The summer of 2008 was tough on drivers who were used to cheap gas and inefficient cars, but boaters were more apt to upgrade their inefficient technology and make lifestyle changes as the marine industry embraced fuel efficiency. We know that pleasure boating is a lot more of a discretionary activity than driving to work -- but the model of sacrifice and innovation is one to keep in mind for the future of all transportation.
New technologies ranging from more efficient two-stroke engines to longer-range electric boats have given pleasure boaters an opportunity to go green on the blue ocean. Evinrude's now-venerable E-Tec line of two-stroke engines puts automotive technology to shame, while a luxury electric Lear boat runs ten hours on a single charge. If that ain't green enough for you, there's always the option to use your boat less often.
Still, we were wondering if green technology and less time on the water resonated with consumers. We caught up with two employees at 3A Marine, a major sales and service center just south of Boston. Dave Simmer, 3A's Marketing Director, said that fuel efficiency and pollution reduction are definitely on the minds of customers. Roughly half of the visitors to 3A's website check out their "green boating" page, while customers call to ask about fuel saving tips. "People have been conscious of it. We don't want people to not go boating, but we also want people to be responsible." We think that sounds like a common-sense approach for all forms of transporation.
When it was released five years ago, the Evinrude E-Tec revolutionized not only marine engines but two-stroke engines in general. For fuel injection, the E-Tec relies on the same Lorentz coil found in loudspeakers to allow precision control of fuel droplet size. The E-Tec also avoids a need for a battery, instead relying on a magneto for reliably starting an engine that often sits in storage for the better part of a year. Jack White, 3A's Sales Manager, said that the E-Tec was extremely popular with his customers. "They've taken the technology that's the dirtiest and turned it into the cleanest -- still using two-stroke technology. It's now even cleaner than the four-stroke outboards." Even more important: boaters like it. Check out a video of it figuratively smoking a four-stroke below.
Despite what the warning label on your hairdryer says, electricity and water can mix. Last week, SolidNav announced a 48 volt electric boat motor that can cruise for up to two hours. Duffy builds an electric that can cruise at five miles an hour for eight hours, while the Lear 204 runs for eleven hours. The current crop of electrics are particularly popular for cruising protected waterways, White says that he's sure that electric boats will be in his seaside showroom in the near future. "I'm sure that in a very short period of time we'll be seeing more coming about that. It hasn't reached the retail level yet, but I'm sure it's taking place in some specialty markets," he said.
There's another great way to enjoy a boat responsibly: don't go very far. "I spent less money operating my boat this weekend than it would cost to take my family of four to a Boston Red Sox game," White said. "It's a minimal part of the expenses -- but I saw many people including myself maybe taking shorter trips in the boat."
Innovate and conserve while still enjoying the water? We really like that idea.Despite the rise in boat foreclosures, 3A's sales manager Jack White said that sales at his shop remained strong throughout the summer as boaters demanded the fuel-efficient technology which the marine industry was happy to provide -- even technology that exceeded EPA mandates. "Even with the rise in cost with fuel, compared to what we were doing just ten years ago operational costs really didn't rise as much because of the efficiencies, which is great -- nevermind the reduction in pollution," White said. He likened sales this summer to those right after 9/11. "I thought sales would go right down the tubes, but people bought more boats because they weren't travelling," he said. "Business remains strong because people are choosing not to travel either by air or by automobile."
Your turn: would the fuel-saving paradigm of technology and conservation work outside of recreational boating? We're listening.
Saturday
100,000 Boaters Can't be Wrong
No boating vacation to the San Juan Islands is truly complete until at least 1 night has been spent at Sucia Island. Reachable only by boat, this remote and undeveloped island is located 2 ½ miles north of Orcas Island. The Island is a Washington Marine Park and is consistently ranked as one of the favorite boating destinations in the world with over 100,000 boaters annually.
Sucia Island is one of several islands making up the Sucia Group. Shaped like a horseshoe it has long finger-like peninsulas. It has 564 acres to explore and over 10 miles of trails to hike, although beware of a few that could leave you stranded on an incoming tide. Hiking up the small hill on the south side of the island gives a phenomenal view of the sound and Orcas Island. There are fossil beds, caves, and various spectacular sand formations on the island.
