News from Our Coasts: Week of 6/1/2020

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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: To help our coastal community weather the pandemic, US Harbors is posting weekly news summaries of updates and announcements received from our coastal community, including timely information on the status of harbors and marinas around the country. The deadline for submission is Thursday, 11PM ET. Items received after that time will be put in the next week’s summary.

NEWS & UPDATES THIS WEEK

Updates on the 2020 Hurricane Season

Updates on Boating and Fishing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • National Fishing and Boating Week kicks off June 6th thru June 14th. Many states including Florida, New Jersey and Massachusetts are offering license free fishing this weekend. Please be sure to check your state’s local guidelines on COVID-19 and social distancing before hitting the water.
  • NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is seeking applicants for six primary and five alternate seats on its advisory council. To receive an application or for further information, please contact Elizabeth Stokes via email at [email protected]; by phone at 781-546-6004; or by mail at 175 Edward Foster Road, Scituate, MA 02066. Applications can also be downloaded from the sanctuary’s website at https://stellwagen.noaa.gov/.
  • Dartmouth, MA – The New Bedford Yacht Club in Padanaram Harbor voted last week to refuse transient accommodations at moorings and docks through at least 6/15/2020 due to concerns for launch crowding, limited shoreside amenities, lack of food service and general Covid-19 issues.  This eliminates most of the resources that would be available for visiting mariners.
    The Municipal Maritime Center is also unable to offer public shower facilities under the Phase 1 restrictions currently in place in MA.  The closure of non-essential businesses for most of the spring preparation season has left few moorings available for transient use anywhere in Padanaram at this time. We look forward to what Phase 2 might allow next week. Steve Melo, Harbormaster
  • Oakland Bay Marina and Shelton Yacht Club of Shelton, WA – Under normal conditions (before COVID 19) Shelton has three major events in a calendar year. Shelton, known as Christmas Town USA, celebrates its rich heritage of Christmas trees and logging with Forest Festival, the first weekend in June, and the Christmas Parade, the first weekend of December. Christmas trees and logging are major industries in Mason County, but so is shellfish farming. Oysterfest, held the first weekend of October draws thousands to the community for the Westcoast Oyster Shucking Championship, along with 100 venders of food and beverages. Unfortunately, Forest Festival and Oysterfest have been cancelled for 2020 because of COVID 19, but plan to be back in 2021.Oakland Bay Marina, owned and operated by the Shelton Yacht Club since 2019, is located at the elbow of Hammersley Inlet. The marina offers 114 ft. of transient moorage, with power (30 amp), water and pumpout. Picnic tables and benches are located on the pier for public use. The yacht club offers reciprocal moorage to affiliated club members.The town of Shelton is a 15 minute walk away, with a Visitor Information Center housed in a train caboose on Railroad Avenue. WIFI is available at the marina and at downtown coffee shops and stores, with Safeway supermarket close by for provisioning.
  • Portland, ME – Reminder, with high tides you never know what might be floating around out there!
    Today Deputy Harbor Masters of Portland Maine Beth MORRISSEY and Charlie BAIRD towed out this Boat Killer before it had the chance to ruin someone’s boating season!

  • Semiahmoo Marina of Blaine, WA is up and running. We are accepting Transient moorage at this time. Our café is also open for to go food/ coffees and the store has your boating cleaning supplies stocked.

  • St. Paul, AK – Boating traffic in Saint Paul Island Harbor is very minimal. We have only local subsistence fishermen in and out of the Harbor. The local Halibut fishery has been canceled due to COVID-19, which puts locals boats in the water to a minimum. There will be a couple vessels launching this season to fish for Halibut IFQ quote, and fly product out on a cargo plane or make the long trip south to deliver along the chain. Victor Clarey, Harbormaster
  • Warren, RI – Rhode Island has entered a Phase II reopening from Covid-19 as of June 1st. Out of state boaters can once again travel to Rhode Island waterways without having to quarantine. Warren is once again welcoming transient boaters to our town. Ed Cabral, Harbormaster

News & Events from Our Partners

RIBCRAFT

Image Courtesy of RIBCRAFT USA.

