Midland Power and Sail Squadron, Founded in 1952 Summer 2017 Volume 10, Issue 2. June 8, 2017

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1 Midland Power and Sail Squadron, Founded in 1952 Summer 2017 Volume 10, Issue 2 c/o 33 Byrnes Crescent, Penetanguishene, ON L9M 1V9 Newsletter Editor: Sandy Campbell Noel Campbell Commander Jim McLarty Commander Hello to all: June 8, 2017 Some of you might know me as, The Adventurers of Bluenoser through my weekly blog, as I did the Great Loop and Bahamas, in a 31-foot trawler named Bluenoser. Those days were great fun and now the Bridge of the Midland Power and Sail Squadron have appointed me as their new Commander. I take over from Noel Campbell, who had started the process of change before stepping down to concentrate more in the area of teaching courses. Yes, it has been a cool and rainy start to our boating season, however, Mother Nature has always provided a balance in weather patterns. Therefore, I predict that we will have beautiful weather coming up for this summer s boating season. Yes, we are in changing times. Oh!! The rocks and shoals are still in the same place they have been since the beginning of time, and the seas can still get dangerously rough given the right amount of wind and fetch. However, our ability to convey safe boating information has changed. The next generation of boaters no longer wants to sit in a classroom and receive safe boating information through personal contact with a knowledgeable instructor. Now, information comes to them via devices, such as Smart Phones, ipads, and online courses. We, at the Power Squadron, are working hard to make these changes in information delivery, and I can assure you that the Midland Squadron has a good team, ready to face this challenge. We will be reaching out to you, our fellow Midland members, for your help and guidance, as well. Safe boating to all. Jim McLarty Next bridge meeting Tuesday, September 5, start time at Calvary Baptist Church, King Street members are always welcome to attend. Bluenoser During my travels in Bluenoser, I have continually seen the flag of the CPS-ECP (Canadian Power Squadron), with its beautiful blue and white stripes and the red maple leaf in the centre. I ask myself: Why are boaters so proud to fly that flag? I believe the answer lies in the fact that they have taken courses and have joined a membership of knowledgeable and confident boaters. They are very proud!!!! Commander s Commentary... 1 Education Officer s Report... 2 If your Flares have expired... 4 Squadron Bridge Contact List... 5 Reluctant Twins Convert... 7 In Defence of GPS (Global Positioning System) 8 Spring Safe-Boating Awareness... 9 Your Maritime Radio is a life-saver! Get ready OPP Marine Officers check-stop.. 10 Charlottetown 2017 Conference Midland Squadron website: Page 1 of 10

2 Our training team offered 4 sets of scheduled classes this training year, beginning in October 2016 and concluding in late May 2017 with 5 self-study students for VHF. In the Fall of 2016, 6 students attended Boating 2 and 3 classes. Two couples and 2 singles took the courses and wrote the exams: all passing. The Winter Boating Class also had 6 students attending Boating 2, but only 2 continued with Boating 3 (2 couples and 2 singles took Boating 2) and 2 singles attended Boating 3. Only 1 student wrote the Boating 3 exam. The VHF radio course and Electronic Navigation courses were canceled due to minimal interest. I am not sure that it was due to lack of interest or poor advertising? Six 6 students were interested in doing self-study, 5 of which have received kits. We examined 4 students in late May and each student passed. So, overall we have not done too badly, however, we expected more interest in Electronic Navigation. It must have been the timing. Boating 2: 12 students attended, and 6 wrote the exams Boating 3: 8 students attended and 7 wrote the exams VHF: 5 have self-study kits; 4 have written exams. Noel Campbell, Midland Squadron Education Officer Midland Squadron website: Page 2 of 10

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4 CPS-ECP members can safe up to 25% on boat insurance and up to 20% on home and auto insurance? Visit Cowan Insurance Group to check it out. If your flares have a manufacture date of 2012 or earlier, they have expired or will expire this year. You can t light them, throw them in the water or in your household garbage to dispose of them. Disposing of expired flares has been an ongoing dilemma for boaters across the country. To help boaters dispose of expired flares in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, CPS-ECP and selected CIL Dealers are hosting Safety Equipment Education and Flare Disposal Days. On these days, you will be offered the opportunity to learn about required safety equipment and you can bring your outdated flares to be properly disposed of, free of charge. In accordance with Transport Canada requirements, flares are approved for four years from the date of manufacture. Typically, this means that boaters need to replace their flares every third or fourth boating season. If they have a manufacture date of 2012 or earlier, they have expired or will expire during this boating season, boaters are required to replace them...it s the law! There are four types of flares: Type A Rocket Parachute Type B Multi-Star Type C Hand-Held Type D Smoke Signal USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 95 demonstrates a smoke flare from the water. Photo Source: -over-marco/ For further information on the different characteristics of each type, and the quantity required for your vessel, please refer to the Safe Boating Guide at: For a list of Safety Equipment Education and Flare Disposal Days and locations visit: or call CPS-BOAT. Midland Squadron website: Page 4 of 10

