SEO Alan Smith and Catherine Hedgecough will again host the Mountaineers at Tygart Lake.
Friday
1900 - Hamburger cookout hosted by Alan and Cathie at their dock (party favors to all attenders)
Saturday
0900 - Breakfast at Tygart Lake Lodge
1200 - Raft Up at Alan and Cathie's dock
1400 - Lunch
Sunday
0900 - Breakfast at Tygart Lake Lodge
The squadron will be supplying the basic picnic foods on Saturday, like hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, and watermelon. Feel free to add to this, and bring your choice of beverages. Those who will want a water taxi should call in advance so someone can meet them and bring them to the picnic. Please come and bring a friend.
For those who bring their boat, they can dock at Alan and Cathie's dock which is located across the lake from the Pleasant Creek boat ramp. If you would like to come by car the directions are as follows:
Start in downtown Grafton. Bear left at end of bridge beside old B&O building. Follow this road at 4 miles, don't turn towards Tygart Lake State Park. When McCauley softball field is the left turn right by windmill. (If you come to Tygart golf coarse you missed the road go back) follow this road 1.5 mikes, turn right on Frog Run. Follow Frog Run .5 miles bear, then left on Cabin Road (gravel road). Follow Cabin Road 1 mile and look for red metal gate on right. When you see a metal garage on right with a sign that says "Suits us, the Rices" their red gate is the next one on right.
All members are encouraged to attend the D/7 Rendezvous, Roll'em On The River, at Oakmont Yacht Club. Full details were sent to you in the D/7 News.
The Rendezvous is a social occasion, with NO BUSINESS MEETINGS. It makes a nice day outing. The Saturday highlight will be a "poker run" at 1400, with space on boats provided to all attendees.
If you go by car and want to stay overnight, the official hotel is the Holiday Inn (412) 828-9300, and shuttle service to OYC is available.
Linda Adelman is the contact.
Cdr Thomas W. Martin, AP
The weather upset our plans for the Stonewall Jackson rendezvous. Serious flooding hit the Weston area, so the plan to trailer several boats to the lake was dropped at the last minute. As it turned out, reservoir levels were not greatly affected.
The picnic went ahead as scheduled. There were 14 members and guests present and we had an enjoyable time.
The next function will be the Tygart rendezvous on 25 July. Alan Smith is in charge and details in this newsletter.
Our Executive Officer, Lt/C James (Tim) Smola, AP reported that Safe Fueling signs have been placed at marinas including Stonewall Jackson Lake, Woods Boat House at Fairmont, Edgewater Marina on Cheat Lake, and Two Rivers Marina near Point Marion.
On the Distrct front, we have signed a contract was with Lakeview Country Club for the year 2000 District Conference which we will be hosting.
Several members are going to the D/7 Rendezvous at the Oakmont Yacht Club on 17-18-19 July. Those planning to attend include Shirley Hess, the Silbaughs, Martins, Smolas, Leepers and Venables. We still hope several boats will be making the trip.
I hope you will attend as well, The rendezvous is just for fun. If you would like to join us and want river advice, contact Bob Leeper, Tim Smola, Wally Venable, or me.
Lt/C Alan Smith, JN
The Cruise Planning course has been completed, and all eight students passed, thanks in part to the excellant instruction P/R/C Charlotte Silbaugh, N, always provides.
The JN class has taken the exam and is working on sights.
Morgantown's River
The Mon is such a pretty river
As it meanders through the hills,
Fed by snows of winter, and streams
And creeks and rivulets and rills,
It's means of transportation,
And a means for all pleasure boats,
For swimming and for good fishing,
Also for anything that floats.
As I see the bend of river
From the very top of my street
It is so very beautiful
It makes my heart skip a broad beat.
Gives my town a river flavor
That all those who love beauty, love.
Always stop at the top of Jones,
For I love to see it from above.
-- Melba Dungey
Life Jacket Rules
A May 29 story by the Associated Press that was published in newspapers nationwide caused quite a stir. It implied that new Coast Guard regulations require boaters to wear life jackets. This story was picked up by many news outlets and has created a great deal of confusion among boaters.
There is currently no proposed regulation or proposed legislation by the Coast Guard or any other Federal agency to require the wearing of life jackets. The Office of Boating Safety at Coast Guard Headquarters did publish a "Request for Comments" in the Federal Register late last year. The only "news" of late is that the comment period ended May 29. Coast Guard officials say that it will take months for all the comments to be summarized and the issue is not likely to come up again before October when the Coast Guard's National Boating Safety Advisory Council next meets.
CO Detectors and Other Alarms
There have been recent reports of problems with CO detectors giving false alarms, particularly in new boats. When a boat sits in the hot sun, outgassing from all the glues, adhesives, plasticicers and fabrics and carpets generates chemical gasses which contaminate the sensor and cause false triggering.
Owners often become annoyed with these false alarms and shut off the CO detectors permanently. The only advice the manufacturers can give is to ventilate the boat by opening the doors and windows.
You should be cautious about leaving any window or door open because changes in your ventilation pattern can suck exhaust fumes into the interior. There have been circumstances in marinas when the fumes from one boat backed up into an adjacent boat. When under way, the "station wagon effect" can draw a boats own exhaust into the cockpit or accommodations. In fact, these are the problems that CO Detectors are supposed to identify.
There was a sad story this spring about a semi-antique English boat which was destroyed when a gas detector failed to give an alarm. Like electronic devices for navigation, detectors and alarms should be seen as additional helpers, not a substitute for any traditional safety practice.