Willsboro Bay Marina: Rhumb Line, March 2008

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Willsboro Bay Marina on Lake Champlain: www.wbm.us

Rhumb Line - Spring 2008

News From Willsboro Bay Marina

Launching - Brief Update

We began dock installation on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - about a week after ice-out. Boat launching will begin on Friday, May 9, 2008.

New Bank Rule for Cheques Drawn on Canadian Banks

Please see this important notice about payment cheques drawn on Canadian banks.

Loss of a Friend

We are saddened to inform you of the passing on March 16, 2008 of Emil Zlotnick, long time home fleet member and resident of Willsboro Point. Emil and Nancy enjoyed sailing Nan-Sea-One for many summers on Lake Champlain.

New Payment Method - Check Acceptance

We can now accept check payments from most checking accounts in the United States by e-mail or fax, or you may telephone us for assistance. Simply write a check and fax it to us, or send us the following information: Bank name, bank city, and bank state; amount, your name and address as shown on the check, the check number, and all of the numbers and special characters at the bottom of your check. Use the letter "A" for transit

(transit), the letter "D" for dash

(dash)and the letter "C" for on-us

(on-us). The check number should be from an actual check and that check number should not be used for anything else. We will print a draft using this information and process it just like a check.

WiFi Possibility

We are still trying to justify the installation of WiFi wireless internet access. Since cable internet and DSL are not available to us, we must purchase a T1 line at a cost of over $7,000 per year (in comparison to cable or DSL at $500 to $1,200 per year) to be able to provide this service. The satellite connection that we use for marina's own purposes is not robust enough to provide WiFi access. Please e-mail us if you are willing to commit to the purchase of WiFi access at $50 per month for a minimum of two months per year. If 50 or more marina members will commit to this, then we will make every effort to provide this service.

Launch Schedule!

The surface of Willsboro Bay froze over on February 12, 2008. We will "open the schedule book" and begin accepting launch date requests at 9:00 AM on Monday April 21, 2008. We require a signed customer agreement, copies of all boat keys and lock combinations, and parking permits on automobiles before we will launch any boat that will remain docked at the marina overnight or longer after launching, and all accounts must be cleared before launching. Replacement customer agreements are not required if we have an agreement on file for you from 2000 or later, and we have sent reminders to all summer dockage customers from whom we require an agreement. We will launch boats Thursday through Monday this spring. The Travelift will be reserved on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for use by the service department and for loading and unloading boats from tractor-trailers. We strongly recommend that the boat owner or the owner's representative be present at launching; an additional fee of $125.00 (plus tax) as stated in our August 2007 rate sheet will apply for launching without the owner present. We encourage owners to be present during the launching and initial docking of their boat because we believe that it is prudent for boat owners to check for leaks or other problems which may develop in the first few hours after launching. Launching by the marina does not include any follow-up procedure or monitoring; it is recommended that the owner be on hand to thoroughly check over the boat after launching. We schedule launching by lettered sequence (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) and do not assign specific times. The first launch of the day occurs around 8:00 AM and then we proceed through the remaining launches for that day without delay. If you are not present and ready we come to launch your boat, we will proceed to the next boat and you may need to reschedule. Our intention is to complete all scheduled launches as early as possible each day and then launch a few extra boats whose owners are present and ready. We recommend that owners be ready by 8:00 AM for sequence A & B, by 9:00 AM for sequence C & D, by 10:30 AM for sequence E & F, and by 11:30 AM for sequence G to allow us to complete all of the launches scheduled for that day. The time required for each launch varies according to weather conditions and special requirements of each boat.