5 Jim McLarty, Commander Commander Jim McLarty (705) Immediate Past Commander Noel Campbell (705) Executive Officer TBA Secretary Christine Robinson (705) Training Officer Noel Campbell (705) Treasurer Mike Hamilton (705) Public Relations Officer TBA MAREP Officer Vacant Membership Murray Lockhart (705) Assistant Training Officers Bob LaVictoire (705) Ken Lockhart (705) Newsletter Editor/ Webmaster Sandy Campbell (705) Administrative Officer T. Milne Dick (705) Safe Boating Specialist RVCC) Bob LaVictoire (705) Training Aids Vacant In the Photo (left to right): Mike Hamilton, Treasurer; Ken Lockhart, Assistant Education Officer; Noel Campbell, Education Officer; Sandy Campbell, Newsletter Editor/Web; Milne Dick, Administration Officer; Christine Robinson, Secretary; Bob LaVictoire, Assistant Education Officer; Special AGM Guest: Elaine Mundle, Georgian-Trent District Commander Missing from photo: Murray Lockhart, Membership Midland Squadron website: Page 5 of 10

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7 by Ken Robinson Over the last few years, we have struggled with trying to find the largest planing boat you can get with single-engine inboard/outboard power. I have expressed my desire for a dieselpowered boat previously in True Course. As a diesel power enthusiast, I understand that diesel engines are much more expensive and therefore a rare find in planing boats less than 36 feet in length. It is even rarer to find a single-diesel planing boat less than 30 feet in length in North America. Scuba Too Reluctantly, we have now moved to a 31-foot boat to meet our needs, with more efficient twin 5.0-litre gasoline MPI engines and dual counterrotating propeller outdrives to adequately power this larger vessel. Of course, the twins grant us increased safety and better handling. Unfortunately, for the time being at least, I have given up on my dream of a planing, dieselpowered, 30-foot express cruiser but, I still keep an eye on the classifieds. We still have Scuba Doo in our back pocket for day cruising and local diving, but she lacks the space and comforts for longer forays on the water. And now, we have the versatile twin I/O express cruiser for longer, multi-day cruises, nights on the hook or more distant docks and of course diving further afield. We were able to complete more distant dives last summer on The Atlantic wreck west of Parry Sound and the tragic Waubuno wreck south east of Henry s North and are looking forward to more great Georgian Bay diving this year. We hope that the Elliots find the special staff they need to open the doors to Henry s North on this wonderful boating and flying destination this season. Wonderfully fuel efficient and extremely seaworthy but, slower trawler boats are commonly available with diesel power. However, what if you want to cruise at 20 to 25 knots sometimes? To be sure, any gasoline or diesel-powered boat will burn significantly more fuel per hour at higher planing speeds. The diesel engine will be more efficient but, not necessarily more feasible due to the high cost of diesel power packages. Modern, high-output, 6-litre diesels produce over 300 HP and 500 lb/ft of torque and so, a singlediesel engine should be able to propel a light, 30- foot boat quite well. Yet, there is an absence of such boats, partly due to the high initial cost of diesel power. Christine and Ken Robinson Have a great summer... on, in and under the water! Midland Squadron website: Page 7 of 10

