CHECK OUR SITE FREQUENTLY FOR NEW AND INTERESTING YACHTS AND RELATED INFORMATION. THE "RESOURCES" (Lots of Weather Info.) AND "RECIPES" SECTIONS ARE CONTINUELY UPDATED WITH NEW MATERIAL. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS; LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, SEND AN EMAIL. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW AND USEFUL INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH THE MARINE COMMUNITY. On an ancient wall in China where a brooding Buddha blinks, Deeply graven is the message - it is later than you think. The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is all the time you own, the past a golden link. Go cruising now my brother - it is later than you think.
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| December 17, 2009 |
| Boat Show Calendar 2009 and 2010 |
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*****DECEMBER 2009 ***** St. Petersburg Boat Show, St. Petersburg, FL Dec 3 - 6**** Antigua Yacht Charter Show, Dec 7 - 11**** MYBA St. Maarten Charter Show, Dec **** ****JANUARY 2010***** Phuket Int'l Boat Show, Jan 7 - 10**** London Int'l Boat Show, Jan 8 - 17**** Stuart Boat Show-Crusier Expo, FL, Jan 15 - 17**** Trawler Fest, Ft Lauderdale, Jan 29 - 31**** ***Passagemanker University Jan 27 - 28*** Phuket Int'l Marine Expo, Jan 7 - 10**** All Canada Show Minneapolis, MN, Jan **** Houston Int'L Boat Show, TX, Jan **** Toledo Boat Show, Toledo, OH, Jan **** Stuart Boat Show, Stuart Harbor, FL, Jan 15 - 17**** Toronto Boat Show, Canada, Jan **** Atlanta Boat Show, GA, Jan 13 - 17**** Goa Int'l Boat Show, Panaji, India, Jan 15 - 17**** Minneapolis Boat Show, Minneaplis, MN Jan 20 - 24**** New York Boat Show, Jan 20 - 24**** Dusseldort Boot, Jan 23 - 31**** Seattle Boats Afloat Show, WA, Jan 29-Feb 6 *** *****FEBRUARY 2010***** Seatle Boats Afloat Show, WA, Jan 29 - Feb 6**** Lisbon Boat Show, Portugal, Feb 3 - 7**** Goteborg Int'l Boat Show, Sweeden, Feb 5 - 14**** Belgian Boat Show, Ghent, Belgium, Feb 6 - 14**** Carrara, Italy - Seatec, Feb 10 - 14**** Budapest Boat Show, Hungary, Feb 11 - 14**** MIAMI YACHT & BROKERAGE SHOW ****Collins Ave, Thursday Feb 11 to - Monday 15**** *****Collins Ave, MIAMI BEACH***** *****SEE CHUCK AT THE SHOW***** ****SEE OUR DISPLAY THERE, WEST END OF RAMP 17**** Miami Int'l Boat Show, Convention Center, Feb 11 - 15**** Strictly Sail Miami, FL, Feb 11 - 15**** Boot Holland, Leeuwarden, Feb 12 - 17**** Helsinki Int'l Boat Show, Finland, Feb 12 - 21**** Istanbul, Eurasia Boaat Show, Feb 12 - 21**** Kuwait Int'l Boat Show, Feb 16 - 20**** Mumbai Int'l Boat Show, Feb 18 - 21**** Vancouver Int'l Boat Show, Vancouver, B.C. Feb**** Atlantic City Boat Show, NJ, Feb **** Moscow Int'l Boat Show, Russia, Feb 20 - 28**** Los Angeles, Boat Show, Calif, Feb 20 - 28**** Zagreb Sport & Boat Show, Croatia, Feb 24 - 28**** Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, UAE, Feb 25 - 27**** St. Louis Boat & Sport Show, St Louis, MO Feb**** New England Boat Show, Boston, MA, Feb**** Detroit Boat Show, MI, Feb **** New Hampshire Boat Show, HN, Feb **** Richmond Boat Show, Richmond, VA, Feb **** Trawler Fest, Sandiego, CA, Feb **** ******MARCH 2010****** Dubai Int'l Boat Show, March 9 - 