Get ready for a wild winter, that is , if you believe NASA

 According to a story in the LA times,  Climatologists are predicting that this winter will be unusual across the country because of El Niño that is brewing in the Pacific Ocean.

"There's no longer a possibility that El Niño wimps out at this point. It's too big to fail," Bill Patzert, a climatologist for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told the LA Times. "And the winter over North America is definitely not going to be normal."

Scientists say El Niño is getting stronger because of rising sea-level ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and a change of directions of the wind along the equator.

According to the LA Times, that means that winter storms that normally drop rain in central America could shift north and move them over California and the southern United States.

Mike Halpert, the deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center, said this El Niño is the second strongest he's seen at this time of the year.

"This could be one of the types of winters like in 1997-98," Halpert said.

According to NOAA, the winter of 1997 was the second warmest and seventh wettest on record. Severe weather included flooding in the southeast and California, an ice storm in the northeast and tornadoes in Florida.

During that winter, Oklahoma had some of its warmest temperatures and wettest weather.

Patzert told the LA Times that while nothing is ever guaranteed, he is almost certain this El Niño will have an impact. In fact, he says even if temperatures were to start dropping now in the ocean, it would still impact precipitation this winter.

Watching paint dry leads to Guinness world record in rural Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Mike Carmichael simply wanted to do something weird when he and his 3-year-old son slapped a coat of blue paint on a baseball in 1977.

The central Indiana resident stuck with painting the ball, which grew large enough to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004.

At that time, it was 9 feet (2.7 meters) across, and the record was an estimated 18,000 layers of paint. Now Carmichael, 68, figures he is at close to 25,000, although he never set out to break records.

The ball now measures 14 feet after Carmichael, his family, friends and even visitors added more coats of paint over the last several decades. At its last weigh-in two years ago, the sphere of ever-changing colors was about 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg).

Carmichael keeps the ball in a custom-built structure on his property in Alexandria, a town of about 5,000 people about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

The ball, which now looks more like a giant gourd, hangs from the ceiling with heavy chains and an industrial hook. A mirror beneath it ensures the painter does not miss a spot.

At one point, Carmichael considered cutting the ball in half to see all the layers of color, but given its size, he dropped that idea.

As for how long Carmichael plans to keep going, he is not sure. The current set-up can hold 11,500 pounds, he said, so he has some time before the ball will drop.

HOUSE FLOATS AWAY

The storms of the last few days do their own damage.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP – New Jersey( near Atlantic City ) Saturday

We might have dodged Joaquin, but that didn’t help one New Jersey home owner.

The coastal storm that had been pounding South Jersey for days dislodged an entire house from its pilings in the marsh behind North Wildwood, sending it briefly into the Intracoastal Waterway before it broke apart and settled into the marsh, where its odd angles protruded from the water Saturday.

Luckily, the owner and sole resident, Stuart Tait, was at his girlfriend’s home in Philadelphia Friday. Nobody was injured.

Grassy Sound is a low-lying residential neighborhood that sprawls under the tall bridge crossing the Intracoastal Waterway in Middle Township on North Wildwood Boulevard. Each house is reached from a little wooden boardwalk, which on Saturday was sticking up in places, had many missing boards and was covered in a foot of marsh reeds.

SAFELY BOATING IN THE FALL

Just because the temperatures change, and the leaves are turning color, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your time on the water.  

The Boat Owners Association of the United States offers these five tips for fall water safety :

1. Dress for the water, not the weather: Bring extra layers and rain gear. Fast-moving storms can bring sudden temperature drops, and dropping water temperatures can turn a spill overboard into a dangerous situation.
2. Tell a friend: Let a family member or friend know where you’re going and what time you expect to return. For longer boating trips, make sure to provide a more detailed, written itinerary. And no matter how long you’re gone, always check in upon your return.
3. Check the weather: Frigid water temperatures can make an unexpected squall twice as dangerous. Stay up-to-date on the latest weather patterns and bring your boat in if the clouds begin to gather.
4. Always check the boat: Inspect the bilge pump, engine, communications equipment and safety gear to ensure all are in good shape and ready to go before you head out — even for a short trip.
5. Leave the drinks at home: Alcohol can quickly drain your body of heat, bringing on hypothermia’s deadly effects much sooner when compared to warmer months.

