Just a reminder for all those with boats in the storage yard:

• If you have not received a contract, we do not have your updated contact info and you need to contact us in the office at 206-525-8782.

• If you have received a contract but no longer have a boat in storage, please contact us and let us know so we can update our records.

• The lock combination will change after January 31st, so make sure you have turned in your contract and fee.  The changes will be sent out via email, so verify your email  address on your contract.  If you do not receive the new code, call us in the office to confirm we have received your 2010 payment. 
  

• All storage contracts and fees are for January to December.  Even if you brought your boat into the yard in September of last year, you still need to update your contract and fee for the 2010 year.

Thank you for your patience, and we hope to see you on the water soon!

Hey, it's the rainy season again and we've got your kids' rain gear covered!

We currently have a large variety of styles and sizes for sale in the office:

We have pants/coat combos for $15 total, and some small mittens and hats to round out the stylish look (Seattle Rainy-Season chic).  Sizes range from gear suitable for 3 feet to 4 feet tall kids (3 to 6 years old, approximately).  We are in the office most afternoons during the work week, but feel free to give us a call in the office first to make sure we will be in.  

Come on in and grab some before the rain starts up again...

Office Phone:

(206) 525-8782     

 

For continuing boat storage owners and those of you new to the yard:

Winter will soon be upon us! The winds last week reached 38 knots, and almost toppled several boats off of their trailers. Winter winds here often exceed 40 mph, occasionally 50 mph, and sometimes 75 mph. Please take immediate action to secure your boat for the season. Below are a few tips on how to winterize your boat for our winter winds…

· Tie boats to trailers. We have not yet seen a boat blow over that was tied down to a heavy trailer, only boats blowing off of them. However, boats on light dollies with the mast up, will blow over; you need to attach weights. Do not use the concrete pyramid blocks you may find around SSP—those are fencepost bases. SSP needs those. If you are using any of them, please return them to SSP.

· Chock your wheels. 2x4s are not enough; they need to be bigger. 4x4s or 4” tall wedges have worked well in the past.

· If your boat is sitting on the ground, you may need to weigh it down with something. Hobie 16s with the mast up, especially, teeter dangerously when not tied down, even in light winds, due to the curved hull bottom.

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·Take down your sails. