wooden boat
wooden boat: Fishing In Jamaica
Fishing in Jamaica is part of a dream vacation for many. There are many excellent fishing spots, as is evidenced by Jamaica's international popularity as a fishing destination and tournament site. Deep-sea fishing trips are easily chartered, as are fishing tours of the region ...
by Ryan Larson 574
Fishing in Jamaica is part of a dream vacation for many. There are many excellent fishing spots, as is evidenced by Jamaica's international popularity as a fishing destination and tournament site. Deep-sea fishing trips are easily chartered, as are fishing tours of the region. As an island nation, fishing is important to the local economy, a part of the local culture. Thus, the savvy visitor may be able to arrange to do his fishing outside of the usual tourist spots, and instead enjoy a few of the places known and loved by local fishers.
Suzie-Q Deep Sea Fishing Charters operates out of Falmouth, which is close to Montego Bay, offers both 8-hour and 4-hour charters for up to 12 people. There are a wide variety of fish available in the fishing region, including blue marlin, white marlin, mahi mahi, wahoo, black-finned tuna, yellow-finned tuna, skipjack, kingfish, mackerel, and sailfish. Reservation must be made 48 hours in advance, and rates are $500 for 4 hours with up to 8 people, $900 for 8 hours. $30 per extra person, up to a total of 14, will be charged.
Jamaica Deep Sea Adventures, found at the Port Antonio marina, prides itself on the fine equipment it provides for its fishers. One of the special items is a chair designed specifically for supporting the fisher while he is struggling with large fish. Fishers can expect to be dropping their lines up to 6,000 feet into the beautiful salt waters that are home to numerous species of fish, including barracuda, tuna, and marlin.
Montego Bay is home to No Problem Fishing Charters. They offer half day charters for $360 and full day charters for $690. Also in Montego Bay are Pier One Marina, where chartered fishing excursions can be arranged, and North Coast Marine Charters, which operates out of Half Moon Hotel and Wynham Rose Hall Hotel.
Families will enjoy using Salty Angler Fishing Charters of Montego Bay, because children are welcomed and beginner's lessons are readily available. It should be noted, however, that this is catch and release fishing only. They have a variety of fishing experiences available, including open water fishing, coastal fishing, night fishing, fly fishing and light tackle fishing.
At the Lost Beach Resort, located in Negril, a different sort of fishing trip can be arranged. For a fee, a trip with a local fisherman can be set up. Fishers will accompany the local fisherman in his wooden skiff and fish by line or by pot. It is a fascinating experience and a wonderful way to learn a bit about the local culture.
Near Treasure Beach and also around Port Antonio, small
wooden boats can be chartered or rented for hand-line fishing. As with most fishing expeditions in Jamaica, the local hotels can help to locate and arrange the most suitable fishing experience.
Jamaica has a broad range of fishing opportunities, from adventurous and exciting to relaxing and peaceful. Tours and charters are not only for the sports fisherman, but also can be enjoyed safely by families. Jamaican waters draw fishers from all over the world, and for good reason. Each fishing day has the potential to be a one-of-a-kind experience.
About The Author:
This article provided courtesy of http://www.fishing-vacation-guide.com
Copyright Ryan Larson - http://www.fishing-vacation-guide.com
wooden boat: Traditional Ship Finds Work in Modern Era
Brought to you by www.discovereronline.com - Educational research - 305.293.8514 The Discoverer Ketty Lund is a classic Danish North Sea trawler supporting scientific research on the sea. 73 feet lo...
by Eric Smith
Brought to you by www.discovereronline.com - Educational research - 305.293.8514
The Discoverer Ketty Lund is a classic Danish North Sea trawler supporting scientific research on the sea. 73 feet long and built of oak, her charter is to assist all manor of scientific endeavor, from underwater archaeology to the study of deep ocean currents or the breeding habits of whales.
Cruising just off the shore off Hillsboro Inlet, Florida, this week to support the work of Beach Restorations INC investigating coastal erosion issues is an example of Discoverers participation in research projects. Under the direction of Beach Restorations president Tim Engle, the Discoverer and crew will assist in the deployment and recovery of scientific equipment used to collect information about coastal erosion on Floridaís famous coastline.
ì There is no comparison to making a model in a lab verses actually diving the site with working with a crew that you know and trust.î Said Beach Restorations coastal engineer Dr. Kelly Rankin. It is much more difficult to deploy this equipment ( wave gauges and current meters) in the surf zone than it is to make a computer model, thatís why nobody has ever measured the wave forces here before. By using the Discoverer as a platform and her crew as divers, we were able to record information that will tell us exactly why the beach is being eroded, and how we can best mitigate it.î Another benefit of actually getting in the water to install the gauges was Rankins ability to observe the coral reef condition on the site. Although not a healthy , thriving reef, the coral was there. ìImagine these tiny organisms ( coral polyps) are able to build a reef structure that can protect these giant man made buildings from the oceans harm during a storm. If we can help them to do that it certainly would be better than burying them under millions of tons of sand fill over and over againî
HISTORY:
The Discoverer Ketty Lund was originally built to fish the North Sea for Cod out of Denmark. Fisherman Kai Lund commissioned and named for his wife Ketty to be constructed in heavy oak the style and technique that the Danish fishermen had always used and had descended from the Viking ships. Among her few concessions to modernism include the slow turning Burmeister-Wain engine, with a range of 2,000 miles, and a modern sailing rig to steady her in rough seas.
According to her retired captain Hamilton Carter, The Ketty Lund was built to massive specifications with help from the Danish government to survive a 60-year fishing life.
She fished for 20 years out of Esbjerg, Denmark, when the formation of the European Union required that the old wooden fishing boats be retired, destroyed, and replaced with steel ships. Ketty Lund escaped the wrecking yard when some Swedes took her to Gothenburg and converted her to a diving support vessel. After many years of exploring the coast of Scandinavia, they crossed the Atlantic via the Azores in search of paradise in the Caribbean,
Captain Hamilton Carter, the famous veteran of countless research voyages in the Antarctic and Arctic, rebuilt her interior completely in 1999 based on his experiences during a lifetime at sea in harsh environments, with accommodations for 12, including a large gourmet galley and dry facilities for working on equipment. He made several excursions into the iceberg-infested waters of northern Labrador before handing over command to Captain Eric Wartenweiler Smith in a ceremony at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg Nova Scotia in 2002.
THE PRESENT:
Edward Little, a NOAA scientist who assists Captain Smith in connecting with various agencies in need of marine science-related services, said that the Discoverers program would likely fill a valuable niche in the scientific community because of its versatility and small size. ìAlmost as soon as I first toured the Ketty, I could see that it offered possibilities as a ëvest pocketí research vessel. She was seaworthy, roomy, and cheap to run. Thatís something that many other ëresearch vesselsí often fall short of,î Little said. Ed Little can be contacted at
Ken Hayes, president of Aqua Survey, a scientific research and consulting company based in Kingwood Township, N.J., has sponsored several scientific missions. ìAqua Survey is looking forward to a long-term relationship with the Discoverer and with their vision of substanceî. Hayes said.
Dr Kelly Rankin of Beach Restorations, Inc. has been a frequent member of the crew of the Discoverer for science related voyages, and occasionally just for the pleasure of a sailing voyage.
ìOne of the unique aspects of going to sea on a small ship like the Discoverer Ketty Lund is that every one pitches in together, be it on the deck or doing dishesî says Captain Smith. In fact the galley seems to be the second main attraction keeping the little ship in work. Recognizing that life at sea builds a big appetite, the Discoverer never sails without a well-stocked galley and an exceptional chef. ìJust because we are studying the food chain doesnít mean we canít enjoy participating in it,î says Discoverer chef Teresa Willis. Fresh fish and local delicacies influence the menu. Crew members come from all walks of life, most having a background in science or diving, but all sharing a common love of life aboard the Discoverer,
††On a recent mission, they hosted a Film crew making a TV documentary on the slave ship wreck Henrietta Marie. The crew was able to contribute to the success of the filming due to their considerable experience in shipwrecks and diving.
††ì Until they see her, people often donít get why a classic
wooden boat is even in this field.í says Captain Smith. Maintaining an older vessel is time consuming and expensive, and the number of days at sea need to be matched up well with those in port for care of her hull and almost antique engine. Her small size means she is just not capable of handling some equipment now standard in the marine sciences, and limited bunk space essentially means only a few scientists at a time can come aboard.
THE FUTURE:
The Sailing itinerary for the Discoverer Ketty Lund includes spending the rest of 2005 in the Caribbean before making the return trip to her native Denmark via Greenland and Iceland. This voyage will be spread out over several years to allow participation in exploration as well as maritime museums along the way.
Brought to you by www.discovereronline.com - Educational research - 305.293.8514
About The Author
Eric Smith
Copyright 2005 www.discovereronline.com - Educational research - 305.293.8514
info@discovereronline.com
Copyright Eric Smith - http://www.discovereronline.com
wooden boat: What You Need To Know Before You Sell Your Boat
As the owner/operator of a full service boat detailing- yacht maintenance business I can't help but chuckle sometimes at seeing the extremes that otherwise bright, intelligent, successful, people wil...
by James "Doc" Lewis
As the owner/operator of a full service boat detailing- yacht maintenance business I can't help but chuckle sometimes at seeing the extremes that otherwise bright, intelligent, successful, people will go to in a misguided attempt to save a few dollars.
One of the biggest mistakes that we see is that people will decide to sell their boat without first having her completely detailed.
According to Rob Scanlan, a well known and respected Master Marine Surveyor;
"Detailing a boat is the single most important investment of time, energy and money a seller can make because a clean and shiny boat sells faster and for a lot more money. I strongly recommended that a seller enlist professional assistance to do a quality job."
yacht1ship@aol.com (Email)
www.mastermarinesurveyor.com (Web site)
We at BoatDocs1, do a lot of work here on the Emerald Coast with local yacht brokers and know what the standards are for a "ready to show" boat. These professionals know that the cosmetic appearance says everything to the prospective buyer as to the overall care and maintenance that the previous owner has given the yacht. Add to that the universal wisdom about first impressions and it's not hard to see the importance of this vital first step.