13**** HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show, Mar **** Auckland Int'l Boat Show, Mar **** Savannah Int'l Boat Show Mar **** Madrid Boat Show, Spain, Mar **** Maine Boat Show, Agusta, ME Mar **** Edmonton Boat & Sports Show, Alberta, Canada Mar **** Japan Int'l Boat Show, Mar **** Norwegian Int'l Boat Show, Norway, Mar **** *****PALM BEACH BOAT SHOW, West Palm Beach, FL,***** ****March 25 - 28**** *****SEE CHUCK AT THE SHOW***** ****SEE OUR DISPLAY EAST END OF RAMP 8**** Kuwait Boat Show, Fahaheel, Kuwait, Mar **** In Water Boat Show, Chester, MD, Mar **** Croatia Boat Show, Croatia, Mar - April ** *****APRIL 2010 TBA***** Orange County Boat Show, Anaheim, CA Apr **** Tacoma Dome Boat Show, Tacoma, WA, Apr **** Antibes Yacht Show, France, April **** Bahrain Boat Show, Amway Marina, Apr **** Newport Boat Show, Newport Beach, CA April **** China Int'l Boat Show, Shanghai, April **** Suncoast Boat Show, Sarasota, FL, April 16 - 18**** Charleston Boat Show, Charleston, SC, Apr **** Jacksonville Boat Show, Jacksonville, FL Apr**** Boat Asia, Keppel Bay, Singapore, April **** Bay Bridge Boat Show, Stevensville, MD, Apr **** Texas Int'l Boat Show, Corpus Christi, TX, Apr **** *****MAY 2010 TBA***** Trawler Fest, Anacortes, WA, May ****** ***Passagemaner University, May *** Newport Spring Boat Show, Newport, RI, May **** Dana Point Harbor Boat Show, CA, May **** *****JUNE 2010***** Spring Boat Show, Pomona, CA, June TBA**** Marina del Rey Boat Show, Marina del Rey, CA, June TBA*** Bay Harbor In Water Show, Bay Harbor, MI, June TBA**** Houston Summer Boat Show, Houston, TX June TBA**** Trawler Fest, Greenport, NY, June TBA**** Wooden Boat Show, Mystic, CONN, June TBA**** ****JULY 2010 TBA**** San Diego Summer Boat Show July **** Morris Boat Show, Northwest Harbor, ME, July **** San Diego Summer Boat Show, San Diego, CA, July **** Nova Scotia Boat Show, Halifax, July - August **** *****AUGUST 2010 TBA***** Mid Atlantic Fall Boat Show, Charlotte, NC Aug **** Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show, Camden, ME Aug **** Hot Summer Boat Show, Orlando, FL, Aug **** Carolina Fall Boat Show Raleigh, NC Aug **** Michigan City Boat Show, Michigan City, IN Aug **** Grand Haven In Water Boat Show, Grand Haven MI, Aug **** ****SEPTEMBER 2010 TBA***** Lido Yacht Expo, Newport Beach, CA, Sept *** Cannes Int'l Boat Show, Cannes, France, Sept **** Atlantic City Power Boat Show, Atlantic City, NJ, Sept * Int'l Sail & Power Boat Show, Long Beach, CA, Sept *** Charlotte Antique & Classic Boat Show, Mooresville, NC * Tampa Boat Show, Tampa, FL, Sept **** Central New York Boat Show, Syracuse, NY, Sept **** Seattle Yachts-A-Float show, Sept **** North American In-Water Show, Cedar Point, OH, Sept ** Yacht Fest, San Diego, CA, Sept **** Newport Int'l Boat Show, Newport, RI, Sept **** Jersey Shore Boat Show, NJ Sept **** Monaco Yacht Show, Monaco, Sept ***** Boat Show USA, Mt Clemens, MI, Sept **** Norwalk Int'l Boat Show, Norwalk Cove, CT, Sept **** Lido Yacht Expo, Newport Beach, CA, Sept **** Trawler Fest Passagemaker Univ, Solomons, MD,Sept ** *****OCTOBER 2010 TBA***** Trawler Fest, Solomons, MD, Oct **** ***Passagemanker University Sept -Oct *** Liberty Boat Show, Jersey City, NJ, Oct **** Geona