Shop Local!
As you ready your vessel for the season, keep in mind all the great services you can get without leaving the marina. The Grand Marina warehouse is your one stop shop for everything that you
will need to get you ready. Canvas, sails, chandlery, paint, cabinetry, The Boatyard, stainless steel fabrication, electronics, plumbing, tank & bilge cleaning & oil changes, even an old school sign painter/gold leafer/ glass puller. Stop by the office and we’ll happily give you contact information.
Keeping a Ships Log
A ships log can be used for a number of different purposes. A log is an excellent place to squirrel away information on the boat itself; its length, beam, draft, year built, vertical clearance, capacities of fuel, water, waste, PHRF ratings if you race, size and pitch of your prop, wiring, plumbing and other schematics of your vessel. Important phone numbers, such as your insurance company, engine mechanic, rigger & boatyard are good ideas too. Ships logs should also have a maintenance section with a checklist for tasks such as cleaning the bottom, replacing zincs, changing the oil and oil filters as well as fuel filters. You could also include checklists for before getting underway. Examples might include installing a drain plug, stowing gear, checking the VHF weather forecast, disconnecting shore power, check gauges for proper readings, check current and wind direction, or a reminder to bring in those fenders. A ships log should also be able to reconstruct a course followed during a passage and at sea it will enable the navigator to calculate dead reckoning and estimated positions. For navigation purposes, you can use your log to
record way-points and route numbers or times at certain markers for a future, accurate reference. Notations on anything unusual – uncharted shoals, rocks and reefs, bottom anchoring conditions, even marinas or restaurants you liked or didn’t like – can be useful when you revisit a location. When you return from your trip, use the log to record gauge readings: engine hours, distances covered, etc. Use another checklist to make sure your boat is put away properly. This way you won’t forget those all too important things like shutting a sea-cock or leaving a battery switch
on!
Basic Emergency Preparation
Whether it is an earthquake, terrorist attack or a tsunami, we should all be able to be self-sufficient for at least three days. The following items should be stored together for an emergency and ready for use at all times:
▪ Water – one gallon of drinking water per person and pet, per day; rotate every 6 months
▪ Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water, such as: canned tuna, canned fruit and veggies, canned beans, raisins, peanut butter, granola bars, canned milk.
▪ Manual can opener
▪ First Aid Kit – two pairs disposable gloves, sterile dressing, cleansing agent/soap, antibiotic ointment, burn ointment, adhesive bandages, eye wash, scissors, diarrhea medication,
prescription medications and prescribed medical supplies
▪ Flashlight
▪ Radio – battery or crank operated (a great Christmas gift idea, for family or friends)
▪ Batteries
▪ Cash in small denominations
▪ A copy of important documents and phone #’s
▪ Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, and soap
▪ Sturdy shoes
▪ Heavy gloves
▪ Warm clothes, a hat and rain gear
▪ A local map
▪ Essential medications Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
▪ Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
▪ Blankets or sleeping bag
▪ Extra keys to your house and vehicle
▪ Large plastic bags for waste and sanitation
▪ Diapers and other items for babies
▪ Special need items for family members with mobility issues such as an extra cane or manual wheelchair, in case there is no power for recharging an electric wheelchair
▪ For your pets, drinking water, bowls, food, cat litter, an extra leash and or pet carrier
▪ Recent pictures of your family members and pets
▪ Dust masks
