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Safety Harbor Boat Club
www.safetyharborboatclub.com
S.H.B.C.
Newsletter, Current and Archive
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Meeting location... Maggie's Cafe, Safety Harbor. FL
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 2024 season is now begining. With past memories of Irma, Michael, Katrina, and 2022 Ira, 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.
Previous years were like a monsoon season with 8"-10" deluges and local flooding, which meant extra high tides in the bay. The average rainfall was exceeded by about 12-13", ending somewhere in the 16"-18" range. For Aug 2022, my personal weather station reported 11.34" of rain for the month. It also means tons (really!!!) 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 have had a very wet summer seasons 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 (and after every big storm).
Any weekend would also be a good time to schedule your 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?
| 1st
Wednesday of each month |
Monthly club meeting at the Maggie's Cafe, 6:00 pm. Note: Due to pending library construction, this is the new location. Check your email for actual meeting dates and times. |
| Saturday & Sunday |
Weekend
Activities
We are collecting ideas for the near and long term activities. Please respond to the Club's e-mail (shbc4fun@gmail.com) with your ideas and wants.. |
| All Year |
Membership
We are a club of multiple activities, like races, raft-ups, and field trips. Membership for the entire immediate Family is one surprisingly low cost. Fill out the Application and deliver it to any Club Officer or mail it with your check to the address on the application.. |
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Pending
Events
Use the Tides & Weather button above to check the tides as needed. We are heading into the Summer HURRICANE season, which can typically reach +/- 3.5 foot swings above high tide, or more, with storm surges, so plan carefully for your sailing activities and trips. Keep an eye on your e-mail or check back here for last-minute notices of possible tours. |
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Notice: ** Saturday Racing Series races are not regularly scheduled. Boat owners may or may not show up depending on personal schedules. Please watch your e-mail for confirmation of an "official" race. The Saturday and Wednesday scheduled races are usually posted in your e-mails, for actual dates and revisions for races. Start times will be announced in advance of the race. December counts in the previous year's series. Saturday
- 10am unless otherwise noted Wednesday
- 6pm unless otherwise noted Courses (New: Diagram and Race GPS Marks) will be announced with the scheduled race. Ahoy:
NO RACE ON THE FIRST WED. OF EACH MONTH. Back Bay Triangle timed races returned February 2024.
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As further events are added or changed for the monthly 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.