COMPANION- THE COMPANIONWAY

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1 * THE COMPANION- THE COMPANIONWAY NEWSLETTER OF THE KINGSTON POWER & SAIL SQUADRON JANUARY 2017 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Can Fewer Volunteers Meet Demand for Boating Programs and Courses across the Region? Centre of Excellence Update CPS-ECP Rideau District council met in Ottawa November 12, 2016 to continue its exploration of how to maximize efficiency and resources by using an all-for-one, one-for-all style of management for the Eastern Ontario region. The ultimate goal is to have the District operate more efficiently by eliminating duplication of efforts and to help the squadrons be more effective in the delivery of our boating safely mandate. In few words: Do the same job with fewer people while maintaining proper management and oversight, and sustaining and growing our organization for the benefit of all boaters. In October 2016, the Council had agreed to look at possible ways to reorganize the way they work in order to achieve this. The November meeting at the Nepean Sailing Club was a continuation of this exploration. Nineteen (19) members attended the working meeting, which represented all the squadrons in Rideau District, and Rideau District Council. The meeting was chaired by District Commander Continue on Page 9 AGM Date Set to April 28 The KPS Annual General Meeting will be held Friday, April 28, at the Ongwanada Resource Centre at 191 Portsmouth Avenue, between 7-8:30 pm. All are invited. INSIDE Page 2 Report from the Bridge Page 3 Fix A Boat With an Umbrella? Page 4 Stay-Dry Sailing School Page 5 Mike Willis: Dry Rot Page 6 Chat and See Boats Page 7 KPS 2017 Picnic Page 11 Binnacle Island Page 13 Upcoming Boating Courses KPS Commander May Corcoran presented Bob McGill with his award from national CPS-ECP for having conducted the second highest number of Recreational Vessel Courtesy Checks in all of Canada in

2 Report From the Bridge By May Corcoran, KPS Commander Happy New Year! It has already been a busy start to the New Year. The educational team is offering a full slate of educational opportunities for all boaters! These are listed on the last page of the newsletter, as always. Our newest courses include web-based programs that allow students to learn at their own pace and at home, but with support from instructors and mentors. These courses are proving to be very popular as well as being a modern approach to offering education to our boaters. Note that we are supporting efforts elsewhere (i.e., Boating 3 Introduction to Navigation, and Boating 4 Near Shore Marine Navigation) that can be offered in the Kingston area. We need assistance in developing, delivering, and maintaining all of our traditional classroom courses, as well as the modern web-based instructional programs. Please contact me if you are interested in getting involved. I am hoping a few of our newer members will consider joining the crew! We provide training and support to our educational team members. We are planning another successful year with our RVCC program -- there will be a planning meeting in March for our Specialists. Please see the article about RVCC elsewhere in this issue for more information. For your Date Book I would like to invite members to our annual Rendezvous picnic at Whistler s Cove. This year the event will be Friday, July 14 th to Sunday, July 16 th. The organizing team has simplified the agenda: you are welcome to arrive on Friday, and the main event will be on Saturday when we have our flare demonstrations and BBQ dinner. This year we ask that participants of the Saturday BBQ to bring a salad or dessert to share. The steaks, hot dogs and baked potatoes will be provided. If you are planning to attend, please complete the registration form on the last page of this newsletter and send it to me with your cheque before June 30 th. We are hoping to have USPS members from District 6 as our guests this year. Looking forward to seeing you there! May Corcoran The Companionway is published quarterly by the Kingston Squadron of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons -- which is a volunteer, civilian, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting boating and sailing safety. Submissions for publication are welcome from any member, or indeed, anyone who reads the Newsletter and would like to contribute. The decision about the inclusion of articles, and the editing thereof, rests with the Editor. You can contact the Editor by at kps.edit@gmail.com or by mail at: The Companionway, 159 Rose Abbey Drive, Kingston, ON Canada K7K 7L9. 2

Instructor David Sutton Can you save a sinking boat with an umbrella?

