THE CODFATHER–
If you doubt the impact Tom Osmers had on the Martha’s Vineyard community, just look to his nickname: The Codfather. Osmers was a fisherman, philosopher and advocate for small-boat sustainable fishing – less industrial fishing, more fishermen working in a “friendly fashion.” He was also part of the weekly community radio show, “The Fish and Farm Report.” Osmers died in March at age 57. His memorial service will take place in the summer at a date to be announced.
Morris Yachts plans open house, boat show
Morris Yachts will hold a service open house May 19 in Bass Harbor, Maine.
Those interested are invited to come out for a behind-the-scenes look at the yard’s operations. Special focus will be given to several complete refits and the ongoing process of wet core removal and replacement.
Morris Yachts also is hosting the sixth annual Morris Boat Show July 16-18 at its service yard in Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Open to the public, this event will showcase dozens of Morris Yachts on the docks and in the sheds.
For information, visit www.morrisyachts.com.
Sailing is a snap
For those who have dreamed of sailing, but are not quite sure where to start, the American Sailing Association provides its “Sailing Made Easy” handbook ($24.95, American Sailing Association, 2010). Bringing together the collective knowledge of eight seasoned sailors, the book covers everything from identifying the boat’s controls to navigation and planning a day sail.
The thin and handy softcover manual features full-color pages that are filled with easy-to-follow diagrams, illustrations and photographs to get any boater off to a smart and safe start. The plastic-covered pages make the book water-resistant for use aboard, according to the publisher.
The book was co-edited by Peter Isler, America’s Cup-winning navigator and commentator, and Jeremy McGreary, a 30-year veteran and sailor. It will also serve as the official textbook for ASA 101, the ASA’s basic keelboat sailing standard course. For information, visit www.http://asastore.us/
– Elizabeth Ellis
Chris-Craft Commander Club set for rendezvous
The Chris-Craft Commander Club chose Huron, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie as the site of the next official rendezvous. Huron is steeped in rich maritime history, as well as claiming home to many vintage Chris-Craft Commanders, according to organizers.
While the event’s focus will be centered around the Commander line, owners of other vintage Chris-Craft models, including the Roamer and Constellation lines, as well as non-Chris-Craft boats, are welcome.
Details and instructions for registering for the event will be available at www.commanderclub.com.
Coast Guard cutter named for rescue hero
The first Sentinel-class cutter will bear the name Bernard C. Webber in honor of the legendary Coast Guard member.
The cutter Bernard C. Webber will be the first of the service’s new 153-foot patrol cutters. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen approved the change of the cutter’s name to allow this class of vessels to be named after outstanding enlisted members who demonstrated exceptional heroism in the line of duty. This will be the first class of cutters to be named exclusively for enlisted members of the Coast Guard and its predecessor services.
On Feb. 18, 1952, Webber, Andrew Fitzgerald, Richard Livesey and Irving Maske from Life Boat Station Chatham, Mass., braved 60-foot seas aboard the Motor Life Boat CG36500 to rescue the crew of the S.S. Pendleton that had broken in half during a winter storm off the coast of Cape Cod. At the end of the mission, the crew of CG36500 had saved 32 of Pendleton’s 33 crewmembers, for which they all received the Gold Lifesaving Medal.
The Sentinel-class contract for up to 34 ships is worth up to $1.5 billion if all contract options are exercised. The Coast Guard plans to build a total of 58 Sentinel-class vessels.
The Coast Guard also conferred the Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award to Peter Kennedy of the Orleans Historical Society for his contribution to the preservation of the service’s history.
Kennedy received the second-highest public service award from Allen for restoring the legendary Coast Guard Motor Life Boat CG36500 used in the S.S. Pendleton rescue.
For more on the rescue and the restoration, visit www.SoundingsOnline.com, keyword: CG36500.
Boat. Fish. Live. at National Marina Day
“Boat. Fish. Live.” will be the theme of National Marina Day June 12 with marinas across the country hosting events where consumers can participate in boating and fishing demonstrations, test drive boats, educational activities and more.
Marinas selected so far to host events are: Anchorage Marina in Baltimore; Aqualand Marina in Lake Lanier, Ga.; Bill Bird Marina at Haulover Park in Miami; Callville Bay Resort & Marina in Lake Mead, Nev.; Colony Marine at Algonac Harbor Club in Algonac, Mich.; Grande Dunes Resort & Marina in Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Marina Bay at Boston Harbor in North Quincy, Mass.; New Rochelle Municipal Marina in New Rochelle, N.Y.; and Scotts Landing in Grapevine, Texas.
For information, visit www.nationalmarinaday.org.
Coast Guard issues VHF safety alert
Certain models of Digital Selective Calling-equipped VHF radios will automatically switch from a working channel to channel 16 upon receipt of a DSC distress alert, distress alert acknowledgment and other DSC calls in which a channel number has been designated, according to a Coast Guard Safety Alert.
A navigation safety hazard may consequently occur if the radio is being used to maintain a listening watch or to communicate on the designated bridge-to-bridge radio-telephone or vessel traffic services monitoring channel, according to the safety alert.
