October 2002 Chartroom Chatter
Ahoy there! As we wind up an outstanding 2002 boating season, the time is upon us for Frostbite Cruises, Fleet Reviews, and winterizing clubs and craft. It is also time to begin Commodore's Balls as our clubs turn over the Bridge Watch from the 2002 crew to the 2003 crew. Except for the terrible fire this spring at Colonial Beach, it has been overall a safe and successful season for our clubs and boats. As they wind up their terms, I commend the 2002 Commodores and officers for a great year. I also commend you all for taking the time and effort to be safe and responsible out there on the water and remind you that winter is a great time to take a boating course or two from your local US Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary. Please consider hosting a course, lecture, or training event at your club.
Congratulations and best wishes for a great year to Karen Corun, the new "Queen of the Galley Slaves". Husband Bill reports that as Commodore of Bush River YC, because his daughter Ashley is Princess of Bush River, this new title means he does not count for much in a family of royals. I think the ladies are keeping him in the servants' quarters and have assigned him "menial" instead of "manly" tasks. Poor Bill, he actually thought he counted for something before Karen and Ashley joined the ranks of the nobility. Rumor has it that, to make Bill feel better, Karen plans to make him "Sir Bill, Knight of the Mop and Broom".
The fall elections will be here shortly and I strongly encourage you to get out there and vote. Take the time to learn how your candidates stand on the issues, especially boating and the waterways! Talk, e-mail, call or write to the candidates. When they come door to door, remember to mention that you are a boater and ask about positions on issues affecting boaters, your club, and your waterways. Remember that although there seem to be a lot of us out there on the water, the "landlubbers" vastly outnumber us and that even in our states with a huge nautical presence, many of our local politicians know very little about boats and waterways. Although we generate hundreds of millions in business activity for our local economies (think of Annapolis without boats), we are taken for granted and must struggle to be heard. We spend much of our lives in direct contact with the environment and come to know and love its ways, but we often become "collateral damage" under the wheels of the power and money machines of big environmental groups driving to what they see are the big picture goals on the horizon. I know I keep harping on it, but widespread use of high quality on-board treatment systems on boats will always improve any waterway. Tell your candidates and please display your "I Boat, I Vote" stickers. Call me - I'll mail you some.
See you soon out on the water or around the Bay!
Great news: The interactive website is now up and working. Thanks to P/C Don Antos and Pam Hunt for making this possible. It is working great. When you send information in you will receive a receipt that will summarize the info provided.
WE NO LONGER WILL ACCEPT THE "CALL FOR DETAILS" STATEMENT. We require the correct information or it will be returned for correction. The info put on the web should be directed to P/C Don Antos and the new manual form on the inside back cover should be mailed to V/C (elect) Betty Stahler who will verify the information and then forward it on to the correct people. We hope you enjoy this new service and that it makes it easier for your club to have activities promptly and accurately listed. REMINDER: THE ONLY CLUB ACTIVITIES TO BE PUT ON THE WEBSITE AND IN THE CHARTROOM CHATTER WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE ABOVE PROCEDURES.
WE HAVE A NEW MAILING ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER. THIS IS THE THIRD MONTH IT HAS BEEN PRINTED IN THIS COLUMN. BALL INVITATIONS ARE STILL BEING MAILED TO THE OLD ADDRESS. PLEASE UPDATE THE INFORMATION ON PAGE 18 IN THE 2002 ROSTER BOOK:
V/C COMMODORE KENNETH BEAN
512 RED BIRCH ROAD
MILLERSVILLE, MD 21108
The next Delegates meeting will be held at Bush River YC on November 16, 2002 at 1300 hours. This will be the change of watch meeting. A lunch will be available at 1200 hours. We hope to see everyone there.
Betty Stahler CBYCAQO@aol.com
It was reported at the August Delegates Meeting by V/C Bean and voted on that all Commodore's Ball information that is incomplete should be deleted from the Events page in the Chartroom Chatter. The Commodore's Ball list has been updated with complete information and we will no longer accept incomplete information. It is the obligation of each club to complete the form on the inside back cover of the Chartroom Chatter, mail, e-mail, fax or call me to have your social event published. For those who wish to use the form on the CBYCA website, www.cbyca.org under forms. We have been listening to your concerns and have been working hard to make your job easier and our communications more reliable.