Sucia has 48 mooring buoys located in 6 different bays. Fossil Bay has 2 docks though these are mainly for smaller boats and can be very shallow during low tide so check your tide charts if you draw more than a few feet. Echo Bay has 14 buoys and 2 linear moorage systems that have 800 feet available. Shallow Bay is located on the west side of the island with 7 buoys but the name should give you an idea of its depth. Some boats have found this out the hard way and have had to wait for an incoming tide to be able to leave.
Throughout the years Sucia has been used as a hideout, adding to its fascinating history. During the late 1800’s it was used to smuggle Chinese laborers and opium. In the Prohibition Era, Sucia served as a place for liquor running between Canada and the U.S. In more recent years it has been used by drug smugglers.
The Puget Sound Interclub (now known as the Recreational Boating Association of Washington) helped make part of the park possible by purchasing a portion of it and donating it to Washington State in 1960. This group was founded in the 1950's with quite a few Yacht Clubs in Washington and purchasing the island was one of their first goals. The remainder of the island was purchased by the state in 1972.
During summer months the bays are often full of boaters and getting a spot on a buoy or dock can be all about timing and luck. Anchorage is available in all of the bays and the sandy bottom makes it a relatively easy place to anchor in most areas. Coming into the bays keep a close eye on your depth and watch out for all of the crab pots since most every boat seems to set at least one in the bay during crabbing season.
A wide variety of wildlife calls the area around Sucia home. Bald eagles are often visible along with seals, sea lions, porpoises, and osprey. Part of Sucia’s appeal is its untouched beauty though a few amenities including drinking water, composting toilets, and even some newly constructed shelter areas for groups are available. There is a pack it in pack it out garbage policy.
The only thing boaters disagree upon about Sucia Island is how it pronounced. The proper Spanish pronunciation is Sue-see-a while most pronounce it Sue-sha. It was named by the Spanish in the late 1700’s meaning “foul” due to all the reefs and rocks. Charts are very important when navigating around Sucia and plenty of first time visitors have left bottom paint behind.
Whether it is your first time visiting or your 50th one thing is certain, you will always wish you had at least another day at Sucia Island.
Sucia Island is one of several islands making up the Sucia Group. Shaped like a horseshoe it has long finger-like peninsulas. It has 564 acres to explore and over 10 miles of trails to hike, although beware of a few that could leave you stranded on an incoming tide. Hiking up the small hill on the south side of the island gives a phenomenal view of the sound and Orcas Island. There are fossil beds, caves, and various spectacular sand formations on the island.
Sucia has 48 mooring buoys located in 6 different bays. Fossil Bay has 2 docks though these are mainly for smaller boats and can be very shallow during low tide so check your tide charts if you draw more than a few feet. Echo Bay has 14 buoys and 2 linear moorage systems that have 800 feet available. Shallow Bay is located on the west side of the island with 7 buoys but the name should give you an idea of its depth. Some boats have found this out the hard way and have had to wait for an incoming tide to be able to leave.
Throughout the years Sucia has been used as a hideout, adding to its fascinating history. During the late 1800’s it was used to smuggle Chinese laborers and opium. In the Prohibition Era, Sucia served as a place for liquor running between Canada and the U.S. In more recent years it has been used by drug smugglers.
The Puget Sound Interclub (now known as the Recreational Boating Association of Washington) helped make part of the park possible by purchasing a portion of it and donating it to Washington State in 1960. This group was founded in the 1950's with quite a few Yacht Clubs in Washington and purchasing the island was one of their first goals. The remainder of the island was purchased by the state in 1972.
During summer months the bays are often full of boaters and getting a spot on a buoy or dock can be all about timing and luck. Anchorage is available in all of the bays and the sandy bottom makes it a relatively easy place to anchor in most areas. Coming into the bays keep a close eye on your depth and watch out for all of the crab pots since most every boat seems to set at least one in the bay during crabbing season.
A wide variety of wildlife calls the area around Sucia home. Bald eagles are often visible along with seals, sea lions, porpoises, and osprey. Part of Sucia’s appeal is its untouched beauty though a few amenities including drinking water, composting toilets, and even some newly constructed shelter areas for groups are available. There is a pack it in pack it out garbage policy.
