News from Our Coasts (Week of 4/13/2020)
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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: US Harbors is now posting a weekly news summary of announcements and stories received from our coastal community. This is the first of our weekly posts, and includes timely information on what people who boat and fish should/should not do during the COVID-19 outbreak as well as status and project updates from our coastal communities and businesses. The deadline for submission is Fridays, 9AM ET. Items received after that time will be put in the next week’s summary.
NEWS & UPDATES :: Week of April 13, 2020
- Updates on Boating and Fishing During COVID-19
- News & Virtual Events from Our Partners
- Updates from Our Coastal Business Community
- Photos of the Week
Updates on Boating and Fishing During COVID-19
- See updates from your state’s Fish & Wildlife Department: https://www.usharbors.com/2020/04/links-to-coastal-state-offices-and-local-fish-wildlife-depts/
- An update from Harpswell, ME — https://www.usharbors.com/2020/04/an-update-from-the-harpswell-harbormaster/
- Old Saybrook, CT – Harbormaster Scott Mitchell has delayed installing moorings in North Cove until mid-May.
- Huntington, NY – Senior Harbormaster Fred Uvena says: Good morning hope all our brothers and sisters working are doing well. Our Harbormasters office has been very pro-active on following our NYS guidance on essential and non-essential businesses. All our ramps and marinas are closed due to Covid-19. No work is allowed in boat yards on personnel pleasure crafts. No launching of vessels and no tender service. Our concerns were for all gangways and gates which are metal and can carry virus for up to several days. Pump-out stations are limited in each harbor. Our office is inundated with complaints on why we cannot boat. Our answer is to protect all our first responders and essential workers who take that leap of faith every time they leave their loved ones and homes. Stay well and stay safe.
- Westbrook and Old Lyme, CT — Harbormaster Harry Plaut says: “The virus has slowed, but not completely stopped business. Our marine towns depend on the Marinas, beaches, and tourists for their economy. I do find that mooring permits are starting to come in as well as the purchase of new and used moorings,The phone is ringing and people are anxious to get on the water.
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Key West Bight Marina – We hope all is well with you as it is with us here at Key West Bight Marina. Key West is under Emergency shutdown and quarantine so the All the Marinas are close. We are taking advantage of this closure to complete some major projects like renovating all of our facilities, adding more security cameras, dock and piling work with minimal impact to our existing tenants. The City is also taking the time to repave streets, sidewalks and upgrade utilities. Stay safe and vigilant, Prince (Marina Supervisor)
News & Events from Our Partners
America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association
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Dreaming of Being on the Water? Dream of The Great Loop! Looking for something to keep your boating spark alive while sheltering-in-place? We can help! America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association is a network of thousands of boaters with an interest in the Great Loop route! We help move the journey from a “bucket list” item to a reality for hundreds of boaters each year. There is so much great information on our website ~ settle into a comfortable chair and explore the AGLCA website with us while you are safe at home! Some of the wonderful resources you will find on our website include: current and back issues of our Great Loop Link digital newsletter, Route Segments that include sample itineraries, and other documents, like boating safety checklists, border crossing references, and important checklists and procedures. You’ll find these areas of the website and so much more to help keep your boating dreams alive! To join AGLCA, please visit www.greatloop.org and use coupon code US20 to receive $20 off your first year of membership. We encourage you to join us or contact us with any questions! Please feel free to reach out to Julie Shea at [email protected]. We are happy to help! |
Sabre and Back Cove
We have small teams in place in both yards. These teams are carefully observing all of the recommendations of the CDC as to social spacing, wearing of face masks and frequent hand washing. All associates temperatures are taken upon entering the facilities each day.
These small teams are working to complete boats which were very close to launch at the time of the shut down. We have managed to ship a few boats from each yard over the past few weeks.
Our shop management teams are working on restart schedules which will remain flexible and measured and safe for all of our staff and for their families.
Our clients have been very patient and understanding about the delays in our deliveries.
Newport International Boat Show
 Show Dates & Hours: Thursday, Friday & Saturday, September 17th, 18th, and 19th: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, September 20th: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance discount tickets will go on sale in June. For more information, visit: www.newportboatshow.com. |
In anticipation of the eventual easing of social distancing restrictions and the country’s inevitable return to work, Newport Exhibition Group announced today that the Newport International Boat Show will take place September 17th through 20th, 2020 at the Newport Yachting Center in downtown Newport, Rhode Island.
“We realize this global pandemic is causing uncertainty for businesses and individuals, but we are working under the premise that the danger of the virus will have passed,” said Nancy Piffard, Show Director of Newport Exhibition Group. “We will continue to follow the guidelines of the CDC and government officials on a day-by-day basis. Should the timing of our event potentially compromise the health and safety of our exhibitors, sponsors, vendors and the boating community, we will make an announcement accordingly. It is our hope that public confidence will have been restored and that the Newport International Boat Show will spark much needed business for the marine industry and the local economy.” |
Suzuki Marine
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.’s Marine Division was recently honored with a 2019 Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Award presented by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). The prestigious Marine Industry CSI Award — which Suzuki has received every year since it began working with CSI in 2006 — is bestowed annually upon boat and engine manufacturers who actively measure customer satisfaction and pursue continuous improvement to better serve their customers. Award recipients are selected for having achieved a 90-percent or higher customer satisfaction rating over the program year (2019), based on information provided by actual customers purchasing a new boat or engine during this period. Read the full announcement: Suzuki SZCSI Award
Suzuki Marine is also thrilled to announce that David Greenwood has been named the GM of the new Suzuki Marine Tech Center in Florida.