Even if you intend to do most of the work yourself we can offer the expertise to assure that your time and money are spent wisely. Our trained eyes will often pick up the little details that only a prospective buyer would notice and likely balk at.
Here is an outline of the standard procedures we use when preparing a yacht to be put up for sale:
1. Thoroughly Wash and Dry the Boat
Note: For this part, pay attention to everything you see and unless your memory is a lot better than mine, make notes on a piece of paper for later.
Wash and chamois-dry your boat top to bottom including transom.
clean Isenglass and other ports/windows
wipe down and dress all aluminum/stainless
clean and dress vinyl seats
wipe down fly bridge and cockpit
vacuum exterior carpet
clean and dress nonskid
2. Stand Back and Survey the Boat
Note: Bring your list and organize it with the following outline
Put yourself in the buyers shoes, be critical, the buyer will.
a) Is it shiny? It's the first thing most people notice.
b) What about the smell? People have a way of getting used to almost anything. Get a second opinion and see the hint below.
c) Is all hardware intact and presentable? Just because you've used that broken table for years and are rather fond of it, to anyone else, it's just a broken table.
d) What about dings, any damage to the fiberglass? Aside from the fact that broken gelcoat can let water into the core of the lay-up and delaminate the fiberglass, it just plain looks BAD.
e) What about rust? You are probably thinking right now; (what's a little rust on a boat?) Let me tell you. A little rust on a boat is a sure sign that the owner let's little things go by unnoticed and if there is one thing there are always more. What about oil changes? I wonder if he flushed out the outboard after use? The object of this little exercise is to make the boat look like you are conscientious and a stickler for having everything perfectly "SHIP SHAPE."
f) One more little tip that you have probably already thought of. Take a look around the boat and remove EVERYTHING that isn't part of the boat.
EXAMPLE:
Engine controls, compass, life jackets, flare kit, and a first aid kit ARE part of the boat. Knick-knacks, fishing tackle, cutesy wall plaques, and half full paint cans are NOT part of the boat-and look tacky. A few cleaning supplies, in their own locker is probably all right as long as they're kept neat and clean.
g) Make a list of things that need attention, and get it taken care of. A few dollars spent now will pay back in spades when the time comes to show your boat. Anything that isn't right will stick out like the proverbial sore thumb, be noticed and start the price spiraling down. (if it doesn't just send them scurrying off shaking their heads)
Hint: If you are not a woman reading this and don't have a wife of your own, ask your mother or sister, or see if a friend will loan you his for a few minutes. For some reason women can smell things that a man would never notice. You may think that men buy boats but in my experience they buy the boats their women like.
Along this same line, pay particular attention to the cabin and heads.
3. Prioritize the Job
With your list you are in good shape to decide what needs to be done and whether or not you want to do the work yourself or have it done by a professional.
Most of the professional yacht maintenance companies we are familiar with, would be happy to take a look and give you an estimate of what it will cost to have the work done right. We can do part of the job, for example the compounding/polishing and will gladly help you choose the best wax to finish the job yourself.
What about those little chips and dings in the gelcoat?
Many books have been written on fiberglass repair and it isn't the intent of this article to cover the subject in any depth but many small repairs are well within the reach of a fairly skilled do-it-yourselfer. Like anything else though, if you have never done it before, "consult an expert."
I've been building and repairing in fiberglass since I was 14 and while the first
wooden boat I glassed was water tight and lasted a good many years, it was far from pretty. The small investment you lay out for expert repair now will pay big dividends when your boat sells at the price you want.
In the Emerald Coast region the standard fees for compound/waxing run between $15.00/ft. and $18.00/ft. for the topside (rub-rail up) which includes a thorough cleaning and treatment of the vinyl, windows, isenglass, and metal. In other words, for the price of doing the "hard" part we'll detail the entire topsides and leave it in "ready-to-show" condition. Hulls (rub-rail down) run about $8.00/ft. but, of course, the boat must be out of the water in order to do it. (This walking on water with a hi-speed electric buffer in hand is still beyond me, but I'll let you know;-)
Fiberglass repair runs from $45.00 to $65.00 per hour and in general as with most everything else, one gets what one pays for. The up side to this is that when approached in a professional manner the dents and dings of ten years hard use can be repaired and made to look like new in an amazingly short time.
All too often we have seen people save $300.00 or $400.00 on a detail only to loose $Thousands$ on what their boat could have sold for. Then too, our local marinas are clogged with many examples of boats with "For Sale" signs which were never given the least bit of attention to make the passer by want to stop and think, "Hey, I wonder what it would be like to call that boat mine." Some of these boats have sat for years when all they ever really needed was a little T.L.C.
I remember, years ago, someone saying something about being penny wise and pound foolish? Let's not let them be saying that about us.
About The Author
James "Doc" Lewis has been "messin about in boats" for as long as he can remember. He is owner/operator of BoatDocs1, a full-service boat detailing-yacht maintenance business serving the Emerald Coast region of Florida. To learn more about boats and keeping them looking their best visit his web site at: http://www.boatdocs1.com/
You are welcome to distribute this article via Email or on the Internet. The only provision is that it be published in it's entirety including this resource box. Related articles can be found at www.boatdocs1.com
©2004 BoatDocs1
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wooden boat: An Unforgettable Story About Bali Diving
In 1982 I worked as an English speaking tour guide, but during my free time I learned Italian language by my own method autodidact using English –Italian; Italian – English dictionary and grammar book.. I spent about 2 hours a day to learn it, sometime early in morning, in the afternoon and sometime late at night ...
In 1982 I worked as an English speaking tour guide, but during my free time I learned Italian language by my own method autodidact using English – Italian; Italian – English dictionary and grammar book.. I spent about 2 hours a day to learn it, sometime early in morning, in the afternoon and sometime late at night. I succeeded to keep in my mind 2 words a day but I found much difficulty in learning the grammar because it is very different with my mother language Balinese and Indonesian, but I insisted to meet with success. Day by day, week by week and month by month, and ….. finally I got it.
In October 1982 one of my friend who run a travel agent in Bali asked me to handle his clients, they were Italian and speak a little English. That was my first time to practice my Italian tongue. When I met them at Bali International Airport, the first question I must answer was "where is the best place to dive". With honesty actually I didn't know the answer, but I promised them for the good news the day after.
I visited my friend's house and meet Bli Monyoh, a fisherman live in Sanur the village on the southeast coast of Bali. I knew he was a good fisherman and very smart in shooting fish, diving with his own talent using very simple dive equipment.
We talked about diving places and he told me that in order to discover most enjoyable dive, must visit 2 o 3 different places of the fascinating underwater world among the coral reefs. Mr. Bli Monyoh looked at his Balinese calendar to see a good day to go to the sea. My clients were crazy about dive.
The first day he brought us to Semawang at Sanur by his outrigger sail boat. Located in front of Sanur Tourist Beach. Dives at a few meters depth was rewarded by beautiful underwater panoramas, table and trophy shaped coral and sponges, a thousand of colorful fishes swim by in kaleidoscopic profusions. I am not a swimmer or a diver, I just sit on the boat and prepared the needs when they go up. Was a wonderful day.
The second day Bli Monyoh brought his companion a smart diver named Agung Toya, together with them some gun (exactly an arrow) unwound by a strong rubber band made of tire. Before living Sanur, Bli Monyoh laid an offering and perfumed incense in front of a temple and prayed to God. Along the road about one and a half our drive, he stopped several times for praying where there are temples for God's blessing, safety and luck. Even before touching the water he did so.
When we arrived at Buitan was a very traditional fishing village, located at the district of Manggis Karangasem eastern Bali near Candidasa, I was amazed by the beauty of the nature, a spectacular panorama or the terraces ricefield, rural ambience and the Majestic Mount Agung at the far back, for Bali it is the place of the Supreme God "The Navel of the World". The sea was magnificent, clear blue water, remained untouched by modern influences, seduce everyone especially beach and dive lovers. Now Buitan boast a luxury 5 stars hotel and some small accommodations in Balinese style bungalow.
When we were preparing everything for dive a cordial local man came close to us and gave his own
wooden boat used for free in the hope of us catching a lot of fish. We sailed at 09.00 a.m in calm sea. About 50 m from the beach we arrived on the coral reef where the wave breaks itself. Under very good weather we could see a wonderful underwater world among the coral reefs.
My Italian clients brought their own dive equipments because they were the holder of PADI license. While the native divers used their own talent. Wow, wow, wow, what a great day, we fished a lot (only selected fish), one thing surprised me that Bli Monyoh got 4 king lobsters. At 11.00 a.m. we finished our adventure and the local man was waiting us on the beach ready with his woods fire, chili, onions, garlic, salt and coconut oil. We grilled our fish in relax atmosphere on the beach with nice breeze of the ocean, than enjoyed a delicious gala lunch in cowboy style. Wow amazing, we really celebrated and enjoyed a great day.
Now in Bali there are some exciting and fascinating, world renowned dive sites: Nusa Dua, Sanur, Padang Bay, Gili Tapekong, Tulamben, Amed, Nusa Penida and Lembongan and Menjangan Island.
So if you are a sea and dive lover why don't you choose Bali for your next destination, this enchanting island is waiting for you with its fascinating underwater world. Plan your travel and book your preferred hotel or contact your travel agent. The quickest and the easiest way is, go online and choose Bali Dive. One of the most reliable dive center on the island now is Ena Dive Center (www.enadive.co.id).
About The Author:
Made Dertha was an English and Italian tour guide for many years in Bali, writes for Bali Turista Tours where he is the Managing Director now. Bali Turista is the rising tour operator on the Bali island focusing on Bali hotels and villas reservation. For more information, please visit http://www.baliturismo.com and http://www.baliturista.com
Copyright Made Dertha - http://www.baliturista.com
wooden boat: A Taste of Tahoe
Just as the majesty of the tall pine trees complement the beauty of the crystalline waters of Lake Tahoe, so does the cuisine of the many fine restaurants visitors can expect to find from Stateline to South Shore. Whether it's grabbing a burger and fries or relishing a savory bit of filet mignon, the dining options at the lake are limitless and can accommodate any appetite ...
