Based on personal experience and observation I have come up with the below list of etiquette tips for getting along at the marina. If you have additional suggestions please add them.
- At areas where multiple boaters need to use the same location like the gas dock, waste pump-out station or launch ramp, do what you need to do then move your boat. If you need to go to the bathroom, talk to another person or purchase some supplies do this after you have vacated these areas.
- Keep dock lines, water hoses, power cords and other such items neatly coiled and placed in such a way that they are not a tripping hazard or mess to other people using the docks.
- If it’s a windy day or tight quarters it’s considered polite to help another boater dock. Normally this means someone that is docking within a couple of slips from where you are. This often requires nothing more then holding a line if tossed to you until a person form the boat is able to tie it off the way they prefer.
- Obey no wake inside any marina with plenty to spare. If you are going to error, error on the side of going too slow.
- If you are tying up along a guest seawall do so in such a manor that your boat does not hog more room then it should. If there is a 60 foot wall and you have a 28 foot boat don’t take your 28 feet out of the middle. Pick one side or the other.
- Along a sea wall use a spring line in each direction so your boat does not move in either direction causing your boat to hit another boat.
- Turn your VHF radio to LOW power so if you make a call when close to other boats you do not damage other boater’s radios.
- Do not use the VHF radio for boat to land based communications unless it is with a licensed shore station like the marina itself. Not only does this clutter the airways its illegal per the FCC. Use a family frequency hand held or cell phone for this purpose.
- Keep music / TV volume at a reasonable level. Sound travels very well over the water. Keep this in mind when talking too.
- Keep your kids off other people’s boats and under reasonable control. Don’t let them grab and play with other boater’s water lines, dock lines, etc.
- Respect quiet hours. This varies marina to marina. Mostly I see this posted as after 11:00PM but varies from marina to marina so check.
- Return dock carts to their proper location when finished using.
This information was prepared by Presentation Rentals a audiovisual equipment rental company in Appleton Wisconsin now renting offers flat panel LCD displays and plasma televisions. Visit them on the web at http://www.presentationrentals.net
Boat - SeaRay Sundancer 240
Port - Slip #2A, Skipper Buds, Oshkosh, WI
Lisa
Friday, October 20, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
When winterizing your boat do not over fill the fuel tank
With the proliferation of E10 gasoline, a mixture of 90% petroleum and 10% ethanol, there has been a lot of discussion on the issue of phase separation during the winter lay up.
Phase separation is caused when water enters the fuel tank and causes the ethanol to separate from the petroleum and absorb the water. This leaves the tank with a lower layer with a mixture of mostly high octane ethanol and some water and a upper layer of low octane petroleum fuel. Both of these can cause various problem.
The answer that I have read on various message boards is to fill the fuel tank to the very top. The reasoning is by toping off the tank so its full to the very top you will prevent air from being in the tank. By preventing air from being in the tank you will prevent condensation from forming in the tank and this will prevent water from getting into your fuel, thus preventing phase separation.
OK, here is the question:
Your boat has a 200 gallon tank.
The tank is near full.
Its been 30 degrees F for several days so by now your gas is at 30 degrees.
You top off the tank so it’s full. Spring comes. The temperature rises to over 70 degrees for several days.
This causes your fuel temperature to rise to 70 degrees.
How much gasoline will overflow and spill out onto the ground?
Answer: 5.52 gallons will spill out on the ground.
The “coefficient of expansion.” Called the API factor for gasoline is .00069/degreeF Total Temperature change was 40 degrees
200 (gallons) * 40 (temperature change in degrees F) * API factor .00069 = 5.52 gallons
I suggest you do fill your tank but do not top it off. Leave some room for fuel expansion.
Phase separation is caused when water enters the fuel tank and causes the ethanol to separate from the petroleum and absorb the water. This leaves the tank with a lower layer with a mixture of mostly high octane ethanol and some water and a upper layer of low octane petroleum fuel. Both of these can cause various problem.
The answer that I have read on various message boards is to fill the fuel tank to the very top. The reasoning is by toping off the tank so its full to the very top you will prevent air from being in the tank. By preventing air from being in the tank you will prevent condensation from forming in the tank and this will prevent water from getting into your fuel, thus preventing phase separation.
OK, here is the question:
Your boat has a 200 gallon tank.
The tank is near full.
Its been 30 degrees F for several days so by now your gas is at 30 degrees.
You top off the tank so it’s full. Spring comes. The temperature rises to over 70 degrees for several days.
This causes your fuel temperature to rise to 70 degrees.
How much gasoline will overflow and spill out onto the ground?
Answer: 5.52 gallons will spill out on the ground.
The “coefficient of expansion.” Called the API factor for gasoline is .00069/degreeF Total Temperature change was 40 degrees
200 (gallons) * 40 (temperature change in degrees F) * API factor .00069 = 5.52 gallons
I suggest you do fill your tank but do not top it off. Leave some room for fuel expansion.
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