The only thing boaters disagree upon about Sucia Island is how it pronounced. The proper Spanish pronunciation is Sue-see-a while most pronounce it Sue-sha. It was named by the Spanish in the late 1700’s meaning “foul” due to all the reefs and rocks. Charts are very important when navigating around Sucia and plenty of first time visitors have left bottom paint behind.
Whether it is your first time visiting or your 50th one thing is certain, you will always wish you had at least another day at Sucia Island.
Thursday
Investigators trying to connect dots in boating accident
BRICK — Authorities are attempting to put together a time line to help them determine where the owner of a speedboat was before and after a fatal collision on the Metedeconk River early Sunday.
Law enforcement sources close to the investigation said that they are looking at cell phone records and credit card receipts, and interviewing people who saw Anthony Digilio before and after the crash that took the life of a banking executive from Essex Fells.
Investigators are trying to determine whether Digilio's 27-foot Imperial powerboat was the one that struck a 17-foot Boston Whaler shorter after 1 a.m.
Digilio, of Brick, arranged for State Police to take his boat Monday after he said learned about the crash.
He told his lawyer he was on the water at that time and struck something, but he said he believed it to be a log.
Authorities said that among their questions is why Digilio did not stop his boat and see what he had hit even though he realized that the vessel was taking on water.
Digilio told his lawyer, William P. Cunningham, that he had noticed that a bilge pump was on, assumed he was taking on water, and headed for a spot to take the boat out of the water and survey the damage.
Digilio and a passenger never saw or heard anything while they were traveling on the river when they hit something they believed was a log, Cunningham said.
The collision took the life of Robert Post, 49, who was aboard the Whaler.
Four other people aboard that vessel were hurt, including Post's wife, Bonnie, 52, who was released Wednesday from the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where all four passengers were taken following the crash.
The Posts have summered in Bay Head, where they have been members of the yacht club.
Joan Farren, 46, of St. Davids, Pa., remained in the hospital at Jersey Shore in fair condition, hospital officials said. Her husband, Cliff Farren, 44, and Karen Kelly, 46, of Norcross, Ga., had been treated at the hospital and released.
Margaret F. Bonafide (732) 557-5740 or bonafide@app.com
Law enforcement sources close to the investigation said that they are looking at cell phone records and credit card receipts, and interviewing people who saw Anthony Digilio before and after the crash that took the life of a banking executive from Essex Fells.
Investigators are trying to determine whether Digilio's 27-foot Imperial powerboat was the one that struck a 17-foot Boston Whaler shorter after 1 a.m.
Digilio, of Brick, arranged for State Police to take his boat Monday after he said learned about the crash.
He told his lawyer he was on the water at that time and struck something, but he said he believed it to be a log.
Authorities said that among their questions is why Digilio did not stop his boat and see what he had hit even though he realized that the vessel was taking on water.
Digilio told his lawyer, William P. Cunningham, that he had noticed that a bilge pump was on, assumed he was taking on water, and headed for a spot to take the boat out of the water and survey the damage.
Digilio and a passenger never saw or heard anything while they were traveling on the river when they hit something they believed was a log, Cunningham said.
The collision took the life of Robert Post, 49, who was aboard the Whaler.
Four other people aboard that vessel were hurt, including Post's wife, Bonnie, 52, who was released Wednesday from the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where all four passengers were taken following the crash.
The Posts have summered in Bay Head, where they have been members of the yacht club.
Joan Farren, 46, of St. Davids, Pa., remained in the hospital at Jersey Shore in fair condition, hospital officials said. Her husband, Cliff Farren, 44, and Karen Kelly, 46, of Norcross, Ga., had been treated at the hospital and released.
Margaret F. Bonafide (732) 557-5740 or bonafide@app.com
Friday
Job with Sea Tow a necessary day in paradise
Ripcurl board shorts, a yellow Sea Tow T-shirt and a life vest are the work attire for the 35-year-old fleet captain of Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach.
"No shirt, no shoes, no service" doesn't apply here.
Nearby, a fishing rod is tied to the side of the boat, for idle times. He casts when he sees fish splashing or jumping near the boat, catching drum, flounder, Spanish mackerel or bluefish.