Just as the majesty of the tall pine trees complement the beauty of the crystalline waters of Lake Tahoe, so does the cuisine of the many fine restaurants visitors can expect to find from Stateline to South Shore.
Whether it's grabbing a burger and fries or relishing a savory bit of filet mignon, the dining options at the lake are limitless and can accommodate any appetite.
Atmosphere is essential to any successful restaurant and for such establishments as the Riva Grill, Llewellyn's, and the Fresh Ketch Restaurant, mesmerizing lakeviews and exceptional cuisine complement each other like the perfect wine selection at dinner.
Known for a classic, Tahoe style ambiance, The Riva Grill located at the Ski Run Marina, has a generous redwood deck that allows its guests to soak in the smell of the tall pine trees and of course the hypnotic view. Entrée selections can range from coconut prawn appetizers and chicken sandwiches for lunch, to herb crusted halibut or a generous steak for dinner. What attracts patrons even more is the "Wet Woody" a frozen concoction of seven different kinds of rum, named after the classic
wooden Chris Craft boats that once dotted the lake's shore. Sipping on one of these tropical sensations while gazing out at the snow-capped mountains and pale blue water indeed provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxing day of leisure.
The paradise feel can be captured once again, in a sleek and sophisticated bar known as the Coco Havana Club. Located at the top of Harvey's Resort and Casino Hotel, the Coco Havana Club is akin to a 1940s nightclub. Situated inside of the resort's culinary high point, Llewellyn's, this smart bar complements the innovative continental cuisine patrons have come to expect from this elegant restaurant. Boasting spectacular views, both the Coco Havana Club and Llewellyn's provide an intimate and relaxing ambiance with the idea of luxury in mind.
For a more casual dining experience, the Fresh Ketch Restaurant at the Tahoe Keys Marina, offers the perfect blend of nautical décor with sunny decks and succulent seafood. From fish and chips to fish tacos, the lunch menu is informal. Weather permitting customers can enjoy a cool glass of iced tea on the sunny deck, while watching the peaceful lull of sailboats sitting peacefully in their slips. For that yacht club feel dinner is hosted in a formal dining area.
With so many restaurants and so little time, it is impossible to list every establishment that puts the "taste" in Tahoe, but if sushi is a favorite, then the Naked Fish, is one of the most popular sushi bars in the area. For those looking for the perfect ravioli, Passaretti's Italian Restaurant has authentic dishes and leaves its patrons feeling full and satisfied.
Just as skiing through untracked powder or jet skiing on the lake are the perfect activities for making a memorable Lake Tahoe vacation, so does ending the day with a great meal while watching the sun set on another perfect day at Lake Tahoe. Be sure to visit: www.LakeTahoeLodging.com and http://www.LakeTahoeLodging.com/article_taste.asp to find out more about these fine places and to view an enhanced web enabled copy of this article.
About the Author
About the author: Travel writer, Ronda Moll has experience as a business editor, staff reporter and licensed Realtor in the Lake Tahoe Area. If you're planning your next vacation or want to learn more about things to do and places to go in Lake Tahoe, please visit http://www.LakeTahoeLodging.com to get vacation planning and vacation rental information and tips.
Email: tahoe@clientbydesign.com
Copyright Ronda Moll - http://www.laketahoelodging.com
wooden boat: Mr. Outdoors, Seabury Blair Jr.: Boats Abound With the Start of the Season
May 2, 2006
What with more than 300 miles of shoreline stretched all around our neck of the woods, it may come as no surprise that a whole bunch of folks say boating is their favorite outdoor pastime.
More than 60 million Americans have gone boating — in one form or another — in the past 12 months. That’s roughly one in every five Americans.
Around here, boating is an even more popular form of outdoor recreation. You can hardly turn around without seeing a boat, running into a yacht club or marina, or witnessing a sailboat race from the deck of a ferry boat.
Come Saturday, you can witness first-hand just how popular boating around here really is. It’s the Opening Day of Boating Season in Seattle and throughout the Northwest.
Here’s some good news: You don’t have to own a boat to enjoy the official opening day of the season. Boatless folks who would like to see a yacht parade have a number of choices.
Head toward the Montlake Cut at the University of Washington and watch the parade from the shore. You’ll join a crowd of boating fans to see hundreds of yachts — many decorated in a Caribbean theme — that move through the Cut from Lake Union to Lake Washington.
You’ll find public parking at the university and a spot along the north bank of the Montlake Cut from which to watch. The Windemere Cup rowing races precede the yacht parade at 10:20 a.m. and feature teams from Washington, Michigan and Russia. The parade is scheduled for noon.
Or drive to the Hiram Chittenden Locks, over in Ballard. Many of the boats headed toward the parade must go through the locks and you’ll see boats of just about every size and shape.
For information about the opening day parade, visit www.seattleyachtclub.org.
Now, the parade might be the big boating deal, but it’s not the only thing taking place in May. For a view of some muscle-powered boats, head for the Renton Boathouse, where they’re holding the Race for the Cookies on May 13.
That’s an open race for all canoes and kayaks up to 21 feet long. Paddlers stroke a 2,000-meter course beginning at 10 a.m., and their efforts are rewarded by a cookie. For information, check www.canoe-kayak.com.
Boating events blossom in May just like rhododendrons. Head for the Olympia Wooden Boat Fair May 13 and 14. The fair, held at Percival Landing in downtown Olympia, features some of the finest
wooden boats in the Northwest, with a number of "open house" boats.
Besides hundreds of wooden boats, the Port of Olympia hosts a boat swap on May 13 at the Swantown Marina from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, call (360) 528-8000.
The wood boat festival is scheduled from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 13 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 14. Information: (360) 866-1315.
Another popular nautical event is the Anacortes Waterfront Festival, scheduled May 20 and 21. A highlight of the boat show is a Marine Swap Meet and small used boat sale; for information, visit www.anacortes.org/waterfrontfestival.
wooden boat: Cycling Laos for charity
17 May 2006
Anna Chalmers pays a lot of money to sweat it out on a cycle ride through Laos. But it's all for a good cause.
Thirteen out of 14 managed the short distance from the Mekong riverbank to the boat waiting to take us to Laos. Not only did I miss, but I ended up ankle deep in mud that stuck like glue.
To a backdrop of laughter, I wrestled my foot free, but there appeared no hope for my jandal. I had to fish for it. Battling against the Mekong mud, the humiliation grew till I defeated the brown sludge.
I was thankful no one was there the previous night when the aging wooden veranda at our Thai guesthouse gave way and my foot thundered through.
It was not the best way to introduce myself to the 12 Kiwis and one Australian I would sweat it out with over the next 10 days. Our common bond was that we'd spent months fundraising and training to cycle 415 kilometres through Laos to raise money for charity Oxfam.
Loading the boat took far longer than the ride. Within minutes of leaving Thailand's shores we docked in Laos - a big moment since we had focused so much time on this place we'd never seen before.
Nights and weekends were consumed with raising the $5500 needed to take part in the event, with proceeds going to Oxfam's work in the area, which is mainly small-scale irrigation and sustainable agriculture projects.
In a frenzy of fundraising, I barely sat on my borrowed mountain bike before Christmas. There were pub quizzes, sausage sizzles, a raffle, garage sale and garden party crammed into the five months before the December deadline. Trip notes posted on a website recommended a minimum 12-week training programme. On New Year's Day, I began a strict training schedule. It started well, but as the departure date drew nearer there were obstacles galore - mainly social events, I admit, but my good intentions were sunk.
Laos is one of the most mountainous countries in the world. We passed through part of the Golden Triangle, named after the once infamous opium trading areas of Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Thailand. It is made up of steep, broken mountain ranges, some towering more than 2800 metres.
After arriving in Laos, getting visas sorted and our heads around the money - $NZ20 buys a stack of kip (local currency) - we spent the day on a
wooden boat gently gliding down the Mekong. Women squatted at the river edge panning for gold, while young children played in murky waters among the tall rocks left bare by the dry-season drought. By late afternoon, thirst-quenching Beer Lao was the perfect accompaniment as the sun set, before we docked in Pak Beng, where our cycling began.
Rising before dawn the next day, we were on our bikes shortly after 7am in an attempt to escape the heat. It was late winter but the humidity was high and the temperature about 30 degrees celsius.
Immediately we were greeted with our first hill and I could only think of the hundreds more kilometres ahead. But the slog was relatively short and we were soon soaring through a small village, bustling with people going about morning chores. Throngs of children on their way to school lined the road, shouting "sabadee" (hello) and waving at this odd-looking group of tourists.
by bicycle provided a magnificent view of the countryside. By late morning we had cycled through a river valley with thick-forested mountains and a rural plateau with villages dotted with bamboo huts on stilts. Every 20km we had a rest stop - and soon an audience of fascinated children. At lunch our tour leader Jason delighted a group of more than 100 kids when he performed an impromptu show. His ability to balance a three-metre pole on his nose and walk on his hands provided great delight. It also demonstrated how best to overcome the language barrier.
After travelling in Vietnam and Cambodia I expected terrible roads, but I was wrong, and we had sealed surfaces all the way. According to our Lao guide, the Chinese paved the route from Pak Beng to Luang Prabang in the late 1960s as communist forces combined to fight the royalist ruling faction.
Like its neighbouring countries, Laos has a bloody history, particularly following French colonisation and the subsequent "Secret War", involving United States and Vietnamese forces. About 200,000 Laotians were killed and three million tonnes of bombs dropped before the Pathet Lao (Laotian communists) took control in 1975. The monarchy was abolished and the Lao People's Democratic Republic formed, which still exists.
I was in awe of the sights, but exhausted by the end of the first day. It was hot work, especially the undulating terrain - up and down, up and down - though none of the hills was much over 100 metres.
