Boat U.S. - March 2008 - (Page 19)

askcap’ndrew briefing prior to departure. While this may sound like overkill, we’ve received comments from our guests and neighbors in adjacent slips that the briefing is comprehensive and reassuring. It also helps to reinforce our safety consciousness and to remind us of our guests' relative inexperience with our boat. Fred Myers Florence, AL Dear Cap’n Drew: Recently I went to my local hardware store to buy a fly swatter for my boat (green flies). They had two on display; one had marine stamped on it for $3.99 and the other was $.99. They looked exactly the same. Do I have to buy a marine fly swatter for my boat or can I use a regular household one? — Bud, Oceanside, NY minutes battling these hideous creatures. While we were eventually beaten back and forced to retreat, I still have photos of us on the stern of my boat with a pile of about fifty green flies. Tackle 80% of Pollution First Governments at every level allow water pollution to continue by not correcting or enforcing oil and fertilizer runoff and sewage problems. There are proven ways to do this, such as buffers and settling ponds to capture and filter runoff. Municipal sewage system improvements and capacities are still not complete after all these years since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1971. I am an example of pollution sources. I drive my car 15,000 miles per year and run my sailboat auxiliary engine 100 hours per year. Where I live, the roads all drain to the bay. So I know my car is polluting. I have an absorbent pad under my boat engine. Each winter when I change it, there is not one drop of oil on it. Before restricting recreational boating, they should finish correcting the other 80% of sources. David Sneade Redondo Beach, CA Down with Domination Congratulations on a very compelling editorial, “Behind the Buoy.” You make an excellent point about the importance of those currently involved in boating as the springboard to new boaters. In the same issue, "No Pressure Piloting" by Scott Croft also makes a compelling argument for curbing a dominant demeanor with our spouses and children and the need to provide the opportunity to share equally in the joys and responsibilities of seamanship. Many spouses and children leave boating because of early and consistent negative experiences with a Captain Bligh. More affordable sailing and boating instruction programs taught by female instructors with a focus on women and children would be a significant help. Bruce Kozlowski Midlothian, VA Dear Cap’n Drew: I love fishing. But there is one problem that I’m sure you hear about all the time. SEA SICKNESS. I have tried everything from pills to wrist bands. The only Dear Bud: thing that has That’s a good helped is the question. I stopped patch behind the using fly swatters ear, but it causes on green flies altodizziness and gether because, blurred vision. if you only wound I have heard it them, they come said that if you back looking for go out in rough vengeance. The last seas about ten time I hit a green fly or twelve times with a swatter and in a row you will didn’t kill it, three get used to it but dozen of them I wouldn’t want caught my son on to try something the school bus stop so drastic unless the following week December 18th, 1776 George Washington and his there is some officers attended the Pennsylvania boat show to and beat him within proof that it works. purchase high-performance speedboats to cross the an inch of his life. Delaware River. Unfortunately, since delivery could Do you have any not be guaranteed until February, they were forced My son is now ideas or suggesto use rowboats for the infamous surprise attack. afraid to go outside tions? Copyright © 2008 Drew Brown during recess. — Vomit Man Frankly, I’ve Miami, FL gone after green flies with a shotgun. I looked like a nautical Elmer Fudd firing Dear VM: You’re asking the wrong 360 degrees at an unseen foe. guy. I happen to LIKE dizziness and I believe that, in most cases, when blurred vision. In fact, I usually consume the word “marine” is added to the name cheap scotch which not only gives me of a product, the price of that product is dizziness and blurred vision; but it makes unnecessarily raised by 60%. However, me nauseous as well — giving me ALL in this case perhaps the inventor has the symptoms of seasickness! While I dealt with these gangs of flies and has never actually get seasick, I just ran out reinforced the hilt with titanium or added and bought a case of those patches. steel spikes to the slapper. Next time I go out, I’m going to serve Once, when fishing with my brothercheese, crackers and ear-patches. in-law (who is as creative as McGuyver) Hopefully this will save me a few bucks on my boat in Salisbury, MA, we came at the liquor store. under full attack from green flies. I was about to head in to shore to escape them. He went below decks and fashioned an eight-inch-wide, rigid-handled, Cap’n Drew Brown is the author of deluxe flyswatter with a reinforced the boating humor book, “What’s A Hoy? slapper and duel overhead cams. We A Guide to Modern Boating.” actually stopped fishing and spent 20 E-mail him at capn@capndrew.com. BY CAP’N DREW BROWN BoatU.S. Magazine March 2008 19

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - March 2008

Boat U.S. - March 2008 Contents Behind the Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum Cap'n Drew Sailing the Sidewalk Aviators Ahoy Docking and Duffing Waterfront Living: Charleston Waterfront Marketplace Grady Right 2nd Time Around DIY: Keeping the Water Out Hot Tips Boat Smart Ask Chuck Foundation Findings Tangled Line At Your Service Good Foundations BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - March 2008

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