Blog July 2019

There's always a show to be seen when watching inexperienced or rusty boaters coming in to dock. Here's an article to help any of you out there.

When docking, it's important to have lines and fenders set up on BOTH port and starboard sides of the boat, before approaching the dock. You may have been instructed for a bow-in port tie in error, and it ends up being a starboard tie. Or the slip you are assigned is occupied and you get reassigned. Being ready either way only takes a minute and reduces unwanted anxiety when the plan changes at the last second.

Docking Drama

If you're new to boating and nervous about inching into a slip or alongside a busy dock in current or wind, put the boat in neutral well BEFORE turning in, assess what effects the elements are having on you, then add those effects into your plan. And don't panic. If you feel it's all going wrong, just abandon the approach and start over. Much easier than trying to correct or compensate.

When You've Got One Shot

Hold The Line

As a first mate, never toss a line to a dockhand until the captain has given you the word or signal. Maintain control at all times if possible. When a line is given, it should be a spring line, ideally a midships line, with instructions to secure it to a cleat immediately to halt forward motion

IT'S HOT,

SIMPLE WAYS TO KEEP COOL

Simple Exhaust Fan

An exhaust fan is a wonderful thing in a galley or head, but most are through-deck, not very efficient, and not safe for offshore journeys. The Basic Port Fan is cheaper, quieter, requires virtually no installation, and can be put away in bad weather. It requires only about 6 amp-hours per day on low when running full-time, and it's rated for 70,000 hours — that's almost eight years of continuous use. This fan moves about four times as much air as a computer fan, and it can be positioned to pull in air from the outside or exhaust the interior. At five inches square, several can be mounted around the boat for good cross-ventilation. Position the fan using bungee cords or hook-and-eye fasteners, then run the 6-foot cord to a cigarette lighter or 12-volt plug, or hardwire it. There's no hole in the boat to leak!

Port Visors

For those of us in rainy areas, Port Visors allow us to keep ports open in all but the nastiest squalls. Admittedly, in nice conditions they may block a little airflow, so you have to balance how often they'll improve ventilation versus how often they'll restrict it. Port Visors are made of UV-resistant Lexan (it's practically unbreakable) and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There's no metal to rust, and because they attach fairly easily with adhesive, there are no screw holes that have to be sealed. They're permanent, and they're tough enough that lines slide off them. Another advantage is that they have a bronze tint that provides some shade — it's sort of like wearing sunglasses. They won't block all splashes, so you'll still need to close your ports in most conditions while the boat is underway.

MARK IT      

Permanently mark or engrave your boat, your trailer, all your equipment, electronics and personal items which you use regularly on your boat with your vessels hull identification number (HIN) and/or your driver's license number. Since 1972, your boat will already have a HIN on the transom. In 1984 a regulation was passed which requires the HIN number to also be permanently attached in a second unexposed location

More and more boats (an estimated 18,000,000), trailers, equipment, electronics and personal items are stolen each year. Most of these crimes are committed by amateurs who, when tempted with an easy opportunity, can't resist the temptation.

GETTING A SURVEY?

What to Expect

No matter who you choose to do your marine survey, you should expect professional treatment. At Roy Scott Marine you can always expect that we will:

• Be on Time for Appointments (or at least call to explain any unforeseen delays)
• Inspect Your Boat Thoroughly.
• Treat You Respectfully.
• Respect Your Boat.
• Avoid Conflicts of Interest.
• Under Promise & Over Deliver.
• Explain the Survey Process.
• Prepare a Comprehensive Marine Survey Report.
• Deliver the Survey Report Quickly – Normally Within 24-48 Hours.
• Respect Your Privacy.
• Be Available for Questions and Follow-Up.

Our practical approach allows you to get a good picture of the boats’ condition the day we inspect it. We go through all the parts of the boat in a systematic way, pointing out systems and issues and jotting down our observations and recommendations that we then use to create the survey. We encourage buyers and owners to be present at a survey.

Get The Right Survey

There are three main types of surveys done on a boat you're considering buying, and each requires a specialized professional to do them well.

