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As a concerned citizen I am ever vigilant to help reduce the National Deficit. I hate to agree with my Republicans friends. But, we do have too much government regulation. The Transportation Worker Identification Credential, TWIC, is as good example. According the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) own estimate, the program will cost $3.2 billion over 10 years. Ever since the TWIC was mandated by Congress nine years ago, there has been plenty of confusion. OMG if my memory serves me, we had a Republican administration nine years ago. I thought they were against regulations.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 04 February 2012 17:44 |
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 Much of the boating in South Florida will take you along or across the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). The ICW also known as “The Ditch” is comprised of four segments — Gulf Coast, Carrabelle, FL to Brownville, TX; a second section of the Gulf Coast from Tarpon Springs to Fort Myers; the Atlantic which runs from Norfolk, VA to Key West; and the plain old ICW which runs from Manasquan to Norfolk. The Gulf Coast Waterway is connected to the Atlantic by the Okeechobee Waterway.
The ICW was authorized by Congress in 1919. Florida, always ahead of the curve started construction in 1874. According to most sources the ICW begins in Manasquan NJ. However, the statute mile markers on the charts start in Norfolk, VA, which is the beginning of the section known as the Atlantic ICW. I haven’t found an explanation for the snub of my hometown, Manasquan.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 29 December 2011 18:18 |
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The 2011 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show ended on Halloween. If you didn’t go, I’m sure you witch you had. I attended the first two days before the rain started. My wife thought it would be too depressing to go, so she stayed home. She’s upset because I won’t buy her a new boat. The good news is I was able to sell my extra tickets which covered parking for two days and one beer.
On Thursday I parked at the War Memorial and took the bus to the Convention Center, as it was the first one that came along. There was a long line at the Convention Center entrance. Apparently a bus load of boaters drove from North Carolina and they couldn’t get in because they had no picture ID. Even with my ID I was held up, as the attendant had to verify my complimentary guest ticket.
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Last Updated on Monday, 28 November 2011 21:00 |
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Over the past year I received lots of questions which I was not able to answer personally. In this month’s column I’ll attempt to answer the most common and/or interesting questions.
Q. I am considering buying a Sea Ray. Do you think I should get an Express or a Sundancer?
A. Is one of them blue? You would look good in a blue boat.
Q. After fueling my boat, the starboard engine would not start. The genset runs off the same tank and started easily. I checked the battery and changed the fuel filters and it still wouldn’t start. Any suggestions?
A. When you fueled up, you put a Sorbent pad over the deck fill and pushed the nozzle through it to catch any spills. A small piece of the sorbent is stuck in the fuel line. Don’t be so cheap; buy a “Bio Collar.”
Q. What is the difference between the diesel fuel at a gas station and the diesel at a marina?
A. About $1 per gallon.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 06 November 2011 14:21 |
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 When I sold my boat last year, I promised my wife we would do some travelling. So this summer we took a little road trip, 5,745 miles to be exact. We headed north to get out of the heat.
It started getting hotter the further north we drove and I began missing the water by the time I hit Orlando. When I reached Nashville my mind was diverted to my other love, country music. I had the chance to combine boating and country music by taking a trip on the General Jackson Paddlewheel on the Cumberland River. It seemed like a good idea until I discovered the dinner cruise would cost $90. Usually the food quality is just average on cruises like this so I passed, and opted for the Grand Ole Opry. I think I was the only person in the audience wearing boat shoes.
The following day we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, where we almost met some celebrities. We had lunch in the lobby cafe and our waiter told us to stay around as Hank Williams Jr. was being interviewed and would pass by any moment. What he failed to tell us was Hank’s daughters, Holly and Hilary, were sitting at the table next to us. When I went into the gift shop and saw Holly’s CD and Hilary’s book. I ran out to get their autographs, but it was too late.
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Last Updated on Monday, 28 November 2011 20:58 |
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