Pennsylvania/Delaware Legislative Report
Rex Beers, DSLPADE pbase2000@juno.com
Maryland Vessel Excise Tax Amnesty Period
Legislation passed by the General Assembly last year created a vessel excise tax amnesty period from September 1 through October 31, 2002 for boat owners who have not paid the vessel excise tax when they purchased a boat or moved their boat to Maryland. The amnesty applies to individuals who purchased a boat in Maryland or principally used their boat in Maryland prior to December 31, 2001. During the amnesty period, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will waive the 10 % non-payment penalty if the owner pays the tax and interest.
The vessel excise tax, which is 5 % of the purchase price or the fair market value of the boat, is used to pay for projects that improve and promote recreational and commercial boating and the safety of Maryland's waterways for the benefit of the general boating public.
If any member of one of our member clubs has purchased a boat in Maryland and did not pay the 5 % vessel excise tax at the time of purchase because they intended to use the boat principally elsewhere, but later change their minds, should take advantage of this amnesty. For anyone who purchased a boat in another state and has brought it into Maryland to use it principally in Maryland, they should take advantage of the amnesty to get straight with Maryland. (For such people, you will receive credit for any sales and/or excise tax paid on your boat to another state.)
If you use your boat principally in Maryland, including winter storage, you owe the vessel excise tax. If you just visit for a few months a year and use your boat in another state for more time, including winter storage, you don't owe the tax. (The Legislature also passed a bill that stated being in Maryland for 90 days or less in any calendar year did not constitute principal use.) If anyone has questions about potential vessel tax liability (in order to take advantage of the amnesty period), they should contact Bruce A. Gilmore, Director, Licensing and registration Service, DNR at 410-260-3233 or e-mail him at: bgilmore@dnr.state.md.us.
Jerry Donofrio, Sr., DSLNJ Security@FCC.NET
Boater Voter Coalition Web site. http://sport.nj.com/sport/boatervoter
Legislative Bills in Committee
Senate Bill No. 1271, Introduced March 7, 2002Assembly Bill No.2475, Introduced June 17, 2002 relative to Houseboats in state marinas is still active and needs everyone's support.
This bill would allow certain houseboats to be berthed at state marinas. This bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection to grant a permit for use of a berth at a state marina for the berthing of a powered house type craft specifically designed for dockside living on other than a transient basis provided that: (1) the craft is not used to establish residency or the owner or user of the craft does not otherwise use the marina as a domicile; and (2) the application for the berth permit complies with all applicable regulations governing berth permits and berth assignments at state marinas. Under current regulations, permits for berths at state marinas are not issued for the berthing of domicile type units including, but not limited to, powered and unpowered house type craft specifically designed for dockside living on other than a transient basis, i.e., houseboats. This bill would also authorize the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to adopt any rules and regulations necessary to implement this bill, which may include conditions or requirements to ensure that a craft receiving a berth permit is not used as a domicile.
A special thanks to the Honorable Senator John J. Matheussen and the Honorable Robert J. Smith for the introduction of these bills presented to the Senate and Assembly. These and many others legislators deserve our support in the fast approaching Election period.
THE HORIZON - SPEED LIMIT FOR ALL BOATS ON NEW JERSEY WATERS! ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES MAY AFFECT YOUR TRAVEL!!!
http::/SPORT.NJ.COM/SPORT/BOATERVOTER
Jerry Donofrio Sr., Chairman
Last Month we reported of a Pennsylvania mother, injured fatally in a boating accident. Her husband was at the helm and was arrested pending toxicology results. Now the toxicology results prove he was not intoxicated as he had professed. Inside information revealed to the BVC indicates that the wife, however, was intoxicated. The Camden County Prosecutors office will likely treat this tragic accident as just that! The NJ State Police conversely have not closed the case as of this date. Of course the TV and print media did not cover the negative toxicology as they did the early story of the (alleged) drunken boater!
SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPEND LESS THAN $200 DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO ILLUMINATE BUOYS ON THE WATERWAYS. NEW LED's SAY YES!!!