By Patty Spencer The night I went to his class to get a photo of him for this article, KPS Instructor David Sutton was

3 Instructor David Sutton Can you save a sinking boat with an umbrella? Or would it just make more sense to keep it in good repair? By Patty Spencer The night I went to his class to get a photo of him for this article, KPS Instructor David Sutton was telling his class about Yachting Monthly's Crash Test Boat series, which tests theories about what to do in different disaster scenarios. They do things like explode boats, break the masts, and see if an umbrella, put through a hole in the hull and opened up, could stem the inrushing water. Yes, emergencies can happen on the water, and it s good to have some McGyver ideas to draw on if they do. Dave Sutton teaching students how NOT to blow up their boats. But, really, the safest thing to do is avoid preventable emergencies in the first place. And that means keeping your boat in good repair and well-maintained. David, a Wolfe Island marine systems professional, has been teaching area students how to Back to Page 1 Continued on Page 8 3

Ever willing to explore education that capitalises on digital media, I tried the application out. The American Sailing Association (ASA) launched the app for ios and Android last year.

Tacking and Jibing (sic), Trimming and Docking are amongst the subjects covered. The descriptions of each are very basic.

Many offer you the chance to control a sailboat (sail trim and direction) and then provide basic feedback on your level of efficiency in doing so.

4 Sail Training on a Mobile Device? By Mike Hill My attention was drawn to something recently that appeared to claim that it could introduce a novice to the art of sailing through the medium of a mobile device. Ever willing to explore education that capitalises on digital media, I tried the application out. The American Sailing Association (ASA) launched the app for ios and Android last year. ASA s Sailing Challenge aims to teach basic sailing theory on a tablet or smartphone. It starts by introducing you to a number of modules. Each of these deals with a basic sailing topic. Tacking and Jibing (sic), Trimming and Docking are amongst the subjects covered. The descriptions of each are very basic. Once you have read the very simple definitions provided, you are exposed to a number of scenarios that test your understanding. These generally involve fairly well executed animations. Many offer you the chance to control a sailboat (sail trim and direction) and then provide basic feedback on your level of efficiency in doing so. The feedback comes in on-screen graphs and the ability to observe the response of the vessel illustrated. At Least you Won t Get Wet If You Fall Overboard In the final module, Sailing, you have the opportunity to apply everything you ve learned. You can choose to sail independently or to work your way around a marina or circumnavigate an island. The imagery used is pleasant and un-distracting. Basic instrumentation showing wind speed and direction is provided. So too is a knot meter, so you can see whether your actions are getting the best out of your boat. I like the way that the ASA have tried to provide a basic introduction to sail theory and the fact that they have provided a way to assess one s grasp of the topics. However, originally priced at US$10, but reduced recently, this is an expensive app, and a very elementary one. The illustrations are excellent and the idea is great, but I can t recommend it at this price. I don't think that many youngsters would spend more than a couple of sessions with it before getting bored. Look into it yourself at: 4

Dry Rot Treatments By Mike Willis Dry rot is a wood decay caused by certain species of fungi that digest parts of the wood which gives stiffness and strength.

When wood becomes porous, it holds water like a sponge. Wet rot occurs more frequently, but is less serious and is confined to where timber is wet and remains wet.

Boric acid or borate is an excellent fungicide (a pesticide that kills fungi) against dry rot fungus and prevents insect damage. In dry situations wood preservatives are used.

5 Dry Rot Treatments By Mike Willis Dry rot is a wood decay caused by certain species of fungi that digest parts of the wood which gives stiffness and strength. This is done by secreting enzymes or producing chemical reactions that dissolve some of the characteristics of the wood cell walls. It is the fungus, not water that causes wood to rot. When wood becomes porous, it holds water like a sponge. Wet rot occurs more frequently, but is less serious and is confined to where timber is wet and remains wet. Dry rot is caused by Serpula Lacrymans (fungi) and can spread and destroy much of the timber. To reduce or eliminate dry rot is to eliminate water contact and soil contact. Boric acid or borate is an excellent fungicide (a pesticide that kills fungi) against dry rot fungus and prevents insect damage. In dry situations wood preservatives are used. In wet situations use fused borate which is not water soluble. When treating dry rot (1) locate and stop the source of the moisture (2) replace damaged wood (3) use borate wood preservative to prevent growth of fungus and kill fungus already in the wood. Photo credit: Google Images KPS Bridge Role Name Phone Commander May Corcoran kps.cdr@gmail.com Education May Corcoran kps.edo@gmail.com Membership Bill Corcoran kps.memb@gmail.com Public Relations Mike Willis-O'Connor kps.pubro@gmail.com Port Captain Bob McGill kps.event@gmail.com Recreational Vessel Courtesy Check Bill Corcoran Mike Hill 5 kps.rvcc@gmail.com Newsletter Editor Patty Spencer kps.edit@gmail.com