Int'l Boat Show, Geona, Italy Oct **** US Sailboat Show, Annapolis, MD, Oct **** US Power Boat Show, Annapolis, MD, Oct **** Hanseboot 2009, Hamburg, Germany Oct -Nov **** Marinturk Istanbul, Turkey, Oct **** Yacht & Boat Korea, Oct - Nov **** *****OCTOBER - NOVEMBER ***** *****FT. LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW****** ***WATER LOCATION HALL OF FAME DOCKS at Swing Bridge*** *****SEE CHUCK AT THE SHOW***** *****BAHIA MAR, HALL OF FAME DOCKS at the Swing Bridge***** ***** ***** ********** *****NOVEMBER 2009 ***** Emirates Boat Show, Abu Dhabi, Nov 10 - 14**** Barcelona Boat Show, Nov 7 - 15**** Ausmarine, Sydney, Australia, Nov TBA**** Ft. Myers Boat Show, Ft. Myers, FL, Nov TBA**** Marine Equpt & Trade (METS), Amsterdam, Nov TBA****
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| December 27, 2008 |
| EPIRB's and the need to have a 406 MHz beacon |
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February 1, 2009 the International Maritime Organization and International Civil Aviation Organization and subsequent rescue authorities will cease the satellite monitoring and processing of distress signals on the 121.5 MHz frequency. As of February 1 only 406 MHz beacons will be detected and processed for worldwide search and rescue. Registration is free and can be done online at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov. Registration option mailed or faxed to NOAA by calling 888-212-SAVE. Beacon registrations must be updated at least every 2 years or when such vital informatin as emergency contact phone numbers change. Starting in February 2009 the older beacons that transmit only an analog signal (121.5 or 243 MHz) will no longer be heard by search and rescue satellites. Although recreational boaters are not required to carry an EPIRB, they are strongly recommended for all boaters. The 406 MHz signal sent by the newer EPIRB's when a mariner encounters distress are picked up by the COSPAS/SARSAT satellite constellation, which determines the EPIRB's position through trangulation. EPIRB's embedded GPS are even more helpful in quickly finding a distressed boater. With GPS coordinates, the position of distress is pinpointed almost immediately. Without GPS, it may take two or three satellite passes to come up with a good, traingulated position.
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| October 16, 2008 |
| How did the Virgin Islands get their name? |
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So it is said that during a 3 year voyage from Britain making a pilgrimage to Rome circa A.D. 500, Saint Ursla and 11 or her hand-maidens made landfall near the Rhine River about where Cologne, Germany is located. Captured by a local Hun chieftain, Saint Ursla refused his mariage proposals and as a consequence she and her hand-maidens med a dire fate. Over the centuries that followed, the number of martyred virgins miracoulously grew from 11 to 11,000. In 1493, during his second voyage to the New World, Columbus found a large island in the Caribbean surrounded by an archipelago of smaller ones. he named the most prominent island St. Ursla and the others, Once Mil Viregnes (11,000 virgins). Today those islands are known as the Virgin Islands.
