Columbia River
All Catalina Association

February 2001 - Newsletter

Catalina, Capri, & Morgan Sailboat Owners Association
Serving Northern Oregon and Southern Washington

Commodore's Deck
By Michael Lewis

Here it is February already.  The year is moving as fast as a gale and we’re growing as fast as a tropical storm.  After two boat shows, I really needed Deane’s and Glenn’s Boat Show Survivor’s Party, last Saturday.  Based on the guest list, I guess everyone else did, too.  They are great members and friends of the Columbia River All Catalina Association.  Besides they sell the best boats on the river.  The booth at the Portland Boat Show was very successful at recruiting new members and creating visibility for the Catalina Yachts on the River.  

We focus on education in the Winter, sharing and having fun, so we can have even more fun in the Summer.  The Diesel Seminar was great, read Bill Simon’s article this month.  A full-length class of Marine Diesel Care and Feeding is being taught at Portland Community College beginning the first week April and many members are already talking about attending.  Hugh Brock seemed knowledgeable and understandable.  He should teach a great class.  Watch for additional information.

Upcoming meetings with Schooner Creek, Brion Toss, Island Sailing Club and Oregon Women’s Sailing Club should round out the fiscal year so we can usher in the new officers and plans for the Year.  Great people, Great Boats and Great Times.  Continue supporting the club and giving your time and ideas. 

Fair Winds and Favorable Currents

The Portland Boat Show, 
A New Twist on Recruiting
By Dale Mack

The Columbia River All Catalina Association's booth at the Portland Boat Show in January was very successful.  We acquired some new members, increased the visibility and awareness of the association in the local sailing community, and met lots of great people.

Staffed by members of the association, the booth was outfitted with:

• copies of the membership brochure
• the association's photo scrapbook
• and display copies of the marketing brochures for various Catalina models (complements of Sailboats of Oregon)

Here are some ideas about things we might want to do next time:

• TV/VCR playing a tape of Catalina's in action or a factory tour tape (if such a thing exists)
• Sign-up sheet or drop cards so people can leave their name and address, especially email.
• Name Tags for booth personnel
• Large banner with "Columbia River All Catalina Association" and our burgee.
• Printed copies of the Fleet's newsletter to handout to prospective members.
• Display copies of the Mainsheet magazine
• Something like a yacht brokerage board with lots of Catalina boat pictures to attract people looking for a boat.  We wouldn't be selling boats, but I found a lot of people tended to stop and look at the boats on "The Sailing Life" display board located near the booth.
• As an incentive, perhaps everyone who serves booth duty would be eligible for a raffle-style prize drawing at the January general meeting.
• Bring a sweatshirt.  The building was a little cool after sitting for awhile.

I really enjoyed my time in the booth, and I hope you'll consider volunteering next year.

Notes from the Secretary/Treasurer
By Kathleen Lewis

Membership

Time seems to fly when we’re having fun and it seems I just wrote these notes for January.  Since then we’ve attended boat shows and shows and shows!!!!

Our organization continues to grow.  Since my last report we’ve added 8 new member boats to our membership.

 These include:

•  Mark and Chris Fahey of Tigard
  1995 C320 moored at Rose City Yacht Club
•  Jan Godfrey and Judy Watson of Portland
  1987 Catalina at Hood Canal
• Gary and Jeanine Jaeckel of Oregon City
  1984 C27 – Mistress – moored at Marina Way
• Mark and Diane Ohlson of Fairview, OR
  1986 C30 – D.L. Always  - moored at Hayden Bay
• Dave and Helen Peoples of Aurora 
  1997 C42  - Jammin
• Kurt and Nancy Riddle of Tigard
  1987 C30 – Senora – moored at Tomahawk Bay C46
• David Struthers of Castle Rock, WA
• Tracy and Linda Wilson of Vancouver, WA
  1995 C36 – Carpe Aura  - moored at Tomahawk Bay H10

 Welcome to all the new members and we look  forward to meeting them at future events and  gatherings.

