Stay safe and warm. ABSECON LIGHT March

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1 ABSECON LIGHT March Commander Apryl J. Bernard, P Commander s Message... Page 1 Upcoming Events/Birthdays... Page 2 Executive Officer Report... Page 3... Page 4... Page 5 Safety Article... Pages Pages Pages Page 12 Even though Winter is one of my favorite seasons, I have had it. I m tired of being cold. That s not to say that I won t complain in the Summer when it s hot. That being said, Spring is around the corner and time for a new start. Absecon Island will host the Fall District Education Conference on 30 October to 1 November in Cherry Hill. Stf/C Ralph Bernard, AP is the chair for the event. We have already had one meeting and met with super results. The only thing missing was more members from Absecon Island. We need you to make this event successful and show the District how great AIPS is. Even if you come and sit at the registration desk/raffle for a few hours, that would be wonderful! Please contact me at (609) or aprylber@msn.com to sign up. A special thank you to members of Kingsway and Delsea for their willingness to pitch in. We have planned a great costume party on the 30th with music and prizes along with a Saturday luncheon and Saturday evening banquet. Join us! Every year during Safe Boating Week, there is a cruise down the Delaware River aboard the Ben Franklin. This is a fun dinner cruise and should be experienced by all. Look for more information in this issue. Stay safe and warm.

2 ABSECON LIGHT March Absecon Island Power Squadron Bridge Commander Apryl J. Bernard, P 1127 Riverside Drive Mays Landing, NJ (609) aprylber@msn.com Executive Officer David R. Bernard, AP 121 Tereck Road Buena, NJ (856) breezin31@comcast.net Educational Officer Ashle E. Cocca, P Hickory Street Mays Landing, NJ (609) coccamo13@comcast.net Administrative Officer Ralph A. Bernard, AP PO Box 682 Mays Landing, NJ (609) rb3513@comcast.net Secretary Sandy Wytoshek, S 732 W Shore Drive Brigantine, NJ (609) gaga4showdogs@gmail.com Treasurer Jaclyn Carugno, P 1127 Riverside Drive Mays Landing, NJ (609) jtcarugno@comcast.net AIPS CALENDAR 19 March 2015 AIPS Regular Meeting Absecon American Legion April 2015 Change of Watch Italian Gourmet May, 2015 NOAA/Co-op Charting Seminar Norfolk, VA 20 May 2015 Delaware River Cruise Philadelphia, PA 21 May 2015 AIPS Regular Meeting Absecon American Legion 1930 February 4 Ashle Cocca 4 Britne Bernard 4 Joe Marshall 5 Charlie Heuer 9 Charlie McGinnis 15 Christian E. Jensen 23 Keith Boakes 25 Michelle Kline March 12 Bill Benton 18 Mary Kourakin April 7 Ron Stablini 13 Janet Gurtzmirl 18 Apryl Bernard 25 Robert Traa May 3 Phyllis Braun 10 Sarah Bates 15 Fred Dodd 15 James Tracy, III 17 Mark Taylor 22 JoAnn Wescoat Absecon Light Editor: Cdr Apryl Bernard, P aprylber@msn.com (609) Circulation Editor: Lt George Austin, AP Absecon Light is the official publication of the Absecon Island Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadron.

3 ABSECON LIGHT March Executive Officer Report Lt/C David R. Bernard, AP Absecon Islander s If you are like me, you are staring out the window, looking at the snow and the thermometer, and wondering when the snow will go away and the temperatures will rise. Warmer temps are coming, it s just a question of when. Now we can dream, read a boating magazine, or start a project for the boat in your basement or garage to satisfy your addiction until the warm weather arrives. Spring is for a new beginning and so it is that our change of watch is this time of year. Even though we don't change faces as much as we used to, we still need to celebrate our incoming bridge. Come out and join us at the Gourmet Restaurant in Galloway on April to honor our new bridge and come out to have a good time with family and friends. See the flyer later on in this issue. Also coming up is Spring conference down in Ocean City, Md. We are going to have a Hospitality room this year highlighting the navigational prowess of the Vikings. Please call Dave if you want to get involved. There are seminars, luncheons and the District change of watch. This is a really fun event so please try to attend. Coming up in the beginning of May is the NOAA/Cooperative Charting workshop in Norfolk Va. Nancy & I are expecting to attend so if anyone would like to join us let me know at the above number. The weekend consists of cocktail parties, dinners interspersed with a little learning Always fun to go new places and meet new people or see old friends. So... please come out and join us, it's a good excuse to get together and drink beer and talk about boats. What's better than that?