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| October 16, 2008 |
| Nautical Trivia Knowledge Test |
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1. Which ship was biggest (most gross tons at full load): The battleship "Bismark", "RMS Titanic" or "SS Edmund Fitzgerald"? A. The "Titanic", which displaced 66,000 tons fully loaded. ("Bismark", 50,900 tons and the "Fitzgerald", 39,748 tons.) 2. What was the first lighthouse built in America? A. Boston Light in 1716 3. What State got its name from the Indian phrase "place of lakes"? A. Michigan 4. What is the fastest fish in the ocean? A. Sailfish, can reach 68 mph 5. How many pounds of gold are in an average cubic mile of sea water? A. 38 Pounds 6. Throughout history what has caused the most ships to sink? 1. accidnets, 2. war, 3. hurricanes A. 3. Hurricanes 7. How much did the U.S. pay for the U.S. Virgin Islands when it bought them from Denmark in 1917? A. $25 Million 8. What is the orgin of the greeting "Ahoy" A. Viking battle cry 9. Who is and what is Charlie Noble A. Charlie Noble is the galley stove smoke stack. Name has grown to also be used to identify other smoke stacks IE fireplace. Named after a British merchant captian fanatical about keeping the galley copper stove smokestack polished. 10. To shoot Charlie Nobel is to A. Fire a blank cartridge down the funnel to shake loose the soot. 11. If two boats approach head-to-head and each sounds one short blast, onwhich side will they pass? A. The port side 12. What is the worlds largest marina? A. Marina del Rey, California 13. What is the Maximum velocity of the Gulf Stream through the Strights of Florida? A. 7 Knots 14. The Gulf Stream, off Cape Hatteras, transports how much water per second? A. 85 Million cubic feet per second 15. What is freeboard? A. That portion of the vessel's side with is "free" of the water. 16. Define the term "Flemish" A. To coil a rope in fanciful patterns, as in the figure of 8. 17. What if a Flinders Bar? A. A bar of "soft" iron fixed vertically to a binnacle to equalize the magnetic attraction of lthe forward and after protions of the vessel. 18. What are fiddles? A. The rails fitted around tables during rough weather, to prevent articles from sliding over the edge. 19. What is unique about a "Pram"? A. A dinghy built with a small transom at the bow as well as at the stern. 20. Define the term "Hardchine". A. When the sides of a vessel meet her bottom at an angle, instead of being rounded, she is said to be hard-chined 21. What was the first ship to circumnavigate the globe? A. "The Victoria" she was part of Megellan's fleet 22. What are "Limbers" A. Apertures between the frames, floors and the skin of a ship through which water may run away to the pump in the lowest part of the hull. 23. What is a "Load Line" A. A mark on a merchant ships side to show the greatest draught to which she may be loaded. 24. What is a "Pushpit" A. The guardrail round the stern of a yacht 25. What is a "Jack-ass rig" A. A three-masted topsail schooner. 26. What is a "Pulpit" A. The guard rail round the bows of a yacht 27. What is a Spurling or Navel-pipe? A. The pipe leading from the windlass to the chain locker 28. What are Fiddles? A. The rails fitted around tables during rough weather to prevent articles from sliding over the edge. 29. When would you hear 16 bells A. Midnight of the new year, eight double strokes when the new year comes in, eight bells for the old and eight for the new year. 30. What is Squirm? A. Refers to the twist in a rope 31. What is the largest fresh water fish in North America? A. The White Sturgeon, which grows up to 18' and can weith 2000 pounds. 32. What boatbuilding company constructed its first hull in a small garage on the West Side of Detroit in 1959? A. Sea Ray 33. What is the vessels name and who owns the largest private yacht in the world? A. "Octopus", owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen 34. What does STCW-95 stand for? A. Standards For Training, Certification & Watchkeeping 35. On boats larger that 39.4 feet must carry a bell. How wide must its mouth be? A. A minimum of 7.87 inches 36. How did the Red Sea get its name? A. From frequent red tides. 37. Why is a Chandlery called a "Chandlery" and how did the name come to be? A. Chandlery is an old New England term derived from candle makers or Chandlers. They supplied the necessary candles to whaling ships. The Chandlers expanded from candles to rope, chain and finally complete provisioning. 38. True or False, while viewing a boat from astern, a right-hand propeller will turn clockwise? A. True 40. What is the name of the boat that stranded its passengers on Gillian's Island? A. SS Minnow 41. How long can the typical manatee stay submerged? A. About 15 minutes 42. LOA usually includes the swim platform, yes or no? A. NO 43. What does a hygrometer measure? A. Humidity 44. What is an isotherm? A. A line connecting all points of equal temperature 45. What kind of navigation hazard occurs along the northeast coast in cloder temperatures? A. Steam fog 46. If you must enter the water because your boat is sinking during cold weather, what is the best strategy for survival? A. Remain still; if there are other passengers in the water, huddle with them. 47. What involuntary reaction can cause you to drown within seconds after falling into cold water? A. When you hit the water, the freezing sensatin causes you to gasp, which may make you gulp water. 48. Average water temperatures drop by how many degrees from September to November? A. it varies by area, but the average for the Great Lakes and northeastern coastal waters is about 4 to 5 degrees.