When waves cooperate, Collins brings his surfboard as well, to catch quick waves off Masonboro Island.
To the outsider, it seems like paradise. For Collins, it's his job.
Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach is part of an international marine assistance organization, which functions on the water like AAA does on land. Rescuing grounded boats, jump-starting batteries, towing broken-down vessels and responding to water emergencies are typical calls. Collins has worked for Sea Tow for four years after service in the U.S. Coast Guard and work on research vessels in Bermuda and locally.
On Fourth of July weekend, Sea Tow was busy off the coast of Southeastern North Carolina, logging about 50 calls in a three-day span. That ranked the Wrightsville Beach business second-busiest of about 120 Sea Tow franchises for the holiday weekend. Only Fort Myers, Fla., reported more activity, according to a Sea Tow news release.
Collins said the busy weekend demonstrated that boating is alive and well in this area, despite fuel prices. Many area boat owners have the means to keep their vessels on the water.
"They enjoy boating, and they're willing to pay the price for the fuel," Collins said.
But Collins said he isn't responding to as many offshore calls because boaters are staying closer to the coast to save fuel. He said newer, more expensive boats are largely replacing old fishing boats in local waters, a sign that boating - because of high fuel prices - is becoming more of a rich man's hobby than a poor man's passion.
Collins is also responding to more boats out of fuel, which he attributes to boaters stretching their tanks as far as possible.
On a steamy, mid-July Thursday, Collins steers away from the dock on the Intracoastal Waterway off Airlie Road where Sea Tow keeps its three boats. Membership costs $149 a year.
Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach, which covers the waters between Sunny Point and the New River Inlet and up the Cape Fear River to Castle Hayne, has about 4,500 members.
About 10:40 a.m., the first call comes in. A boat is grounded in the New River Inlet on the north side of Onslow Beach. The tide went out and left the Gunfighter 26 from Sneads Ferry stuck on the sand.
As he turns around to head north, a fisherman in a small boat flags down Collins to ask where to find bait fish. He obliges, pointing to a nearby creek, and motors north at 30 knots.
About 90 minutes later, Sea Tow arrives at the grounded boat, occupied by two couples and two dogs. In the sky above, military personnel cling to ropes dangling from helicopters, an apparent training exercise from the base not far to the north.
Collins slowly maneuvers through several feet of water, taking care not to get stuck himself.
When within range, he throws a line to boat owner Bob Martino, who hooks it onto a ring on the bow of his boat. Collins puts the Sea Tow boat in reverse, easily pulling the vessel from the sand and back into deep-enough waters. The entire sequence takes only a few minutes.
Martino is originally reluctant to talk to a reporter, saying he would never hear the end of it from his neighbor.
Eventually, he offers positive words about Sea Tow.
"I swear by it," Martino said. "I have it every year. You're an idiot if you don't get it."
On the way back to Wrightsville Beach, another call comes. After responding to the far northern end of his territory, Collins now must to go to Sunny Point, the far southern end, to tow a boat with a malfunctioning water pump to Carolina Beach State Park. Another long ride lies ahead.
He drops a reporter and photographer back on the dock at Wrightsville Beach, poses for a photograph and continues to the south.
Collins isn't married. He says he can't plan anything during the summer because he's almost always on call and never knows when he'll get off at night.
But he wouldn't trade life on the sea for different work.
"I could never be in an office," Collins said. "Inside stuff, I'd go crazy. I guess I'm claustrophobic."
But don't you get lonely on the water all day?
"I mean, I don't have to put up with anybody," he said. "You can't ask for a better place to be by yourself."
And he doesn't have to wear shoes.
"No shirt, no shoes, no service" doesn't apply here.
Nearby, a fishing rod is tied to the side of the boat, for idle times. He casts when he sees fish splashing or jumping near the boat, catching drum, flounder, Spanish mackerel or bluefish.
When waves cooperate, Collins brings his surfboard as well, to catch quick waves off Masonboro Island.
To the outsider, it seems like paradise. For Collins, it's his job.
Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach is part of an international marine assistance organization, which functions on the water like AAA does on land. Rescuing grounded boats, jump-starting batteries, towing broken-down vessels and responding to water emergencies are typical calls. Collins has worked for Sea Tow for four years after service in the U.S. Coast Guard and work on research vessels in Bermuda and locally.
