BOATING TIPS -- June 2000
I should have checked ...

I looked at the twin shift lever control head. It looked like a simple oversight, as though someone had put the shifter lever cover on backwards, for the trademark was upside down. I ignored it as I began training some folks on a near-new 42’ powerboat last week.

I was wrong. My student turned the boat with both engines, then shifted into reverse . . . And we crashed forward into the dock. Put a dent into the Port’s timber around the concrete about 1” deep! Fortunately, the boat wasn’t hurt.

You guessed it: The mechanic had installed the fly bridge shift cables backwards! I should have checked . . .

A buddy gave me a great book the other day: Why Didn’t I Think of That, by John and Susan Roberts, published by International Marine. It’s a great collection of “1,198 tips from 222 sailors on 120 boats from 9 countries“. Although many are for sailors, there are enough applicable to us stink-potters to make it worthwhile.

Here are some good website addresses for next time you want to browse the net: www.navcen.uscg.net is the USCG notice to mariners site. www.marinegraphics.com/boatname is a site to suggest good names. www.ccgrser.org.ca/gov is Canada’s Coast Guard. www.cgaux.org is the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. www.usps.org is the U.S. Power Squadron site. www.wa.gov/wdfw is our State’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. www.boatsafe.com has lists of regulations, courses, and tips for safe boating. Going a long way? Use www.ssca.org, the Seven Seas Cruising Association. Buying a boat? Try www.bucnet.com. And, no matter what you’re looking for, try www.yachtworld.com. It’s a marine yellow pages site.

That’s it for this month. Stay safe out there!

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