Historian's Report
By LaDonna Bubak

I managed to finish the club's photo album (with the help of my talented sister!) in plenty of time for the boat show. I want to thank everyone who sent their photos in - some weren't used but hopefully the ones I did use manage to tell the stories we want told (and some we don't!). If you staffed or stopped by our booth at the show, hopefully you had a chance to take a look through it. If you have any suggestions, please email me at bubak@qwest.net and I'll try to incorporate them. And please don't forget to keep taking & sending me pix of any club events - a photo album is never truly finished, much like a boat!

Rob & I staffed the All Catalina booth at the Portland Boat Show most of the day on Saturday January 13 and had a great time.  We met lots of eager Catalina owners and several folks looking for boats.  It was great just to be able to chat with so many people who have similar interests – much like this great group of ours!  If you weren’t able to help staff the show, you missed out on a truly fun experience – mark your calendars for next year!

Seattle Boat Show
By Craig Beck

In January, over a dozen CRACA intrepid travelers ventured north to the Seattle Boat Show to kick off the 2001 season and get in the mood for better things to come.  Some traveled by rail; others by car; a good time had by all!

Several of us managed to find great boat goodies to buy.  I think our collective opinion was the goodies made the show a hit.  No question you could save some money buying at the show vs. buying at good ole' West Marine.

The Commodore spent most of a day checking out life rafts, only to learn Big Dogs and life rafts leave something to be desired but where there's a will there's a way (and throw in another $2000 for the dog size raft.

Another couple in our group was making big sounds about buying a new Catalina 40 something, and becoming full time live aboards.

At night we tried out various restaurants.  Sunday evening at Anthony's on the pier was my personal favorite! Informal survey showed everyone would enjoy doing it again next year!  With such a great way to start the season, maybe we can get some more sailors to join in the fun.  See ya on the water.

Seattle's Two Boat Shows
By Dale Mack

The Seattle Boat Show was held in the Washington State Stadium Exhibition Center across the street from the new Safeco Field near the former site of the Kingdom.  Compared to the Portland Boat Show, the Seattle show had a lot fewer sailboats, in fact there were almost no sailboats except for a Santana 20, a McGregor 26 and a half-dozen dinghies.

One of the benefits of purchasing one's tickets online was the free parking pass for the garage at Safeco Field.  After parking the car, Laura, Sean, and I took the free shuttle operating between the parking structure and the exhibition center.

What the Seattle Boat Show lacked in sailboats it made up for in booths.  Unlike the Portland Boat Show were there were only a few booths dedicated to boating equipment and accessories, the Seattle show had lots.   Several booths were sponsored by corporations like Raytheon, Maptech, Nobeltec, Garmin, International Paints, Lewmar, and Lowrance just to name a few.

To see sailboats, you had to go to the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show.  A free shuttle bus was operating between the Seattle Boat Show and the Boats Afloat Show.  Everyone was welcomed to walk the docks and view the boats, but to get aboard, you had to purchase a "Boarding Pass" that was good for all the boats.

The Boats Afloat Show had sailboats, trawlers, and really large yachts for sale.  Located in Chandler's Cove next to The Center for Wooden Boats, we found it easy to spend most of the day just climbing through the boats and dining ashore (Chandler's Cove has many fine restaurants). 

Despite the threatening skies, the weather was pretty good for us on Saturday.  Under gray skies, we went through probably forty sailboats and trawlers before we wore ourselves out, and there were still more boats to see.

In addition to the nice assortment of Catalina models brought to the show by a Seattle dealer, there were some truly stunning custom yachts at the docks.  We stepped aboard a gray-hulled sailboat from New Zealand that was finished inside like a fine piece of furniture.  The workmanship was absolutely incredible.

It was a great weekend in Seattle and I'd encourage others to think about combining the Seattle Boat Shows with some other points of interest in Seattle.  Laura and I hope to see you next year.

