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www.safetyharborboatclub.com
Dec 2021 | ![]() | |||||||||||||||||||
Meeting location... Safety Harbor Library (Post-Covid) WebMaster's Note: This web page has evolved into a 2-section layout for events. The first is the calendar dates table with event details posted as we get them. These are one-off events. The second section is at the bottom with the long-term recurring events, like Saturday and Wednesday races. Monthly meetings are the only recurring events that will be listed in the upper section, which will permit listing guest speakers or special meeting presentations and discussions. TIDES - Don't forget to compensate for the highs and lows with your dock lines, spring lines are recommended. Winter tides have been known to swing up to 7 feet. These tides are for Upper Tampa Bay, so be aware when lows can happen, reaching -3 or lower, and exercise caution on those longer excursions. The Upper Tampa Bay tide is typically 45 minutes behind St. Pete. Always check the tide charts and be observant if you plan to be out for a while (don't forget the bridges!). You might even want to use the graphical charts so you can see the tide trends. Hurricane Preparedness: The 2021 season is now ending. With past memories of IRMA, Michael, Katrina, and the rest, now is time to check and replace worn lines, and make preparations for next season. Another area you might want to consider is the bilge pump. If you get the BoatU.S. Magazine, read page 78 of the February/March 2012 edition. Last year (2020-2021) was like a monsoon season with 8"-10" deluges and local flooding, which meant extra high tides in the bay. The average 2020 rainfall was exceeded by about 12-13", ending somewhere in the 16"-18" range. For July 2021, my personal weather station reported 14.62" of rain for the month. It also means tons of water in your boat. Are the drains (scuppers) cleared? Is your bilge pump and BATTERY(s) up for the task? Remember, power outages of several days are common during severe storms. This was a hint... The very first thing to check is your dock lines, and check them often. Most articles about hurricanes or storms list line chafe as the #1 contributor for damage. If you have any question about the line size required, you can visit the West Marine Advisor page for this information. Generally, they recommend 1/8" line diameter for every 9' of boat length (1/2" should be adequate for all the boats in our marina). Then you double (or more) the lines for the big blow, or check this Boat US page for upsized ropes. The second thing is the bilge pump, if you have one. You might consider installing one if you don't. For a small boat, you could power the pump with a motorcycle battery and a 5 watt solar panel for recharging. We had a very wet summer season and can get enough rain to sink a boat. If no bilge pump, check on your boat every couple of weeks. If you do have the pump, make it weekly. Any weekend would also be a good time to schedule your 2021 or 2022 Free Vessel Safety Inspection to get your new sticker. Are your flares current and the nav lights working? Is your Registration current? Need a printable copy of the Inspection Checklist? ** Please support our generous sponsors of the Safety Harbor Boat Club.
Our next monthly meeting will be at the Safety Harbor Library. We were using ZOOM to meet regularly on the first Wednesday of each month. As further events are added or changed for December or January's schedule, members will be updated by e-mail. If you are not a member but would like information, or to join the e-mail list, email the Webmaster using the link below. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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