We’re getting festive on the water this year! Join the Shilshole Bay Marina Liveaboard Association on Saturday, December 7th for a holiday-themed Dinghy Parade.
If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll roll with a backup date of December 14th.
Meeting spot: TBD
We’re still locking in the launch point, so keep an eye on this page for updates.
Bring your dinghy decked out in your best holiday decorations—lights, garlands, whatever makes it sparkle. Let’s make the bay glow!
We all have our favorite charting sources but it’s good to have other options, in case your batteries die, you drop your phone overboard, or GPS goes out!
Paper charts are the tried-and-true way and everyone should have a basic understanding of how to use them. Even the chart booklets still give you a usable view of your area. NOAA stopped producing paper (RASTER) charts in 2020 and will only update their ENC charts. It’s still a good idea to hang onto those old paper charts/booklets.
Chartplotters have been out for many years and boaters have their favorites (or are stuck with what came with their boat). Those have the ability to update charts from their respective proprietary sites. There are Apps, (such as Navionics) that boaters use on their phone or tablets. Cruising Guides, such was Waggoner, also offer local details.
For planning (and realtime charting with GPS), OpenCPN is a well-known and widely used free program that has an App or can be downloaded onto your pc/laptop. It is opensource, easily customized to your needs and the charts can be downloaded from NOAA for free. Example pasted below…
The dark wet days of winter are a perfect time to plan next season’s cruise!
Don’t forget to…
Thanks for being a good neighbor…
For safety…turn on your deck/spreader lights to show you are welcoming kids and pick up any loose items off your dock to avoid trip hazards.
Remember to set those clocks that don’t automatically adjust themselves.
Halloween is near so it’s time to put up the decorations,
and carve the pumpkins!
Be it political, funny, scary or boring…
…show your creative juices (and one-up your neighbor)
Shilshole Kids will be trick or treating on Halloween on a couple docks-
watch for the postings at your gate
Annually, Seattle University conducts an independent public safety survey of each neighborhood. This captures the concerns of each neighborhood and gives SPD (Seattle Police Dept) clear areas of focus.
Here is an opportunity to address our concerns about the campers, rvs and car prowls that we are experiencing here at Shilshole. Read more on the SPD website below with the link to the survey…
https://www.seattle.gov/police/information-and-data/data/mcpp-about
Are you headed offshore to Mexico and points beyond with your SSB radio? Or, do you want to be able to communicate in times of emergency? Now’s the time to get your HAM radio license! Classes are held online, are inexpensive and testing is designed for you to learn and pass!
For details on HAM radio, check out the National Assoc. of Amateur Radio: http://www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training
Sheri, who runs our Monday night VMan check in, took this prep class and had good things to say about it: https://www.hamradiolicenseexam.com/prices.htm
In the boating world, when someone says they are a “captain”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have some Napoleon complex on their boat and like to wear white visors caps that say “Captain” (although those people do exist).
It generally means that they have undergone complex studies and a rigorous exam to earn the title. With an OUPV or “6-Pack”, you can legally take paying passengers out on a boat. You can deliver boats for the owners or brokers. It may reduce your insurance rate, and carries weight when chartering.
You see the ads everywhere for local classes. They are held in classrooms, online or by personal study…all to fit your schedule. Winter is a good time to consider this as the boat is usually tucked away. Here are couple local organizations but also check out the marine stores, yacht brokers, and boating magazines and the January Boat Show for references and schedules…
http://www.flagshipmaritimellc.com/
https://www.usmaritime.us/captains
https://www.marinerslearningsystem.com/oupv-sixpack-captains-license.html
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