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| April 30, 2008 |
| FCC radio licensing |
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FCC licenses are not required for recreational vessels less than 65' staying in U.S. waters. Owners of recreational vesels are required to obtain radio licenses from the FCC only when boradcasting in a foreign port, or if the boat is 65' or greater or if single sideband radio or Inmarsat equipment is being used. For complete information visit the FCC's web site, http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensing&id=ship_stations.
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| April 30, 2008 |
| Loran will evolve into eLoran |
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Technology upgraded into enhanced Loran or eLoran is approved. As a land based reliable backup to GPS should an outage occur. Of the 24 Loran stations 19 have been upgraded to eLoran, April 2008. Accuracy is between 8 feet and 65 feet. Expect to see combination receivers for both GPS and eLoran now that Loran's future appears stable.
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| March 02, 2007 |
| Nautical Tests |
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1. If the wind and tide are coming from the north, how do you describe wind, direction and current set? North wind and south current set. 2. What is deviation and what is variation? Deviation is the angle between "north" on your compass and magnetic north. Variation is the angle between magnetic north and true north. 3. A falling barameter and rising thermometer often forecast what? Rain. 4. How many feet are in a fathom? 6 5. About how many nautical miles are in a league? 3 6. What is humidity? A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air. Relative humidity, the most common measure, is expressed as a percentage. It is the amount of water vapor in the air, compared with the amount of vapor neeced to make the air saturated-causing condensation-at the air's current temperature. 7. Isobars are lines of equal barometric pressure. What are isogons? Lines of equal magnetic variation. 8. What are the traditional hours assigned to the "first dogwatch"? 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 9. What two factors cause currents? Temperature and salt. Scientific name is thermohaline currents (thermo=heat, haline=salt). Cold water is more dense than hot water, salty water is more dense than fresh and these differences are what causes the rivers of water called currents to flow. 10. What is the name of the warm water current that flows across the North Atlantic? The Gulf Stream and it travels all the way from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea across the Atlantic to Europe. 11. How much water flows in the Gulf Stream? Around 30 million tones a second and it makes the climate of the coasts of Western Europe much milder that other coastlines on the same lattitude like Canada. It travels alone the surface while the cold current flows southwards underneath. Works like an enormous conveyor belt. 12 What is sea ice and its interaction? When temperatures are cold enough sea water freezes and forms sea ice. The freezing process only involves water so the salt does not freeze into the ice, but instead stays in the sea water. This makes the sea water even more dense. Columns fo this extra salty water drop suddenly to the bottom of the ocean and warm water from the south is drawn in to take its place. 13. What is STCW 95? August 2002 flag state administrations along with Port State Control inspectors throughout the world commenced strict enforcement of all provisions of the International Convention of Standards of Training, Certicication and Watchkeeping, 1978, as amended 1995 (STCW 95). Today every officer and rating on board any vessel must hold valid STCW 95 orginal national certificates and STCW 95 flag state endorsement certificaties. If such is missing, the vessel can be detained by PSC or flag state inspectors. 14.A boat shounding 3 short blasts is prepairing to do what? A. Operate astern propulsion 15. What is the length of one minute of lattude? A. One Nautical Mile, 6,076 feet 16. What does a continuous fog signal indicate? A. Vessel In Distress 17. Nautical term defining ratio of the length of anchor rode to the depth of water? A. Scope 18. What flag, flown alone, indicates quarantine? A. The letter "Q", solid yellow color 19. Lights & Shapes "International" What vessel shall, in addition to the masthead light forward, sidelights and a sternlight, exhibit an all-round flashing yellow light? A. Air-cushioned vessel when operating in the nondisplacement mode and less than 50 meters in length. 20. Lights & Shapes "Inland" Rule 22, A vessel of 12 meters or more in length but less than 50 meters in length. What is the prescribed intensity of the masthead light, sidelights and sternlight? A. Masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 meters, 3 miles. Sidelights and sternlight, 2 miles. 