8 By Jim McLarty, Commander In this article, I would like to talk about GPS / Chartplotters, and how we, as the boating public, really need to embrace them as a necessary part of our vessel s navigation system. Before GPS, we had a land-based navigation system called LORAN. It worked well, based on a series of very powerful transmission towers from which one could triangulate a position. It was used mainly in oceanic shipping, as the Loran units were quite large, in the beginning. Then, during the 1960s, the Cold War came along and the United States and Russia started to rattle their sabres at one another. The U.S. Department of Defence needed a navigation system that was not land-based, to navigate their interballistic missiles to the target from their submarines. Thus was invented the Global Positioning System. This satellite-based navigation system was so successful that the general public wanted it. The U.S. Department of Defence was worried that this accurate guidance system could be used by the bad guys, against the general good. They, therefore, built in a certain amount of inaccuracy, into the system called SA (service availability) which limited the accuracy to about the size of a football field. Even with SA in service, this system was miles ahead on any other navigation system and the general public wanted more of it. SA was finally dropped, and now the accuracy of GPS is down to within 3 metres (10 feet.) Imagine that folks, you can buy a simple GPS unit in the Canadian Tire Store for $200 that has the ability to navigate you to a point you chose (waypoint), anywhere in the world, to an accuracy within 10 feet. The entire world now runs on GPS. Virtually all shipping and airline navigation is done by GPS iphones, Smart phones and ipads all contain builtin GPS and inexpensive APPS can be purchased on line that will give users wonderful graphics and totally accurate navigation. Indeed, the advancement of self-driving cars will all be controlled by GPS. GPS Constellation Image source: overview/scan_benefits_society_gps.html Many vessels, if not most, carry some form of GPS or Chart plotter (a GPS with a screen to show navigational charts). Yes, they get turned on and somewhat monitored but never really used. These units are like a musical instrument. You have to practice programming waypoints, linking them into routes, then practicing staying on course and knowing what to do when you get off course. [Ed. Waypoint definition on Wikipedia: A waypoint is term used to refer to an intermediate point or place on a route or line of travel, a stopping point or point at which course is changed, first use of the term tracing to In modern terms, it most often refers to coordinates which specify one s position on the globe at the end of each "leg" (stage) of an air flight or sea passage, the generation and checking of which are generally done computationally (with a computer or other programmed device).] Being a professional pilot for most of my working career, I can tell you that 95% of aviation accidents occur because of human error. I am sure it would be similar in boating. As a young pilot Midland Squadron website: Page 8 of 10

9 Continued from Page 8 - In Defence of GPS (Global Positioning System) learning to fly on instruments, we are taught to believe in your instruments. The human brain is too filled with emotion and feelings, which leads to DISORIENTATION. In closing, the point I am making is that the more familiar you are with GPS navigation, the more you will rely on it, in times when you are disoriented, or have run into poor weather and are seeking safety. Practice makes perfect, so work with your unit all you can. Even in good weather, set in some waypoints, link them into a route, and practice staying on course. The manual that comes with your GPS / Chartplotter will give you good guidance, or you can take the course Electronic Navigation from your local CPS-ECP squadron. Should you decide you NEED more knowledge about taking advantage of all the features and functionality of your onboard GPS or (perhaps you re using your ipad or Smartphone App s GPS), please visit our Midland squadron s website at to learn more about this course or why not try the online CPS-ECP course instruction click on the image or link below at Boating Courses.ca It s time to start your engines, hoist your sails and grab your paddles. The summer boating season is upon us and here are a few key points for you to remember while preparing for the season and before you head out. 1. Always wear your lifejacket or PFD, and remember that an inflatable PFD is not approved unless you are wearing it. Nearly 80% of all boating-related drowning victims were not wearing their PFDs. (Photo source: ) 2. Be aware of the risks of cold-water immersion. Think about it. With the early summer and spring water temperatures so cold, do you have enough time to put on your PFD or lifejacket in the water before you are incapacitated? Just try to put on your lifejacket once, while floating in the water, then you ll see the importance of wearing them. Jim McLarty, Cdr. Click this image to check out Transport Canada s Facebook Page for more helpful information like this. 3. Don t drink alcohol and operate your boat. The OPP and other enforcement agencies treat driving a boat in the same manner as driving a car. More. Midland Squadron website: Page 9 of 10

10 4. Consider taking a boating course so that you are more comfortable while boating. The more you know, the safer you are. Talk to your local CPS-ECP for available classroom courses, seminars and self-training courses. To make sure your vessel complies, contact our team of volunteer Safety Officers to book your free vessel courtesy check. Knowledgeable boaters are safe boaters. 5. Be prepared: both YOU and your boat. Good maintenance is important. Noel Campbell, Education Officer This essential boaters course teaches emergency radio procedures and everyday operating techniques. Learn all about the uses of marine radios, choice of frequencies, operation, phonetic alphabet, procedural words and phrases, as well as Digital Selective Calling and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, (DSC / GMDSS). All mariners, including recreational boaters, will want to take advantage of the many features and capabilities of this innovative form automatic radio. Secure your lifeline. Be sure that you and your family take the Maritime Radio course. The complete package equips you with the new Digital Selective Calling feature on today s VHF radios and prepares you for the Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) with DSC Endorsement exam. To operate a maritime radio, you need the certificate. It's the law! Contact our Education Officer, Noel Campbell (705) to get signed up for the upcoming session or pick up the Maritime Radio self-study kit and we ll arrange a convenient time/place to attend the included Transport Canada-required written/oral exam to get you your lifetime Maritime Operator Certificate. Ed. A summer reminder to everyone that the October Charlottetown 2017 National Conference is coming sooner than we think! Learn more at the official conference website: Midland Squadron website: Page 10 of 10