This was, after all, billed as a challenge and, thankfully, it did not get much tougher - bar the day when I had been up the previous night with a stomach bug and faced the longest (7km) and steepest (1.2km) climb of the trip.
From Pak Beng to Vientiane, children called out and waited eagerly to slap our hands as we rode by. Cheeky schoolboys raced us on their bikes, sometimes not giving up till they were a long way from home.
At times Laos appeared to be swarming with children, particularly during the day when adults worked the fields and they were left to get to and from school, or carry out village tasks.
The beauty of Laos is that it has not been overrun by tourists or development. It is a quiet place, inhabited by gentle people who genuinely appeared interested in us, not just our tourist dollars.
We spent a day off our bikes exploring the Unesco World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, scattered with crumbling French colonial architecture and wats (Buddhist temples). At dawn the streets were electric orange as robed monks collected their daily food offerings. Hand-crafted quilts, pillows and silk wares were on sale, and French-influenced coffee and cake were walked off with a 300-step climb up Mt Phu Si.
We did not see any Oxfam projects but we witnessed the need for foreign help. In rural areas, where most people live, life is incredibly basic. Huts stand on stilts with pigs, chickens and dogs underneath.
Our group's first aid kit was pulled out on more than one occasion to re-dress a wound that had gone septic. After helping an eight-year-old boy in pain at a Hmong village where children ran half naked and two-year-olds lapped up the most basic attention, I left feeling despondent. How many lives could you save travelling in Laos with a medical kit, I wondered? It was good to hear that our group had raised $60,000.
On the final day of cycling, as we neared the capital of Vientiane, most of us felt sad. We had grown close, encouraging one another in the sauna-like heat - sharing the highs, the odd low and plenty of laughs.
Awards go to fellow Wellington participants Paula Cody for continuing to cycle despite vomiting episodes, Ruth Hill for surviving her encounter with a leech, and to Hagen Hopkins for flying off his bike, fracturing his shoulder and being evacuated before finishing - and smiling all the while.
Getting there: Flights depart regularly from Thailand to the Laos capital, Vientiane, or there are border crossings from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. A visa is necessary.
Basics: Travel is largely by bus or river, with limited connections. Travel times are slow due to the lack of highways and modern buses. There are no ATM machines.
Staying there: Accommodation includes comfortable guesthouses in tourist areas, and hotels in larger cities such as Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
Oxfam: It's an international non-government aid organisation, which largely works to get basic infrastructure in place in developing countries.
Oxfam charity challenges: Fundraising trips by charities are hugely popular overseas, but in New Zealand they are a relatively new phenomena. Participants fundraise to go on the trip, with a significant portion - in Oxfam's case just over half - going to the charity and the rest covering the challenge's cost. The next cycle challenges are to Vietnam and Cambodia next January; to Thailand and Laos next March; and to Yunnan, China, in September next year. Trek challenges are planned to Ladakh, India, in June next year; and to Machu Picchu, Peru, in August next year.
Website: www.oxfam.org.nz
wooden boat: A Year Ago Today
Briefs for 05/06/2006
May 06,2006
Wooden Boat ShowThe North Carolina Maritime Museum’s 32nd annual Wooden Boat Show continues today and Sunday in Beaufort.
Today, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors to the waterfront between Turner and Orange streets and the museum grounds can see a variety of wooden boats on display.
There will also be tours today of the museum’s traditional North Carolina watercraft collection, skills demonstrations, radio-controlled model boats, a ship model exhibit in the museum auditorium and a model-building workshops for kids. And, for those who want to get really hands-on, there will be a “Build A Boat in a Day” class will from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. The cost is $280 per team who will learn how to build a rowing skiff.
Boat races on Taylors Creek will include a Spritsail race at 11 a.m., a Beaufort Oars Rowing Club rowing race at 2 p.m. and sailboat races at 3 p.m.
The public is also invited to the
Wooden Boat Show dinner from 7 to 10 tonight at the museum. Admission is $10.
Sunday’s highlights include the annual boat race around Carrot Island from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
‘Battle of the Bands’
USA Weekend Magazine and The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, along with Max Entertainment Magazine, will present the inaugural “Battle of the Bands” competition today. Gates open at 11 a.m., and the competition begins at noon at Riverwalk Crossing Park in downtown Jacksonville.
The five finalists for this weekend’s contest are Lynchburg representing South Lenoir High, Ambivalent representing White Oak High, Broken String representing East Duplin High, Searching for Safety representing Havelock High and Teens at Risk representing Fort Lee (N.J.) High.
Wristbands will be sold for $4 at the gate.
In addition to the music, the Jacksonville Youth Council will provide a variety of rides, including the giant slide, rock wall and “Twin Spin.”
wooden boat: Sea change a clinker of an idea
By Philip Hopkins
May 26, 2006
JAMES Frecheville openly admits he's a wooden boat crank, and somehow manages to make a living from it.
He repairs, restores and builds wooden boats in Paynesville, in Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria. "I've got no attraction for fibreglass — I'm only interested in classic wooden boats," he said, although he uses modern technology to build them.
Mr Frecheville is not alone; the village on the water is home to businesses such as shipwrights, marine surveyors, marine engineers, mechanics, upholsterers and riggers.
Each business does its own thing, but this is about to change. They have got together to create a shipping and marine industry cluster.
"The aim is to create a cohesive unit to help build the marine industry," said Mark Reid, a boat repairer and a convener of the cluster.
"We want to create a culture and in this way, keep the young people interested and not have them leave town," he said.
To help nurture shipping as a local career, the Paynesville Marine Industry Association is sponsoring two Paynesville boat-building apprentices — Daniel Wallis, 22, and David Ashworth, 19 — in the Atlantic Challenge, an international contest of seamanship in Genoa, Italy, in July.
One driving force of the development has been the explosion of Paynesville as a boating centre. Canals have replaced paddocks, and are adorned with quality houses, many of which have a little jetty at the front.
"Sea changers realise that we have a pristine boating region," Mr Reid said. "There is now a waiting list for berths."
The increased population has helped create a boating culture and underlined the potential economic benefits.
An analysis by East Gippsland consultant Bruce Connolly has shown that the marine industry employs 65 people directly and 35 indirectly in Paynesville.
Industry turnover is $7.5 million locally, with the multiplier impact on the regional economy about $19 million.
Cluster members have begun to put together a plan to establish a marine centre on the Slip Road area next to the water.
The plan includes parks and parking space for cars and boats while building what Mr Reid said lay at the heart of the vision, a centre for wooden boats.
A key aim of the centre was to preserve local marine heritage, probably by building a museum.
The centre would have an area for restoring or building indigenous wooden boats, and an area for accredited training with an education provider such as a TAFE.
Short courses would be held for hobby and
wooden boat enthusiasts.
An area would be set aside for a major project, such as building a replica of a local steamship.
Part of the plan is to hold a boating expo with a special focus on the Gippsland Lakes.
The Victorian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development has given $50,000 in seed funding.
wooden boat: Learning to keep bonds afloat
By Joni Guhne
Special to The Sun
Originally published May 24, 2006
When Joe Cater was 12 years old, his father helped him build a Penguin, an 11-foot wooden dinghy, and launched his lifelong love affair with sailing.
After arriving from Washington in 1987 and living in Annapolis aboard his 30-foot sailboat for two years, Cater bought a home and began to consider ways in which he might give back to the city that brought him so much pleasure.
The 2001 death of his father, Joseph Cater II, a retired United Methodist minister, gave him the impetus to do just that.
"I had a strong feeling of wanting to do for others what my father did for me," said Cater, 47, an economist who owns Market-Economics Inc. in Annapolis.
A member of the Eastport Yacht Club since 1994, Cater was joined in his mission by the club's foundation. "They approached me," he said, "and wanted to help me make this happen."
Annapolis Family Boat Building is now in its fourth year, and six local families with no sailing experience have signed on to spend Memorial Day weekend learning how to build a boat and sail it.
On Friday afternoon and all day Saturday and Sunday, the families will gather at the former Trumpy Boat Yard in Eastport, where each will build an Eastport pram from a kit produced by Chesapeake Light Craft of Annapolis.
Under the watchful eyes of instructors Cater and David Murphy - a resident of Eastport, a mason by trade and a "longtime" sailor - the families will assemble the kit of computer-cut components, complete with a Dacron sail, life vests and oars, by Monday afternoon.
During the boat-building course, parents and children will learn how to "stitch" copper wire through small holes in the wooden boards to temporarily connect them.
When the boards are woven together and the boat has taken shape, glue is applied in the seams with a syringe and the entire boat is covered with resin to make it waterproof.
Then the new owners can paint their boat with clear epoxy or choose a color.
It normally takes about 65 hours to complete this boat kit, said Cater, but because of the limited time, he and as many as 20 volunteers are working to pre-assemble some parts.
When completed, the little dinghies made of okoume, a tropical hardwood, weigh 55 pounds and are easily transported by handles on each side and on the stern.
The kit for an 8-foot wooden dinghy normally sells for nearly $1,500, but it's discounted to $1,099 for the event. Sponsors offer scholarships that reduce that cost for some participants to as little as $300.
Michael and Ireti Burrell and their children, Kyle, 11, and Zoe, 3, are one of this weekend's participating families.
Burrell is a service manager at Koons Toyota, and his wife teaches first grade at West Annapolis Elementary School.
Kyle is up for the challenge, said his father.
"My son sails during the week in Annapolis with a program at Jones Elementary School in Severna Park. We thought it would be a great idea since he's already doing it."
About 4 p.m. Monday, said Cater, the boat builders will test their vessels' seaworthiness during a ceremonial launch on Spa Creek in the vicinity of Chart House restaurant.
A safety boat will keep close contact with the dinghies. A dignitaries boat will be filled with event sponsors, including representatives from the Annapolis Sailing School, the Eastport Yacht Club Foundation and marine gear manufacturers like Helly Hansen, North Sails and UK-Halsey.
"It's never too late for volunteers," said Cater, "and never too late to sign up as a participant for next year."
There are at least 50 other similar family boat-building events taking place during the spring and summer throughout the country.
