Member forum

Boat/US Magazine, Sept, 2002

LettersToEditor@BoatUS.com

Pow, Right in the Kisser

You did a great job on the article and of course I'm thrilled by the cover of the July issue.

I'm sad to report that we are being assailed on all fronts. The Pacific Fisheries Management Commission just closed all rockfishing, even to recreational angling, on the entire coast at depths below 120 feet. This "emergency" closure went into effect July 1 and will continue until Dec. 31. They are even looking at more severe restrictions for next year! This is in addition to whatever may happen in the Marine Life Protection Act and Channel Islands no-take reserves.

Joel Greenberg

Valley Village, CA

Don't Dilute the Coast Guard

The July issue of BoatU.S. Magazine reports that the President has proposed that the U. S. Coast Guard be shifted from the Dept. of Transportation and be made a part of the new Dept. of Homeland Security. This is an unwarranted shift from nautical activities to those terrestrial which would divert resources, training and staffing from an already overloaded seafaring organization.

Since the Coast Guard, in times of naval warfare, readily shifts to naval service direction and has proved itself competent therein, it seems to me a dilution of primary focus tending toward weak performance in both functions.

Dale Hawley

Seattle, WA

Moving the Coast Guard

I am a proud member of BoatU.S., owner of two boats, U.S. Navy veteran from 1979 to 1991, and have a unique job that gives me the opportunity to see the U.S. Coast Guard from a different perspective than most. I work as a government contractor to the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) which provides real time weather observations from both buoys and coastal stations. My specific job is to go to the buoy or station and repair its sensors and computers. The Coast Guard provides all of our waterborne and airborne transportation to our stations from the closest Coast Guard facility. I see some of the SAR cases up close and personal, plus the Aides to Navigation and the Security/Fishery patrols.

I have seen the increase in Auxiliarists' volunteer work since Sept. 11 and have come to the conclusion that there is not enough Coast Guard to fulfill all of the requirements the government is placing upon it. However, the reorganization of Homeland Security could provide a means to resolve a number of problems and I hope that our representatives do their homework when they reorganize our assets for our safety. The Coast Guard has so many roles yet not enough personnel and funding to accomplish these tasks. I feel the Homeland Security Dept. could successfully improve the Coast Guard into an even better security entity, but I also feel that not all aspects of the Coast Guard need to be moved. The Aids to Navigation section, while providing some security capabilities, could be utilized separately within the Dept. of Transportation or moved to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Dan Shmidt

Ocean Springs, MS

Security Zones & Boaters

I read the article with great interest, particularly the assertion that a security zone exists around all naval vessels, including Coast Guard vessels. Wrong. See 67 FR 31960 dated May 13, 2002. The definition of U.S. naval vessel is in column three, at the top. Coast Guard vessels do not meet the definition. Further, the security zone item applies only to large naval vessels -- those over 100 feet long, overall.

The rule has been in effect since Sept. 21, 2001.

Jay Wenzel

Burke, VA

Editor's Note: We stand corrected. Coast Guard vessels are not included in security zones, the authority for which was recently extended in a Federal Register notice of a permanent final rule. Each Captain of the Port can also create security zones at their discretion.

Hot Topic Down South

I just wanted to thank you for the great article "Alabama Headache" in the July issue of BoatU.S. Magazine.

Hopefully, this will get the attention of other Alabama boaters. This article certainly got the attention of boaters at my marina. It was a big topic of discussion over the holiday. Thanks again!

Ted Hart

Madison, AL

Hospice Happenings

We all absolutely loved your story, "Sailors Make Hospice Cup Happen." Thank you! We alerted everyone about it, providing the BoatU.S. Internet address and referring to it on our own Alliance Web site.

The article was a popular topic at last week's meeting of our Annapolis group. We also have had quite a few inquiries about how to establish a hospice regatta. Please do not hesitate to refer people to me.

Thank you so much for the excellent article, especially comprehensive on such short notice!

Jean Kluttz

National Hospice Cup Alliance

Vienna, VA

Outboard Overview

Regarding your review of new technology outboard engines: You must also look at reliability and maintenance. A two-stroke has three moving parts per cylinder. The four-stroke has 27. Yes, moving parts are what fail. Timing belts, oil filters; you actually said four strokes are "lower maintenance than two strokes."

Tilt your two-stroke and nothing happens. Tilt the four-stroke and the oil is not where it belongs any more. It can run past the rings and cause the motor to bend rods, which is very costly and makes a mess in the water when the oil sump is ruptured. Also, the oil in the two-stroke coats the cylinders in the engine. The four-stroke cylinders do not have this oil coating and will rust when not run for long periods, just like four-stroke inboards do.