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5 ABSECON LIGHT March Educational Officer Lt/C Ashle Cocca, P Hello AIPS Members! In the midst of this cold and snowy winter, the Educational department is going strong. We have just begun our first Seamanship class in a few years. With four students, we are excited for 3 of our members to gain their first grade in USPS. Looking to the future, we will be holding our next America s Boating Course on April 15th and 22nd, two Wednesdays from 6-10 in Mays Landing. Please pass the word on to your families and friends so we can enjoy ever-safer waters during boating season. If anyone is interested, have them contact me at coccamo13@comcast.net. I certainly look forward to the coming of spring and putting Coccamo back in the water! Educationally yours, Ashle Cocca Help us keep up to date: If you have an address, phone number or change, please contact Lynn Graiser at the following lynn39@verizon.net or (609) with changes that are to be Check out the Facebook page for Absecon Island. Take a stroll down memory lane. Photos from years past have been posted beginning in the 70s. If anyone has any old photos you would like to lend me, I will scan them and put them on the Facebook page also. If you have not already visited this page, this is the time to do so. Take a look and like the page. District 5 also has a Facebook page filled with photos from all district and national events. There are also photos from squadron events throughout the district. You can also follow AIPS & District 5 on twitter!

6 ABSECON LIGHT March AIPS SAFETY FIRST De-Winterize Your Boat Spring Boat Prep to Get Your Boat Ready for Spring Commissioning By Ericka Watson Powerboating Expert Have Your Manufacturer's Manual Handy Get ready for the spring commissioning of your boat by following these simple tips to de-winterize it after a long, hard winter. If you did winterize your boat, you saved yourself some spring boat prep time and possible headaches now, which means the road between your boat and the water is shorter! Although it is always best to winterize a boat before putting it into storage, if you didn't, don't worry. You can perform those tasks now for the spring commissioning. Here's how: If you have a copy, great. If you don't, it would be a good idea to get one. You'll need it to replace fluids and parts properly. Never take apart anything without consulting the manual first. De-winterizing Your Engine The engine is the heart of the boat, and since it will most like take the greatest amount of time and be the messiest, start here. If you didn't change the oil at the end of last season, do so now. After running your boat all summer, it's likely that water, acids and other byproducts have built up. It's important to change the oil to prevent corrosion and excessive wear which can lead to loss of power, poor fuel economy or engine failure. At the same time you change the oil, be sure to change the oil filter. Change the oil in transmission or the outboard's lower unit as well. Next, flush the cooling system and replace the antifreeze with a 50/50 ratio of water to coolant. Finally, replace the batteries and perform a thorough engine test. Inspect the Canvas & Vinyl Check your bimini top, seats, covers, and other vinyl and canvas items for tears, mildew and dirt. Repairs tears and holes, and then clean with the proper cleaner for canvas and vinyl.

7 ABSECON LIGHT March Inspect the Hull Carefully inspect the hull for blisters or other chips and cracks as well as for chalky residue. If you find blisters, repair them. If the boat's hull is chalky, it could indicate oxidation. Determine the level of oxidation, and then restore the boat's gelcoat to its original luster. Then, throughout the summer, follow the gelcoat maintenance plan to keep oxidation at bay. Clean and Wax the Hull First clean your boat's exterior using a marine safe cleaner from a marine supply store. Then, apply a fresh coat of wax according to the instructions in the gelcoat maintenance plan. Inspect the Windshield Wipers Inspect and replace windshield wipers if necessary. If the wipers are in good condition, apply a rubber lubricant to protect them from the harsh marine environment. Some experts recommend stowing wipers until you need them to keep them in good condition longer. Polish the Metal and Teak Known as brightwork, metal and teak enhance the look of your boat. If it's dull, your boat will not have the same visual appeal as it might otherwise have. Also, prolonged neglect of metal and teak can result in pitting and eventually compromise the integrity of the materials and their intended use. To protect the metal, use metal polisher like Never Dull. For teak, it is usually recommended that you sand it and then apply stain and varnish. Replace and Test all Electronics Bring all the electronics back on board and do a thorough test to be sure they are working properly. Test the radio, GPS, compass, depth finder, and any other marine electronics. Clean the Interior Whether you have an open deck or cabin with full galley, clean the area thoroughly to remove dirt and debris.

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