Deep-sea treasure hunter must answer for missing gold 3 years later

Did you catch this AP story last week? Seems like his good fortune may have run out.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A deep-sea treasure hunter who pleaded guilty to contempt of court after spending years as a fugitive will have to testify before his sentencing about gold he discovered in a historic shipwreck.

Tommy Thompson went missing three years ago amid demands that he appear in court. He and his longtime companion, Alison Antekeier, were apprehended in January at a hotel where he was living near Boca Raton, Florida.

A Federal judge has rescheduled sentencing for Oct. 29 for the 63-year-old Thompson.

During the week before the hearing, Thompson will have to answer questions in a closed court session about the location of the gold and other assets sought by his investors.

Thompson faces two years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000

 Marine Shrink-Wrap

When considering your storage options, don’t forget to consider the benefits of shrink wrapping.

• Shrink wrapping allows customized contour framing to accommodate the specific needs of your boat.
• Most shrink-wrap covers are ventilated to help eliminate moisture and mildew concerns.
• Shrink-wrap is more durable than tarps and/or canvas and allows snow and ice to slide off the boat prior to damaging build up.
• Shrink-wrap is cost effective. They are durable, UV protected, and shrink-wrap helps stop the hot sun from damaging your gel coat, seats and canvas.
• Shrink-wrap provides an extra layer of security against vandalism and theft.

Steve’s marine offers a full suite of winter storage options as well full service repair and services facilities

SUMMER SEASON IS ENDING

Every year, I have the question asked whether or not they should perform yearly maintenance such as oil changes, water pumps, fuel filters, etc. on their engines in the fall or in the spring. 

Most manufacturers, and industry professionals, will recommend that the fall is the best time for all your boat’s maintenance needs.

A couple of the main reasons are:

·        The boat will be ready for the spring with only minor tasks left to do on the boat

·        While performing the maintenance, if you do identify an issue, you have all winter to address the issue. 

·        If you have water in the oil, lower unit gear lube or other various parts on your boat, you have a better chance of finding it and make sure that you do not have any freezing issues over the winter

Time to Think About Winterizing Your Boat   Part Three

Head

• Pump out the holding tank at an approved facility.
• While pumping, add fresh water to the bowl and flush several times.
• Use Vanish crystals or whatever your owner's manual recommends that will not harm your system and let sit for a few minutes.
• Add fresh water and pump out again.
• Add antifreeze and pump through hoses, holding tank, y-valve, macerator and discharge hose.
• Again, check your owner’s manual to make sure that an alcohol-based antifreeze won't damage your system.

Interior

• Once you have taken care of the system you should remove any valuables, electronics, lines, PFD, fire extinguishers, flares, fenders, etc.
• Over the winter these items can be cleaned, checked and replaced as necessary.
• Open all drawers and lockers and clean thoroughly.
• Turn cushions up on edge so that air is able to circulate around them or, better yet, bring them home to a climate controlled area.
• Open and clean the refrigerator and freezer.
• To keep your boat dry and mildew-free you might want to install a dehumidifier or use some of the commercially available odor and moisture absorber products such as "No Damp," "Damp Away" or "Sportsman's Mate."

Out of Water Storage

• Pressure wash hull, clean barnacles off props and shafts, rudders, struts and trim tabs.
• Clean all thru-hulls and strainers.
• Open seacocks to allow any water to drain.
• Check the hull for blisters and if you find any that should be attended make a note to tell your service manager.
• Now is a great time to give the hull a good wax job.
• Be sure the batteries are fully charged and switches are turned off.

In Water Storage

• Close all seacocks and check rudder shafts and stuffing boxes for leaks, tighten or repack as necessary.
• Check your battery to make sure it is fully charged, clean terminals, add water if necessary and make sure your charging system is working.
• Check bilge pumps to ensure they are working and that float switches properly activate the pumps and that they are not hindered by debris.
• Monitor your boat regularly to avoid leaks, or animal infestations.
• If your mooring area is likely to freeze be sure to suspend water agitators below it to bring warmer water to the surface so its not iced in.

By following some of the above suggestions, you should be iprepared for the winter. Do not neglect to consult your owner's manuals for manufacturer's recommendations on winterizing your boat and other systems. If you have not done a winterization job before, seek out a professional to do the job for you.