Write In And Win!

Now's the time to share your thoughts with Boating World. Got some comments on an article? A great boating story? We want to hear from you! Write to us at editor@boatingworld.com, or c/o Boating World, 2100 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA, 30339, and if your letter is published in the July issue as "Letter of the Month," we'll send you Maccabee Sports' Portable Bistro Set (retail value: $59.99). Built with sturdy steel alloy frames, this bistro set will have you kicking back in style when lunchtime rolls around. The set includes a carrying case, two lightweight chairs and a durable plastic table for lakeside meals. For more information on Maccabee Sports' Portable Bistro Set, and for the entire lineup of West Marine products, visit www.westmarine.com.

Letter Of The Month: SAVING LA MADRE

It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and I had plans to take my 22-foot cruiser out for the day. My sons Steven and Joseph were busy that day, so I decided this would also be a great opportunity to spend some quality time with my 6-year-old daughter, Jaclyn.  We hooked up the trailer, stopped for some subs and headed off to our local ramp in Sea Warren, N.J. My daughter was so excited about being the center of attention and spending a day on the boat with her daddy, and without her big brothers. The ramp was a small municipal ramp that only had enough room to launch two boats at a time, while only being able to accommodate one at the floating dock. Upon arriving, we backed into the water, attached a spring line and proceeded to wait for the boat ahead of us at the dock to leave.

After about 10 minutes, I lost my patience and went to see what the problem was. There were two gentlemen and a little girl trying to start their 17-foot runabout. The thing that amazed me, though, was the 5-foot statue of the Virgin Mary standing in the back of the boat. I couldn't resist asking them what they were doing, and it turned out they were carrying on a time-honored tradition. Every year, they would deliver the statue to the beach in front of their church for the annual blessing. They explained there were about 200 people waiting for them, and they were already late.

I decided to take a look, and explained to them they had flooded the engine and needed to let it sit awhile before trying to start it again. Their faces went pale at the thought of being even later. I took my daughter aside, explained the situation and asked if she minded lending them a hand. With all the enthusiasm of a 6-year-old, she of course agreed to this proposition immediately. I told the gentleman if they moved their boat aside I'd launch mine and take them and the statue to their destination. We loaded the statue and my guests into the boat, fired up the engine, and proceeded to the church. The sight of 200 people standing on the beach cheering and clapping was singularly spectacular.

My daughter couldn't believe her eyes, and the smile on her face was well worth the journey. I beached the boat and assisted our newfound friends to the beach. We exchanged gratitudes, shook hands and left. Many years later, Jaclyn has since grown up to be a beautiful young woman, but she still recalls the story of how she and her daddy saved the day for a couple of strangers.

JOE LUCARELLI
Hillsborough, NJ

 "Safety" Vs. "Style"

As a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, one of my staff officer duties is teaching boating safety. In Graham Garrison's March '08 "Back to Basics" article (" Hosting Non-Boaters") you have an illustration of a boater giving a PFD to another person, and wearing one himself. The color of this PFD is blue, however, and the article seems to indicate that this is a "lighter" and "more stylish" model. You also state that other PFDs are available in orange, but they're "more cumbersome," and the article seems to imply that they're not as stylish. There have been tests conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, though, showing that orange PFDs are visible from a much greater distance than the blue ones.

In some cases, the person wearing the blue PFD wasn't visible at all. Unfortunately, I think the message you're giving is that it's more important to be stylish than to be safe. I'm sure you will address this matter in a future edition.
 
VICTOR KLEINMAN
Brooklyn, NY

Coast Guard Boating Safety Chief John M. Malatak responds: Mr. Kleinman is correct that orange life jackets may be more visible than those in darker colors like blue, and may aid in search and recovery should an accident occur. But this need for a bright color is most important for offshore operations where locating an individual in a large body of water is most difficult. However, the life jackets shown in the Boating World picture - along with dozens of other styles and colors now available to boaters - are U.S. Coast Guard-approved. 

There's nothing wrong with being "stylish" while being safe, and the Coast Guard would much rather see boaters wear a blue life jacket than no life jacket at all. Recent Coast Guard accident statistics show that  the largest risk for drowning is on boats less than 20 feet in length operating on rivers, lakes and bays. When operating near shore, the need for a bright-color life jacket for search and rescue isn't as important as wearing a life jacket. Therefore, purchasing a PFD that you're willing to wear is the most important consideration in selecting a life jacket. The most stylish life jackets are U.S. Coast Guard-approved as Type II Near-Shore and Type III Flotation Aid devices. Either of these approved types of life jacket will greatly improve the chances of survival for individuals who suddenly find themselves in the water.

Water Beetles

My husband is a water beetle named Eddie. At least, he seems to think he's a water beetle. We own a boat, and Eddie is adept at waterskiing. Someday, he's going to teach me how, he always says, then he waves goodbye to me and our five children as he leaves the dock with a boatful of friends.

For the past 15 years now, I've threatened to divorce him, but how can you name a boat as a third party? He gives that boat more love, attention and affection than he does me. If only I had a bow and stern!

Last Christmas, Eddie gave me a boarding ladder. For my birthday, I received a PFD; for Valentine's Day, a compass; for Mother's Day, a fire extinguisher; and for our wedding anniversary, an anchor. When and where will it all end? Wives, mothers and boat-widows everywhere, I beg of you, unite! Let's rise up and swamp out the water beetles!

VIRGINIA SUMMERS
Roseville, MI

Full Circle

I have come full circle with my boating lifestyle and love of the water. I grew up on the water, and then our family moved to the city. Every single chance I got, I hopped on a bus and went back to the water to fish, crab, or take a dip. I always came home sunburned, hungry and tired, and I loved it. As an adult, our family lived in a water-oriented community, and we often took our three children out on our 15-foot runabout to fish, crab or take a dip. We always came home tired, hungry and sunburned, and we loved it. Then, my husband passed away, and I continued to take my children out on a bigger boat until it came time for them to leave home. 

I moved again to a place where I lived on the water, where I met a partner who enjoyed sailing. This was quite a drastic change for me, but we loved the wonderful views, the people we met and all the different anchorages we visited. After my partner became ill, though, we could no longer maintain the sailboat. So we sold it, got an RV and joined some of our friends to go camping in the great outdoors. 

After a year without owning a boat, we saw a small mini-tug - it was all of 21 feet with a diesel engine - and we were once again in harmony with our true selves. Now, we can take a cruise, go fishing, crabbing or take a dip. We come home sunburned, tired and hungry, and we love it.

 PATRICIA A. KEARNS
Havre de Grace, MD

Clarification
The offshore fishing boat that graced Boating World's April cover was the Boston Whaler 345 Conquest. For more information on this model, please visit  www.bostonwhaler.com.