The Harbor Column -- Mike Whitehead

Ahoy.

Labor Day is the weekend that usually signals the end of summer and

recreational boating as everyone returns from vacation to school and

work. However, in our area, Southern California, I think that fall is

the best time to be on the water because the weather is usually warm, the

sea temperature is now in the 70s and the crowds are thinning. Since our

waterways do not ice over nor do we experience the bitter cold, as in

other northern waterways, we have the luxury of boating year-round (oh,

the daytime air temperature may drop in the 50s, get me my parka).

Just keep in mind that the sun will start setting earlier, so check

your navigation lights. All vessels must display the proper navigation

lights from sunset to sunrise and during periods of restricted

visibility. Most boats under power are to display a forward 225-degree,

white mast headlight, a red light on the port side with a green light on

the starboard side both displaying 112.5 degrees from the bow aft on

their respected side, and a white stern light displaying 135 degrees

astern. This completes a 360-degree circle around the vessel for other

skippers to approximately calculate your direction of travel.

For vessels under sail power only, meaning not using the engine, do

not display the masthead light, but display the forward red and green

lights, and the white stern light. There are exceptions to these rules,

such as towing, vessels restricted with reasons, emergency operations,

small rowing canoes and ships. Know before you go, so pick up a book that

explains the different lights and day shapes to carry aboard for quick

reference. I carry a cheat sheet next to my U.S. Coast Guard’s master

license that I use to refresh my memory.

Have you noticed how boats regularly hit channel markers numbered

eight and ten tweaking the markers’ tops? I have been pondering why the

markers are being hit, and I have been trying to theorize solutions to

solve the problem. If you have cruised the harbor at nighttime,

especially on a moonless night, you know how difficult it is to

differentiate the small flashing red lights from all the background

lights including homes, cars, street lights and colored outdoor lighting.

Skippers not familiar with the channel marker locations may lose the

lights, but it’s easier at low tide when the markers are higher out of

the water. The best solution is for skippers to pay more attention to

their charts and where they are in the harbor. However, this is an

impossible wish, so falling short of circling the markers with white

Christmas lights, how about circling the large support poles with

reflective tape?

One reader wrote that channel marker eight should be moved to the side

of the channel by the Balboa Yacht Club moorings and another reader

suggested that channel marker eight be put back to a floating marker as

it was originally. Interesting, but marker ten gets hit, too, even being

tucked in by the moorings.

***

Last week at the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce Board of

Director’s meeting, I was sat next to Jim Ulcickas of the Bluewater

Grill. Jim mentioned that he has a small dock for visiting boaters to use

while patronizing his restaurant, but that the dock gets filled up

quickly and, due to its size, is unable to accommodate larger boats. A

common problem in this harbor is adequate guest dockage, however, the

Bluewater and the “Cannery” are located at the very end of the Rhine

Channel with the Rhine Wharf in between.

Both of us agree that the Rhine wharf is an excellent location to have

a public floating dock for visiting boaters to use for a few hours. Jim

mentioned that maybe a modified parking meter system could be installed

on the docks or have a few hour time limit similar to Shoreline Village

in Long Beach. This dock would allow boaters to not only access the

nearby restaurants, but also a grocery store with other shops only a few

blocks away would be well within walking distance.

Since Newport Harbor does not have a single public dock for boaters to

use over 20 minutes, excluding the guest slips at the harbor department,

this wharf could provide the perfect opportunity to start making the

harbor boater friendly. What do you think? Let me know.

Tip for the week: remember to check your bilge for oil and fuel before

activating your bilge pump and contaminating the harbor.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send him

your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions via e-mail

to o7 [email protected] or o7 https://www.BoathouseTV.comf7 .