednesday, January 4, 2012, the Corps of Engineers will begin repairs to the South Mills Lock on the Dismal Swamp Canal. Therefore, the locks at Deep Creek, Virginia and South Mills, North Carolina will stop operating after the last scheduled locking at 3:30 PM on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. The Dismal Swamp Canal, Route 2 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, will be temporarily closed to through vessel traffic until repairs are complete. The repairs are expected to take 60 to 90 days.

The Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, Route 1 through the Great Bridge lock at Chesapeake, Virginia, will be open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Operators will monitor Channel 13. Should you have any questions concerning this matter, please call 757-201-7642.

Reported by Bob McBribe, Mile Marker "0" Marine Supplies. for more information, contact Bob at (757) 673-4186.