Thursday, October 13, 2011

BoatUS Mourns the Passing of President Nancy Michelman

ALEXANDRIA, Va., October 10, 2011 – Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of President and Publisher Nancy Michelman, who died on Friday after a year-long battle with cancer. A selfless leader with an infectious laugh and the gift of inspiring others to get together and do their best, Nancy’s courageous fight was marked by her optimism and energy.

Michelman was a self-described “Jersey Girl” who began sailing at summer camp in Maine as a child, and grew up with a love of boating. In 1989, as a rising star with the American Automobile Association (AAA), BoatUS Founder Richard Schwartz was impressed with her energy and intelligence. He hired her immediately to run the BoatUS membership department, manage partner relationships and grow benefits and services.


Read the rest of the story here.

New Century Demands New Solutions for the Marine Industry and the Power Squadrons

Tradeonlytoday.com published an opinion piece, Boat rentals are a viable option to boat ownership. Trade Only Today covers the marine industry and the story was interesting for the story it tells of the plunge in new boat sales since 1988.

Here are excerpts you need to read:

"Although the world, and especially commerce, has undergone a wholesale transformation since 1988, how the recreational boating industry markets its products remains little changed and the engine that drives the entire industry — new-boat sales — has dropped into a black hole. From 1988 to 2010 annual sales of new outboards have plummeted from 355,000 to 112,000, inboards from 20,900 to 7,300, sterndrives from 148,000 to 18,700 and sailboats from 14,500 to 4,300.

"Although all sorts of studies have been commissioned in recent years by and for the marine industry, common sense tells me three things: First, new boats have become just too expensive to be sold at the rate they once were; second, it’s increasingly hard to justify putting a boatload of money into a fixed asset that sits at a dock and may only be used a few times a month; and third, folks just don’t have the time to devote to one recreation anymore, especially if their children would rather spend their time on Facebook than fishing or facing into the wind offshore.

"It’s an article of faith in our industry that boating can’t be compared with other industries. That said, a look at other industries is instructive. Before the Great Recession as much as 25 percent of all new cars were leased, with the luxury BMW brand at the top of the list, leasing 85.7 percent of its 7 Series automobiles. To strengthen its share of this market, BMW earlier this year launched a $100 million fund — BMW i Ventures — to invest in companies that will, among other things, develop alternatives to traditional car ownership."

Michael Sciulla, vice president of the Marine Marketers of America, wrote the opinion piece. He gently scores his industry for its sense of uniqueness that inhibits open-mindedness to new business solutions. That is only human nature. Every industry says "we're different" and are blind to successful new concepts developed by other businesses to solve similar problems.

The economy that sustained marine industry growth in the 1970s and '80s is never coming back, says Sciulla (Tell me about it!). The auto, travel and vacation property industry found ways to cope by parsing ownership into slices of use for a fraction of the cost. Full ownership of luxury items are a barrier to next gen customer whose lifestyle leads them away from the hobby.

New boat sales sputter as the engine of the industry. Rentals, boat clubs, fractional shares, syndication are solutions. Groupon and Living Social are new marketing channels. Sciulla wants the industry to wake up to this before it sinks.

Read the full opinion piece here.

Charting a new course for boat membership groups

The Power Squadrons faces similar issues. Membership waxes and wanes with the industry. But, the nation's oldest non-profit boating safety, education and social membership group may be slow to adapt to next gen members. Power Squadrons membership at fewer than 45,000 pales in comparison to BoatUS with over 500,000 members. (By the way, the correct term is always "Power Squadrons" plural.)

The United States Power Squadrons™ and BoatUS are allied organizations. Every active boating Power Squadrons member I know is also a member of BoatUS. BoatUS is an association not unlike AAA. Like AAA, most boaters join BoatUS for the towing service, the on water equivalent of road service. The touch point of BoatUS members to the association is a PC screen, or these days one of those handheld thingies.

The Power Squadrons is a face-to-face membership group, with face-to-face being both and attractant and an inhibitor. I look at power Squadron members and see that we are all (ahem) "seasoned," at or near the end of our employment life. Squadron and national leaders have a vague sense that we may be missing the next generation members because their lifestyle allows less time for meetings. BoatUS may be on to something with that.

The Power Squadrons is adapting, if slowly. The Governing Board approved selling its excellent education texts direct. Boating courses and memberships are offered online. It has simplified its membership tiers and the confusing dues structure that came with it.

