Member forum

Boat/US Magazine, July, 2003

LettersToEditor@BoatUS.com

Those in the Know

I'd like to pass a few additional items to your readers about PLBs and EPIRBS. I am a U.S. Air Force major working in the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Langley AFB, Virginia. This is where the satellites in the COSPAS/SARSAT system are monitored and we investigate every emergency land signal transmitted by aircraft, vessel or person. We are excited about the advent of PLBs in the U.S., but have a few things we'd like to pass along.

* Be sure to register your PLB. Keep your registration up-to-date. One of our biggest frustrations is to see a 406 MHz signal activated and call the registered owner, only to find out that the vessel was sold years before.

* As the article suggested, don't test activate your PLB or EPIRB. The satellites will see this, and we will start investigating. Use the built-in test function.

* If you need to activate your EPIRB or PLB, do it. Keep in mind that you will be calling in the Cavalry, so don't activate your emergency beacon if it's not an emergency.

This is not an official, endorsed USAF position, just the opinions of an informed fellow boater like you, who also happens to work behind the scenes. I hope we never have reason to meet on official business!

Dwight Godwin

Newport News, VA

Yawl Come Back Now

As an avid and thorough reader of your excellent magazine for BoatU.S., I was astonished to read on page 40 of the May issue about "A Boat for a Lifetime, and Then Some" accompanied by two photographs of what I am almost positive was my gaffrigged 1903 Lawley yawl. In 1938 and 1939, I sailed on almost the exact same vessel and feel strongly this might be the same one.

Possibly you might be good enough to forward this letter and pictures to the Keameys who were mentioned in the article as the current owners. It is hard to believe that in 2003 this classic, wonderful old vessel might still be sailing. And may I say how helpful and informative, as well as interesting, your magazine is.

Chandler Bates

Greenwich, CT

Editor's Note: Your letter was forwarded to the Keameys. Hope you hear from them.

Boob Tube Blues

In response to your article regarding network TV stations over satellite in the May issue of BoatU.S. Magazine, I would like to note that the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) represents the individual affiliates and not the interests of the separate network owner. NAB doesn't care who can or can't get broadcast network programming just as long it protects its members' revenues. The NAB is running scared that their member stations are going to lose advertising revenue by allowing a few boaters access to network television while traveling.

The wording of the SVHIA law is specific in its intent to allow DirecTV and Dish Network to be able to sell network affiliates to subscribers. Dish and DirecTV both offer RV exemptions although both companies differ in the details. DirecTV does not grant RV exemptions to boaters. Dish broadens the definition of RV to include boaters. I have a 28-foot cruiser and I was able to get a RV exemption.

The NAB is patently against any law or legislation that will or would allow individuals to bypass their programming distribution monopoly. The NAB is not likely to agree to allow boaters the same rights as RVs.

John Lodge

Spencerport, NY

Heroes of Sept. 11

As a member of BoatU.S. for about five years now, I read your magazine often. I was impressed by the article on "The Boats That Moved Manhattan," being that I was one of them.

Joseph DeMarino

Port Reading, NJ

Editor's Note: State Trooper DeMarino of the Newark Bay Marine Division of the New Jersey State Police enclosed some news clippings. He was awarded Trooper of the Year, the first from the marine division, for his work on Sept. 11, 2001, evacuating hundreds of people from lower Manhattan to safety aboard patrol boats as the World Trade Centers collapsed. He and partner Trooper Chuck Motley also honored, were among the first on the scene.

Border Security Woes

In response to your recent report that all persons returning by boat to the U.S. must report to the INS office: Giving due consideration to the current security situation, I feel that this is an undue hardship on boaters in areas near other countries (Seattle, Miami, San Diego) who wish to enjoy nearby foreign waters for a short trip.

I feel that we need to question the implementation of these regulations in the press and promote discussion among boaters. Obviously, the people who want to evade the laws will simply ignore the orders and the U.S. does not have the resources to enforce them. The only ones impacted will be the honest citizens. The boating circumstance is different than the inspection regulations imposed on airplane passengers, which I support.

Gregory Han

Miami, FL

Seeing the Light

One important item was missing from your "Checklist for Spring"--inspection of navigation lighting. Every spring, all light fixtures should be disassembled, cleaned, bulbs removed and tested and contacts cleaned. I use a pencil eraser to clean socket and bulb contacts to remove the oxidation that invariably builds up during the off season. I almost always find a bad bulb or bulb connection during spring inspection. Faulty or non-existent lights is one of the most frequent violation items found by boating law enforcement.