Boat Safety Checks Volunteers Needed Here s Your Chance to Chat Folks Up and See Their Boats Up Close! By Bill Corcoran and Mike Hill Do you like chatting with boaters about their boats?

What we do is spend 20 to 30 minutes with a boat owner/operator checking to see that they have all the safety equipment required by Transport Canada for their type and length of boat.

While we perform the checks individually, often we have a group working in a location during a boating event.

6 Boat Safety Checks Volunteers Needed Here s Your Chance to Chat Folks Up and See Their Boats Up Close! By Bill Corcoran and Mike Hill Do you like chatting with boaters about their boats? Are you interested in their safety? If you do, please consider joining our Recreational Vessel Courtesy Check team this year. What we do is spend 20 to 30 minutes with a boat owner/operator checking to see that they have all the safety equipment required by Transport Canada for their type and length of boat. The training is simple and the checklist straightforward. Newcomers are paired with a veteran until they are comfortable approaching boaters on their own. While we perform the checks individually, often we have a group working in a location during a boating event. Last year our 14 specialists performed over 175 checks, in marinas and yacht clubs, as well as out in the islands. We hope to expand our program across all Rideau District by encouraging and supporting specialists in other squadrons offering this important service one that is appreciated by our boaters and our law enforcement officers we hope to help even more boaters this year. If you can help, even for a day, please contact Bill Corcoran, Bill and May will be hosting a RVCC team meeting on Saturday, March 25, 2017 to prepare for our 2017 program. Please plan to join the fun!! A NOTE TO OUR ADVERTISERS If you would like a feature article about your business published in THE COMPANIONWAY, please submit it to the editor. It should be about words long, and include some photos.can hold the article for a subsequent issue). 6

Kingston Power and Sail 37 th Annual Rendezvous and Picnic July 14,15, and 16, 2017 Bring your family and friends to Whistler s Cove located just east

4 W Land Approach: 2099 Hwy #2 East, Kingston Plan to come for the day or the entire weekend Boats, RV s and Campers welcome Friday, July 14, 2017

Picnic Demonstrations of distress flares (bring your expired flares for disposal) Steak BBQ/Hot Dogs, baked potato (Provided) Pot Luck - please bring

7 Kingston Power and Sail 37 th Annual Rendezvous and Picnic July 14,15, and 16, 2017 Bring your family and friends to Whistler s Cove located just east of Treasure Island on Bateau Channel Water Approach: L N, Lo W Land Approach: 2099 Hwy #2 East, Kingston Plan to come for the day or the entire weekend Boats, RV s and Campers welcome Friday, July 14, 2017 Noon to 4:00 PM Arrivals (Boaters, Sailors and Campers) Saturday July 15,2017 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM Relaxation, Swimming, Fishing, 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM Picnic Demonstrations of distress flares (bring your expired flares for disposal) Steak BBQ/Hot Dogs, baked potato (Provided) Pot Luck - please bring a salad or dessert to share Music, Conversation, Meeting old friends and making new ones 9:00 PM Campfire Sunday July 16,2017 9:00 AM Commander s Coffee & Muffin 12:00 PM relaxed departures Cost $20/person. Children 12 and under free 7

I believe it s really important to be able to maintain your boat yourself. If you re out on the water and something goes wrong, you need that knowledge, he says.

