Inland Boater Forum

Wow! Right now, our 87 Octane gas on the street is running anywhere from $1.89 to $1.99. I’m not sure what the 89 Octane is because I only use that in my boat which is packaged up in winter storage. If I remember correctly, back in September when I was preparing it for pull-out, I paid about $4.73 a gallon at our marina gas dock. Compared to last Fall prices, I’d feel blessed if gas prices are under $3.00 in the Spring.

Being a 1991 Carver, my boat only holds 210 gallons to serve twin Crusader 454s. It’s funny but I only had to ad (maybe) a little less than three quarters of a tank of gas to top her off because I was still using gas from the previous boating season (2007)! I only started my engines three times during the entire summer. Two of those times, I took her out of the marina for a short run down to the foot of Woodward (Hart Plaza), around Belle Isle and back. But we still had a good time at the marina “Rockin’ at the Dock”! The hardest thing is missing out on the “E-Dock and Friends” trips this past summer (See the edockandfriends.com website).

I’m hoping we’ll get out of the marina a few more times this coming boating season but if we don’t, we know how to enjoy ourselves just hanging out in the marina! There’s always something going on at Harborhill Marina!

One question . . . when you’re cruising in Mexican waters, have you ever been approached by the Mexican Coast Guard (if there is such a thing)?

Thanks for the web site Salt. Nice photos of Sunroad and Harbor Hill. I can see my boat zooming in. Howard, there is a Mexican Navy and I have been approached but never boarded. They can in fact board just like the U. S. Coast Guard. In Mexico they are looking for fishing gear and weapons. You can not have any weapons or ammo on your boat or person in Mexico. You will be arrested, boat siezed, and you will be jailed. If you intend to fish in mexico you must have a fishing license for the boat, another one for your dinghy and individual permits for each person on board. They are very strict and will require all licences and permits even if a fish hook is found on board. It is a revenue generator to say the least. Paper work if you are going to stay in mexico with your boat is another story. You need a crew list, vessel documentation papers and insurance papers. Each person will need a passport. Fees go to the immigration office, the port captain and the dock master where you land. It all must be paid in pesos. Long term visits will also require that each crew member obtain a mexican 6 month visa.When you leave mexico they give you a realease form signed by the port captain. This you present to customs when rentering the united states.  It is an experience, but you get used to it if you want to go south. Hope you guys get to use your boats more this year. Bill

Holy Crap! I’m use to the Coast Guards “Zero Tolerance” around here but that’s enough to keep me from heading South! (A Rhetorical Question) So let’s see . . . . how far off the coast do you have to stay to be in International Waters? . . . . .

There’s seems to be such a drastic difference between cruising the waters of our Northern neighbor (Canada) and Mexico in the South. Yeah, there are requirements we have to be aware of too but it’s nothing like that.  Around here, most of the time common sense will keep you out of trouble! The problem there is whether or not common sense has taken the day off (if you know what I mean)! But some of “us” refuse to understand that we’re on an INTERNATIONAL BORDER and not just crossing Woodward Avenue to the other side of town!

Howard, international waters are technically twelve nautical miles at the outer limit. I would not recommend traveling that far out in mexico as VHF reception and transmission are reduced greatly in case of needing to call for help. The concerns of piracy, etc. are being more considered in mexico these days due to the activity in somalia and others areas of the globe. Bill

Bill,

With the economy and the job market the way they are, perhaps piracy is where we need to go

We have enough boats to live on. Plenty of fine women in the group. All we need is some mad dog or Captain Morgan’s rum and a couple of eye patches and we’re in business. I’m sure there’s plenty of booty on the east coast the west coast and along the “great loop”!

You make a good point BayBay about the piracy. The way the future is looking it would not surprise me. All the more reason to be cautious on the water no matter where. Funny you mention the Great Loop. It is one of my destination dreams. Although It probably will not happen it appears to be a great journey.

Arrrrr!  Ahoy thar Matey!! 
Better start brushing up on my “Pirate Speak” so I can talk my way out of getting MUGGED on the water!  All I can say is any pirate better be packin’ heavier and more cannons than who he decides on boarding! The best DEFENSE can be a good OFFENSE!  Arrrrr!

Years ago, an old friend I knew from high school was slowly cruising down the river aboard his new express style boat with his wife alone at the wheel. He was down below when he heard his wife yelling his name. When he came up on deck, he saw an Offshore style boat right along side his cockpit with a guy who appeared to be preparing to leap aboard his boat.  When they saw him, they made a hard turn to port and sped away (up river) towards Lake St. Clair. Pirates???  I don’t know but it sure appeared to him as so!

Yeah, you’re right. . . . Other than that incident, I haven’t heard about anything happening around here.

By the way, what do you think about organizing a “Pirate’s Day” party this summer? We can all dress up like pirates and drink so RUM!!!! Maybe even have a couple people “walk the plank”! I’m going to talk to our party organizers and see if this year’s Dock Party can have that as a theme.

Potential sinking to weight of snow(I don’t know if it would just slide off the shrink wrap), Thru hull hoses freezing(not a problem)-frozen hoses thawing(big problem). You may be able to take care of this with some sort of bilge heater. The hoses you have to be careful of are the thru hull fittings that are just a few inches above the waterline and don’t have a sea cock. Those are the ones that can burn you if the boat is weighed down a bit from snow or you have a little wave action washing over the thru hull fitting with a busted hose. These are a few of the things. If you can keep an eye on the boat from the house, that makes a ton of difference verses leaving it at a slip unattended.