Running engine at the dock

[John Nantz]

Prop Wash at Slip

Runing the engine with the transmission in gear while in your slip to warm the engine up faster is better than doing it out of gear, but....Like one person mentioned, it could stir up bottom mud if there is very little water under the keel, or, something else to consider is prop wash. If the boat is sitting there throwing out a prop wash and someone else goes down the fairway they could be broadsided with the wash and possibly wind up being blown sideways into other boats or pilings. Anyway, this is something to consider watching out for. Staying in the cockpit or otherwise keeping a lookout for traffic would be wise.As for marinas prohibiting runing the engine maybe the rule came about due to visiting boaters runing their engine to charge their batteries? I'm sure marinas belong to an association and they get all their ideas from articles and feedback from the association. A few years ago a few Puget Sound marinas started requiring insurance - and more lately listing them as the "loss payee" - and now probably all of them do.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

John, they got us at Brownsville with that 'loss

payee' requirement. Thanks for reminding me. The marina wants a new copy of my insurance policy. Seems the one from last year is too old for them. And they do want to be named as a 'party of interest'. What ever that is. And Jerry the Harbor master can't explain it. I think you hit it; marinas are just another herd animal.

 

[John Nantz]

And, speaking of insurance.....

It's that time in the insurance cycle where I'll have to get an insurance $urvey so I'm getting my ducks in a row. The boat show is coming up and I'll be visiting all the booths that are hawking insurance. Got some of the policy paragraphs lined up from last year with the deductables, coverages, etc. in a spreadsheat all ready to go. Even my SAMS surveyor which they all seem to want. When talking to my current insurance company's underwriter about cruising areas and additional costs for area extensions, I mentioned that I don't want to pay for hurricane belt losses. He said that "I'm not.... just a minute". Then came back with "for the boat we've got it would cost $3,500 for the same coverage I've got now." This compares to only $530 for last year. Whew! Wonder what areas have to pay those high rates?

 

[Rick D]

John: Those Numbers Are Strange...

...something's got to be wrong. Keep checking. He's right, you wouldn't be footing the bill for the south east. The company may have to build surplus and it may spread that around, but that would be on the order of ten percent max. They may have taken a new look at their catastrophe projections and rejiggered the rates to reflect that, but that wouldn't hold for your area as far as I know. So... something's wrong with the quote. Do a follow up when the renewal (or replacement) happens. Rick D.

 

[John Nantz]

Thanks Rick....

.... almost fell out of my chair when he told me $3500 but then, who knows? One of the reasons I wrote the post was because the figure seemed, well, kinda much, and was hoping for some response from someone from that area. I've been thinking about it and had to get it out of my system.With low marina slip rates (250/mo for a 44ft slip), apparently low insurance costs (until I check out the comparison), and a tremendous cruising area (if a little cool air and dampness doesn't bother you to much), it's hard to beat.Not only that, but the stores will start having their winter clothing sales in a couple months and I can scarf up on all that good (sailing) clothing at discount prices! Up north one doesn't have to make a fashion statement, and besides, nobody can see what you're wearing under the slickers anyway!Definitely will be cross-checking rates and coverages in the next few months though.

 

[jackhartjr]

John...

I am a little confused...are you saying you paid $530.00 last year and are being quoted $5,500.00 for this year coming up? Jack HartSEA-YA!

 

[John Nantz]

Jack.... quote comparison not for this area

What started the whole thing was the reduced cruising area and the increased costs for going beyond the basic cruising area and it was one-thing-led-to-another. With all increases he mentioned we got on a discussion of just how dangerous this area is(or isn't). For comparison sake, he gave me what insuring our boat would cost for the hurricane-prone area, maybe to make me feel better???It wasn't by a "quote" in the true sense of the meaning, just a number for comparison sake as what we would have to pay if we were somewhere else.In any event, I'll be checking coverages and costs and, one thing I'd like to find out is well the companies pay out in the event there is a claim (how does one find this out before something happens???).

 

[Ferg]

Warming up

According to a friend who put the same motor in his 1969 C&C Corvette 30’, you can warm it in neutral at the dock, don’t worry about it reaching full operating temperature at that point. He says warmed enough so it runs reliably is good’nuff, but make sure it’s warmed all the way up before shutting it down. It should do that while you’re motoring out, if not, you may want to check the thermostat.Ferg

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi John, you mentioned $250/mo for a 44 foot...

slip. Did Semiahmoo lower their rates, because it used to be $300? Or is the $250 your special deal as a slip owner?Terry