Meriden Masthead Published by the Meriden Power Squadron A unit of the United States Power Squadrons

Transcription

1 Meriden Masthead Published by the Meriden Power Squadron A unit of the United States Power Squadrons April Vol. 61 No. 04 Year 2014 at a glance RED items are not settled. Commander s Report February 21 Council meeting NU 26 Founder s Day Pasta Dinner March 05 Exec meeting 22 D1 Spring Conference 26 Annual meeting April 27 Change of Watch & Past Commanders May 07 Exec meeting 28 Regular meeting 31 VSC Hays Haven and Pattaconk June 07 VSC Indian Neck Yacht Club D1 council meeting & rend./usps 100th Anniversary New Haven 25 Pot Luck picnic PYC July West Neck 26 8/2 MPS Extended Cruise Block Is August D1 Mini cruise CG Academy September 03 Exec meeting 20 D1 Poker Run 24 Regular meeting October 22 Regular meeting November 19 Meeting Bell s Pie Night December?? Holiday party Editor: Ed Gonzalez Publisher: Joe Fernandes This being my last report as commander I m thinking, where did this past year go? It has been a very rewarding year. It has been 20 years since I was last commander and I find operations are quite different, but the responsibilities and rewards are the same. As I am stepping down as commander, I will become the squadron Executive Officer. P/C Roger Breunig will be taking the helm for this coming year, and I will be on board to give him all the support he needs to keep the squadron on an even keel. I would like to thank all those that have helped to make this past year a successful one for the squadron, and I wish the best of this coming year for Roger. Our Change of Watch and Past Commander s Night is Sunday, 27 April, at the Manor Inn in Milldale. This is a very special night where we dismiss the present bridge officers and swear in the new ones, and recognize the past commanders that are present. See enclosed flyer. Looking forward to seeing you there. Next MPS Meeting on 27 April 2014 COW and Past Commanders Night Manor Inn 1636 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike Plantsville, CT (GPS Address) See Flyer P/C Kenneth L. Bell, AP Meriden Meetings: Except for special occasions, Meriden Power Squadron Meetings are held at 1900 in the Yankee Gas building at 56 Cooper Street in Meriden, CT.

2 Squadron VSE Chairman Attention all Vessel Safety Examiners (VSE). As per order of the US Coast Guard all VSE's need to get re certified before performing any vessel checks this year. On Tuesday 29 April pm at the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association Oregon Rd. South Meriden, CT we will be holding a 2 hour slide presentation for the purpose of re certification. For more information or to sign up contact Meriden Power Squadron VSE chairman Charlie Flynn. At chazplum52@sbcglobal.net or This year we will be having 2 vessel check days. 31 May 2014 at 11am 2pm at Pattaconk Yacht Club and Hayes Haven Marina in Chester, CT and 7 June 2014 at 9am 2pm at Indian Neck Yacht Club in Branford, CT Ever think of becoming a VSE? It's very rewarding and a great way to make new friends and meet new people while promoting safe boating. We are always looking for new blood to join our team. To become an examiner you need to take a short online exam. After passing the exam you need to do 5 exams with another VSE, then maintain 5 exams each year to stay current. Anyone interested contact me at the info above. DON'T FORGET NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS MAY A Message from Your Incoming Commander Hi fellow members of MPS. I'm hoping you will again accept the invitation to renew your past appointments. If anybody wants to get involved in COOP Charting please let me know. Thank You We will have a great year! Roger 10 Tips for Parents on Boating Safely With Kids Warmer weather and the end of the school year signals the start of the family boating season. Boating offers one of the best ways for parents to escape the distractions of everyday life and share their enjoyment of nature with their kids. However it s important for parents especially those new to boating to follow a few basic safety steps that will help make the experience more enjoyable for the whole family. The Sea Tow Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to boating safety and education, offers the following list of 10 Tips for Boating with Kids. 1. Life Jackets Save Lives. Be sure all kids on board are wearing a life jacket whenever the boat is moving. This is not just sound advice; it s the law. The U.S. Coast Guard requires that all children under 13 years of age must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket while the vessel is being operated unless the child is below deck or in an enclosed cabin. 2. Make sure it fits. Children s life jackets come in different sizes appropriate to the child s body weight. Make sure you have one that fits each child onboard, and that the kids haven t outgrown their life jackets over the winter. Infant life jackets have a strap that runs between the legs and extra flotation behind the head to ensure the baby floats face up at all times. Keep an extra child s life jacket or two on hand in case a friend comes along. 3. No Exceptions. Kids often complain about having to wear their life jackets on board. Get them invested in theirs by letting them pick it out for themselves. Make sure the life jacket fits the child properly, both for comfort and safety s sake. Be a good role model. If the kids see you wearing your life jacket, they ll be more likely to wear theirs. 4. Safety Starts In The Parking Lot: Get the kids in the habit of putting on sunblock, a hat and their life jacket even before you walk down to the boat. That way, they ll be protected if they accidentally tumble off the dock into the water. 5. Keep Everything Shipshape : When you board the boat, have everyone stow their gear and any water toys away neatly. Be sure there are no loose lines, mops, buckets, etc. on deck that someone might trip over.

