Royal Clipper Cruis

Hi gang... Checking in from Florida after returning from a terrific cruise on the clipper ship "Royal Clipper". I cannot say enough good things about this cruise. The weather was great, the people friendly, and the drinks yummy!

This gets the blood warmed up for the sailing season to start on Lake Ontario. We have some great cruising ideas this year and would like to hear from others with their cruising ideas.

Cheers... Ken & Ruth Palmer

Anchoring out near Sackets Harbor

I check the Hunter Owners Web daily. The latest question is quoted below.

"We are just moving our boat to Lake Ontario for the first time & will be keeping her at Sacket Harbor. Any suggestions of good places to anchor out over long weekends? Any suggestions are welcome of good holding areas with protected harbors in case of weather. Thanks, Janice

Here is a link to that post if you would like to respond. CLICK HERE

Sailing is on my mind

There may be snow on the ground, but my mind has been on sailing lately. I guess it started earlier this week when I attended a Hospice Regatta meeting. I am on the steering committee this year, so will be spending quite a bit of time helping out.

Revenues for the 2007 Regatta topped $100,000 for the first time, and net proceeds exceeded $90,000. Topping that will take extra effort from our committee as well as from the participants in the regatta. There will be a special "Cruising" fund raiser on August 15th, followed by a clambake dinner afterwards. The regatta and picnic will be August 16th, and the Rochester Race on August 17th. Last year's host was the Rochester Yacht Club with the Genesee Yacht Club hosting this year.

I am told that the Rochester Hospice is one of five on Lake Ontario. Hospice has touched many of our lives, and what a better way to help pay them back for the wonderful work they do. As you may know, the Hospice racers solicit sponsors for their boats. I hope that the folks that read my blog can help out this year by donating towards this very worthy cause.

I have received my docking contract from Shumway Marine, so it is only a couple months before launch. The date hasn't been set yet, but I am sure there is plenty of prep to do as usual. I am also active in the GYC Cruising Fleet and the Lake Ontario Hunter Sailing Association. GYC is planning a two week cruise the middle two weeks of July. Ruth, me, and Ernie the dog, will also be attending the LOHSA annual Hunter Rendezvous. This year the event is moving from the marina in Port Credit, to the Port Credit Yacht Club. There are always many that attend this annual event, and perhaps we have outgrown the Credit Village Marina. I hope that PCYC can try to keep the group together. That is the best part of a rendezvous; meeting other Hunter owners and swapping ideas and sailing stories.

One more thought before closing. This blog is an invitation for my readers to join in. Since it is a blog, and not a forum, you cannot initiate your own thread. However, if you submit a comment to any of my blogs, I can always start a new thread under a new subject. Please feel free to take the step and write a comment or two. Look for the "Comments" link below each of the blogs.

All of these rules are driving me nuts!

It's that time of the year again. Time to research what is required for pleasure boats to cross Lake Ontario when entering the U.S.

You will not need a passport until June, 2009.

There have been many news stories about the new passport rule for air travelers, and the new identification rules for boaters. No doubt, it is official that if you enter the United States by air, you will need a passport. There are a few exceptions that you can read about on the Department of Homeland Security website.

Traveling to the U.S. by boat is another matter. U.S. citizens ages 19 and older must present documentation that proves both identity and citizenship. Identification documents must include a photo, name and date of birth.

Children ages 18 and under will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

You can read about what documents are needed by visiting the CBP.gov website.

CBP has designated specific reporting locations within the Field Offices that are staffed during boating season for pleasure boats to report their arrival and be inspected by CBP. The master of the boat must report to CBP telephonically and be directed to the nearest Port of Entry to satisfy the face-to-face requirement, or report to the nearest designated reporting location along with the boat’s passengers for inspection.

There are three exceptions to the face-to-face inspection at a designated reporting location for Lake Ontario, NEXUS, Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68), and Outlying Area Reporting Stations (OARS).