On Fourth of July weekend, Sea Tow was busy off the coast of Southeastern North Carolina, logging about 50 calls in a three-day span. That ranked the Wrightsville Beach business second-busiest of about 120 Sea Tow franchises for the holiday weekend. Only Fort Myers, Fla., reported more activity, according to a Sea Tow news release.
Collins said the busy weekend demonstrated that boating is alive and well in this area, despite fuel prices. Many area boat owners have the means to keep their vessels on the water.
"They enjoy boating, and they're willing to pay the price for the fuel," Collins said.
But Collins said he isn't responding to as many offshore calls because boaters are staying closer to the coast to save fuel. He said newer, more expensive boats are largely replacing old fishing boats in local waters, a sign that boating - because of high fuel prices - is becoming more of a rich man's hobby than a poor man's passion.
Collins is also responding to more boats out of fuel, which he attributes to boaters stretching their tanks as far as possible.
On a steamy, mid-July Thursday, Collins steers away from the dock on the Intracoastal Waterway off Airlie Road where Sea Tow keeps its three boats. Membership costs $149 a year.
Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach, which covers the waters between Sunny Point and the New River Inlet and up the Cape Fear River to Castle Hayne, has about 4,500 members.
About 10:40 a.m., the first call comes in. A boat is grounded in the New River Inlet on the north side of Onslow Beach. The tide went out and left the Gunfighter 26 from Sneads Ferry stuck on the sand.
As he turns around to head north, a fisherman in a small boat flags down Collins to ask where to find bait fish. He obliges, pointing to a nearby creek, and motors north at 30 knots.
About 90 minutes later, Sea Tow arrives at the grounded boat, occupied by two couples and two dogs. In the sky above, military personnel cling to ropes dangling from helicopters, an apparent training exercise from the base not far to the north.
Collins slowly maneuvers through several feet of water, taking care not to get stuck himself.
When within range, he throws a line to boat owner Bob Martino, who hooks it onto a ring on the bow of his boat. Collins puts the Sea Tow boat in reverse, easily pulling the vessel from the sand and back into deep-enough waters. The entire sequence takes only a few minutes.
Martino is originally reluctant to talk to a reporter, saying he would never hear the end of it from his neighbor.
Eventually, he offers positive words about Sea Tow.
"I swear by it," Martino said. "I have it every year. You're an idiot if you don't get it."
On the way back to Wrightsville Beach, another call comes. After responding to the far northern end of his territory, Collins now must to go to Sunny Point, the far southern end, to tow a boat with a malfunctioning water pump to Carolina Beach State Park. Another long ride lies ahead.
He drops a reporter and photographer back on the dock at Wrightsville Beach, poses for a photograph and continues to the south.
Collins isn't married. He says he can't plan anything during the summer because he's almost always on call and never knows when he'll get off at night.
But he wouldn't trade life on the sea for different work.
"I could never be in an office," Collins said. "Inside stuff, I'd go crazy. I guess I'm claustrophobic."
But don't you get lonely on the water all day?
"I mean, I don't have to put up with anybody," he said. "You can't ask for a better place to be by yourself."
And he doesn't have to wear shoes.
New boating regulations are here
New regulations regulating pleasure and commercial vessels are due to come into effect on 1 August but several issues have arisen that the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) are looking into. These include that safety officers are apparently charging exorbitant prices for boat piloting licence courses and that pleasure boat owners will have to spend more than R10 000 to ensure that both themselves and their boats comply with the new regulations.
