Blog June 2017

Impeller Fails

Ever wonder what goes on inside your raw-water pump?

Most people don't. A surveyor friend of mine sent us some pictures.

The first shows a brand-new impeller. One thing you might notice is how squished the vanes are. When your boat's not used much, say over winter, these poor things stay folded over for months. After a while, they take a "set," which means they stay a little bent over like most of us would if we'd been hunched over for a whole season. This makes the pump a little less efficient, and every year, it pumps less water.

The other picture shows what happens when you ignore your impeller too long. Those poor vanes finally gave up and broke off. Actually, you'd be fortunate if they just broke off; what usually happens is that they get carried downstream in the cooling system, where they can clog your heat exchanger, or if you don't have one, clog the cooling passages in your engine. Either way, it can be a big job to retrieve them, and retrieve them you will — otherwise you'll be fighting overheating problems forever.

This season, replace your impeller(s) if they're over a couple of years old. It's one less thing you'll have to worry about.

YOU ARE ENJOYING A PEACEFUL DAY WHEN SUDDENLY DISASTER STRIKES

It' s a good idea to make sure you have these handy.

Whistle

Rescue situations after natural disasters are typically chaotic affairs, with quickly-assembled teams doing their best under difficult circumstances. You can't always depend on visual identification in this kind of scenario, which is why survival experts insist that any disaster kit contain a safety whistle. Yelling for help can leave the average person hoarse after just a few minutes. A well-constructed whistle, however, can be blown for as long as you can normally breathe and heard for far greater distances. Many safety whistles also produce unique staccato sounds designed to be heard over helicopters and other loud engines.

Water

Drinkable water is one of the most important resources to have after a disaster. While many people recommend setting aside several gallons of bottled water, long-term survival might require something a little bigger. 

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT'S THE CONNECTION TO STONEHENGE?

it's when the northern hemisphere of the Earth is most inclined towards the sun, and that's why we get the most daylight of the year.

During the winter solstice, the northern hemisphere is tilted furthest away from the sun, hence fewer hours of daylight and the shortest day.

The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because the seasonal movement of the Sun's path (as seen from Earth) momentarily comes to a stop before reversing direction.

In the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place between June 20 and 22. This year it's on Wednesday, June 21 .

In London, on the summer solstice, the sun will rise at 04:43 and set at 21:21.

Near Stonehenge in Salisbury, sunrise will be at 04:52 and sunset will occur at 21:26.

Why Stonehenge?

Stonehenge is an ancient prehistoric site, which may have been a place of worship and celebration at the time of summer solstice for thousands of years.

The giant stones are believed to have stood in the same spot since 3,000 to 2,000 BC, and are positioned to align with the sunrise on the two annual solstices.

If you stand in just the right place inside the Stonehenge monument on the day of the summer solstice, you will see the sun rise directly above the Heel Stone, which stands just outside the circle to the north-east.

Every year, thousands flock to the English Heritage site to witness the spectacle. White cloaked and hooded druids among the standing stones to welcome the first rays of the sunlight.

Water Safety

Summer is now in  full swing, and the more nice days we encounter, the more we get tempted to avoid our common sense in pursuit of enjoying all the water has to offer.

If you are responsible for children it becomes even more important.

Whether you are at the beach, at a pool or at a nearby lake, on the Sound, or at the shore, make it common practice to have a life jacket on when you are in the water. A life preserver and a life jacket should be an essential accessory.

If you are boating, law requires boaters to have enough life vests for everyone on board, and ages 12 and younger are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times when the boat is under way.

Also, I encourage all families to consider enrolling children in swimming lessons. Swim lessons will teach children not only how to tread water but also how to stay float and keep close to shore.

Stay Safe and Enjoy the Water.

SUMMER BOATING BASICS

Okay, so now that Summer is here, and the holiday weekend is rapidly approaching, the waters tend to get busy so let’s remember some basics of having a safe summer boating season.

Below are some quick tips on boating responsibly in the great outdoors. 

TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY

Travel responsibly on designated waterways and launch your watercraft in designated areas.

• Travel only in areas open to your type of boat.
• Carry a Coast Guard approved life vest (PFD) for each person on board.
• Always operate your boat at a safe speed.
• Always have a designated lookout to keep an eye out for other boaters, objects and swimmers.
• Never jump a wake. If crossing a wake, cross at low speeds and keep a close lookout for skiers and towables.
• Comply with all signs and respect barriers. This includes speed limits, no-wake zones and underwater obstructions, etc.
• Make every effort to always go boating with a partner.
• Make certain your trailer is in proper working order and that your lights work and your boat is secure on the trailer before you travel to your destination.
• When trailering your boat, balance your load including items stowed inside your boat.
• Don’t mix boating with alcohol or drugs.

What About Your Boat's Wake?

You can save a lot of aggravation, some money and avoid being the recipient of some not so nice gestures from other boaters by using a little common sense and courtesy. This means coming completely off plane when you enter a no-wake zone or any area where your wake could compromise the safety of other boats. All too often the skippers react to a no-wake sign by slowing the boat slightly and then plowing through with the boat's bow up in the air and the stern dug down into the water. Instead of reducing the size of the boat's wake, this token reduction in speed — not quite on plane — increases the size of the wake.

No wake means NO WAKE. The first rule is to slow down so that the boat is level (without using trim tabs) and the size of the wake is negligible. Look back at the wake you're creating. You can help to reduce the size of your boat's wake by positioning passengers toward the center of the boat to keep it level. Too much weight aft lowers the stern and increases the size of the wake. Finally, keep an eye on your depth sounder; shallow water increases the impact of your boat's wake.

Damaging wakes can also be caused when a skipper waits too long to pull back on the throttle. A good example is the young skipper in New Jersey who was tying up at a marina gas dock when he encountered someone who was "cursing and accusing me of not having any respect." Words were exchanged, gestures were made. The young skipper's cruiser, it seems, had created a large wake that bashed several boats at the marina against pilings and finger piers. He had "slowed" just before reaching the gas dock, so he reasoned that the damage must have been caused by "some other boat's wake."

                                                                 Seasickness    

Seasickness can quickly turn a day on the water into a miserable experience. Seasickness occurs when your eyes, your inner ear, and your body  send conflicting messages to your brain. Imagine you are below deck, your eyes are telling you the room isn’t moving while your inner ear senses motion. This conflicting message may result in dizziness, light-headedness, and nausea.

Prevention is better than treatment,try these tips:

   Stay on deck in a shady spot and face forward, focusing on the horizon.

   Keep your head still, while resting against a seat back.

   Eat light; avoid spicy and greasy foods and alcohol.

 Antihistamines are commonly used to prevent sea sickness. Frequently recommended over-the-counter antihistamines include Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine, and Benadryl.

The adhesive patch, Scopolamine (Transderm Scop), is available by prescription. The patch is applied behind the ear a few hours before traveling and provides 72-hour protection.

 Or try this:

 Mix a half teaspoon of ginger powder in a glass of water and drink it 20

minutes before heading out to sea.

If you still find yourself becoming nauseated, try the following:

    Get some fresh air. If you’re below deck, go on the upper deck and sit toward the middle of the boat where you’ll feel less movement.      Eat a few dry crackers.   Sip a clear, carbonated beverage.