Diesel Seminar at PCC Rock Creek - January
By Bill Simon

After a brief monthly meeting in the hallway on the campus of Portland Community College, Rock Creek, we squeezed into a classroom filled with stainless steel tables and very few chairs to be entertained, informed and educated by Hugh Brock, PCC diesel mechanic instructor. Hugh has been involved in the diesel business for most of his life and has worked for large and small companies in this field, as well as an instructor at PCC for the past 20 years. Hugh started his seminar by using a cutaway of a diesel engine to briefly explain the internal workings. He then moved on to state that there are three things that may cause a diesel engine not to run or function properly. The three things are Fuel, Fuel and Fuel. In other words, almost all problems that a diesel engine incurs are related either to the lack of or the quality of the fuel.

We then went out into the shop area where Hugh demonstrated how to bleed a fuel system of air to restart a vapor locked engine. Everyone was very attentive. Hugh was emphatic on the use of a high quality fuel filter that is capable of separating out small particles of contamination and the water that is inherent in all diesel fuel. Hugh recommends the use of an anti-fungicide additive containing "Biobor" added to the fuel system to eliminate any bacterial growth. This was in line with his statement; "That there is no good fuel, some is just better than others".

Hugh will be teaching a 12-week class on marine diesel engine maintenance and repair beginning the first week April on Wednesday’s from 7-9 pm at PCC. Call the PCC Rock Creek campus (503-614-7213) for more information. Hugh also runs his own boat engine repair service called "Fiddlers Green". He can be reached at 503-286-8464 after 5:00pm.

February Meeting
By Michael Lewis

February 28, 7 pm.  Bring Cookies Night!  Bring them if you’ve got them to share with others at the meeting!  This meeting will have a dual program.

Directions -- The meeting will be held at Schooner Creek Boat Works, 3255 N. Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR.  From the South, take the Jantzen Beach Exit and go straight, pass under the freeway onto Hayden Island Drive and proceed West.  From the North, take the Jantzen Beach Exit and stay in the right lane, turn right at the light then left at the next light and proceed west on Hayden Island Drive.  This is the location of the St. Patrick’s Day (March 17-18) Cruise, come early and see it from land.

Schooner Creek Boat Works.  We will have a tour of the Schooner Creek Boat Works and see the boats that Schooner Creek is known for, “Legends,” such as Rage, Magic Carpet and others.  This is Oregon’s most modern, state-of-the-art boat yard and manufacturing facility.  

Steve and Nancy Rander will host the Columbia River All Catalina Association and proudly show their facility and the boats that are in progress.  Some of you may have seen some of their works at the boat show but I’m told they will be rushing to complete an Open 60.

Brion Toss on Yacht Rigging.  We will also have an opportunity to hear a short presentation, “Systems Approach to Rig Inspection,” by Brion Toss.  (www.briontoss.com) 

Brion will be in town for several days and will also speak at West Marine on March 1, 2001 at 7PM for $5 per person.  The Subjects will be “30 Minute Apprenticeship” and “Tuning/Inspection” and be available for surveys and tunings through Monday, March 5, 2001.  

 It has been said that Brion Toss, Master Rigger, is a most perceptive teacher, advisor, and confidence builder as well as a humorous and delightful companion.  He is at least that.  I have several of his books and have heard him speak before, this is a must be there meeting. He has several written books including Chapman’s Knots and The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice.

If you are interested in a survey or tuning, call Ron Hughes at 503.286.6298 or email at hughcorp@teleport.com.

March Meeting
By Michael Lewis

March 28, 7 pm at the Rose City Yacht Club.

Herb Florer of Island Sailing Club will presentation information on Man Overboard and Retrieval.

MAN OVERBOARD!  Over FIVE HUNDRED BOATERS DIE every year from drowning, most don't have life jackets on.  If that doesn't get you, hypothermia will. The 50-50 "rule" emphasizes the rapidity with which hypothermia can occur.  You only have a 50-50 chance to swim 50 yards in water at 50 degrees F.  Another "50" rule says a 50-year old person has only a 50-50 chance of surviving for 50 minutes in 50 degree F water.

Serious Stuff! Pick me up soon or even better sooner!

