CARVER OWNERS CLUB
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December 2005
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Stories

Barbara and Walter Davis were headed for Halifax Marina in Daytona Beach around Thanksgiving, planning to arrive around December 1.  They were staying on the Dog River in Mobile Bay.  Barb mentioned that they bounced off the bottom all the way into the marina with heavy winds and very low tides.

Barb also mentioned the number of boats making the Great Loop tour - around 300 boats or so.  She told me about a rendezvous that nearly had 200 boats.  She went on to say that it had been a great trip - one that should be made. 

They've taken "thousands" of pictures.  I asked her to email me a few and she said that it had been too hard to find marinas with high-speed Internet connections to make it worthwhile.

Over Thanksgiving we went "OUT" for dinner. We heated food at home and carried it in a "cooler" to the boat. (73 Carver Monterey with a fly bridge and canvas wagon top) My wife and myself with 4 other friends set off in the grey low 40's afternoon and cruised down the channel doing the hor 'derv and drinks (sparkling cider) thing. We went about 3 miles to an island with public docks. (Oregon has some State Marine Board/parks dept. supported docks for boaters 48 to 72 hour limit) We tied up and had the traditional turkey dinner. Even if it is cool outside with a little wet coming down, it cozy in the inside. We then returned to the moorage in light rain. After we got ;undercover it really began to rain!! Still, we were the only boat on a still, glassy river!! It was a wonderful day with good friends. It is a good use of a trepid craft!! This is a boat we have had for 6 years. 

I had an opportunity to speak to an insurance fire investigator and a marine surveyor recently.  Additional heaters on-board are a frequent cause of boat fires.  They reminded me that ALL equipment on the boat needed to be USCG Approved, including heaters.  They went on to say that too often, boaters purchased improper heaters from discount stores that were not USCG Approved with disastrous results.  I found some marine space heaters on-line, starting around $60.  One final note, using unapproved equipment on your boat that causes a fire may invalidate your insurance.

Ozone generators do a great job in removing odors from rooms and other enclosed areas.  A couple of members asked the club to buy an ozone generator and rent it to the members.  Good ozone generators cost $300 to $500.  The club decided not to purchase the ozone generators now because of some concerns expressed by the FDA and potential damage to other parts on the boat.

The FDA does not have a standard for the products that an ozone generator creates while cleaning the air.  They do have some concerns about what is actually produced, especially in carpeted environments.  In other words, the chemicals given off by the carpet may combine with the ozone being produced and create carcinogens.  Needless to say, this is not proven.  

The potential damage to other boat parts is pretty straightforward.  Ozone destroys rubber products, including seals, hoses, and gaskets.  Ozone generators should be used for a short time period and, then, the area should be thoroughly aired out.

I'd appreciate your thoughts about this.  Should the club offer ozone generators for rent?   Have you used an ozone generator with either good or bad results?  Thanks.

Cleaning and protecting the isinglass on a boat is one of the more difficult jobs.  Cleon suggests that polishing the plastic with RainX or a similar "glass wax" product is a good way to protect the curtains.   Some people use a spray dusting wax, like Pledge, on isinglass.  Products like this can yellow the plastic and seem to attract dust.

Have a terrible smell on the boat that you just can't seem to diagnose?  Check your batteries and battery charger.  Overcharging the batteries or charging a battery where the water level is too low can cause release of the same gas that rotten eggs produce.   On your boat, the smell may not be quite the same as the rotten eggs.

I received several comments about "shocking" your fresh water tanks.  One thing I forgot to add to the last story is - don't flush the chlorinated water into the septic holding tanks.  The chlorine kills the enzymes that control smell and delaminate the septic hoses, causing permeation of the septic hoses.  Both mean stinky boat.

One comment was, "

Another was along the lines of "At the first of every season, I add two gallons of cheap Scotch whiskey into the holding tank and then add a couple of gallons of water.  I find that this kills any bugs in the system and makes it a lot more fun.  Needless to say, we don't shower on the boat."  Thanks for that tip.  I guess that having a few helpings of the treated water while at anchor may cause you to eventually wash ashore.

Carver hosted a national new boat sales event in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area for potential new boat purchasers.  It was a four day event - invitation only.  We understand that Carver had several vendors conducting classes related to that vendor's products.  Sounds like a great idea.  If you attended the event, drop me a line and let me know how it was.

A series of recent disasters caused a member to ask if we could keep, in a secure location, insurance and documentation information for his boat.  By keeping this information on-line, he could pull up his boat's registration, documentation, and insurance policy information as soon as he could get to the Internet.  Effective immediately, we are making this available.  Email us a scanned copy of your boat's registration, documentation, and insurance forms.  You may also want to include your insurance agency's telephone number and your insurance carrier's claims toll-free number.  If you do not have the ability to scan your documents, photocopy them and mail to Carver Owners Club; 2207 Concord Pike, Suite 412; Wilmington, DE 19803.

Let me explain my terminology.  A Saturday Night Out (SNO) is a gathering of Club Members and others (you do not have to be a club member to attend).  We typically have drinks, followed by dinner.  Each couple or group is responsible for their charges.  You may cancel your reservation at any time without penalty.  A Rendezvous is a sponsored event with a flat fee charged to cover the extended weekend.  You must be a Club Member or approved guest to attend the Rendezvous.  Fees are paid when the reservation is made and there is a restrictive cancellation policy.  A cruise is a disorganized lurching from one destination to another, based on weather, mood, and supplies.  It is either a lot of fun or a nightmare, depending on your level of discomfort with chaos.  While we do not pay people to participate in our cruises, we probably should.

• February - New York City Saturday Night Out hosted by Diane and Joe Lipowski.  This was one of our largest SNO's last year.  We are still working out the dates and locations.  I will email the details as soon as I get them.
• February 25 - Peppercorns in Oxford, PA Saturday Night Out hosted by Scott Gundaker.  Starts 3 pm. This is a BYOB restaurant with no corkage fee.  Email webdude@carverownersclub.com if you would like to attend and indicate the number of people who will join you.
• March 11 or 18 - Wilmington, DE Saturday Night Out hosted by Sarah and Gary Willoughby at their home in Centreville.  This is a catered event, so the club will charge a fee with the reservation.  Again, BYOB. Email webdude@carverownersclub.com indicating the date you would prefer and the number of people attending.  This event is limited to 30 people, unless you would like to buy Sarah and Gary a larger home.
• April 15 - Upper Chesapeake Bay Saturday Night Out at Harbor House. File the request for extension and join us.
• June 9 - 11 - Sixth Annual Chesapeake Bay Rendezvous, site TBD
• June 11 - ??  - Second Annual Chesapeake Bay Cruise, probably up the Potomac to Washington, DC.
• TBD - Cruise/Rendezvous at Cape May 

We are also planning a "Skill Building" weekend with a boating safety organization.  We'll cover some basic, practical skills, such as anchoring and rafting together.  If you have suggestions for additional skills, please send them along.  As Patsy and I settle into Florida a bit, we also plan to have a Saturday Night Out in January and, possibly, a Rendezvous in late February.

Now is a great time to send me a couple of new photographs for your Owners Album pages.