8 Continued from Page 3 do just that for some years now. Through KPS, he helps students learn about boat electrical systems, plumbing, appliances, bilge pumps all the bits and pieces other than the engine that keep the boat operating as it should. I believe it s really important to be able to maintain your boat yourself. If you re out on the water and something goes wrong, you need that knowledge, he says. Doing as much of the work as possible for yourself, you know that maintenance has been done right, you gain confidence, and you feel more comfortable if you have to troubleshoot. He likes empowering his students. A typical class might include absolute beginners, all the way up to experienced sailors and boaters. Sometimes I have students who don t even own a boat, but just want to learn. The other thing that learning for yourself helps with, David says, is dealing with professionals. If you know at least some basics, you can have a more informed conversation with repair shops and you can feel more confident that you won t be taken advantage of. David s philosophy of teaching boaters how to maintain vessel systems extends to his business outside of class. When clients come to the shop, I try to involve them as much as possible. I encourage them to be hands-on. I don t want them to drop the boat off and say repair it, I want to have that conversation with them about how they use their boat, and what they want from their boat. Two good things come from that approach: One, customers gets to know their boats inside out but also they learn what s involved in doing any given job. When they see how much work can be involved, he chuckles, they don t give me a hard time when I hand them the bill. David began boating as a youth, and in 1999 he bought his first big boat and started learning about larger boats. Then, in 2002, he decided he was going to actually build a boat himself. That was an Back to Page 3 Continue of Page 12 The Companionway is published four times a year. Deadline for advertisements and news articles is one week prior to publication. Dates for 2017 are as shown. Jan. 30, 2017 Deadline: Jan. 23, 2017 Apr. 30, 2017 Deadline: Apr. 23, 2017 July 30, 2017 Deadline: July 23, 2017 Oct. 30, 2017 Deadline: Oct. 23,

regional, and national roles in an open, frank, and productive discussion. Bill Corcoran and Tom Beaver described the approach and ultimate goals of the working session.

After these introductory remarks, the group divided into two Working Groups for further discussion and brainstorming. The Programming group, facilitated by Tom Beaver, addressed: 1.

9 Continued from Page 1... Guy Ladouceur, who thanked everyone for their willingness to roll up their sleeves and find a solution to the dilemma that as beset our organization for some time now, and to set aside our local, regional, and national roles in an open, frank, and productive discussion. Bill Corcoran and Tom Beaver described the approach and ultimate goals of the working session. In solving any problem, they noted, the first step is to understand the problem. That was the goal of this meeting. After these introductory remarks, the group divided into two Working Groups for further discussion and brainstorming. The Programming group, facilitated by Tom Beaver, addressed: 1. Education Led by May Corcoran, Cdr. Kingston Squadron 2. Member Services and Support Led by Robin Craig, Cdr. Ottawa Squadron 3. Safety and Environmental Awareness Led by Bruce Harris, Britannia Rideau Squadron Darlene Albers, Ken Kendall contributed to this group s discussion as well. The Administration and Stewardship group was facilitated by Bill Corcoran and addressed 1. Finance Led by David Root, District Financial Officer 2. Administration Led by Linda Hamilton, District Officer Training, Ottawa 3. Public Relations and Marketing Led by Court Harkness, Executive Officer, Ottawa 4. Membership Led by Terry Hamilton, District Membership Officer, Ottawa Brian Hopkins, Nancy Richards, Valarie Hume, Gary Albers, Emer Bowes, Court Harkness, Cathie Johnstone, Bryan Caroll, and Guy Ladouceur contributed their thoughts and ideas to this working Return to Page 1 Continue to Page 10 9

for the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities where working together in small teams would benefit all squadrons and the district as a

The team leaders accepted the task of bringing interested parties together to determine, firstly, if there is a need for a CoE and,

The initial plans of the CoE team discussions will be the subject of the next working meeting scheduled for 23 January 2017.

10 Continued from Page group. Over several hours of fruitful discussion, each group listed the issues associated with each of the seven potential CoE areas, looking for the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities where working together in small teams would benefit all squadrons and the district as a whole. The team leaders reported back to the entire meeting on the discoveries from the working group discussions. The team leaders accepted the task of bringing interested parties together to determine, firstly, if there is a need for a CoE and, secondly, if there is a need, to outline a plan as to how we could go forward. The initial plans of the CoE team discussions will be the subject of the next working meeting scheduled for 23 January Given the time of year, this will be an online meeting. Guy closed the meeting thanking all for their openness and willingness to find solutions to the problems we face. Together we have opportunity to sustain and grow our organization, which provides a vital and welcomed service to boaters of all types. Return to Page 9 Return to Page 1 10