According to
Wooden Boat magazine, said Cater, Annapolis Family Boat Building holds the national record for the largest number of boats built by families in a single event. Since the project began four years ago, participants have built 27 boats.
To volunteer or to apply to build a boat next year, contact Joe Cater at 410-626-1413.
wooden boat: Going to Town
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Old-time wooden boat class goes to battle for National Championship
With about six boats each year, just enough to get their own start at the Land's End NOOD Regatta at Race Week, the Town Class is present but not dominating in Marblehead.
The "Townies," which they are affectionately referred to as, are an old wooden boat with a local history going back 74 years. This year, on the weekend of Aug. 19-20, Corinthian Yacht Club will be the host of the Town Class National Championships.
"We are very proud in Marblehead harbor and especially at Corinthian to have the Townies," said Dennis Esposito, of the Corinthian Yacht Club Race Committee. Corinthian Yacht Club ran the 2002 Nationals, when the Town Class celebrated its 70th year.
The Town Class, originally built by Pert Lowell and Company of Newburyport, which still manufactures both fiberglass and the old wood style Townies, has always been a generally local fleet. The first organized racing for Town Class sloops took place in Nahant in 1939.
"The Town Class was designed as an affordable boat for the townspeople, thus the name," said former fleet captain Jonathan Tilton, in 2002. "The history is very long on these boats."
The 2002 Nationals brought in 18 boats, and Esposito is hoping for "20-plus Townies" this year.
"We'll run them closer to shore," Esposito said. "They'll race in the vicinity of Cat Island around regular racing marks on windward-leeward courses. This a class with sturdy boats and hardy sailors."
Wooden glory
Just before the Town Class comes to, uh, town, the Corinthian Yacht Club will host its annual Classic Wooden Boat Regatta, on Saturday, Aug. 12.
What started four years ago as a regatta to celebrate the arrival in Marblehead of Carribean musician Foxy Callawood has evolved into a yearly opportunity to show off some old masterworks.
This year, Esposito said, the Classic
Wooden Boat Regatta will be combined with a circuit of similar wooden boat regattas along the New England coast.
"It's scheduled in such a way that it will take place after a Maine regatta and before the Nantucket race," Esposito said. "There should be an increasing number of folks who will come out and see the boats."
wooden boat: Golden years bring O.C. man gold medals
By ERIKA I. RITCHIE
The Orange County Register
A 92-year-old man in a blue Speedo and purple neoprene swim cap focuses through tinted goggles.
He's clinging to the side of the pool waiting for the 50-yard backstroke at the Senior Games. Woody Bowersock of Laguna Woods Village takes a look at his rival in the next lane.
Bob Christians, 90, has trained hard to stop his friend and neighbor's incredible winning streak.
But Bowersock has trained in the backstroke rigorously for three weeks, knowing that this was his vulnerable event. His strategy: Sprint all-out at the start and finish fast.
Since turning 90, he has set more than 20 world records in his age group.
Today, the race starts in the water. Advantage: Christians.
The horn sounds, and Bowersock pushes off. Christians is to his left. Both submerge for a few yards before surfacing - arms windmilling through the water.
Bowersock can't see Christians as they approach the turn. He has no idea how close this race really is.
CONQUERING FEAR
Woody Bowersock was afraid of water.
At 5, on vacation at his family's summer cottage at Wind Lake, Wis., Bowersock was standing on a
wooden boat dock when he fell face forward into two feet of water.
"I had a rush of fear when I hit the water," he remembers. "I felt my head go under and I couldn't breathe. The ground was squishy and I couldn't push myself up. My brother pulled me out."
It wasn't until he was 12 that his family persuaded him to get his feet wet in Wind Lake.
"It was shallow enough I started to get my body wet," he says. "Then when I was in the water one day, I jumped back to shore, fell and got my face wet and it wasn't frightening anymore."
To get into the high school physical education class with the athletic boys, Bowersock had to swim a pool length.
"At first I stayed in the shallow end and just dog-paddled around," he says. "It took me the whole semester, but I built my confidence and one day swam the whole length."
After graduating from high school at 16, the once-scared kid made the swim team at Milwaukee State Teachers College. In 1936, he swam in the first ever Wisconsin Intercollegiate swim meet.
It was the Depression, and his ability to swim helped get Bowersock a job. He became head lifeguard at Grant Park Beach on Lake Michigan.
FAMILY LIFE
His interest in swimming waned when he started a family. He and his first wife, his childhood sweetheart, Vera, moved to Arizona, where Bowersock earned his master's degree. The couple had three daughters.
Bowersock, with a budding career as a school principal, came to Orange County in 1953. He started at Mildred Morrow Elementary, opened Arroyo Elementary School and then went to Sycamore Elementary. He retired 28 years ago.
Vera died in 1998. Today, Bowersock is a grandfather of five, great-grandfather of seven and great-great-grandfather of one.
And he's a swimmer.
RETURN TO THE WATER
Bowersock decided to get back into the water to stay in shape. But he soon discovered he was pretty fast for his age.
"I realized I was capable of holding my own against guys more than 10 years younger."
At 65, he joined the Long Beach Masters swim team and set a world record in the 50-meter freestyle. For the next 25 years, he would keep setting records in his age bracket.
"When I started setting a couple of records, I really got charged up," he says. "I felt like I wasn't over the hill."
At 75, he entered a meet in Los Angeles for the 100-meter freestyle. He out-touched his opponent by a fraction of a second but knew something was wrong.
"I felt logy in the water," he says.
At home that night, he could barely move.
"The doctor said I had arthritis," he says. "He told me, 'You may as well take your Advil and sit in your rocker.' I had no energy, my body ached and I thought, 'This is how it's going to end.'"
Eleven months later, he won the 50-meter freestyle at the Masters World Meet in Tokyo.
After turning 76, Bowersock had a year he will never forget. He won 13 gold medals at the Masters Regional Championship in Mission Viejo, but later that evening he had a heart attack.
"The doctor said I had a tear in the outer layer of my heart," Bowersock says. "He told me, 'When it heals, you'll be as good as new.'"
At 80, Bowersock set a world record for the 50-meter freestyle at the World Masters Meet in Oregon that stood for 12 years.
In the late 1990s, Bowersock needed more swimmers to participate in a senior race, so he took out an ad in the newspaper. One person who responded was a woman named Lousje, who wasn't a technically great swimmer but had a lot of determination.
Lousje didn't really like Bowersock, and he eventually set her up with his friend, Bob Christians.
But like a competitive swim meet, things changed quickly.
Lousje says Bowersock began pursuing her. She didn't think it would work out. He is a Republican, a Baptist and rarely drinks wine. Here's what she liked about him: He has a great character and unending drive to win.
FINAL PUSH
Lousje runs along the pool as Bowersock races the final few yards against Christians in the Laguna Woods Village Senior Games.
With 30 yards to go, he glances at Christians, almost a body length behind.
He feels himself pulling ahead.
When his hand hits the wall, he has the gold medal, one of eight he wins that day.
"He's a phenomenon," says Lousje, who is now Bowersock's wife.
His charm and character finally won her over.
"Once when I was swimming, he was lying on the diving board and wanted to kiss me when I made my turn," she says. "I thought, 'He's like a teenager.'"
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CONTACT US: (949) 454-7307 or eritchie@ocregister.com
wooden boat: Labor of Love
When Paul and Janet Pletcher discovered the boat they were looking for in 1996 it was 250 miles from their home in Nashville, Tenn., and it needed work. By the time it reached Nashville by truck, it needed even more work because the headliner had blown out, horns had ripped off and windows had broken. But the Pletchers were used to working on boats—they were wooden boat fanatics who had been restoring old models for years. At least this hull wasn't wood. It was the first fiberglass cruiser model ever built by Chris-Craft.
The Chris-Craft 38 Commander first debuted at the New York Boat Show 42 years ago. Like most boat shows, this one had an unveiling, a defining tradition. Yet few debuts have ever aroused the applause that greeted the Chris-Craft 38—the builder's first fiberglass cruiser. Even the dealers in attendance were blown away by the boat, having been kept in the dark about the project. Chris-Craft was charting new waters with the 38, and the voyage had been top-secret.
Designed by Dick Avery, a Ford Motor Company veteran who put his mark on a succession of Chris-Crafts from 27 to 58 feet, the 38 Commander had wooden boat motifs, but flowed from stem to stern with a stylistic flexibility unachievable in wood. And, pound-for-pound, it was the strongest Chris-Craft ever built, with an inch-thick glass bottom reinforced with heavy roving and transverse box beams. It was constructed out of three main pieces: a deep-V bottom, and the two hullsides that were bonded to the bottom and joined at the bow and at the transom, which was pointed to create a more comfortable ride in a following sea.
The 38 Commander changed Chris-Craft's course, ushering in the modern era of man-made materials in place of wood, although the firm continued to build wooden boats. The 38 Commander's "pioneering" status, plus its lines and its strength, made it an icon, an almost instant classic, a collector's boat. The 38 was recognized as a "modern classic" by the Antique & Classic Boat Society in the 1990s. Two-hundred and eighty-four of them were built from 1964 to 1972.
The boat's most impressive legacy, however, is a Web site that's been created in its honor: www.chriscraftcommander.com. The site contains what could be the most voluminous collection of information, tips, documents, images and postings about a single boat model ever assembled. The development of the site was a labor of love undertaken by Paul Pletcher, who is a quick, lean, soft-spoken man of myriad talents. He started the site after he and his wife, Janet, began work on their 1966 38 Commander. For Paul, the 38 "represents one of the major milestones in fiberglass boat manufacturing history."
The Pletchers named their Commander Tradition because they've owned only Chris-Crafts. The first was a 1957, 17-foot Sportsman that Paul bought in 1978 for $350. In 1986 Janet bought Paul two more 17s for his birthday—a 1956 model, now in their basement, fully sanded and ready for varnish, and one built in 1939 that they turned into a full-size half-model, finished like a Steinway piano and installed on a reinforced wall of their 1,000-square-foot living room. Paul can climb into it and steer—the wheel actually turns the rudder. "If I get tired of it, I'll need a chain saw to get it out," says Janet.