Features of the RIBCRAFT 5.85 include:

  • Forward positioned center console with windscreen
  • Operator’s leaning post
  • T-top with mounted LED flood lighting and blue strobe light
  • Antenna arch with integrated dive ladder
  • Keel guard
  • Dark grey 1670dtx Hypalon tube with three pairs of boarding wear patches and heavy duty rubstrake
  • Electronics package complete with Garmin GPS and VHF

Located in Plymouth County on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, the Kingston Harbormaster recently took delivery of a new RIBCRAFT 5.85. The Department is responsible for search and rescue operations, routine patrols, and mooring management on the Jones River and Kingston Bay. Adding to their fleet of boats, the 19’ RIB greatly expands the Harbormasters response capabilities while providing a safe and reliable vessel for their officers during harbor patrols.

RIBCRAFT worked with the department to build a boat that meets their diverse operational requirements. To meet their needs, the boat features a forward positioned center console with windscreen, an aluminum T-top and antenna arch with integrated folding dive ladder. At 19’, this RIB offers ample deck space for divers and personnel while providing a comfortable platform for long patrols. Powered by a 115HP Evinrude E-TEC outboard, this 5.85 will reach speeds in excess of 40mph.

Originally designed as a surf rescue craft, the RIBCRAFT 5.85 is small enough to maneuver in shallow waters and can be easily launched and operated, yet large enough to carry ample crew and gear and handle large seas. This 19’ model is a favorite among departments for its versatility, durability, safety, and performance.

Extremely durable, stable, and reliable, RIBCRAFT RIBs with their heavy duty inflatable tube and deep V hull are an excellent platform for law enforcement, search and rescue, and marine interdiction.

About RIBCRAFT

RIBCRAFT designs and builds safe, durable, performance oriented rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) that fulfill the most demanding military, professional and recreational applications.  A leading manufacturer of professional grade RIBs and inflatables for safety professionals, military agencies, yacht clubs, and recreational boaters throughout the world, RIBCRAFT offers vessels starting at 15’, capable of fulfilling most any mission.  www.ribcraftusa.com


Updates From Our Coastal Business Community​

BoatBuyersSecretWeapon.com – New Boating Podcast Launches to Help New & Used Boat, Pontoon & Center Console Shoppers with Expert & Unbiased Advice

A new podcast has just launched on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify and other platforms to support the million plus pleasure boat buyers in the US and Canada each year.

The podcast launched with over a half dozen informational episodes for first time boat buyers, used boat buyers, pontoon and tri-toon boat buyers and those considering trading their current boat.  Additional episodes will be released bi-monthly.

The podcast is an extension of the popular Boat Buyer’s Secret Weapon website & YouTube Channel.  With topics ranging from first time boat buyer advice, how to inspect a used pontoon or center console to how to get the best boat loan or cheapest boat insurance with excellent coverage, there is something for anyone searching for a new or used boat for sale.

New Podcast Invites Those Considering Buying a Boat to Join the Conversation by Becoming a Guest on the Podcast.

The host of Boat Buyer’s Secret Weapon Podcast, Capt. Matt started boating as a young kid and has been an insider in the boating industry.  His experience in hundreds of boat transactions, working with dealers, brokers, OEM’s, lenders, insurance companies across the world gives a unique perspective to offer his guests. Those interested in being a guest to receive first hand advice are asked to visit www.BoatBuyersSecretWeapon.com/Guest to sign-up to be considered to guest on the podcast.

About the Boat Buyer’s Secret Weapon and Captain Matt: Captain Matt has been a boater and insider in the boating industry for over four decades.  He decided to share his unbiased information to help the average boat buyer avoid the mistakes many make because he knows the impact buying the right boat at a great price can have on a family.

www.BoatBuyersSecretWeapon.com/Podcast

FishTalk Magazine – Join Lenny Rudow of FishTalk Magazine for Live with Lenny, on Facebook at 5:00 p.m. Thursdays, to hear the latest news and reports of Chesapeake Bay fishing. Follow them on Facebook for great fishing content and Live with Lenny reminders!
Sea-Legs.org – I THINK WE ARE COMPATIBLE!

Back in the day, just as World War II was winding down, my Daddy got himself a Hagerty 110 (sailboat) which he and the rest of us spent many long hours preparing for the water each Spring.

I was about 9 years-old so his frequent complaint: “A boat is a jealous mistress” had meanings beyond my grasp, but I gathered that he was grumbling about the constant attention his wooden boat demanded.