21. Lights & Shapes "International and Inland", Rule 24. What vessel will show 3 white lights in a verticle line? A. Power-driven vessel towing astern, when the length of the tow, measuring from the stern of the towing vessel to the after end of the tow exceeds 200 meters, three lights in a verticle line. 22. Lights & Shapes, Rule 25 "International & Inland" A sailing vessel over 12 meters when under sail also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit what? A. Where it can best be seen a conicial shape, apex downwards. 23. Underway in heavy fog at night, what signal must powerboats sound? A. One prolonged blast every 2 minutes 24. Hurricanes are categorized according to the strength of their winds useing the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. What are the winds speeds for: Catagory One?, Catagory Two?, Catagory Three?, Catagory Four?, and Catagory Five? A. (1) 64 to 82 knots (2) 83 to 95 knots (3) 96 to 113 knots (4) 114 to 135 knots (5) 136 knots and higher 25. What is MARPOL? A. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. The convention contains 6 annexes containing regulations for ships to prevent pollution of the environment from: oil, noxious liquid substances in bulk, harmful substances carried by sea in package form, sewage, garbage and air pollution. 26. U.S.C.G. exam prep queston, a vessel shall have its operating lights on (International Rules)? A. in restricted visibility, both day and night B. from sunset to sunrise C. any time deemed necessary D. all of the above "D" is the correct answer 27. If the cahrted depth of water in your area is 36' and the height or tide is -3.5', what is the actual depth? A. 3.5' B. 32.5' C. 35' D. 39.5' "B" is the correct answer. USCG exan prep question. 28. U.S.C.G. exam prep question, Which line would not be used to rig a spinnaker? A. foreguy B. downhaul C. headstay D. topping lift "C" is the correct answer 29. U.S.C.G. exam prep question, What kind of weather would you expect from a high-pressure system? A. fair weather B. unsettled weather C. increasing cloudiness, rain in 24 hours D. high winds and warm to hot temperatures "A" is the correct answer 30. U.S.C.G. exam prep question, which is not a vessel restricted in ability to maneuver (International Rules)? A. a vessel constrained by draft B. a vessel surveying C. a vessel tending buoys D. a vessel towing, with a difficult tow "A" is the correct answer 31. U.S.C.G. exam prep question, A distress signal (International rules)? A. consists of five or more short blasts of the fog signal B. may be used separately or in combination with other distress signals C. consists of the raising and lowering of a white flag D. indicates doubt about another vessel's intentions "B" is the correct answer. 32. Rowing boats under sail or oars must show? A. side lights B. mast lights C. stern light D. white light in time to prevent collision "D" is the correct answer. 33. Following Sept. 11 the Coast Guard mandated all boats must stay what minimum distance from Crusie Ships? A. 100 yards 34. You are on a southerly course,the chart indicates that you should expect an easterly current, how would you compensate? A. Steer a bit to starboard B. Steer a bit to port C. change course to 270 degrees D. hold course A. is the correct answer 35. What does the Beaufort scale measure? A. The force of wind at sea 36. On international waters in a crossing situtation, a short blast by the give-way vessel indicates that the vessel? A. is holding course and speed B. intends to pass port to port C. is turning to starboard D. is backing down C. is the correct answer, turning to starboard 37.International Rules, Which vessel is underway? A. tied to a day shape B. aground C. adrift E. tied to the ourboard side of a moored vessel C. adrift 38. What is the only circumstance inwhich a power boat would display the same running lights as a sailboat? When the power boat is under tow.
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| July 24, 2006 |
| Knot Tying |
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Perfect place to learn about knots. Step-by-step animation, check out www.animatedknots.com
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| April 10, 2006 |
| Bahamas Weather |
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As reported the following take up the task of broadcasting the weather. Here is the morning schedule: 6:30 Chris Parker SSB 8137 7:00 The Wardles, Nassau SSB 4003 upper sideband 7:15 The Wardles, Nassau VHF CH 72 7:20 Carolyn Wardle SSB 3696 lower sideband 7:30 Highbourne Cay VHF CH 16 7:45 Waterway Radio and SSB 7268 lower sideband Cruising Net 8:00 June Rosen, Blue Yonder, Central Exumas VHF CH 14, 7 months 8:15 Pattie Toler, Blue Dolphin, Marsh Harbour VHF CH 68
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| July 23, 2003 |
| Personal Locator Beacon |
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NOAA & the Air Force authorized a new digitally encoded distress device called the Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) they is available for nationwide use July 1, 2003. Useing GPS technology they utilize the 406 frequency. All owners are required to register the PLB's and without registration they will not be an effective tool. This is all part of the worldwide satellite search and rescue system called, COSPAS-SARSAT. This is a cluster of NOAA and Russian satellites that work together to detect distress signals anywhere in the world.