Next in line was a 35-foot Sea Skiff in 1992—another restoration project. "When you have boat-itis, there is no cure," says Paul. "All you can do is make the patient more comfortable with a larger boat from time to time."
Tradition is powered by original, solid-lifter Ford 427 gas engines—NASCAR racing motors detuned from a street rating of 425 hp to 300 hp for marine use. It's a 32-knot boat built to withstand three times the stress of heading into six-foot seas at full speed. "The engines were built to satisfy Henry Ford II's ego—he won 101 races with them in three years while Chevrolet won only nine," says Paul. "They have cross-bolted main bearings and are made of high-grade iron. They're the product of millions of dollars of racing development and are virtually indestructible if you take care of them." He recommends synthetic oil—namely, Mobil 1 15W-50, "although the manual says to use straight 30-weight."
Pletcher is a purist: "I believe in retaining the original engines in classic boats if possible rather than installing new engines. Mine have 2,700 hours on them. They've been rebuilt, but they run so well that I have no thought of repowering."
He and Janet still consider
wooden boats the ultimate classics, but he's acquired great respect for fiberglass, too. "Once you've lain on your back for days replacing planking, you appreciate the advantages of fiberglass," says Paul. "Plus, the 38 is one-of-a-kind. Dick Avery's penmanship is superb. As an architect I appreciate the proportions he achieved and how he distributed the mass. The 38 is the '57 Chevy of the boating world. People put hundreds of thousands of dollars into restoring them."
Tradition now sits under a tin shed roof at the sleepy Commodore Yacht Club off the Cumberland River just outside Nashville. This is where the boat was when I photographed her last spring, and met with the Pletchers. A green mist—incipient leaves—had settled on the bluffs and ridges of this hilly area.
The Pletchers are proud of all the improvements they have made. The interior and exterior mahogany was sanded, re-varnished and replaced in some areas; new lights and new blinds were installed; a granite counter, stainless steel sink and electric range modernized the galley; the electrical system was upgraded with a new battery bank, a charger and an inverter. There's a new headliner over the lower helm and a new Bimini top over the bridge. Most impressive, Paul has done all the work himself.
Paul is very fond of the design and layout of the 38. "The big aft deck provides plenty of room for entertaining. With the windows, the large deck makes the 38 a truly open boat. I'm not a sedan kind of guy. It gets hot and humid here in Tennessee, and we open the forward windshields and get a great breeze through the helm level.
"I'm very enthusiastic about everything I do, and I want to know everything about it. Whether it's boating or cars [he collects water-cooled Porsches], I try to find out as much as possible about a subject."
This insatiable curiosity, coupled with his penchant for clubs—he was a charter member of the Dixieland chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society—led him to help found the Chris-Craft Commander Club and to mastermind his extraordinary Web site. "The site has two purposes," he says, "fun and sharing. It's free and open to anyone in the world. No registration is required and nothing is for sale. I just want to get the word out about these boats." For Paul, who works on the site instead of watching TV, its educational value is a two-way street."The amount I've learned about Commanders has alone made it worthwhile."
The Pletchers' Chris-Craft is a true classic, but the Web site is unique. It gets as many as 1,500 hits a day by people from virtually every continent. "I just thought I'd give it a try, and it grew into what it is," explains Paul matter-of-factly. "I'll fund it until hell freezes over. For me, it's become a matter of pride, not profit. Watching it continue to grow is a real kick—it's almost as great as the boat itself."
Story and Photography by John Clemans
wooden boat: A day for chowder, wooden boats and nautical trading
Annual Wooden Boat Fair and Boatswap & Chowder Challenge drew the crowds
The name of the boat is Two Sue’s, and the sign outside the cabin reads, “If God meant us to have fiberglass boats, he would have planted fiberglass trees.”
Six years ago, Kevin Gordham and Don Seely bought the wooden boat and named it in honor of their wives, Susan Gordham and Susie Seely.
Two Sue’s was one of nearly 50 wooden boats at the Olympia Wooden Boat Association’s 26th annual fair, which began Saturday at Percival Landing and continues today.
“Wooden boats have character,” boat owner Kevin Gordham said.
Tacoma residents Renee and Terry Paine brought their boat, Red Jacket, to the fair. It was built in the 1920s, and has been through quite a bit, Terry Paine said. In the 1930s, the boat caught fire and its owners at the time — who were into big-game hunting — shot holes in the hull so the boat would flood, putting the fire out.
Paine became interested in wooden boats when he joined the Sea Scouts, a branch of Boy Scouts, at age 15. After that he was a skipper with the program. He remembers riding the Red Jacket at a young age.
“I kept my eye on it,” Paine said as he stood on the boat’s deck. “This boat’s 86 years old. It’s part of history.”
Olympia residents Judy and Ray DeBuse showed a Chamberlain gunning dory boat that Judy’s father, Craig Perrott, made in his retirement. The boats originally were designed in the early 1900s in Massachusetts for duck hunting, Ray said.
“He was a carpenter all his life,” Ray DeBuse said of Perrott. “He loved rowing, and once he retired, that’s what he did.”
Judy’s father has since passed away, but Ray said he is proud of the boat.
“We just want people to be able to enjoy it,” he said.
The Wooden Boat Fair included a free children’s boat-building booth where children can make their own wooden boats.
Riley Campbell, 8, and her mother, Amy, were on their way to the market when they saw the fair packed with hundreds of people.
About 45 arts, crafts and food vendors are at the fair, along with musical entertainment provided by local bands.
“We saw everything and stopped to take a look,” Riley said, hammering a nail into her miniature wooden boat. “I like the sea, and sometimes I go boating.”
The fair began in 1979, when a group of seven wooden boat owners decided to throw a party for Olympia in a way that would further awareness of the historical and cultural significance of wooden boats in Puget Sound, according to the organization’s bylaws.
“It highlights Percival Landing,” association member Chyma Miller-Smith said. “It gives the public an opportunity to realize what an asset the Puget Sound is for the community. You can’t find this everywhere.”
Boats were also the subject — and just a shuttle ride away — at Swantown Marina Boat Swap and Chowder Challenge.
The event was sponsored by the Port of Olympia and allowed people to sell or swap boating supplies as well as boats. It also gave people a chance to sample clam chowder from 11 different restaurants. The public taste-testers then voted on their favorite chowder.
This year, first place went to Fire Creek Ale House, second was Vern’s Restaurant, and third place was Riverbend Restaurant. Anthony’s HomePort was recognized as having the best decorated booth. Fire Creek also won the chef’s choice award.
The Boat Swap and Chowder Challenge is in its 10th year, but this is the first time it has taken place in conjunction with the
Wooden Boat Fair,
“We felt there would be some synergy,” said Patti Grant, Port of
Olympia’s communication manager. She said she hopes this turns into a fun, waterfront event for the community.
©2006 Knight Ridder
wooden boat: Greek authorities detain 105 illegal migrants:
THESSALONIKI - The Associated Press
Greek authorities have detained 105 illegal migrants and arrested three suspected smugglers in two separate incidents near the country's eastern borders, police said on Monday.
Border guards found a total of 73 migrants hidden in a refrigerated truck during a road check late Sunday near the northern town of Xanthi, some 200 kilometers east of Thessaloniki, police said.
The truck driver escaped, but police arrested three people in two cars accompanying the vehicle, suspected of being part of a gang that smuggled the migrants into Greece from Turkey.
Police said the migrants -- who included 16 women and a boy -- were from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Palestine.
Also Sunday, the coast guard detained 32 illegal migrants found on a leaking
wooden boat near the eastern Aegean Sea island of Chios, the Merchant Marine Ministry said.
The migrants' nationalities were not announced.
wooden boat: Over 140 migrants nabbed
Authorities said yesterday that they have detained 142 illegal immigrants trying to sneak into Greece in three separate incidents within a day, all along the country’s borders with Turkey.
Police said they found 73 illegal immigrants late on Sunday who had been crammed on board a refrigerator truck in Kavala, northeastern Greece.
Three suspects traveling in cars escorting the truck were arrested in connection to the operation. The driver of the truck managed to escape, police said.
The immigrants — including 16 women and a boy — were from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Palestine.
A second incident involved 32 people who were caught off the island of Chios as they tried to cross into Greece in a wooden boat that had started to take on water.
None of the immigrants were hurt, authorities added, but were taken for precautionary medical checks.
Lastly, another 37 illegal immigrants were detained on the island of Samos early yesterday aboard a 10-meter
wooden boat.
wooden boat: A missing piece of history
By ERIC WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
EASTHAM - Hey, you with the oxen! Looking for some free hay? Well, lucky for you, Nauset Marsh is full of the stuff - but you're going to need a boat.
That kind of thinking likely inspired a hard-working Cape Codder of the 1850s to build a double-pointed, flat-bottomed, 31-foot hay barge and get busy in the salty pastures of plenty.
Back then there were likely scores of these boats - a precursor to pickup trucks - but there may be only one left in New England, or beyond for that matter. Behold the Cape Cod National Seashore's historic hay barge.
The barge - known by some as a ''scow'' and by others as a ''gundalow'' - was exhibited to the public for the first time last week, part of a Seashore project to research the history of the vessel and eventually install it as a permanent display at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham.
Historian Jim Mitchell has spent the last several months ferreting out the available facts on the barge.
While speaking with a crowd at the visitor center, Mitchell made it easy to see why skinflint Yankees of yore were attracted to salt hay.
''It grew every year,'' said Mitchell. ''You didn't have to fertilize it. It was great for the cattle, it was great for the horses, it was great for the oxen. In 1850, you had all three. So you had to feed 'em somehow.
And there it was, free for the taking.''
