Boat U.S. - January 2009 - (Page 4)

LettersToEditor@BoatUS.com readerforum NOVEMBER 2008 VOLUME XIII Digital Edi tion BoatUS.co m/Magazin e Smoke On The Water I notice Chris Edmonston’s detailed and informative article, “Flare Tests Enlightening” (November ’08), left out what to actually do with expired flares. When I got my USCGA inspection, I was told to dispose of them at your local fire station (although check with them first). I was also told an open space in a parking lot was OK to dispose of them (and get used to handling them). But I found they were moisture dead so I had to take them to the fire station. —Walter C. Tice San Diego, CA Your article about using different types of flares was useful. Upon purchasing my first “real boat,” a 21-foot Sea Ray in 1998, I saw the problem of holding a hot burning object near fuel, hoses, and fiberglass. I made a six-foot-long holder to ensure that the slag from a burning flare would drop into the water, not into the boat. The simple device consists of an old broom handle with an 18-inch piece of properly sized PVC pipe fastened to its end. The handheld flare fits neatly and snugly into the end, and would work like a charm if I ever needed it. The pole stays in the skistorage locker ready for an emergency. —Jim Cooper Ramsey, NJ Not Seeing, But Believing Excellent job on the blind sailing article in the November issue. You very nicely captured the essence of blind sailing and the value of the SailBlind Program. Those of us who’ve been sailing for many years find that sharing our love of sailing with a blind sailor brings a whole new dimension of enjoyment to sailing. I’ve become a better racing sailor since guiding blind sailors. It forces me to care- fully think through every move on the boat before instructing the blind sailor to do it. And it forces each of the sighted guides to communicate effectively with each of the blind sailors, making for cohesive teamwork and success at the finish line. We’ve found that a blind person often learns to sail more quickly than many sighted persons because there are fewer distractions, allowing for greater concentration on boat trim and sail trim. Much of the art and science of sailing is really done non-visually. The freedom and sheer enjoyment that sailing brings all of us can be enjoyed equally by blind sailors. All they need http://www.BoatUS.com/Magazine

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - January 2009

BoatU.S. - January 2009 Contents At The Helm Reader Forum BoatU.S. Reports Brokerage Boats Invasion Of The Access Snatchers Don’t Move A Mussel Tech Connection BoatsGearWheels A Defect And Its Aftermath Obama Onboard? Fast-Water Fly-Fishing How I Got That Shot A Loop Through The Heartland Why Boats Sink At The Dock Install Your Own Trim Tabs BoatU.S. Exchange At Your Service/Mbr. Benefits

Boat U.S. - January 2009

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