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| November 20, 2002 |
| U.S. Coast Guard requireing PFD's |
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In January, the Coast Guard will begin to enforce a new PFD rule. In states without child PFD laws and where it has jurisdiction, the Coast Guard will require children younger that 13 to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket. Violations could carry fines of up to $1,100.00.
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| July 07, 2002 |
| Flares, outdated can lead to fines |
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Federal law prohibits outdated flares on boats and outdated flares can lead to fines. By law a flare is only useable for 42 months from the date of manufacture. If you have older flares, boaters can keep them on board, but they must also have current flares, not past the expiration date.
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| June 03, 2001 |
| Preventing Seasickness |
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Why do people succumb to seasickness? Basically, seasickness, or motion sickness is a battle between the senses. When you are on a ship your vestibular system (inner ear's balancing mechanism) tells your brain that your body is moving along with the swell of the sea. Your eyes, however look about the ships surroundings and tell your brain that you are not moving. This confilict causes an imbalance in the body, resulting in fatigue, dizziness, nausea and possible vomiting. Before leaving the dock, check out a few over-the-counter medications and natural preventatives. Non prescription antihistamines such as Dramamine, Marezine and Bonine can be found at most drug stores and ofer relief to many. Check with your doctor before taking any medications. Your doctor might prescribe a transdermal scopolamine patch. This circular, flat disk is placed behind the ear, adhering to the skin and delivering medication to the bloodstream for 3 days. Few side effects and generally quite effective. Alternatives to drugs, wearing an acupressure wrist band, which inhibits nausea by applying pressure to a particular pont on your wrist. These can be purchased at most pharmacies or marine stores. Another natural remedy is ginger, said to have a calming affect on quesy tummies. Use caution with foods. While bacon, eggs and mimosas are tasty they are not exactly what you want to consume when feeling ill. Caffeine, alcohol and greasy or acidic foods are tough to digenst and may add to your nausea. Crackers, dry toast and flat soda are better. Drink plenty of water as dehydration lowers your body's resistance to stress. Keep in mind that a cramped, stuffy cabin is the worst place you can be when seasickness strikes. Head up to a quiet spot on the deck for fresh air and sunshine. When you are outside, face forward and fix your eyes on the horizon, a cloud passing, ship, or your port of call are all good things on which to concentrate.
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| May 06, 2001 |
| Happiest People are Boaters |
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A new national survey released during the Miami Boat Show finds boat owners are more likely to have higher levels of satisfaction in marriage and romance than non-boaters. In addition, many key areas of life, including overall well-being, friendship, siprituality, health, work, leisure, sleep and finances, are more likely to be rated "excellent" or "very good" by boat owners than their non-boat owning counterparts. The survey of nearly 1,100 Americans was conducted online by Impulse Research Corporation in Los Angles, and commissioned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The survey queried 542 boat owners and 536 non-boat owners. Boat owners are 20 percent more likely to rate "excellent" or "very good" on marriage and romance (24%) and finances (30%). From News-Press.com through MIASF's clipping service.
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| April 21, 2001 |
| Cruise Florida Tax Free |
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Nonresident purchasers of a boat, from a registered broker, that is five net tons or greater can keep their boats in Florida waters for up to 90 days after purchse without being taxed on the purchase price. Contact us for more information!
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| January 08, 2001 |
| DSC "Digital Selective Calling" Radio Registration |
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Any boater with a DSC radio who needs an MMSI "Maritime Mobile Service Identity" number may get one through BoatUS at no charge. Contact BoatUS for the form at 800-563-1536 or by fax 703-461-2840. Or write: BoatUS, MMSI Program, 880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
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