Kept in storage
When the boat was given to the Cape Cod National Seashore in 1969, an accompanying letter from Richard Nichols of the Orleans Historical Society included the following passage: ''As far as I know, this is the only Hay Scow now in existence and dates back to around 1850. ''¦ There were a number in use at that time and they were rowed or sailed to the Salt Marshes to pick up the Salt hay which had been mowed and raked by hand. ''¦ The Scows were then sailed or rowed back to the farm and the Salt hay fed to the cattle. ''¦ I used to taste salt in the milk when I was young and it was not unpleasant.''
Originally used for salt haying and possibly trap fishing, the boat had a second career laying and repairing the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable in Town Cove in Orleans.
The boat was a workhorse for more than 100 years, according to Mitchell's research. It was eventually donated to the Orleans Historical Society, then passed along to the Seashore in 1969.
In 1973, the Seashore commissioned stabilization work to keep the barge from falling apart, then stored the vessel at the old North Truro Air Force base.
Researchers believe the boat's second career with the cable company saved it from being pulled up on a beach or marsh to rot away. Salt-haying, once common along the New England coast died out by the 1930s, said Mitchell.
''A great find''
Recently, Seashore personnel started thinking about bringing the boat out of the shadows. They commissioned Mitchell and marine surveyor Paul Haley, a
wooden boat expert, to examine the vessel.
Haley recalled that he was instantly struck at first sight.
''You've got something here,'' he said. ''This is unbelievable.''
Haley pointed out the use of wooden pegs, also known as ''tree nails'' or ''trunnels,'' instead of nails or bolts, as well as the use of curved braces, called ''knees'' cut from a naturally curved root or branch of a tree. ''It's a great find,'' he said.
But lest you think salt-haying was all beauty and free money, we provide this cautionary tale from John Hutchinson of Salem, historian, artist and flat-out salt hay nut.
Hutchinson recalled a conversation several decades ago with a certain Farmer Brown of Rowley, an older fellow who was perhaps the last of the salt-hayers on the North Shore.
''I'm telling you, it was hell,'' said Hutchinson, recalling Farmer Brown's testimony. ''Mosquitoes, horseflies, falling in, and it was so (darn) hot out there. Terrific greenhead fly problems. The horses would be pestered by them all day. The horses would come home bloody.''
William Burke, branch chief of cultural recourses for Cape Cod National Seashore, said he hopes to have the barge on display at the Salt Pond Visitor Center within a year.
Eric Williams can be reached at ewilliams@capecodonline.com
(Published: May 22, 2006)
wooden boat: Wooden boat restoration is his passion and work
BY CRAIG McCOOL
mccoolrecordeagle@sbcglobal.net
CHARLEVOIX — The shop smells like varnish and wood dust. William Dreyer II paces anxiously, cell phone pressed to his ear.
"You have it?" he says into the phone. "I just need one. Ship it ... Yes. Overnight."
After months of hard work, the 1957 Century Resorter is nearly done. The varnish is beautiful. The boot stripe, bright white.
But a crucial piece of hardware is late from the replating shop, and the boat is to be delivered in less than two weeks.
In the wooden boat restoration business, spring is a busy time.
"Everybody wants their boat by Memorial Day," Dreyer said.
Dreyer, 31, seems an unlikely wooden boat enthusiast.
His fashion sense leans more to hemp necklaces and Doc Martens than dock loafers.
Chris-Craft abandoned mahogany for fiberglass years before Dreyer was born.
The boats he works on generally predate him by at least a few decades.
Dreyer graduated Charlevoix High School in 1993 — his favorite class was wood shop — and went on to Hope College, where he earned degrees in biology and psychology. Then, to his parents' dismay, he decided he'd rather be a woodworker.
Dreyer answered a newspaper ad for a boat-building company in Saugatuck. He worked there more than four years, learning the trade.
In 2004, he moved back to Charlevoix with his wife.
He leased a large pole building and set out looking for people who might be willing to trust him with their expensive investments.
"I came up here with no clients, no contacts," he said. "I went to marinas ... I jumped in my parents' boat and went around Lake Charlevoix. Anytime I saw a wooden boat, I chased them down."
The tactic worked. Jobs started coming in. His first complete restoration, a year-long custom overhaul of a 1962 Chris-Craft Sea Skiff called Kawliga, hits the boat show circuit for the first time this summer.
Dreyer's shop accommodates about three projects at a time.
There currently: the Resorter, a Century Coronado and a rarer 1938 Chris-Craft runabout.
Dreyer's own boat, a 1957 Sea Skiff, is outside under a tarp.
He has no employees but sometimes has help. He keeps an open-shop policy, meaning clients, if they are inclined, can stop by and work.
"Some really like to learn. They want to be here when I work on their boat," Dreyer said.
He returned his attention to the Resorter. Months earlier, the owner, in the spirit of helpfulness, mislabeled all of the wiring in the boat's electrical harness — another last-minute dilemma.
But not insurmountable, and Dreyer's favorite phase of the project was coming up: "I water test each boat," he said, smiling. "To make sure everything is working just right."
© Traverse City Record-Eagle, 1998-2006
wooden boat: Percival Landing OK for Wooden Boat Fair
BY KATHERINE TAM
THE OLYMPIAN
OLYMPIA — Percival Landing is sturdy enough to hold the thousands of people expected to descend on the downtown boardwalk for next week's Wooden Boat Fair, officials said.
Tests this week involving garbage cans filled with water show that the landing, which is aging and starting to deteriorate, can support the weight and will remain open, said Dave Okerlund, a parks planner.
The annual Wooden Boat Fair, set for May 13 and 14, draws up to 6,000 people on a sunny weekend for its wooden boat display and popular children's boat-building booth, said Hal Van Gilder, who heads the organizing group. Most of the activities stretch from The Oyster House to the grass field by Olympia Avenue. That's also the oldest stretch of the boardwalk and dates back about 30 years.
The most recent evaluation of the landing cited ongoing concerns with a piling under the now-closed wooden vehicle pathway and a support beam near the Motherhood statue. The boardwalk is supported by some 600 pilings that share the load so it's not disastrous when one deteriorates, but officials need to keep an eye on the deterioration, Okerlund said.
A consultant suggested a load test using garbage cans filled with water to see if the areas can support the weight.
So this week, officials placed 40 garbage cans of water on one part of the landing and 50 garbage cans of water on another, Okerlund said. The load was equivalent to 80 pounds per square foot. They measured the difference in elevation before and after. Both tests passed, he said.
“In one case, there was zero change, zero deflection,” Okerlund said. “And in the other, the landing deflected by less than one-16th of an inch. We are confident the landing is safe for the throngs coming with the Wooden Boat Show.”
A study in 2004 found that some of the pilings that support the landing need to be replaced. The observation deck that extends beyond the boardwalk was closed because the pilings are being eaten by marine borers. The city banned cars from the wooden vehicle path off State Avenue a year later.
Last month, officials cut power to the public boat docks because the aging electrical system is no longer up to standard and might be dangerous. The change affects the docks off Olympia Avenue, where 841 people moored last year.
The power shutoff won't disrupt the
Wooden Boat Fair, Van Gilder said. Most of the boats are self-contained, and they will likely have generators.
The city is lobbying the Legislature for $9.6 million to finance reconstruction of the landing. A redesign has been developed that would have less of the boardwalk hanging over the water and use nonwood material that could better withstand the marine setting.
Meanwhile, officials are going after a $1 million grant to replace the electrical system, make the gangway to the docks more wheelchair accessible and replace some floats that have started tilting, said David Hanna, associate parks director. They'll know in September if they get the grant. If the grant doesn't win approval, they'll probably tap the $125,000 a year in city funds earmarked for inspections and interim fixes.
Katherine Tam covers the city of Olympia for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-704-6869 or ktam@theolympian.com.
wooden boat: 2007 Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong
Anchors are up, the foredeck is clear and planning has commenced for the second biennial 'Whyte Just & Moore Lawyers
Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong'.
Hosted by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, the Festival has been set down for the Victorian Labour Day holiday weekend of 10/11/12th of March in 2007.
The program will duplicate the very successful 2005 Festival format and comprise a full range of on-water and hard-stand displays including a Concourse d’Elegance, racing for the Corio Bay Classic Wooden Yacht Cup and the Couta Boat Trophy on the waters of beautiful Corio Bay.
The very popular Grand Parade and Cavalcade of Sail will also be featured, together with a Presentation Dinner and many social events.
With limitations on mooring and marina pens, entries from on-water exhibitors will be limited to 75, and will be accepted on a first-in first-served basis. There are no limitations on entries for hard-stand displays.
Entry forms and Notice of Race will be available from September 2006 from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club Office, or they can be downloaded from www.rgyc.com.au
Those who were entrants in last year's (2005) Festival, will automatically receive 2007 Entry Forms by mail in or around September. All entries will close on Friday 15th December 2006.
Full details of the Festival are available from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club website www.rgyc.com.au or from the R.G.Y.C. Office: Telephone (03) 5229 3705, Fax (03)5223 2768 or info@rgyc.com.au
by Bob Appleton OAM
wooden boat: Travel Seattle - Visit Seattle Festivals throughout the Year! Seattle Area
Festivals - If you are the kind of person who enjoys a wide array of festivals, then Seattle is the place for you. Whether you want to celebrate the summer solstice or Nordic Yulefest, there is sure to be a Seattle Festival for you.
