By Captain Jim Kalvin:
So – Summer is really here! Except for the 4th of July weekend, waterways will be wide open as many of the seasonal boats are either put up for the summer, or they headed north 6 weeks ago. This is our time of year! Time for the locals to get out and have some fun!
We do have to be wary though, as Hurricane Season started last month.
Funny that our northern friends say “Florida doesn’t have seasons…” But they fail to realize that they leave at the end of “Wildfire Season”, which is at the beginning of “Hurricane Season”. And…they are a season all to themselves – “Tourist Season”! Plus, most of them have never even seen “Mosquito Season” – which actually spans from the end of “Wildfire Season” to the beginning of “Tourist Season”, and spans the entirety of “Hurricane Season”.
Yeah! We’ve got “Seasons”!
Seriously, though…..please keep an eye on the tropics. This time of year, storms can come across the Gulf from the Yucatan with very little notice. Check your vessels for the basics – bilge pumps and batteries are the biggies.
If you keep your boat in the water, your shore power may well be nursing an anemic set of batteries – which may not do well holding a charge should electrical power to your dock facility be impacted in a blow. Have your favorite marine technician examine your onboard DC electrical system if you are not able to do so yourself.
Next, how are your fuel tanks? Make sure they are topped off during the summer months. For starters, should a hurricane come our way, obtaining gasoline or diesel fuel will be a challenge unless you drive an ambulance, a police car, or an FPL truck.
Secondly, folks don’t think about it often, but our temperatures can vary from near 100 degrees during the heat of the day to the low 70’s in the wee hours. Even though I went to public school, I know that that represents a variance of close to 30 degrees each day. Such a change generates condensation on any exposed internal tank surfaces and will result in contamination.
Two good reasons to keep your tank full! I remember during Wilma and Charlie, several folks I knew actually moved aboard their boats because power was out in the neighborhood, and the generator aboard the boat gave welcome relief. Good thing they had a full tank!
As well, check your dock lines, your cleats, and your lease or condo documents. Different facilities require different things with regards to your responsibilities for securing your vessel in their facility. If your boat damages the dock or another vessel because it was improperly secured, you could have a lot of ‘splainin’ to do to your insurance company.
Captain Jim Kalvin is a USCG Licensed 100 Ton Master, a local Marine Contractor, and a legislative advocate for recreational and commercial boaters and property Owners. He is available to speak to your group on a variety of boating and legislative topics – james.kalvin61@gmail.com or 239-280-6054.