Rich

Is it soon yet?

If you have CG Aux or the Power Squadron folks do it they also can't cite you. If the regular CG does it they can - $250 per violation.

And don't waste your money on the pocket flares. I've been involved in number of tests of those and they have a rediculous failure rate even when in date - 75% failed. Either they didn't discharge at all or the lanyard broke. On the other side of the coin, during these same test we had a parachute flare that was over 25-yrs old work just fine.

You heard wrong. I even do it on my own boat from time to time.

You must be referring to the one in the cabin - Not exactly what I'd want to see on a CC or WA. A 60' yachit that runs 7-knots maybe but not a sport machine.

Which is exactly why Sheila and I both wear good sharp knives when we're on the boat. A simple little step like that can literally save your life.

You're welcome Lester.

Towing another vessel either on the hip or in stern tow is, IMHO an essential skill that every boater should have. It can also be remarkably dangerous, particularly when done improperly, with the wrong gear, with little knowledge of the physics involved, or by the untrained. Both Chapmans and the USCG Small-Boat Seamanship Manual (now available to the public) have excellent sections covering the subject. The USCG Small-Boat Seamanship Manual is the exact same information that USCG boat crews train to and should be one of your "must haves". The BEST practice though remains to stand by and wait for professional help to arrive IF that is an option. If that's not an option, second best is to get the other vessel out of danger and then wait for the pros to come finish getting them in.

And if you don't happen to live anywhere near the areas covered above, you can find a local inspector by entering your zip code here: http://www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC/

Great to see you here Chris and congrats on the new one. Do I need to send off another bell?

You're certainly going to run into that. The Commander (Commandant is Adm. Allen, not an auxie) has a point though IF one is counting on DSC to transmit your POSITION in an emergency - As I'm sure you know, DSC capable radios take your position from your GPS. This is probably what he meant by saying it was "satellite oriented". If he was arguing that the VHF signal was "satellite oriented" he'd be absolutely wrong, but I have yet to encounter anyone that believed that. But you never know...... Kudos to you though for taking and promoting the course in spite of your experience with one individual. BTW: I forgot to mention that teaching the Aux courses is how I met my wife Sheila.

"Their EPIRB was activated....." They're expensive, but how much is your life worth?

Sat: Memorial Service, BBQ and Mtg at the CG station in San Pedro. Not sure about Sunday - have to check with my exec secretary.....aka the Admiral.

Taught the USCGAux 13-wk course + several of their other courses for a few yrs. Now I just party with the Admiral.....

Thanks all! What a great time we had. Sheila put on a great party for me with a “cast of thousands”…..well okay, maybe only 30 or so. The morning started with my gift from her, a Bosch 4100-09 direct drive 10” table saw with the gravity rise wheeled stand. I had told her that I wanted a 10” table saw but that it wasn’t something that I would use enough to justify spending a lot of money on. But after some research on her own, a little consultation with my brother (he used to be the sales rep for a power tool distributor) she settled on the Bosch. Can’t wait to put it together and start ripping some boards….even though I don’t have a particular project in mind just yet. You have to keep in mind that this is the same woman that urged me to repower the boat at the end of our honeymoon...... All us guys stood around beaming at the “new arrival” and I wished I’d had some cigars to pass around……but at least Jim gave me a nice bottle of Remy Martin VS Cognac to toast it with. #2 on the “Best Of” list was a ships wheel that our friend Tristan, who also happens to be the contractor that did almost all of the renovation on our house before we bought it and his girlfriend Pam gave me. The ships wheel had been modified to include a center piece that holds a 4x6 photo of Sheila and I on the boat taken just a couple of weeks ago when we took Tristan, Pam and Pam’s two kids out. A lot of thought and no small bit of effort went into that one. As it turns out, Tristan (a professional contractor) has exactly the same table saw (unbeknownst to Sheila) and just loves his. He informed me that once it's assembled it only takes two grunts to load it into the truck bed single handed. Oh and for the record…….Sheila hit 50 before me. Not MUCH before me, but before me nonetheless. Robbiedon – We went to Vegas for Sheila’s 50th, but we didn’t pick up a Shelby for her (although I’m sure she would have loved it if we had). But best off all was just the time with my kids, other family and a lot of great friends - some new and some old made for a terrific day