LED, (light-emitting diode) marine lights have been accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard for use on aids to navigation. Similar devices are currently used on several private buoys on the Delaware River in Dredge Harbor. They are very small as compared to typical navigation lighting, but nevertheless put out a very observable flash. Carmanah Technologies Corp. of Victoria, British Columbia, manufactures the 700 Series solar-powered lights.
The Coast Guard has been testing versions of the 700 Series since the original design was developed in 1999 under contract to the service. The Coast Guard is doing an economic analysis of the costs and benefits of a large-scale conversion from its traditional incandescent signals to LED technology.
The 700 series comes in three models, retailing between $1,000 and $1,200. All are designed to operate with no maintenance for five years. If this is factual, it would only cost about $200 dollars annually to help guide boaters to safety as well as provide much needed illumination of many buoy systems. Boaters everywhere hit unlighted buoys causing injury and even death. How can the USCG NOT spend money on these new low cost, low maintenance lights when weighed against the value of one human life.
Art Murray, CBYCA Safety Committee,
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
It is well known that most fires and explosions on gasoline powered boats occur during or just after a fueling operation. A recent example is the explosion and fire that destroyed a power boat at the Baltimore Inner Harbor Marina's gas dock. While the circumstances that resulted in this accident may never be fully explained, there is no argument about the explosive nature of gasoline vapor, and that wherever it is allowed to accumulate there is the danger of an explosion. However, an ignition source is required to ignite the vapor. That ignition source may come from a variety of things. Sparks can be caused by various electric motors, electronic equipment, frayed wires, and static electricity.
Experienced boaters will habitually run their blower motors while taking on gasoline, or for at least four or five minutes after refueling to clear the void spaces in their engine compartments and bilges of any gasoline vapors. This is a standard safety precaution. The blower motors are hermetically sealed to prevent any sparks from providing an ignition source. Also while fueling they will shut down all the electrical devices on board as a further safety precaution. Even with these precautions there is still one ignition source that is often overlooked or ignored. That ignition source is static electricity.
When a liquid such as gasoline flows through a hose and a metal nozzle, a static electric charge will build up on the nozzle. If the nozzle builds up a charge of sufficient potential, it will release that charge to ground in the form of a spark. The same type of charge accumulates on a person when he scuffs his shoes over a wool rug. When he touches another person with his finger, there will be a spark. Sparks caused by a charge of static electricity can ignite gasoline vapor and cause an explosion. To avoid this, be sure to keep the hose nozzle in contact with the fill pipe fitting when fueling. This will prevent a buildup of static electricity on the nozzle. Also be sure that there is continuous metal contact between the fuel pipe deck fitting and the fuel tank. If the boat has a rubber or plastic fuel pipe, be sure that there is a grounding wire fitted between the deck fuel fitting and the fuel tank. This will also reduce the chance of creating a static electrical charge.
September 14, 2002
Dear CBYCA Member and Delegate:
Qualifications Officer Faye Broseker has presented an application submitted by the Chesapeake Cruiser Association located in Washington, DC to the CBYCA Board of Governors for membership consideration. The National Potomac Yacht Club is sponsoring the Chesapeake Cruiser Association. The Qualifications Officer reported that their Application for Membership and By-laws are in order and recommends this club for membership into CBYCA.After due consideration, the Board of Governors voted to accept the recommendation of the Qualifications Officer to issue notice to all Member Clubs in accordance with Article V, Section 4, Paragraph a. of the CBYCA Constitution and By-Laws. It is anticipated that Chesapeake Cruiser Association will be voted upon for membership at our November 16, 2002, Delegates Meeting to be held at Bush River Yacht Club.
Written comments from Member Clubs regarding the applicant Clubs should be directed to Qualifications Officer Faye Broseker within twenty (20) days at the following address: 3 Doe Meadow Court, Owings Mills, MD 21117.
Sincerely,Karen Anderson
Secretary
Mark Your Calendars!
| Date | Time | Meeting | Location |
| 19 October | 1000 | Board Meeting | Prince William YC |
| 16 November | 1000
1300 |
Board Meeting
Delegates Meeting |
Bush River YC |
| 14 December | 1800 | CBYCA Commodore Ball | Martin's North Point |
| 21 December | 1000 | Board Meeting | Belvedere YC |
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