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“COME FOR THE EDUCATION, STAY FOR THE FRIENDS”
Even though Winter is one of my favorite seasons, I have had it. I’m tired of being cold. That’s not to say that I won’t complain in the Summer when it’s hot. That being said, Spring is around the corner and time for a new start. Absecon Island will host the Fall District Education Conference on 30 October to 1 November in Cherry Hill. Stf/C Ralph Bernard, AP is the chair for the event. We have already had one meeting and met with super results. The only thing missing was more members from Ab-secon Island. We need you to make this event successful and show the District how great AIPS is. Even if you come and sit at the registration desk/raffle for a few hours, that would be wonderful! Please contact me at (609) 432-7449 or [email protected] to sign up. A special thank you to members of Kingsway and Delsea for their willingness to pitch in. We have planned a great costume party on the 30th with music and “prizes” along with a Satur-day luncheon and Saturday evening banquet. Join us! Every year during Safe Boating Week, there is a cruise down the Delaware River aboard the Ben Franklin. This is a fun dinner cruise and should be experienced by all. Look for more information in this issue. Stay safe and warm.
Commander’s Message ................. Page 1
Upcoming Events/Birthdays ......... Page 2
Executive Officer Report ............... Page 3
........................................................ Page 4
..................................................... Page 5
Safety Article ............................. Pages 6-7
................................................... Pages 8-9
............................................... Pages 10-11
...................................................... Page 12
Commander Apryl J. Bernard, P
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“COME FOR THE EDUCATION, STAY FOR THE FRIENDS”
Absecon Island Power Squadron
2013-2014 Bridge
Commander
Apryl J. Bernard, P
1127 Riverside Drive
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 625-4987
Executive Officer
David R. Bernard, AP
121 Tereck Road
Buena, NJ 08310
(856) 697-5678
Educational Officer
Ashle E. Cocca, P
Hickory Street
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 412-3524
Administrative Officer
Ralph A. Bernard, AP
PO Box 682
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 625-0031
Secretary
Sandy Wytoshek, S
732 W Shore Drive
Brigantine, NJ 08203
(609) 264-9274
Treasurer Jaclyn Carugno, P
1127 Riverside Drive
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 625-2374
Absecon Light
Editor: Cdr Apryl Bernard, P
(609) 625-4987
Circulation Editor: Lt George Austin, AP
AIPS CALENDAR
19 March 2015 AIPS Regular Meeting
Absecon American Legion 1930
16 April 2015
Change of Watch Italian Gourmet
1800
1-2 May, 2015 NOAA/Co-op Charting
Seminar Norfolk, VA
20 May 2015
Delaware River Cruise Philadelphia, PA
21 May 2015
AIPS Regular Meeting Absecon American Legion
1930
February 4 Ashle Cocca 4 Britne Bernard 4 Joe Marshall 5 Charlie Heuer 9 Charlie McGinnis 15 Christian E. Jensen 23 Keith Boakes 25 Michelle Kline March 12 Bill Benton 18 Mary Kourakin April 7 Ron Stablini 13 Janet Gurtzmirl 18 Apryl Bernard 25 Robert Traa May 3 Phyllis Braun 10 Sarah Bates 15 Fred Dodd 15 James Tracy, III 17 Mark Taylor 22 JoAnn Wescoat
Absecon Light is the official publication of the Absecon Island Power Squadron,
a unit of the United States Power Squadron.
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“COME FOR THE EDUCATION, STAY FOR THE FRIENDS”
Absecon Islander’s
If you are like me, you are staring out the window, looking at the snow and the thermometer, and wondering when the snow will go away and the temperatures will rise. Warmer temps are coming, it’s just a question of when. Now we can dream, read a boating magazine, or start a project for the boat in your basement or garage to satisfy your addic-tion until the warm weather arrives.
Spring is for a new beginning and so it is that our change of watch is this time
of year. Even though we don't change faces as much as we used to, we still
need to celebrate our incoming bridge. Come out and join us at the Gourmet
Restaurant in Galloway on April to honor our new bridge and come out to
have a good time with family and friends. See the flyer later on in this issue.
Also coming up is Spring conference down in Ocean City, Md. We are going to
have a Hospitality room this year highlighting the navigational prowess of the
Vikings. Please call Dave Bernard @ 609-412-6767 if you want to get involved.
There are seminars, luncheons and the District change of watch. This is a re-
ally fun event so please try to attend.
Coming up in the beginning of May is the NOAA/Cooperative Charting work-
shop in Norfolk Va. Nancy & I are expecting to attend so if anyone would like
to join us let me know at the above number. The weekend consists of cocktail
parties, dinners interspersed with a little learning Always fun to go new places
and meet new people or see old friends.