11 The Syracuse Sail and Power Squadron s Binnacle Island is available on a weekly basis for the 2017 season. Feel free to request a week. Also, USPS and CPS member in good standing can use the dock on a first come first serve basis, and there is usually plenty of space available. Electricity is also available. The donation is $20 per night for dockage. The dock will be officially open for the 2016 boating season on June 5 th, You can take a look at the Beaurivage anchorage from the webcam and check the weather forecast from the weather station on Binnacle Island. Hopefully the internet and web cam will survive the winter months. Binnacle Island Please feel free to request a week. All funds are to be in US dollars. BINNACLE ISLAND REQUEST 2017 Name: Phone: (Please Print address neatly) Week 1 st Choice 2 nd Choice 3 rd Choice OPENING: June 3 & 4 Wk 1 10 June 17 June Wk 2 17 June 24 June Wk 3 24 June 1 July Wk 4 1 July 8 July Wk 5 8 July 15 July Wk 6 15 July 22 July Wk 7 22 July 29 July Wk 8 29 July 5 August Wk 9 5 August 12 August Wk August 19 August Wk August 26 August Wk August 2 Sept Wk 13 2 Sept 9 September Rendezvous: 9 September Request must be postmarked by 15 FEBRUARY to: Lt James Scherzi 8097 Squirrel Corn Lane Please pick up to 3 choices Manlius, NY request honored after 15 February jim@scherzi.com 11

David Sutton Cont d from Page 8 intensive education.

builds High Speed, Fire/ Rescue, Patrol and Work Boats.

as well, but about two years ago, he decided to become a

12 David Sutton Cont d from Page 8 intensive education. In 2007, he started working with Metalcraft Marine in Kingston, which builds High Speed, Fire/ Rescue, Patrol and Work Boats. He specialized in electrical systems and did research and development as well, but about two years ago, he decided to become a subcontractor to Metalcraft, working for them four days a week, and for himself three days a week. He works at Tom Wroe s Boatbuilder s Shop on Wolfe Island four days a week, and on his customers boats the rest of the time. Page 1 Back to Page 8 12

13 UPCOMING BOATING COURSES IN KINGSTON Go to for the latest course listings, and to register. Web-based, self-paced Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) online course: Maritime Radio The Maritime Radio 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). Mike Hill Saturday Mar :00 AM - 5:00 PM Mike Hill Saturday Apr :00 AM - 5:00 PM Boat Electrical Systems Sorry - Fully Enrolled Marine electrical systems and the routine maintenance related to these systems found on most boats. Covers background and underlying principles, DC batteries and charging systems, AC systems, summary and review. Dave Sutton Wednesdays Feb. 8 - Mar. 1 6:30-8:30 pm Boating 1 - Boating Basics (PCOC) All operators of motorized pleasure craft are required to show proof of operator competency. All you need to know for the Transport Canada test is presented in an easy to read format that is both informative and entertaining. You can be confident that this study guide meets all the standards established by Transport Canada s Office of Boating Safety. Bill Corcoran + May Corcoran Sat., Feb am - 4 pm Peter French Thursdays April :30-9 pm Boating 2 - Beyond the PCOC You are introduced to the art of navigation, anchoring, ropes, lines and knots not to mention what to expect when the boat is moving under power. Suggested Prerequisite: Boating 1: Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) Phil Morris Tuesdays Mar. 7 - Apr. 4 7: 00 pm - 9:00 pm Boating 3 - Introduction to Navigation Web based, instructor-led course offered from the Ottawa area. KPS will support local students. Tom Beaver Tuesdays Mar. 7 - Apr. 18 See more online Boating 4 - Near Shore Marine Navigation (Level 1) [Formerly: Seamanship] Web based, instructor-led course offered from the Toronto area. KPS will support local students. Carolyn Reid Mondays Feb May 8 See more online 13

COMPANION- THE COMPANIONWAY

* THE COMPANION- THE COMPANIONWAY NEWSLETTER OF THE KINGSTON POWER & SAIL SQUADRON JULY 2017 All Time High Water Levels Cause Flooding, Wreak Havoc on Boating in 2017 Season Water levels got so high in