Summer Festivals:
June Solstice Parade - The Solstice Parade is the official kick-off of the Fremont Fair. Over the past 20 years, the Fremont Arts Council has been a non-profit organization celebrating art and creative expression. The Solstice parade has become popular not only with the locals in Fremont, but with hundreds of people from Seattle and beyond. The parade celebrates not only the beginning of summer, but a love of art and community. Location: Fremont
Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival - The Wooden Boat Festival is an annual event celebrating one of the most favorite pastimes of Seattlites - Boating. The festival includes a regatta and people's choice awards. Location: Lake Union
July Summer Nights - Summer Nights at South Lake Union Park is the relocated venue of Summer Nights at the Pier. The park itself is 12 acres of waterfront with amazing sunsets and views of downtown Seattle. These outdoor concerts are a great way to celebrate summer. Location: South Lake Union Park
Seafair - Seafair has been celebrated in Seattle for over 50 years and has become part of the fabric of Seattle life. Events begin in July and continue through August, including a milk carton derby, marathon, triathlon, pirates landing, fleet arrival, hydroplane racing, and air show. Most of the events revolve around planes and boats - two Seattle staples - hence the name, Seafair. Location: Lake Washington and throughout Seattle
August Evergreen State Fair - While not located in Seattle, the Evergreen fair is close enough for a visit. There is all kind of entertainment available at this fair - dancers, jugglers, animal shows, home ec contests, a rodeo, carnival and more! There is plenty to do for everyone, whether you enter yourself in a contest, ride a roller coaster, or watch the dancers do their thing. Location: Monroe
Fall Festivals:
September Bumbershoot - Bumbershoot is the festival to end all Seattle Festivals. For over 30 years, Bumbershoot has been The labor Day weekend host to cutting edge bands and artists. The Seattle Center becomes a meeting place for artists, locals, and visitors. This four day festival offers amazing music, art, and friends. Visit and you won't be disappointed. Location: Seattle Center
Salmon Homecoming Celebration - Beginning with a Native American canoe celebration, the Salmon Homecoming is an ancient festival which has been slightly modified for modern times. Historically, the local Native Americans would celebrate the return of the salmon to their home and celebrate another plentiful year. Take some time to enjoy watching the Native American basket weaving, carving, canoeing, and a 1000 pound salmon bake. Location: Piers 62/63
November
Green Lake Frostbite Regatta - Green Lake is a popular destination year-round. Surrounded by parks and walking paths, the lake is a great place for some outdoor exercise and fun. The Frostbite Regatta is perhaps the last boating event of the year at the Lake. Grab a scarf, some hot coffee, and enjoy watching the races! Location: Green Lake
Yulefest - Many people don't realize that there is a significant Nordic population in Seattle, particularly in Ballard. This fact becomes evident annually at Yulefest. Every year, Yulefest is held at Nordic Heritage Museum, celebrating Scandinavian Holiday Celebrations including food, crafts, music, and tradition. Location: Ballard
Winter Festivals:
December Christmas Ship Festival - For over 50 years, carolers on boats have been singing to Seattlites warming themselves around huge bonfires. The decorated boats parade up and down the Puget Sound, creating one of the largest holiday flotillas. Warm yourself around the fire, and enjoy the carols. Location: Puget Sound
February Chinese New Year - Seattle's International District is one of the most vibrant areas of Seattle, offering all kinds of culture and entertainment. Traditionally, this celebration has been one of the most popular events in Chinatowns across the country - Seattle is certainly no exception with its vibrant parade. Location: International District
Spring Festivals:
March St. Patrick's Day Parade - The St. Patrick's Day Parade on Bainbridge Island is one of the many popular annual events. Take the ferry over to the island and celebrate your Irish heritage - even if you're not Irish! Location: Bainbridge Island
April Skagit Valley Tulip Festival - Believe it or not , Washington is a larger producer of tulips than the Netherlands. This is celebrated every year at the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Not far from Seattle, the beauty of Skagit's tulip fields will amaze you. The festival runs the month of April, but the tulip blooms depend on seasonal changes. Check the weather before you go! Location: Skagit, Washington
May Seattle International Film Festival - This film festival is actually the largest film festival in the United States. Running for three weeks, this film festival offers options for everyone. Buy a pass and see as many as possible, or simply try out a few of the films. Location: Throughout Seattle
Syttende Mai - This annual festival celebrates Norwegian Independence Day. Imagine July 4th with a Scandinavian flair. Location: Ballard
For more information on Seattle and other fabulous destinations check out our site
Also check out Our Trip of the Week Destinations!
Michelle is a travel, art, and architecture buff who has recently moved to Seattle after living in Honolulu, Chicago, Gloucester Massachusetts, and Delft Netherlands. In between studying and working in design, she dreams travel and works to help others compare and select vacation options via the Your Life Passion Website!
wooden boat: An Unforgettable Story About Bali Diving
In 1982 I worked as an English speaking tour guide, but during my free time I learned Italian language by my own method autodidact using English - Italian; Italian - English dictionary and grammar book.. I spent about 2 hours a day to learn it, sometime early in morning, in the afternoon and sometime late at night. I succeeded to keep in my mind 2 words a day but I found much difficulty in learning the grammar because it is very different with my mother language Balinese and Indonesian, but I insisted to meet with success. Day by day, week by week and month by month, and ..... finally I got it.
In October 1982 one of my friend who run a travel agent in Bali asked me to handle his clients, they were Italian and speak a little English. That was my first time to practice my Italian tongue. When I met them at Bali International Airport, the first question I must answer was "where is the best place to dive". With honesty actually I didn't know the answer, but I promised them for the good news the day after.
I visited my friend's house and meet Bli Monyoh, a fisherman live in Sanur the village on the southeast coast of Bali. I knew he was a good fisherman and very smart in shooting fish, diving with his own talent using very simple dive equipment.
We talked about diving places and he told me that in order to discover most enjoyable dive, must visit 2 o 3 different places of the fascinating underwater world among the coral reefs. Mr. Bli Monyoh looked at his Balinese calendar to see a good day to go to the sea. My clients were crazy about dive.
The first day he brought us to Semawang at Sanur by his outrigger sail boat. Located in front of Sanur Tourist Beach. Dives at a few meters depth was rewarded by beautiful underwater panoramas, table and trophy shaped coral and sponges, a thousand of colorful fishes swim by in kaleidoscopic profusions. I am not a swimmer or a diver, I just sit on the boat and prepared the needs when they go up. Was a wonderful day.
The second day Bli Monyoh brought his companion a smart diver named Agung Toya, together with them some gun (exactly an arrow) unwound by a strong rubber band made of tire. Before living Sanur, Bli Monyoh laid an offering and perfumed incense in front of a temple and prayed to God. Along the road about one and a half our drive, he stopped several times for praying where there are temples for God's blessing, safety and luck. Even before touching the water he did so.
When we arrived at Buitan was a very traditional fishing village, located at the district of Manggis Karangasem eastern Bali near Candidasa, I was amazed by the beauty of the nature, a spectacular panorama or the terraces ricefield, rural ambience and the Majestic Mount Agung at the far back, for Bali it is the place of the Supreme God "The Navel of the World". The sea was magnificent, clear blue water, remained untouched by modern influences, seduce everyone especially beach and dive lovers. Now Buitan boast a luxury 5 stars hotel and some small accommodations in Balinese style bungalow.
When we were preparing everything for dive a cordial local man came close to us and gave his own
wooden boat used for free in the hope of us catching a lot of fish. We sailed at 09.00 a.m in calm sea. About 50 m from the beach we arrived on the coral reef where the wave breaks itself. Under very good weather we could see a wonderful underwater world among the coral reefs.
My Italian clients brought their own dive equipments because they were the holder of PADI license. While the native divers used their own talent. Wow, wow, wow, what a great day, we fished a lot (only selected fish), one thing surprised me that Bli Monyoh got 4 king lobsters. At 11.00 a.m. we finished our adventure and the local man was waiting us on the beach ready with his woods fire, chili, onions, garlic, salt and coconut oil. We grilled our fish in relax atmosphere on the beach with nice breeze of the ocean, than enjoyed a delicious gala lunch in cowboy style. Wow amazing, we really celebrated and enjoyed a great day.
Now in Bali there are some exciting and fascinating, world renowned dive sites: Nusa Dua, Sanur, Padang Bay, Gili Tapekong, Tulamben, Amed, Nusa Penida and Lembongan and Menjangan Island.
So if you are a sea and dive lover why don't you choose Bali for your next destination, this enchanting island is waiting for you with its fascinating underwater world. Plan your travel and book your preferred hotel or contact your travel agent. The quickest and the easiest way is, go online and choose Bali Dive. One of the most reliable dive center on the island now is Ena Dive Center (www.enadive.co.id).
Made Dertha was an English and Italian tour guide for many years in Bali, writes for Bali Turista Tours where he is the Managing Director now. Bali Turista is focusing on Bali hotels and villas reservation. Just visit www.baliturismo.com and www.baliturista.com
wooden boat: Wooden Fishing Boats - From Traditional Marsh Pirogues To Wide-Bottomed Drift Boats
So you've inherited that somewhat dubious old wooden fishing boat from your grandpa! You're feeling proud to be the one to carry on the family fishing tradition, but you're also experiencing just a little trepidation at the though of setting out on the wide open expanses of the lake this spring on a boat that has clearly seen better days...
Well, if your newly acquired old wooden fishing boat is looking a little worse for wear, you might do well to remember that
wooden boat owners generally accept the fact these kind of boats were not built to last forever.
In fact, some were probably built with the intention that they would be replaced within five or ten years, and not kept going lovingly for decades by well-intentioned descendents of the original owner.
Constant maintenance is probably the key concept here, and you will need to do some serious checking out of the boat's structure before setting out to haul in those prize catches.
Of course, nowadays - with newer wood-based, penetrating epoxy - dry rot has become much less of a problem, but you will still have to keep up the work to keep your boat in shape for the fishing waters.
Apart from the gleaming, grand old dames of yesteryear, contemporary wooden fishing boats are still being built, and you may be surprised at the workmanship and variety available.
You may want to have a look at the beautifully crafted boats such as wide-bottomed drift boats, or the graceful curves of a special viking-type rowing-and-fishing boat.
Some wooden fishing boat builders specialize in traditional Louisiana marsh pirogues and rowing skiffs, and for these you will even be able to find building plans should you be tempted to make a project out of it!
If you just want to have the experience of fishing from a wooden boat on your next fishing trip, you can head out to Ontario, where some fishing resorts have a special wooden fishing boat supplier building them to order.
These beautiful spacious, quiet boats are hand built out of cedar and oak, and equipped with swivel seats, a fishfinder, and all the necessary emergency equipment to make your trip an unforgettable experience.
Back to that old lady grandpa used for his outings on the lake: It may be well worth remembering the saying: "Nothing works on an old boat but the owner"...
For more information visit Fishing-Things.com
Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.