3 6. Pre Cruise Check: The adult who is driving the boat should give the kids a safety lesson before leaving the dock. Make it a point to tell them that there can only be one captain, and it s important to follow his or her orders quickly and quietly. Set a few basic rules, including: No running or sitting on the side rails, foredeck, aft sunpad or swim platform when the boat is under way. 7. First Mate: Kids will get a bigger kick out of a boat trip if you make them your First Mate. Before you leave, show them where you re going on a chart. While under way, have them keep a lookout for marker buoys. Teach older kids how to work the chart plotter and find your GPS coordinates. 8. Radio Check: Be sure everyone knows how to operate the boat s VHF radio in case of an emergency. A good way to practice is to call Sea Tow s Automated Radio Check service. This free service not only shows the kids how to key the microphone and talk over the VHF, it also lets you be sure the radio is in good working order. To find the Automated Radio Check VHF channel in your boating area, visit safety/automatedradio checks. 9. Tow for Two. When you tow kids behind the boat on inflatable water toys, water skis or a wakeboard, be sure to designate an adult or teen to be the official watcher, keeping his or her eyes on the towed rider at all times. Teach the kids hand signals they can use to tell you to speed up, go slower or stop. Be sure they wear their life jackets while skiing, boarding or riding. 10. Places, Please! Give the kids assigned seats on the boat while docking, so that they don t accidentally block the driver s view. Make sure they know to keep their fingers and toes inside during this process! These basic guidelines will help you ensure everyone stays safe on board. But the most important tip for your family boating adventure is this: Have fun out there! Quiet That Bimini Top! Bimini top straps can make an annoying buzz at certain speeds. At the right speed, air flows over the strap and causes it to vibrate at a frequency that registers with the human ear. The specifics depend upon the apparent wind speed, strap length, strap width and more. But the bottom line is that strap buzz is annoying! A simple fix is to put a twist in the strap. Simply unhook it from the boat or the Bimini top, and put a twist or two in the strap as show in the accompanying picture. Then re connect the strap. Twisting the strap disrupts the airflow, and thus eliminates the vibration that causes the noise. Of course you could replace those straps with support poles, like those sold by Built for Boating. It's nice to have options, isn t it? MPS Summer Activities Just a reminder of what we have planned for this summer: June District 1 rendezvous and New Haven Squadron 100 th Anniversary celebration at the Pequannock Yacht Club! If you choose to come by boat, please contact Steve Mullen at or wever101@gmail.com for reservations. $3.00 a foot per night. There will be a dinner cruise on the vessel Mystique on Saturday as well as many other events. Please look for more info in the Sounds of 1 or go to July MPS Rendezvous at West Neck Harbor, Shelter Island NY. Come anchor out in the beautiful harbor or call for reservations at The Island Boatyard. Call Wade the dock master at and mention you are with the Meriden Power Squadron. Dockage is $4.50 a foot. Daily dinghy passes are available for those anchoring out and wishing to use the facilities. Enjoy the pool, restaurant and famous Shipwreck Bar, not to mention beautiful views of one of the most beautiful cruising destinations in our area! Fireworks will be going off all weekend in every direction! 26 July 02 August MPS extended cruise to Block Island. Come experience what you ve all heard about over the years. Fun times and great company at the Bermuda of the Northeast! Pick your place to stay or anchor out. Forms are available for Block Island Boat Basin or first come first served at Payne s Dock. It