Manufacturers of DSC-equipped VHF marine radios believed to be affected by this Safety Alert include, but are not limited to the following (rebranded radios are not included unless otherwise identified): BH T&A Company, Icom Incorporated, Lowrance, Midland, Northstar, Pony Electric Corporation, Raytheon Anschuetz GmbH High Seas Products, Raymarine, Sea Inc of Delaware, Samyung ENC Company, Simrad, Skanti G/S, SP Radio A/S, Standard Horizon, Tekcom Industries, Uniden America Corporation, Vertex Standard Company.
Updated information will be posted when available at
www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/dsc.htm.
Hinckley Pilot group will rendezvous in July
The Hinckley Pilot Association will gather July 31 in the Casco Bay region of Maine. This year’s event will take place on Bustin Island, close to South Freeport, and will include some local cruising followed by a traditional Maine lobster bake, according to organizers.
The prior weekend features the “Lobster Run,” the Stonington, Conn., to Boothbay Harbor, Maine race in which several Pilot owners will participate. The annual Chowder Cup Race takes place Aug. 7 in Friendship, Maine.
For information, contact Buzz Billik at [email protected].
Maritime Academy awards scholarship
Cadet First Class Nicholas M. Hartt of Methuen was recently awarded the Capt. James S. Jackson Jr. Scholarship at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
The scholarship provides for a cadet from the academy to attend the Coast Guard-approved 100 Ton Master License Program offered by the Center for Maritime Training at MMA. Hartt is a senior regimental officer majoring in International Maritime Business at the academy, and is also employed with Entertainment Cruises in Boston.
For information on the 100 Ton Master License program, visit www.maritime.edu/100ton.
Pearson adds electric drive to sailboat
Pearson Composites will install a 7.5-kW electric drive system onto its new Alerion 33 sailboat. The fully electric propulsion system will also integrate with Mastervolt’s charging system, lithium-ion battery and MasterBus CANbus network, according to the company.
“Offering this system on our boats is a continuation of our commitment to green boating and boatbuilding practices,” says Scott Bryant, vice president of sales and marketing at Pearson Composites.
In November Mastervolt acquired Dutch-based Bellmann, a leading player in the electrical propulsion systems market that has been producing dedicated electrical drives for boats since 2002. Their full line of products includes drives ranging from 1kW to 20kW, complete with matching shafts and propellers, along with control panels and switching gear. Combining Bellmann’s innovations with those of Mastervolt now provides a completely integrated system for the marine market, according to Pearson.
Naval architect opens design studio in Maine
Naval architect Steven Weiss is opening a new design studio, Steven Weiss Yacht Design LLC, in Trenton, Maine.
The firm will provide yacht design, marine engineering and illustration services to individuals, yacht builders and service boatyards.
With more than 25 years in the yacht design and construction industry, Weiss has served as designer and engineer at many firms, including The Hinckley Company and Morris Yachts. Weiss is also an experienced project manager, delivery skipper, sailing coach and yacht broker.
For information, visit www.weissyachtdesign.com.
Aquapalooza lands country music star
Country music star Brad Paisley will headline the AquaPalooza 2010 signature event, scheduled for July 10 at The Reserve at Lake Travis near Austin, Texas, according to Sea Ray Boats.
The event, hosted by Sea Ray and its local dealer Sail & Ski Center, will have Paisley performing in front of a crowd of thousands of concert-goers on boats, floats and kayaks.
For those who can’t make it to Lake Travis, Sea Ray dealerships around the world will transform more than 100 additional locations into official AquaPalooza event sites, making it easy for boaters to get to and enjoy the family fun. Most events will take place the last two weekends in July.
For information, visit www.aquapalooza.com.
Grand Banks names new Southeast dealers
Grand Banks Yachts announced two new authorized dealers selected to represent the luxury boatbuilder. Galati Yacht Sales will manage Grand Banks sales along the Gulf region from Alabama down through the west coast of Florida, while HMY Yacht Sales will represent Grand Banks on Florida’s east coast.
Galati Yacht Sales is the largest “Five Star Re-Certified” dealer in the marine industry today. The dealership maintains a team of more than 175 members to provide sales and service support for customers throughout the region, according to Grand Banks.
Galati Yacht Sales will manage sales of Grand Banks Yachts through its Florida offices in Naples, Cape Harbour, Anna Maria Island, Tampa Bay, and Destin, plus Orange Beach, Ala.
HMY has been representing the world’s yacht manufacturers since 1979. On the east coast of Florida, HMY will represent Grand Banks at its locations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Stuart and Jacksonville.
New location for Westlawn Institute
The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology and The Boat School announced that the Westlawn Institute moved its office to a new location in The Boat School in Eastport, Maine.
The new Westlawn Institute address is: 16 Deep Cove Rd., Eastport, ME 04631. Tel: (207) 853-6600; fax: (207) 853-6605.
The Boat School is an affiliate of Husson University, which has several satellite campuses throughout Maine, in addition to its main campus in Bangor.
This article originally appeared in the New England Home Waters Section of the June 2010 issue.
