Category Archives: Liveaboard Topics

Topics related to liveaboard issues

Do NOT shoot off old flares on the 4th!

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With the 4th of July celebrations coming up, there are always those doorknobs that think it’s a good idea to shoot off old expired flares. Besides being illegal, they are extremely dangerous since 1) you have no control over their direction, 2) they come down hot and can (and have) caused serious damage to sail covers, sails, and decks with obvious consequences to propane and gas containers.

If you see someone doing this, PLEASE call the marina staff immediately at 206-601-4089 to report it.

Just like the Sky Lanterns (aka Chinese Lanterns), if a fire starts in the marina, it could be deadly…

Sky Lanterns (aka Chinese Lanterns)

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This is the time of the year when the uninformed and/or uncaring people show up at Golden Gardens park to set off these floating fire bombs!  What seems “pretty” and “romantic” in the park is a disaster waiting to happen for us boaters or our neighbors on the hill during our dry summers.  These “lanterns” have landed in the rigging of boats here at Shilshole and by sheer luck we have avoided a conflagration.

These floating lanterns are illegal in the State of Washington, and 29 other states. If you see one, immediately call 911, ask for the fire dept. and report as many details as you can.

http://mrsc.org/Home/Stay-Informed/MRSC-Insight/June-2017/Regulating-Sky-Lanterns.aspx

 

World Ocean Day

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One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something. – Henry David Thoreau

June 8th is World Ocean Day, reminding us that we all need to do our part to reduce the plastic we use, and to always practice good environmental stewardship!  As boaters, the ocean is our backyard, and our playground and just like we wouldn’t want to see plastic bottles and trash while hiking in the woods, we don’t want to have it in our waters, either.

Try to get out that weekend and join an event, or go solo, and make a commitment to reduce, reuse, and recycle!  Check out these websites for more helpful ideas…

World Ocean Day event ideas

The Starfish Parable:  One day, an old man was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore by the high tide. As he walked he came upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one.

Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the boy simply replied, “I’m saving these starfish, Sir”.

The old man chuckled aloud, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”

The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the man, said, “I made a difference to that one!”

Un-Plugged City Wide Drill

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Saturday April 28, 2018 there was a city wide disaster preparedness drill. Shilshole Prepares Hub participated with Kirke Park Hub  at Kirke Park.   The drill was designed to allow the population of Seattle to think about and practice what it would be like to lose our electrical grid.  Less than four weeks ago Puerto Rico’s  3,659,679 people lost all electrical power.  It could happen here, imagine all 606,660 + people in Seattle with out power for an indefinite period of time.

Some of the questions that came up were:  Can you tell me where I can charge my car and my phone?  Do I go to work Monday at Amazon/Boeing/Microsoft? Where can I buy gas?  Are the grocery stores open?  Can you contact my Grandmother using your radio? How do I reach the, Hospital/ Police/ Fire Department/Red Cross for help?  I smell natural gas, what should I do?  Where is my Social Security check…my bank is closed. These and many other relevant questions were answered.  We did lots of role playing of situations that could come up if the grid went down.

The hubs communicated with the Seattle Office of Emergency Management  aka EOC, through a network of ham radio stations.  This structure is an all volunteer group known as ACS, short for Seattle Auxiliary Communications Services, it is set up to be covered by five sector teams and a team at the EOC during a disaster.  These people are the core of the hub program.  They speak with one another and relay critical information about the overall situation in the city.  Conversation is governed by strict protocols and requires the operators to adhere a no monkey business style of behavior.

All the people that volunteered to participate in the drill were given jobs to preform.  The drill lasted three hours.  Citizens walking by were asked to participate as well.

It is my hope that next year when we do the city wide drill here many of you will help.  With more practice we can improve our disaster preparedness skills.

One last thing I would like to add; we are a well organized group of independent characters who  in a pinch  are ready to handle big issues.  In many ways we are the best prepared group in Seattle.  That does not mean we should be come complacent.  Think about what you will do if a catastrophic event occurs.  Your life and lives of those you love and care for could be stake.

Thank you to the following folks that participated: Ned Kohlhauff VP of the SLA and Hub Manager, Richard Meeks Board Member of SLA,  Dave and Sam Krause  V-MAN Net and ACS Members, Tom McIntyre ACS Member,  Michael DePaula G-Dock, and many others.

 

Environmental Responsibility

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A key pillar of the Shilshole Liveaboard Assoc.’s mission is the education, promotion and practice of responsible environmental stewardship.  As liveaboards, the sea is our backyard, and just like homeowners would not “trash” their own backyard, nor should we.  Most boaters and liveaboards understand this, but there are always ways to improve your footprint (both afloat or ashore).

Find out more…