But the Power Squadrons is still all volunteer all the time. That lowers cost, but restricts some of its capabilities. A visit to the national and local web pages illustrate the point. They are functional, but are not as slick as BoatUS, AAA or your college alumni association web pages.

The Power Squadrons has a private area on the SailAngle social media site to facilitate internal communication—that current members resist using (Get over it, people!). There is no national United States Power Squadrons outreach on SailAngle or Facebook to reach 21st Century boaters, the only way to reach and maintain an ongoing relationship with that demographic.

The Power Squadrons excels at keeping hands-on navigation skills alive for recreational captains at a fraction of the cost of commercial schools. That is a family jewel and must remain so. (A person who completes all of the Power Squadrons' core courses can navigate anywhere in the world with the proper charts and a sextant.) On most other things, we could use a few new ideas to expand our reach beyond face-to-face. Before we sink.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Daniel Snyder Buys A Boat


Jeesh! Billionaire Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder buys a 224-foot boat and the Redskins community has conniptions. You'd think he was financing the purchase from Redskins ticket sales or taking money out of our pockets. (Um, let me think about that.)

Chris Chase's story Dan Snyder paid around $70 million for a 224-ft yacht appeared today in Yahoo! Sports.

After the obligatory Snyder-bash opening relating the price to the Redskins payroll, the story goes on ~

"The Washington Post's Reliable Source reports that Snyder's recent purchase, the Lady Anne, is one of the 100 biggest yachts in the world. Snyder bought the yacht with a group of investors for around the same price that he'll spend on two-thirds of his Redskins payroll for the year."

I 'm not immune to criticizing Snyder when he deserves it, which has been often. But why unload on him for buying something he can well afford? Especially when the cheapest way to own a boat is to use it as a business. An owner could be losing up to half-million dollars of tax benefits by not using their boat as a business asset says the folks at the Bay Yacht Agency.

Rental boat clubs offer memberships that gains use, but not ownership, of a variety of recreational boats. Captains are spared the time and labor of boat maintenance--the biggest advantage in my mind. Clubs and fractional shares of vessels is the topic of a Q&A discussion on a BoatUS forum found here.

Snyder's vessel named Lady Anne was berthed in the Mediterranean was used for charter and lease services. The story did not say if Snyder planned to move the boat to U.S. waters, but if you see Lady Anne in the Bay, stand up and sing Hail To The Redskins.

To read the full story, click here.


What should you do when you buy a new boat? Why, take a Power Squadron safety course, of course.

Nice boat, Dan. See you at the dock party.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

The Great Boatlift of 911 Was Largest In World History


Tom Hanks narrates the epic story of the 9/11 boatlift that evacuated half a million people from the stricken piers and seawalls of Lower Manhattan. Produced and directed by Eddie Rosenstein. Eyepop Productions, Inc.

The self-organized water evacuation by commercial, merchant marine and private boat captains of nearly 500,000 souls in nine hours was the greatest such event in history. The military evacuation of Dunkirk in World War II removed 339,000 British and French soldiers over nine days.

BOATLIFT was executive produced by Stephen Flynn and Sean Burke and premiered on September 8th at the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit: Remembrance/Renewal/Resilience in Washington. The Summit kicked off a national movement to foster community and national resilience in the face of future crises. See www.road2resilience.org to become a part of the campaign to build a more resilient world. The film was made with the generous support by philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, Chairman Emerita, TotalBank (www.arsht.com)


"The Coast Guard Station Annapolis, in Bay Ridge, earlier this year took delivery of a new Response Boat to allow it to better patrol Greater Annapolis waters and the Chesapeake Bay.

"Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, improving the safety of major waterways and large ports has been a priority of the Department of Homeland Security. And the bay leads directly into the Port of Baltimore.

"The new $2 million, 41-foot boat will improve the Coast Guard’s performance and ability to respond to incidents. The new boat has significantly faster speeds—maximum of 42.5 knots—and a longer range at about 250 nautical miles, according to a release."

This story from the Greater Annapolis PATCH in September 2011.

Every Sailor Needs a Pair of Balls!

As a power boater, that's what I've always thought about sailors. Then, Ken Hesterberg, commodore of the Chesapeake Cruisers Association sent me the link to the video shown below. The video answers the question at the top of all of our minds:

How does a sailboat with an 80-ft. mast pass under a 65-ft. bridge? It takes big balls, of course.