So... please come out and join us, it's a good excuse to get together and drink
beer and talk about boats. What's better than that?
Executive Officer Report Lt/C David R. Bernard, AP
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“COME FOR THE EDUCATION, STAY FOR THE FRIENDS”
Educational Officer Lt/C Ashle Cocca, P
Hello AIPS Members! In the midst of this cold and snowy winter, the Educational department is going strong. We have just begun our first Seamanship class in a few years. With four students, we are excited
for 3 of our members to gain their first grade in USPS. Looking to the future, we will be holding our next America’s Boating Course on April 15th and 22nd, two Wednesdays from 6-10 in Mays Landing. Please pass the word on to your families and friends so we can enjoy ever-safer waters during boating sea-son. If anyone is interested, have them contact me at [email protected]. I certainly look forward to the coming of spring and putting Coc-camo back in the water! Educationally yours, Ashle Cocca
Check out the Facebook page for Absecon Island. Take a stroll down memory lane. Photos from years past have been posted be-ginning in the 70s. If anyone has any old photos you
would like to lend me, I will scan them and put them on the Facebook page also. If you have not already visited this page, this is the time to do so. Take a look and like the page. District 5 also has a Facebook page filled with photos from all district and national events. There are also photos from squadron events throughout the district. You can also follow AIPS & District 5 on twitter!
Help us keep up to date: If you have an address, phone num-ber or e-mail change, please contact Lynn Graiser at the following e-mail: [email protected] or (609) 625-1536 with changes that are to be
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AIPS SAFETY FIRST
De-Winterize Your Boat Spring Boat Prep to Get Your Boat Ready for Spring
Commissioning By Ericka Watson Powerboating Expert
Get ready for the spring commissioning of your boat by following these simple tips to de-winterize it after a long, hard winter. If you did winterize your boat, you saved yourself some spring boat prep time and possible headaches now, which means the road between your boat and the water is shorter! Although it is always best to winterize a boat be-fore putting it into storage, if you did-n't, don't worry. You can perform those tasks now for the spring commission-ing. Here's how:
Have Your Manufacturer's Manual Handy If you have a copy, great. If you don't, it would be a good idea to get one. You'll need it to re-place fluids and parts properly. Never take apart anything without consulting the manual first. De-winterizing Your Engine The engine is the heart of the boat, and since it will most like take the greatest amount of time and be the messiest, start here. If you didn't change the oil at the end of last season, do so now. After running your boat all summer, it's likely that water, acids and other byproducts have built up. It's important to change the oil to prevent corrosion and excessive wear which can lead to loss of power, poor fuel economy or engine failure. At the same time you change the oil, be sure to change the oil filter. Change the oil in transmission or the outboard's lower unit as well. Next, flush the cooling system and replace the antifreeze with a 50/50 ratio of water to coolant. Finally, replace the batteries and perform a thorough engine test. Inspect the Canvas & Vinyl Check your bimini top, seats, covers, and other vinyl and canvas items for tears, mildew and dirt. Repairs tears and holes, and then clean with the proper cleaner for canvas and vinyl.
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Inspect the Hull Carefully inspect the hull for blisters or other chips and cracks as well as for chalky residue. If you find blisters, repair them. If the boat's hull is chalky, it could indicate oxidation. Determine the level of oxidation, and then restore the boat's gelcoat to its original luster. Then, throughout the summer, follow the gelcoat maintenance plan to keep oxidation at bay.
Clean and Wax the Hull First clean your boat's exterior using a marine safe cleaner from a marine supply store. Then, apply a fresh coat of wax according to the instructions in the gelcoat maintenance plan.
Inspect the Windshield Wipers Inspect and replace windshield wipers if necessary. If the wipers are in good condition, apply a rubber lubricant to protect them from the harsh marine environment. Some experts recommend stowing wipers until you need them to keep them in good condition longer. Polish the Metal and Teak Known as brightwork, metal and teak enhance the look of your boat. If it's dull, your boat will not have the same visual appeal as it might otherwise have. Also, prolonged neglect of metal and teak can result in pitting and eventually compromise the integrity of the materials and their intended use. To protect the metal, use metal polisher like Never Dull. For teak, it is usually rec-ommended that you sand it and then apply stain and varnish. Replace and Test all Electronics Bring all the electronics back on board and do a thorough test to be sure they are working properly. Test the radio, GPS, compass, depth finder, and any other marine electronics. Clean the Interior Whether you have an open deck or cabin with full galley, clean the area thoroughly to remove
dirt and debris.
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“COME FOR THE EDUCATION, STAY FOR THE FRIENDS”