4 doesn t matter where you stay, we ll find you! Please contact me if you need more information for dockage or about traveling together August District 1 mini cruise to the United States Coast Guard Academy. If you plan on coming by boat, please contact D/Lt/C Charles L. Marino, District Admin Officer at bluenoseii@sbcglobal.net ASAP! There are 30 slips available but are going fast. No charge for slips or moorings. Look for more info in the Sounds of 1 or go to KNOW THE TYPES OF FIRES P/C Kenneth Bell Jr. kbelljr@cox.net There are four types of fire, classified according to their fuel source. Fire extinguishers approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for marine use are designated by a letter that corresponds to the class of fire on which it can be used effectively, and a Roman numeral that refers to the relative size of the fire extinguisher and the amount of extinguishing agent it contains. Class A: Common combustibles, such as wood, paper and plastic, can be tackled effectively with a cooling agent, such as water. Extinguishing foams and dry chemicals can also be used. Class B: Flammable liquids or gases including oil, grease, paint thinner, alcohol, LPG and gasoline. These are spread by water, so use a smothering agent, such as foam, dry chemicals or carbon dioxide (CO2) instead. Class D: Combustible metals, such as potassium and sodium and their alloys, do not use water as it can cause the molten metal to splatter. Instead, use a dry powder made especially for this type of fire or, if possible, jettison the burning material overboard. Friends of the Masthead This has been created to help defer the ever rising postal expenses. There s always plenty of room at the tables. Anyone interested in joining the Captain s/barnacle s Table please use the form below. Memberships are for the Calendar year 2014: Captain s Table: George Griffin, Robert Thompson, Christine Casarella, Paul Casarella, and Al Lucitti Barnacle s Table: Ellie Lucitti Membership Form for the Friends of the Masthead Name: Please Circle: Captain's Table ($15.00) or Barnacle's Table ($5.00) Amount Enclosed: Mail to: Paul Casarella 103 Wynding Brook Drive Rocky Hill, Ct Squadron logo polo shirts ($25) can be ordered through Lt Ann Steele annsteele@sbcglobal.net or Name tags can be ordered Joe Fernandes, jfernades8@cox.net or Class C: Electrical equipment, conductors or appliances. Always try to shut off the electricity first to eliminate the source of ignition.

5 Manor Inn Directions 2014 Change of Watch And Past Commander s Night Please mark your calendars for the Change of Watch Sunday 27 April Happy Hour, 1745 Dinner-buffet $30. This year s event will be held at the Manor Inn 1636 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike Plantsville, CT (GPS Address) The focus of the event will be the official dismissal and swearing in of the Bridge for next year. Dress for the evening will be Uniform A, or appropriate attire. Happy hour with cheese & vegetable appetizers will begin at 1700 Cash Bar Dinner Buffet will begin at Please make reservations by 12 Apr - $ Change of Watch Dinner & Ceremony Name(s): # $30 each Make checks payable to: Meriden Power Squadron Return RSVP ticket and check to: Ken Bell 363 Mulberry Street Plantsville, Ct 06479

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7 Meriden Masthead Joe Fernandes 188 Malcein Drive Southington, CT FORWARD & ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Directions: Yankee Gas Building From 84 E/W: - Take exit 27 for Rt. 691 toward Meriden/Middletown. - Take Exit 4 - At end of ramp, take a right onto Meriden/Waterbury Rd., which turns into W. Main St. - Turn right onto Cook Ave. (at Dunkin Donuts) - At your 2 nd light, take a left onto Cooper St. - Yankee Gas Building is on your right. From 91 N/S: - Take Exit for Rt Take Broad St. Exit - At end of ramp, take a left - At monuments, take a right onto E. Main St. - Continue straight on road through center of Meriden until you reach the Dunkin Donuts, bear left. - At 2 nd light, take a left onto Cooper St. - Yankee Gas Building is on your right. Please visit for updates