I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

I don't have my boat yet, but I NOT berth in Boston.
My boat might be mistaken for a bomb.
Bostonian to himself, as he spots my boat: "Hey, that wasn't there
yesterday!" He calls the cops. Possible bomb at the wharf.
Boston bomb squad team lead: "Looks sorta like a boat, but it wasn't
here yesterday. Let's get some charges on it and see what we got."
Even if my boat isn't the first one spotted, when the news picks up
"the situaton at Boston Harbor," somebody might report *my* boat and
sick the bomb squad on it, and they'll have to "detonate" it.
Then of course the mayor and police chief will arrest me for
perpetrating a "hoax."
No way in the world my new boat will be anywhere near Boston.
Enough reason to keep my boat in Florida right there.
So my question is to those keeping there boats in Florida.
Is this an issue in Florida like it is in Boston?
TIA.

--Vic

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:00:25 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Is this an issue in Florida like it is in Boston?

Depends on the boat.

Our Homeland Security/Customs/USCG boats are all very heavily armed.
They'll know how to deal with you if you're a problem.

USCG at Ft Myers Beach has a "stealth" boat with entire hull and super
structure painted in flat black, with 3 or 4 big outboards on the back
painted to match.

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

Wayne.B wrote:

USCG at Ft Myers Beach has a "stealth" boat with entire hull and super
structure painted in flat black, with 3 or 4 big outboards on the back
painted to match.

I'll bet that stands out like a sore thumb.

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:35:48 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:00:25 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Is this an issue in Florida like it is in Boston?

Depends on the boat.

Probably a 24' Carolina Skiff. I won't fly a Jolly Roger.
I hear there's plenty of these type boats in Florida, so hopefully the
authorities won't mistake it for a bomb. I intend to have all the
proper paperwork and insurance, and boat in a safe manner.

Our Homeland Security/Customs/USCG boats are all very heavily armed.
They'll know how to deal with you if you're a problem.

That's good to know. I have heard reports of piracy and other crimes
in Florida waters. This may be subject in itself, but are you aware
of a "water security" FAQ? I imagine cruisers are more up on this
than inshore boaters, but since I may venture a bit offshore it will
a normal concern that I should pay heed to.

USCG at Ft Myers Beach has a "stealth" boat with entire hull and super
structure painted in flat black, with 3 or 4 big outboards on the back
painted to match.

Sounds *very* uncomfortable heatwise, and not too stealthy. Would
probably hide it better if painted to look like a swarm of mullet
toward the waterline, blending a pelican or jumping porpoise motif
above that, then a transition to a cloud motif on the superstructure.
Once when discussing a torpedo hit drill with a navy buddy of mine he
came up with what I thought a brilliant idea for camouflage.
We were on a can, in the boilerroom 15 or so feet below the waterline.
The drill for preparing for an incoming torpedo was to firmly grip any
part of the ship structure ensuring the knees were deeply flexed.
The body was to be bent as much as possible with the head dropped
between the legs. After attaining that position, you could kiss your
ass goodbye. Never did it, because nobody ever sent a torpedo at us,
but it sounds practical.
But friend didn't care for this and thought preventing the torpedo
attack was a better approach. Since we were then in the North Atlantic
he came up with an appropriate disguise for that area.
The ship would be painted white, and jagged plywood outcroppings
would be attached to the ship. This would make the ship appear to
be a common ice floe. Anybody abovedecks would have to substitute
penguin costumes for their normal dungarees. All movement would
be done in a waddle. When he demonstrated the waddle, after you
stopped laughing you almost believed it could work.

--Vic

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

On Feb 1, 6:00�pm, Vic Smith wrote:
I don't have my boat yet, but I NOT berth in Boston.
My boat might be mistaken for a bomb.
Bostonian to himself, as he spots my boat: "Hey, that wasn't there
yesterday!" *He calls the cops. *Possible bomb at the wharf.
Boston bomb squad team lead: *"Looks sorta like a boat, but it wasn't
here yesterday. *Let's get some charges on it and see what we got."
Even if my boat isn't the first one spotted, when the news picks up
"the situaton at Boston Harbor," somebody might report *my* boat and
sick the bomb squad on it, and they'll have to "detonate" it.
Then of course the mayor and police chief will arrest me for
perpetrating a "hoax." *
No way in the world my new boat will be anywhere near Boston.
Enough reason to keep my boat in Florida right there.
So my question is to those keeping there boats in Florida.
Is this an issue in Florida like it is in Boston?
TIA.