• A condition and valuation survey (C&V) covers the hull and structures as well as the boat's systems. This type of thorough survey is usually required for insurance and financing, and is sometimes referred to as a pre-purchase survey. Whether your insurance company or lender requires it or not, you should always get one before buying. A proper C&V survey requires the boat to be hauled so the hull and underwater gear can be inspected. A good hull surveyor inspects a boat top to bottom, fore and aft. They'll look at the hull and deck and determine by sounding with a hammer and moisture meter whether there are voids or delamination, and they can identify places in the core that may eventually rot and become soft (and expensive to repair) before they're detectable by a buyer. A surveyor checks the condition of AC and DC electrical systems, plumbing and through-hulls, deck hardware, propane and fuel systems, steering and controls, and safety equipment. A proper marine survey will be an in-depth written report that evaluates the boat according to U.S. Coast Guard regulations, as well as American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. A knowledgeable surveyor will also know if a specific make has a history of major problems.
• Engine surveys cover the operation and condition of propulsion and generator engines. Typically, they include inspection of controls, electrical, cooling, and exhaust systems, as well as engine mounts. Compression, engine, and exhaust temperatures are also checked, and engine surveys typically include tests of oil samples, too. But how do you know if you need one? Alison Mazon, a surveyor in Portland, Oregon, is one of a handful of hull surveyors who also do engine surveys. "An engine survey is warranted for particularly expensive or complex engines, and those with obvious lack of maintenance," says Mazon. "Many larger engines built since about 2006 have computers that can be read by trained personnel with the right equipment. A quick scan for computer faults may be a sign a more detailed analysis is needed."
• A rigging survey looks at the condition of a sailboat's mast and boom and associated rigging. Inspections are made of attachment points, welds, standing and running rigging, and the mast step. Rigging surveyors either go up the mast or inspect the rig when it's off the boat. Whether a rigging survey is needed depends on the age, prior use of the rig, and its intended purpose. Red flags that would signal the need for a rigging survey include a rig more than 10 years old, frayed stays, cracked swages, weeping chainplates, and turnbuckles that are bottomed out. The rig also needs to be surveyed if the boat will be used offshore or heavily raced.

Get The Right Surveyor

You wouldn't hire a plumber to rewire your house; the same goes for surveyors. Finding a qualified marine surveyor or a specialist is a matter of knowing where to look.

• Marine surveyors are not regulated or licensed, so virtually anyone can call himself a surveyor, and many unqualified people do. A good indicator of competence is a surveyor who has professional affiliations with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), plus either the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) or the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS).
• Choose a surveyor who is familiar with the type of boat you're interested in. Some specialize in power, some in sail, others in wooden or metal boats. " A surveyor should have absolutely no affiliations with boat brokers, dealers, boat repair shops, or others whose living depends on the sale or repair of boats — especially the one you're about to buy.
• Don't rely upon a survey prepared for a previous owner, even if it was done recently. A survey is a snapshot in time and a boat could have run aground or suffered other unnoticed damage since the last survey.
• Engine surveys are typically performed by someone with vast experience in repairing gas and diesel engines. The best bet is to hire a certified technician who works for an authorized dealer. That way, they'll be able to research the boat's warranty and dealer service work, too. Hire an engine surveyor with experience on the make and model of the engine you need inspected.
• Rigging surveyors tend to be a little harder to find, but most marine surveyors can recommend one. They typically make their living building and repairing masts, booms, and associated rigging.

The Fourth of July is one of America's most cherished holidays.

It's when we celebrate our nation's mythology with a day off, a backyard barbecue, and plenty of fireworks.

But here are some interesting facts you probably don't know.

The Declaration of Independence wasn't signed on July 4 (or in July at all).

It's now generally accepted that the Declaration wasn't signed on the Fourth of July—that's just the day the document was formally dated, finalized, and adopted by the Continental Congress, which had officially voted for independence on July 2 (the day John Adams thought we should celebrate).

Massachusetts was the first state to recognize the holiday.

Massachusetts recognized the Fourth of July as an official holiday on July 3, 1781, making it the first state to do so. It wasn't until June 28, 1870 that Congress decided to start designating federal holidays.

The oldest annual Fourth of July Celebration is held in Bristol, Rhode Island

The festivities began just two years after the Revolutionary War ended, and 2019 will be its 234th.

We'll eat an obscene amount of hot dogs.

Around 150 million, to be more specific—that's how many hot dogs will be consumed by Americans on the Fourth of July.

Significance of Independence Day

Independence Day 2019, also known as Fourth of July, is a federal holiday observed yearly on July fourth. It is the anniversary of the publication of the declaration of independence of the United States of America from Great Britain in 1776.

History of Independence Day

The history of Independence Day 2019 dates back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare independence of the United States from Great Britain. On July 2, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. Two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin.

Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4 and most have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as it is commonly believed. The holiday remains to be celebrated on the fourth of July. Coincidentally, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.

Traditions of Independence Day

Independence Day is a day of family celebrations with picnics and barbecues, showing a great deal of emphasis on the American tradition of political freedom and patriotism. Many people display the American flag outside their homes or buildings. Additionally, Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem and, in capable military bases, a salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a "salute to the union", is fired on Independence Day at noon.