Duties of the Cruise Officer
By Jim Himes

One of the positions in the club is that of Cruise Officer. This is one of the fun positions in the club. The main duty of the officer is to find great places for the club to get together. Even though we are a new club, we do have a great schedule set up for the 2001 year.

Most of the cruises are to local sites. The main job is to check the Columbia River Yachting Association (CRYA) Cruise Schedule to make sure we're not conflicting with other clubs that may have already scheduled the destination.

The only cruise, which requires any time, is the July "Delta Cruise" down the river. This requires a phone call to the Harbor Master at Cathlamet and Astoria to let them know how many boats we might have coming.

When one of the cruises comes up on the schedule, it's a good idea to send out a message to the group to see how many are coming.  Also, see if the group wants to schedule any type of activity while we are there, such as a potluck or a hike if we are in a area like Hadleys Landing where there is a nice wet lands area.

The best part of this position is just getting the group together and having fun and talking about the things we like about our boats and ideas on how other member have put some of the creature comforts on their boats.

Valentines Day Cruise - The Quay
By Michael Lewis

February 17-18.  This is your opportunity to kiss and make-up.  Join us for a short sail/cruise over to the The Quay at the Red Lion in Vancouver and treat your Valentine to Brunch.  If you don't want to de-winterize then cruise in your HUMVEE or whatever.  Give me a call or email if you think you might show up.

We will leave Tomahawk Bay about noon on Saturday, overnight at the Vancouver Public Dock and go up the ramp to The Quay in the morning for Sunday Brunch, if you like. Let's try to leave at near the same time so we don't have to raise the I-5 Bridge more than once, if necessary at all. I will monitor VHF 16 and 71. Dock space on both sides, point up river.

Hors d'oeuvres sharing on the Commodore's Wind Raven on Saturday afternoon.  Potluck dinner or whatever works on the docks. For those adventurous souls wander around downtown Vancouver holding your loved one's hand.  As an added attraction, Bear will have a coming-out reception/cruise.  Bear is the Commodore's latest addition to Wind Raven. Guess which one he is?

St. Patrick's Day Cruise - Canoe Bay
(Grandma's Cove)
By Michael Lewis

March 17-18.  A joint cruise between Sauvie Island Yacht Club (SIYC) and the Columbia River All Catalina Association (CRACA) will be hosted by Bob & Rick Teeter acting as cruise host for both clubs.

Schooner Creek Boat Works has indicated to us that we can use their docks for the cruise and we, therefore, plan to have an Irish (Green Food) Potluck between the two clubs starting at 4:30 PM Saturday, March 17th.

The potluck will be held on the docks, so be sure to bring your portable table and chairs to join in the fun.  If you can't make this cruise by boat, you may consider using your land yacht to join us at Schooner Creek Boat Works.

For more information you can contact Bob Teeter at 503-283-3767 or camelot@jps.net.

Safety Corner
By Michael Lewis

Play it safe, keep a stack of float plan forms on hand.  Leave a copy with a friend, relative or local marina before heading out on the water.  In case of an emergency, pertinent information will be right at their fingertips to enable them to contact the local marine police or Coast Guard with necessary details.  A word of caution - in case you're delayed, and it's not an emergency, inform those with your float plan, and be sure to notify them when you return so the float plan can be "closed out" and an unnecessary and costly search avoided.

Burgee

The association's burgee is available to members for $15.  Inquiries about membership, Mainsheet magazine subscriptions, and burgee orders should be addressed to:

Kathleen Lewis, Secretary/Treasurer
17535 Monnier Road, NE
Hubbard, OR 97032
(503) 981-7467

February 17-18.  Valentines Day Cruise, The Quay in Vancouver

February 28.  General Meeting (Schooner Creek Boat Works)

March 17-18.  St. Patrick's Day Cruise, Canoe Bay (Grandma's Cove)

March 28.  General Meeting (Rose City Yacht Club)

more...

The Columbia River All Catalina Association newsletter is published once a month online at ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org. Articles are the opinions of the authors and don't necessarily represent the consensus of the Association.