You won't find this technique in your edition of Chapman Piloting or in the Power Squadron's Sail course.

What is more amazing is that this captain single-handed the maneuver.

"I can do that, but I don't wanna." ~Bart Simpson

I took the summer off to do summer stuff, but will update the site over the next few days with posts I've been saving up. Have fun and be safe on the water. On land, too.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

All About The Chesapeake Bay in Six Minutes



For a boater in the Washington-Baltimore metro area, nothing beats the pull of "The Bay." The Chesapeake offers fishing, cruising, sailing and those succulent blue crabs. One of our senior members in the Potomac River Power Squadron told me he found to Bay to be superior by far to the Florida coast for cruising.

This video describes the Bay and its conditions. My only beef is that they made the water look a lot clearer than it really is.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Boating and Tennis Love 4U--Water Taxi Service to DC's Pro Tennis Stadium


"As you well know, Washington Kastles season is fast approaching, and D.C.’s pro tennis team (and most recent champions) (who are very aggressive at reaching out to local bloggers) have a new venue this time around.

"Kastles Stadium at The Wharf is in Southwest, and the team is set to announce that there will be limited boat parking at Gangplank Marina.

"This makes The Kastle the first tennis facility in the U.S. with boat-up parking, and the first pro sports venue in D.C. with boat-up parking. And it’s free for season-ticket holders, which might cause a gagging reflex in other local ownership suites."

Read the rest of this story on Dan Steinberg's DC Sports Bog (Washington POST site. May require registration)

Speaking of the POST, a story up today reports the start of a water taxi service from the South West waterfront to Georgetown. The service by American River Taxi is intended for commuters looking for alternatives to driving, biking (in this heat) or the Metro.

American River Taxi offers a service transporting baseball fans from Georgetown to Nationals Park. Commuter service is an expansion that may, or may not, catch on. The fare is $8.00 one-way for the 30 minute trip.

The Potomac Riverboat Company offers a water taxi service from the National Harbor in Prince Georges County to Old Town Alexandria that makes for a cool outing. The one-way trip is 20 minutes and costs $8.00 for adults.

I hope these services catch on. The District of Columbia ceased to be a boating mecca long ago. Yes, there are boaters here, but a boating supplies retailer or boat dealer is not to be found within city limits.

Photo: New members of Potomac River Power Squadron, a unit of United States Power Squadrons(r), after passing the basic boating class in 1963. From the files of Potomac River Power Squadron.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Warning From Topper Shutt: Ocean Temp Is Cooler Than On Thanksgiving


Some of the best boating news over the Memorial Day weekend (Thank you, veterans) has been penned by DC area weathermen dutifully repeating warnings issued by the National Weather Service. WUSA-TV 9 meteorologist Topper Shutt is the latest contributor with his piece in the Sunday, May 29, 2011 edition of The Washington Examiner.

Shutt's "Chilly water" message warning of hypothermia appears in the Weather News You Can Use column. Sadly, WashingtonExaminer.com did not post an active link to the story, so as a public service, I'm posting the entire piece here. This will assure two or three more people, mostly relatives, get this information.

Remember, full credit goes to Channel-9 weatherman Topper Shutt.

"Many people flock to the shore for Memorial Day weekend. If I suggested you go to the beach on Thanksgiving, you would think I was crazy. However, the ocean is actually warmer on Thanksgiving Day than on Memorial Day.

"The water temperature on Thanksgiving Day is typically 64 degrees. On Memorial Day, it's only about 61 degrees.

"The ocean is still recovering from winter and hasn't received the added boost from the Gulf Stream. The atmosphere is vertically mixed, but the ocean is horizontally mixed.

"If you get into the water this weekend, don't stay in long. It is possible to get hypothermia in water that is about 50 to 60 degrees. Hypothermia can set in between one and two hours.

"Although the sun might not feel that hot, late May sun is equivalent to July sun, so remember to apply sunscreen."

Photo credit: Ocean City surf, Anthony Brown, 2011

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Be Careful On The Potomac


ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Natural Resources Police say they plan to patrol aggressively on waterways across the state this holiday weekend.

Natural Resources Police say officers will target boaters driving in a reckless or negligent manner or under the influence of alcohol. And they will also be making sure boaters have required safety equipment.