This problem may have arisen due to the fact that no maximum fees were published as part of the regulations. Another issue is the fact that SAMSA and the South African Police Service (SAPS) will not be able to enforce the new regulations on their own due to the scope of SAMSA’s own responsibilities and manpower shortages within the SAPS.The new regulations were signed into law by the Minister of Transport as part of the Merchant Shipping Act last year. The aim of the regulations are to assist in making inland waterways safer for all users. The new regulations compel boat-owners to acquire a competency certificate for themselves, submit their boats for inspection and acquire a certificate of fitness, certifying that the boat adheres to safety standards. Apart from addressing competency of boat pilots and safety standards for boats, the new regulations also set standards for safety equipment that should be on board the different vessels. SAMSA will be enforcing the new regulations and have already started delegating their authority to localised authorities such as forums or municipalities and to authorised agencies which could be boat clubs or boat businesses. According to the new regulations the authorised agencies will be able to issue the competency certificates and the certificates of fitness. Certain areas of the inland waterways will also be set aside where people will be allowed to waterski, jetski and paddle. Mr. Peace Mooketsi, Registrar of Seafarers at SAMSA, told Kormorant that the fees charged for competency certificates for both the pilots and boats and the costs being charged to foam the boats to comply with the buoyancy regulation, are not being regulated. The general regulations, however, have been signed and will come into effect on 1 August. He explained that although SAMSA cannot change the regulations they will look at the fees charged and intend to make a proposal to the industry as to what the authority deem to be reasonable and this will then be discussed. “We are enforcing the law on the people and therefor do not want to penalise them. The regulations were meant to make the inland water safer and not as a business opportunity for some,” Mooketsi said. According to him they would be able to enforce the agreed upon fees through the accreditation of safety officers that will be issuing the certificates. Mooketsi said that as part of the accreditation they send out SAMSA Surveyors or Examiners to the applicants to ensure that they comply to and maintain certain standards. He said that the surveyor or examiner would then recommend that an accreditation certificate be issued. As far as the enforcement of the regulations on the water is concerned, Mooketsi said they have considered various possibilities. “We had a workshop with the roleplayers, including the SAPS and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, as it will not be possible for SAMSA and the SAPS to be visible everywhere. We hope to compile a working agreement with both government agencies and private entities to ensure that the regulations are enforced,” Mooketsi said. He emphasised that the implementation of the regulations will go ahead as planned.
This problem may have arisen due to the fact that no maximum fees were published as part of the regulations. Another issue is the fact that SAMSA and the South African Police Service (SAPS) will not be able to enforce the new regulations on their own due to the scope of SAMSA’s own responsibilities and manpower shortages within the SAPS.The new regulations were signed into law by the Minister of Transport as part of the Merchant Shipping Act last year. The aim of the regulations are to assist in making inland waterways safer for all users. The new regulations compel boat-owners to acquire a competency certificate for themselves, submit their boats for inspection and acquire a certificate of fitness, certifying that the boat adheres to safety standards. Apart from addressing competency of boat pilots and safety standards for boats, the new regulations also set standards for safety equipment that should be on board the different vessels. SAMSA will be enforcing the new regulations and have already started delegating their authority to localised authorities such as forums or municipalities and to authorised agencies which could be boat clubs or boat businesses. According to the new regulations the authorised agencies will be able to issue the competency certificates and the certificates of fitness. Certain areas of the inland waterways will also be set aside where people will be allowed to waterski, jetski and paddle. Mr. Peace Mooketsi, Registrar of Seafarers at SAMSA, told Kormorant that the fees charged for competency certificates for both the pilots and boats and the costs being charged to foam the boats to comply with the buoyancy regulation, are not being regulated. The general regulations, however, have been signed and will come into effect on 1 August. He explained that although SAMSA cannot change the regulations they will look at the fees charged and intend to make a proposal to the industry as to what the authority deem to be reasonable and this will then be discussed. “We are enforcing the law on the people and therefor do not want to penalise them. The regulations were meant to make the inland water safer and not as a business opportunity for some,” Mooketsi said. According to him they would be able to enforce the agreed upon fees through the accreditation of safety officers that will be issuing the certificates. Mooketsi said that as part of the accreditation they send out SAMSA Surveyors or Examiners to the applicants to ensure that they comply to and maintain certain standards. He said that the surveyor or examiner would then recommend that an accreditation certificate be issued. As far as the enforcement of the regulations on the water is concerned, Mooketsi said they have considered various possibilities. “We had a workshop with the roleplayers, including the SAPS and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, as it will not be possible for SAMSA and the SAPS to be visible everywhere. We hope to compile a working agreement with both government agencies and private entities to ensure that the regulations are enforced,” Mooketsi said. He emphasised that the implementation of the regulations will go ahead as planned.
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