The NEXUS Marine program is a joint Canada-U.S. initiative that offers facilitated customs and immigration clearance for recreational low-risk boaters entering either country through registration into the program. NEXUS is valid for 5 years and satisfies the boat operator’s legal requirement to report to a port-of-entry for face-to-face inspection in accordance with 8 CFR 235.1, but boaters must still phone in their arrival to satisfy 19 USC 1433.

The Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68) applicants for admission into the United States by small pleasure boats are inspected and issued an I-68 permit for the entire boating season. The I-68 permit allows boaters to enter the United States from Canada for recreational purposes with only the need to report to CBP by telephoning in their arrival.

Outlying Area Reporting System (OARS) is another norther border method for boaters to report entry to satisfy 19USC and 8CFR requirements into the United States from Canada. The OARS program uses videophones, typically located at public marinas, which boaters may use to report to CBP.

Don't forget the infamous decal. You need to purchase a decal if you operate a private vessel that is 30 feet or more in length that enters the United States.

Costs of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) User Fees is $27.50 (U.S.) per calendar year for a vessel 30 feet or more in length. You can read all about this requirement by clicking here.

So, are you confused yet? It's not as bad as it may sound. I have heard a few horror stories when crossing, but by far most reports are possitive.

Read the Canadian side of the story. Click here.

Motor mount update

I braved the 12 degree weather this morning and headed out to the boat. I took my camera with me to document the motor mounts (or isolators) and a notebook to write down dimensions. The two shown here are on the port side and easy to get to. The mounts on the starboard side are difficult to get to.

After driving home, I decided to call Hunter Marine for parts information and installation suggestions. They don't carry motor mounts at Hunter and suggested I call their supplier, Mastry Engine Center. They are not retail, and suggested I call Mack Boring. They were very helpful, giving me the correct Yanmar part number and the local suppliers. Joe even e-mailed me the spec sheet on the correct mount (they call it a shock absorber).

Hunter told me that the engine box was installed after the deck was placed, and that I should be able to take apart some of the wood panels for easier access.

I don't know... it still looks like a daunting job. I will have to think a bit more before tackling this project myself.

Winter work on your boat?

I am told that winter is the best time to work on those boat projects that you thought about last year. Some folks own a sailboat and don't cruise or race; they love to think up new projects and spend the weekends working on their boats. I much rather sail in the summer.

My winter project is one that I don't feel that I can do myself. The engine needs new motor mounts and an alignment. I have hired the local Yanmar tech to do the work sometimes this winter. I can't imagine working on a boat in January or February. Too cold!

I got to thinking this morning as I read the newspaper stock report. I imagine the cost of having a tech replace my motor mounts would be about $450 for the four new mounts, and $700 to $1000 labor for installation and aligning the engine.

How hard can it be? All that I need to do is uncouple the shaft from the transmission and jack up the engine. After blocking the engine, remove the old mounts and install the new ones; lower the engine and align the coupling.

To verify my thoughts, I Googled key words and found the following website. Sleeping With Oars.

I guess it doesn't sound too difficult. Let's see if I can really save that labor cost.

Has anybody out the done before?

So... Do you have a winter project? Please click the "comment" link below and tell us all about it.

How has the low lake level affected you?

The Great Lakes water levels have been hitting record lows. Some boaters had to haul their boats early for the winter, and others just got stuck in the mud. My yacht club is now having to dredge every two years because of the high amount of silt and the water levels being low.

Dredging isn't cheap. It costs thousands of dollars just getting the equipment to your docks. You have to have all of your paperwork in order, then decide how deep to dig and how long will it last. The final bill can be quite high if you dig down two or three feet.

Boating is becoming a truly expensive hobby. New boats are very expensive, fuel keeps going up, and your yacht club or marina has to dredge more often. Your boat dock now cost much more if you plan on dredging again in a couple years.

Join in this discussion with your views.