Safe Boating

Some mild winter weather fix up projects

By Roz Butziger
Posted 12/22/15

Our unusually mild winter weather lately may make you want to drive by and take a longing look at your tucked-away boat. This is the perfect time to take a peek under the cover and take care of a few …

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Safe Boating

Some mild winter weather fix up projects

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Our unusually mild winter weather lately may make you want to drive by and take a longing look at your tucked-away boat. This is the perfect time to take a peek under the cover and take care of a few things you didn’t have time for when you were winterizing your boat. Look carefully at your seat and bunk covers. If they come off, it is a good time to get them to the dry cleaners or wash them at home. How is the stitching? Examine your isinglass and side curtains too. Is the stitching or zipper letting go? This is the time of year to get this taken care of. Canvass people don’t have as much business now, and you may get a good deal. There could be quite a long wait in the spring when most boaters start to think about sprucing up the boat. 

Make sure you charge up your batteries. You should actually do this once a month. Charged batteries keep the water from freezing. If you are a sailor and didn’t do this before, take off your sails and get them to a sail loft to have them cleaned, stitching checked, and have any repairs made. Look at the condition of the wood, and perhaps wipe it down with furniture oil. If you neglected to remove your sheets and blankets before, take them home now and wash them well.

Did you have a radio, antenna, fathometer, or plotters that were misbehaving last year? Don’t wait for spring. Now is the time to take any questionable electronics to a reputable marine electronics dealer or send it back to the manufacturer. If it is not practical to have it repaired, you can look for good deals in electronics in January or February.

With the last few boat tasks taken care of and the weather still mild, you could still get your on-the-water fix by taking the family out on the bay on a Save the Bay Seal Watch. Hosts of harbor seals sun themselves on the rocks off Newport, and the naturalist-narrated tour gets you up close for great pictures.  For even more adventure, you could take a day and go winter cod fishing on one of the large head boats such as the Seven B’s or the Francis Fleet out of Pt. Judith. Both great last minute presents for the family. And don’t forget the best present for boaters. The winter is the time for taking a course and making sure you are comfortable and safe on the water. Boating courses are not just for the captain. What happens if the captain is suddenly incapacitated? Make sure your family knows what to do in an emergency. For a choice of winter courses, go to www.northstarflotilla.com and get more information or sign up. Wishing you a year of Safe Boating!

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