Authorities also are advising boaters to keep a cautious eye on the upper Potomac River, where recent rains had pushed the river to hazardous levels. NRP says an advisory for the upper Potomac has expired, but any significant additional rainfall could cause hazardous conditions again.

NRP says last year its officers responded to more than 323 boating accidents that led to 13 deaths.
~ Associated Press Story taken from here.

Montgomery County Fire and EMS crews will be handing out hundreds of these fliers in Great Falls Park reminding people that you cannot swim, wade, or drink alcohol there.


Because as enticing as the Potomac is this time of year, it is always dangerous. Crews pulled a 12 year old boy who was swimming near White's Ferry after he became fatigued and couldn't make it on his own.


Mark Gleason, who patrols the C & O Canal on bicycle for the US Park Service, says the Potomac is very deceptive.


In some places, the power of the Potomac is obvious. But in others--a deadly hazard lurks beneath the tranquil surface.


"Most of the accidents people here are when they step in and the water is much faster underneath and it sweeps them away."


~ Read more at MyFoxDC.com here.

All this talk about the swollen waters of the Potomac is a reminder that it's the best time to see the river's Great Falls, the most awesome natural sight in the DC Metro area. The Falls' Maryland shore offers more access points for an up-close, intimate view of the river and the C & O Canal. The view from the Virginia shore is simply spectacular.



The Maryland side is accessible through the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park. Access to the Virginia side is through Great Falls Park. Both are National Park Service facilities.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Don't Go Into The Water



All the news focuses attention to the Mississippi River flood and the unfortunate circumstance of the people there. We have our own problems with the waters around D.C.

Flooding Potomac presents hazards for area boaters according to an online story by WTOP.

Heavy rains in the area has the Potomac River cresting its banks and creating navigational hazards for all boaters. The D.C. Harbor Police advises all boaters to stay off the Potomac through the weekend (20-22 May 2011).

A similar story on www.nbcwashington.com says the worst of the flooding is probably over, but advises boaters to stay off the Potomac this weekend. That story gave high tide (11:15 AM and 11:56 PM at Key Bridge) on Friday, 20 May, as a time for special caution for boaters and anyone along the waterfront.

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning for the Potomac River at Point Of Rocks affecting Frederick (MD) and Loudoun (VA) Counties and at Little Falls affecting Montgomery (MD) and Fairfax (VA) Counties. The warning is in effect until this evening. The warning was issued at 4:24 PM today.

A warning means that flooding is actually occurring. Take extreme caution when driving through flood areas. A vehicle can be swept away in as little as two feet of flowing water. Cars are not boats!

If you have first-hand knowledge of conditions along our waterways, leave a comment.

This story originally posted to the private Potomac River Power Squadron group page on SailAngle.com.

Photo Credit: natasialester 16 found on Photobucket.com

Friday, May 6, 2011

Eye in the Sky: What NASA sees when it looks at the Chesapeake Bay




Here is a link to a National Aeronautical and Space Administration video describing how the agency monitors water quality in the Bay. Requires RealPlayer.


Hat tip to Outdoors Girl Candus Thomson of the The Baltimore SUN for pointing me there (though she didn't make it easy).

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Did you hear the one about the fish just jumped into the boat?





Just like those old fish stories, these carp just jumped into the boat. Carp do that when startled. You would think they'd be used to motor boats on a well travelled river like the Wabash.

Oh yeah. There's a safety message here. Note that these boaters are wearing life vests. Good idea on a small boat. Especially when a 20-pound flying fish can knock you out.

See the Coast Guard's web page on life vest selection, care and use here.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Wave Running



Riding out the waves can be a fun part of boating...if you know what you are doing.

This skipper took the first wave bow-on. That's good, but he did not, or could not, maintain his position, so the second wave hit him abeam. That's not good. The skipper rights the boat to face the bow to the third wave. That's good, but it's a bigger wave. like Gilligan, the tiny ship--and the passenger--was tossed.

Even on recreational boats, if the helmsman is also the owner and, therefore, captain, he is responsible for passenger safety and for every action of the crew. If I were captain of this vessel, I would not maintain station in a boat that small with oncoming waves that big. And everyone on board, including me, would be wearing life vests.

Want to know more about boating skills? Talk to your local Power Squadron about Seamanship.