Marina Improvements

We are completely replacing dozens of main & tee dock sections for 2008. These new sections have doubled framing members, reinforced cleat attachments, and diagonal cross bracing. We invite you to visit us for a tour of our new dock construction techniques. We will complete our addition of an independent, extra set of interlinked north/south anchors for all of our docks this spring. We are modifying the dock 4 and dock 5 electrical systems to save time and effort in installation and removal and to reduce wear and damage to the components. We have replaced about a dozen older windows and sliding doors in the showroom/store and in the rental residence with new, Low-E energy efficient replacement windows to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Seasonal Notices and Reminders

Bottom Sanding - All sanding and grinding jobs and equipment must be approved by Paul Mero before commencing work. All sanding and paint debris shall be collected with drop cloths and disposed of properly. The boat owner is financially responsible for clean-up of other boats and marina facilities fouled by sanding debris. Sanding and grinding may only be performed with approved dust free equipment with vacuum collection. Skirting around the boat, ground tarps and disposable coveralls are required, and a full face mask and safety goggles are strongly recommended. Disposable coveralls must be removed before entering the marina store or bathrooms.
The marina requires proof of proper and adequate insurance coverage (including liability and workers compensation insurance) from any outside contractor or paid laborer before permitting them to work at the marina. This requirement applies to anyone working on boats at the marina other than the boat owner or the owner's immediate relatives (spouse, siblings, parents, children). Outside contractors and paid laborers must provide proof of compliance with all applicable governmental regulations, including pesticide applicator certification for anyone applying antifouling paints.
Shrinkwrap may not be placed in our dumpsters and we do not provide free disposal of shrinkwrap. Shrinkwrap recycling kits are available for purchase at the marina store. Disposal fees including labor and the cost of the needed shrinkwrap recycling kits will be billed for all shrinkwrap found in or around our dumpsters or left on marina grounds.
Air conditioners, heaters and water heaters must be shut off when boats are unoccupied. Their operation while boats are unoccupied is a senseless waste of resources , a safety hazard, and an unnecessary cost and strain on the marina's electrical system. The marina will monitor for cooling water discharges and electrical consumption and we reserve the right to disconnect or shut down these items without notice when they are found running in unoccupied boats.
Dockside water hoses may not remain connected to unoccupied boats because a minor plumbing failure could then sink a boat. Electrical cords may not be connected to shore power receptables on the dock unless the other end is already connected to a boat, as this is an electrocution hazard.
Speed Limit - Automobiles must limit speed to 5 mph on marina property. This limit is for the safety of children and all other visitors to the marina.
Boatyard Supplies and materials We maintain an inventory of wooden blocks, cut lumber and Styrofoam blocks in order to properly set and store boats and docks. These are not scrap or surplus materials; please do not borrow or move these materials without authorization from marina management.
Boat owners must supply properly sized and placed fenders and docklines. A minimum of 3 fenders and 4 docklines are recommended and dock lines should never run straight down from the boat to the dock. Boats should be sprung to maintain adequate clearance from the dock and appendages such as anchors, anchor rollers, bowsprits and davits should never overhang the dock.
The marina is approaching 100% occupancy; we may find it necessary to change some dock assignments to accomodate new boaters who would like to join the marina.

Merchandise from our Competitors & Package Acceptance

We can order almost any item, part, accessory, or supplies needed for your boat; therefore, it is inappropriate to have items ordered from our competitors or any other sellers of any type of boating supplies, accessories, or parts shipped to the marina. Packages arriving from these sources will be refused. In special circumstances, we will accept packages not containing competing merchandise, provided that special arrangements are made before the package is shipped, including a written request and payment of a reasonable fee for our handling and storage. Should a package from a competitor be accepted due to extenuating circumstances or error, a substantial handling and storage fee must be paid upon pickup of the package. COD deliveries will not be accepted under any circumstances whatsoever. The marina is not responsible for damages, shortages or loss to accepted packages, and unclaimed packages may be disposed of after 30 days with no further obligation. Our service department's policy is not to install equipment or use supplies purchased elsewhere or from our competitors. Please purchase your equipment and supplies from us if you would like us to install or use them. Under extenuating circumstances we may elect to install equipment or use supplies purchased elsewhere, however, a surchage of 15% of the retail price of the materials will be added to the cost of the job.

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URL http://www.wbm.us
"I boat; therefore, I am"™
Willsboro Bay Marina, Inc.; 25 Klein Way, Willsboro, NY 12996, USA
Phone (518) 963-7276 44º 24' 15" N 73º 23' 40" W
Last revised 2008-04-28
© 2000-2008 Willsboro Bay Marina, Inc. All rights reserved.