--Vic

It is't likely to be considered a "possible bomb" unless its a gas
powered boat. :-)

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:00:25 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Is this an issue in Florida like it is in Boston?

Depends on the boat.

Our Homeland Security/Customs/USCG boats are all very heavily armed.
They'll know how to deal with you if you're a problem.

USCG at Ft Myers Beach has a "stealth" boat with entire hull and super
structure painted in flat black, with 3 or 4 big outboards on the back
painted to match.

Yup. And they couldn't stop a few dozen Cuban refugees from landing on
Sanibel and in Port Royal.

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

On 1 Feb 2007 19:37:57 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

It is't likely to be considered a "possible bomb" unless its a gas
powered boat. :-)

Which got me thinking about diesel outboards. Yanmar has a 36hp,
but I think it best for now to stay with gas and give it the care it
needs. BTW, since you're deeply in the boating game, has there
been much written about "alternative" fuels for boats?
Seems there should be a market there for wealthy greenies.

--Vic

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

Vic Smith wrote:
On 1 Feb 2007 19:37:57 -0800, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:
It is't likely to be considered a "possible bomb" unless its a gas
powered boat. :-)

Which got me thinking about diesel outboards. Yanmar has a 36hp,
but I think it best for now to stay with gas and give it the care it
needs. BTW, since you're deeply in the boating game, has there
been much written about "alternative" fuels for boats?
Seems there should be a market there for wealthy greenies.

--Vic

There are some alternative fuel boats that have been around for a long
time, they are called sailboats.

Also, they are been some much publicized converted diesels that run on
bio-diesel that have made long ocean trips to encourage the use of
bio-diesel fuel.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14227765/
http://www.earthrace.net/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005...tion_soy_b.php
http://www.mirabilis.ca/archives/000580.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...odiesel18.html

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

On Feb 1, 10:01 pm, Vic Smith wrote:

BTW, since you're deeply in the boating game, has there
been much written about "alternative" fuels for boats?
Seems there should be a market there for wealthy greenies.

Interesting you should mention that.

I was reading a really interesting article recently about "green"
fuels like ethanol blends and bio-diesel. Apparently what is
happening is that the various grain like corn are driving the
costs for food up so that things like food subsidies to third
world countries, emergency aid and even feed grain prices
will drive the cost of food through the roof which could lead
to over production, over harvesting, etc.

One case the article cited was the tortilla in Mexico. Even
though the corn used in the tortilla is white (as opposed to
yellow), it is a commodity and it's base price has been
affected such that the tortilla has become more expensive
to make and purchase. The tortilla is the major protein
source for Mexican poor and instead of buying/making three
or four per day they are down to one and often times not even
one substituting other, more starchy and less healthy food.

Kinda puts the whole "bio fuel" debate into a new and much
more interesting light.

I Will Not Berth in Boston
 

wrote in message
ps.com...
On Feb 1, 10:01 pm, Vic Smith wrote:

BTW, since you're deeply in the boating game, has there
been much written about "alternative" fuels for boats?
Seems there should be a market there for wealthy greenies.

Interesting you should mention that.

I was reading a really interesting article recently about "green"
fuels like ethanol blends and bio-diesel. Apparently what is
happening is that the various grain like corn are driving the
costs for food up so that things like food subsidies to third
world countries, emergency aid and even feed grain prices
will drive the cost of food through the roof which could lead
to over production, over harvesting, etc.

One case the article cited was the tortilla in Mexico. Even
though the corn used in the tortilla is white (as opposed to
yellow), it is a commodity and it's base price has been
affected such that the tortilla has become more expensive
to make and purchase. The tortilla is the major protein
source for Mexican poor and instead of buying/making three
or four per day they are down to one and often times not even
one substituting other, more starchy and less healthy food.

Kinda puts the whole "bio fuel" debate into a new and much
more interesting light.

Geez, and I love popped corn.