Boat U.S. - March 2008 - (Page 51)

tangledline Goin’ To the Chapel There are pontoon boats of every shape, color and size plying America’s waters, and then there’s … something truly unique. “Weddings On the Water,” a floating chapel, is described as “one of a kind.” Complete with stained glass “portholes” and a steeple, the 60-foot maritime chapel, on Florida’s west coast has been the scene of numerous waterborne weddings, cruising out of St. Petersburg. Think of it as a wedding on the beach without the sand. Safe Boating Contest for Kids Youngsters with a story to tell about what makes them a safe boater have until June 1 to enter the third annual “I’m a Safe Boater, Are You?” contest sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council. Kids age 4 to 15 can enter and first-, second-, and thirdplace prizes will be awarded in age categories 4 to 7, 8 to 11, and 12 to 15. Posters, artwork, photos or videos can be entered, along with short stories and essays that describe how they stay safe on the water. Essays will be judged on grammar, punctuation, composition and how the safety story is told. Posters and artwork will be judged on design, style and the safety message. Prizes include a $100 savings bond, a life jacket, cap, DVD and prizes donated by partner sponsors West Marine and WithinReach. Visit the Council’s Boating Safety Sidekicks web site for all the entry details at boatingsafetysidekicks.com. Try To Maintain a Gondola-Like Speed City officials in Venice, Italy, are doing their best to put an end to any James Bond-style fantasies of speeding through their famous canals and waterways in high-powered boats. The city is planning to install speed cameras in an effort to slow boats down. This Coast Guard-certified party boat is up for sale. Photo by WeddingsOnWater.com But for that boat owner looking to trade up to something completely new, or if you’re planning on getting hitched this year and are still casting about for an on-the-water location, the chapel of love happens to be up for sale. With pews seating 100, the floating chapel is roomy enough for a party of 125. Twin 125-hp Cummins diesels keep the lovefest moving along. A recent ad listed the unusual craft for sale at a mere halfmillion dollars! The ad also says the vessel meets all U.S. Coast Guard safety and construction requirements for carrying 125 passengers. And, oh yes, owning the chapel apparently allows the captain to perform wedding ceremonies. However, we’re not sure he comes with the boat. Visit weddingsonwater.com for more information. Photo by Peter Dielman Cruises Venice will install microchips and speed cameras to slow boats down. Officials say that the waves caused by speeding boats have battered the ancient city’s foundations and eroded its channels. The plan also involves changing out current motor boat registration labels with plates that contain a microchip so that uber-exuberant drivers can be nabbed just like on the motorways. The new plates will allow the policia to have instant access to owner info. “Whatever offenses occur can be checked in real time,” says Michele Vianello, Venice deputy mayor. The city plans to install monitors in every canal and could eventually also be used to limit traffic. “Just the fact of knowing that you are under surveillance at all times should be an excellent deterrent,” he says. An Amazingly Nosy Fish When two Australian anglers fishing off Tasmania cleaned their catch of flatheads, they found a tiny, glittery metal object inside one fish, according to a report on FoxNews.com. Nothing strange about that. Fish love flash, as lure manufacturers know. But this metal morsel turned out to be jewelry, a nose stud, to be exact. Still not amazed? The stud, according to angler Darren Triffett, had belonged to a 25-year-old knee boarder, Kristy Brittian, who’d lost it when tossed from her board in rough seas, only three days before. And how did he find that out? Amazingly enough, it seems Kristy is his fiancee and she promptly did what any boater that lucky would do: She bought a lottery ticket. Be a Knot-Tying Media Star Do you know the difference between a cleat hitch and a clove hitch? At BoatUS.com/videos you can see how to tie both of these, numerous techniques for bowlines and many more knots, as well as learn how they are most commonly used. Feel free to upload your own knot-tying videos, or any other videos of boating skills you’d like to share. BoatU.S. Magazine March 2008 51 http://boatingsafetysidekicks.com http://WeddingsOnWater.com http://weddingsonwater.com http://FoxNews.com http://www.BoatUS.com/videos

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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