Updates From Our Coastal Business Community
| Chesapeake Light Craft got its start creating easy-to-build boats for beginner boatbuilders. That continues to be CLC’s primary mission. Now, builders with a bit more skill and experience have some other options, too, from CLC’s “ProKits” line.One example is the Outrigger Junior, a 15-foot CLC design that’s been clocked at 15 knots. After many prototypes and years of hard sailing, the design has been polished and completed, but full release awaits the usual detailed CLC assembly manual. CLC DOES have a beautiful, detailed set of plans for the boat, and the ability to cut kits. Many builders told CLC that plans alone were sufficient. Most boat plans DON’T come with a shop manual, after all!
The Outrigger Junior is one of Chesapeake Light Craft’s “ProKit” offerings, meaning it’s intended for builders who are comfortable working from plans rather than one of CLC’s typically elaborate step-by-step manuals. The parts-count for this complex design is higher than most of CLC’s kits, but construction is straightforward stitch-and-glue without any tricky steps. The base kit is $3599; sailing components are additional. Read more at www.clcboats.com/outriggerjr. For more information on other boat models in CLC’s ProKit lineup, see www.clcboats.com/prokits. |
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New England Burials at Sea – Captain Brad White, founder of New England Burials at Sea LLC (NEBAS) headquartered in Marshfield, MA announced that the company has designed a no charge upgrade program for the increased demand of COVID-19 related family scattering requests in 2020. White shared that during this devastating public health crisis his company is upgrading many 1-6 passenger attended by family events from the standard 30’-50’ vessels to larger 65’ – 110’ vessels at no additional charge, enabling for safe at sea 6’+ social distancing for up to 10 passengers aboard at the same time while following published CDC safety requirements.
| SailMaine is now 5 weeks into our spring high school sailing season, and while we would all love to be out on the water, the staff has put in a ton of effort to put together an educational and productive online program. We have been compiling live video sessions from some really talented and experienced members of the sailing community, including fitness trainers and professional sailors like Dave Perry and Jamie Gale. Most importantly, though, our high school coaches have been working hard to maintain a sense of community to keep our sailors connected during these uncertain and isolating times.
SailMaine is a non-profit community sailing center located on the Portland waterfront. Our mission is to provide affordable access to the water through community sailing and educational programming. |
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Rosborough Boats USA is re-introducing the boat that started it all, the RF-246 Custom Wheelhouse.
This boat and layout was a workhorse of the Canadian Government and Department of Fisheries seeing lots of action in the Canadian Maritimes.
The Custom Wheelhouse boasts a robust hull and functional layout making it a great choice for fishing, diving, island support or minimalist cruising.
| East Passage Boatwrights are excited to introduce you to the East Passage 24. Drawing on the deep roots of the fishing and pleasure vessels that have called the New England coast home for over a hundred years, the EP24 will provide you with an unparalleled on-the-water experience in both comfort and style.
Powered by a Yanmar 150HP turbo diesel, the EP24 will comfortably cruise at 15kts while topping out at 18kts and the traditional lobster boat proportions will deliver a sweet and stable ride. With an 8’ beam, 2’6” draft and displacement of 4400lbs, the EP24 is also perfectly suited for trailering. Classically inspired and traditionally built, the EP24 represents a new generation in a long line of heritage boats that are both functional and beautiful. For more information, please email us at info@epbws or call the shop, 401-253-5535. |
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Aero Marine Tax Pros – Tom Alston has a series on Youtube sharing his tips for getting through the lockdown.
| Suntex Marinas Invites You to York River Yacht Haven Marina
Suntex Marinas prides itself on providing an affordable boating experience for everyone and our coastal marinas reflect this believe through their professional service and excellent offerings. Transient boaters struggling to find open marinas during the pandemic are invited to dock at York River Yacht Haven Marina, a full-service Suntex marina in Gloucester Point, Virginia. York River’s service yard offers engine repair and repowering, outboard repair, refrigeration and A/C service, Fiberglass and Blister repair, and routine maintenance. York River has a total of 295 covered and open slips available to accommodate transient boats up to 160 feet. Amenities include freshwater pool, on-site restaurant, laundry facilities, marine gasoline. diesel fuels and more! During this difficult time, York River’s Marina Office, Ship Store, and Service Center remain open but will only be available via email at [email protected] and phone at (804) 642-2156 and are is still accepting transients. We encourage all to abide by shelter in place orders and only venture out if necessary. |
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AXOPAR recently posted a video of the “5 Reasons Why Axopar Cabins = Stress Free Docking”. We could all use a little less stress right now!
Ben Knowles describes the 5 design features that makes docking an Axopar so easy and fun. Once done pointing out the design features, he takes you off the dock to show you first hand how those designs are key to make a stress free docking experience.
| NAVICO – Parent company to the Lowrance®, Simrad®, B&G® and C-MAP® brands announced today it has signed a 5-year agreement with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to provide C-MAP cartography under the USCG’s Small Boat Product Line (SBPL). Navico was selected for a competitive award by the USCG for products that met all of their technical needs. Navico prides itself on its superior consumer support, accuracy of data and overall level of service. Navico’s C-MAP will deliver cartography cards to 300 different stations across America, twice a year. |  |
Oysterponds Historial Society – Presents the “Alone Together Virtual Lecture Series” schedule for the next week:
| S&S Marine – This week’s ‘Boat of The Week’ is a ‘Classic’ 1965 Boston Whaler Montauk w/ a 2007 Mercury Optimax Outboard with very low hours – only 320. This particular Whaler runs great, has a new fuel system, GPS, canvas, fresh bottom paint and is ready to go! Here’s your chance to own a classic whaler and we’ll ensure a priority launch so you can be boating almost immediately. |
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Photos of the Week
NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR: Do you have a beautiful or fun photo of your harbor, what you’ve been doing for social distancing, or a project you’re working on? Send it to us!
