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Members Update

Club News

* CG - Marine 911

Scott Gundaker, who taught boating safety for the US Power Squadron for more than five years, taught me an interesting fact.  If you dial *CG, that is *26, you get the US Coast Guard for emergency response.  I need to emphasize that this is for emergency use only.  Thank you, Scott, for the great tip.

Featured Article

No featured article this month.  We try to have a feature each month of topics of interest to our members.  If you have a suggestion or would like to write an article, please let me know.

Summer Storm Season

Many of us have experienced severe thunderstorms while underway or at anchor.  I happened to get two, slightly different stories, from a couple who will remain nameless and, hopefully, married.  Here is his version.  “(My wife) and I had an emergency wind-storm-anchoring drill Saturday night.   We were below watching a DVD movie and suddenly found our boat blowing sideways up the (river) towards the bridge in the dark (lit by random lightning flashes).  Started the engines and we were able to re-anchor before the heavy rain started.”   Her story is a little more vivid.  “(My husband’s) description of our "storm adventure" was fairly mild in my opinion.  I do believe it was the closest I have ever come to real panic.  I hate storms that come in like that after sunset because you can't see them coming, and I am mostly night blind.  Anyway, it gave me another major experience at the helm - and I was the one with the presence of mind to put a life jacket on (hubby) before he headed back to the bow.  "All is well that ends well", or is it "That's Boating!"??”

Moving a Boat

One of our members recently moved from the Knoxville Tennessee area to New Castle Delaware.  The Tennessee River is beautiful, but far different from boating in a tidal area.  Art and Sherri decided not to take their boat down the Tennessee River to the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway, around Florida, and up the ICW to Delaware.  They decided to have their boat disassembled, trucked to Maryland, reassembled, and moved to its new home on the Chesapeake Bay.  Then they learned about tying up your boat with tidal changes and exposed bolts in the slip.  After a couple of weeks, they went back home to move their house. Art’s last note about the move sort of summed it up.  “We’re in Delaware on Wednesday.  The Beverly hillbillies have nothing on us, 50 fish, parrot,14 plants,  dog and mother in law will be aboard. Did I mention I have to bring the booze since movers won't take it? Good for me.”

Saturday Night Out

We spent the second monthly Saturday Night Out at the Wild Duck Café on Frog Mortar Creek east of Baltimore.  The crowd was smaller, but still fun.  All of the young women in swimsuits and shorts were pretty distracting.  Good food, good company. 

In June, we go to the Wellwood Inn in Charlestown, a great place for crabs.  They also serve nice people.  On July 10, we’ll go to Rock Hall to see McDaniels’ new sales center.  August 14, The Granary on the Sassafras River. 

Drop me an email at webdude@carverownersclub.com if you would like to attend. 

Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous

There are still a few slips available for the Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous for boats under 48 feet (all the larger dock spaces are gone.  Call Patsy or me at 800-835-1996 if you would like to attend.  Also, please note that you may not participate in ANY activities without registration.  The Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous will be held at Solomon’s Yachting Center in Solomons Maryland on June 11, 12, and 13.

Rendezvous Update

We had an unusual experience with the Florida West Coast Rendezvous that causes us to more clearly state our policy concerning boats for sale attending Rendezvous.  Boats attending may not be represented by a broker or display for sale signs that are visible outside the boat, unless your boat is being shown by a sponsor.  If your boat is for sale, you are welcomed to attend and show your boat.  Brokers or other agents cannot attend on your behalf without paying an additional sponsorship fee and receiving the Club’s prior permission.  Please call me if you have any questions about this.

Lake Ontario Rendezvous, Port Dalhousie Pier Marina, Port Dalhousie, Ontario

July 30, 31 and August 1, 2 2004

You may now make your reservations for the Lake Ontario Rendezvous.  This is our first Canadian Rendezvous.  Ted and Jan Cooper have been great in getting this organized.  The cost is CA$120 (US$85) per person.  The slip fee is CA$1.50 per foot per night (US$1.05) and includes electric and water.  Please note that the registration fee is charged in US dollars.  This is a four day Rendezvous over the Canadian Civic Holiday weekend.  Our toll-free number (800-835-1996) now works in Canada.  Please call if you have any questions. We are preparing a package of forms US members may need to cruise into Canadian waters.

Tidewater Rendezvous, Tidewater Marina, Portsmouth Virginia

August 27, 28 and 29

You may also make your reservations for the Tidewater Rendezvous to be held in Portsmouth at ICW mile marker zero.  If you have ever thought about traveling the ICW south, this is a great way to get information at the beginning of the trip down the ditch.  We have very limited reservations for this Rendezvous, so please reserve now.

New York City Rendezvous

We are currently considering making this a four-day event, so we can spend one day in Manhattan by taking the ferry from the marina.  We are waiting on dates from the dealer in the area.

More Changes

Ray and Marsha Starsman are stepping down as Regional Vice Presidents for Florida’s west coast.  They did a great job organizing the Florida West Coast Rendezvous and will be sorely missed.  We wish them the best and hope to see them again soon.  Many thanks.

Hope to see you soon.

Safe boating,

Dave Bishop, webdude@carverownersclub.com