My sister and I raced dinghies at our local yacht club. They were not such a burden. From summer to summer I sailed faster, got berths on larger boats, and learned how to see the wind.

Over the trajectory of my sailing life I witnessed the advent of fiberglass boats, planing hulls, boom-vangs, and even sail tell-tales (which, for some reason, no one in our circles had thought of at the time).

I have always been tall for my age, and heavy. This advantage stood me in good stead growing up, but it became a liability when I sailed in college. Luckily, for me there were fleets such as Tech Dinghies at some regattas in those days and larger planing-hull sloops (such as Ravens) were sailed in others. So I stayed competitive and still won, occasionally, if conditions were right. But my weight slowed me down at other times.

I qualified for the 1960 Olympic semi-final eliminations in Finns (where heavy is fast), but that was the height of my career as a dinghy sailor.

20 years later I picked up a part time position as sailing coach. College students by then were sailing Flying Juniors, Larks and 420’s—all boats that are highly weight-sensitive. I polished up my rusty skills by campaigning a Laser, but I’m really too heavy for those, too, and could only do well under windy conditions.

I remember my old college team captain, who once said: “Find a boat with a very large mainsail. You’d do well in such a boat.”

Now that I’m retired from coaching and in my 80’s I’ve found the boat he was talking about. It’s a Daysailer —my new “mistress”—and she’s not jealous at all!

My crew is Judy, my life’s companion, who happily becomes the third member of this manage-a-trois.

We all get along well and are learning to be competitive– even in light conditions. My extra pounds aren’t such a drag now, after all.

When it pipes up, we keep the boat flat and Judy fine tunes our jib with expert sensitivity. I ease that giant main upwind, when necessary, to keep the boat under us and to avoid weather helm. We motor through strong puffs that overpower more diminutive competitors.

I need to get more agile in the boat—that’s a boat handling challenge, but a worthy one to work on.

And, thanks to her great hull design, our “mistress” pops up on a plane eagerly when off the wind.

That thrill never grows old!

RICHARD LATHROP, CASUAL WATER
In 1985, Team One Newport opened its doors in Newport, RI with the goal to be the best performance sailing gear clothing retailer in the world. Over the past 35 years, they have been privileged to represent top manufacturers such as Musto, Gill, Patagonia, Zhik, Helly Hansen and Henri-Lloyd, and their knowledge and experience within the industry is so respected that Team One Newport also work with the manufacturers’ design teams to assist in gear development.

The company began its journey as a mail order catalog company with a brick and mortar store located in downtown Newport. Thirty-five years later, Team One Newport has expanded to two retail locations on Thames Street (Patagonia On Thames Street and Team One Newport), an online store, and embellishment facility (embroidery, dye sublimation and direct to garment printing capabilities) in Middletown, RI.  In 2012, Team One Newport designed and produced its own successful selling Scrambler brand of shorts, softshell vest, and softshell jackets.

Co-founder and owner Martha Parker said “We are so grateful to all of our wonderful customers and dedicated employees that have worked with us over the past 35 years. Their loyalty and support are truly appreciated, especially in the last few months. It’s been a challenging year so far – but we are excited to see what the future has in store for us. Looking forward, we are proud today to unveil our new logo and our new Team One Newport product line! Our stores have both been remodeled and we are constantly working on our website to make it more interesting and user friendly.”

In recent years, Team One Newport has also become one of the top merchandising companies for major regattas. They help develop product lines and work with regatta organizers for Helly Hansen National Offshore One Design regattas, Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, Newport to Bermuda Race, Marblehead to Halifax Race, Marion Bermuda Race, Bacardi Cup, Vineyard Race and more. They have also started a new online Club Store division for boat manufacturer and yacht club customers to purchase gear embellished with their club burgees and logos.

Over the years, Team One Newport has employed many individuals who have gone on to become great advocates the for the marine industry.  Taking the lessons of the past, applying them to today’s every changing market, Team One Newport and its dedicated staff looks forward to at least 35 more years of serving the sailing community!

TEAM ONE NEWPORT CELEBRATES 35 YEARS

 

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!

All images this week Feature our Best Harbor 2020 Winner Depoe Bay, Oregon!

 

 

Depoe Bay, Oregon Image Courtesy of Discover Depoe Bay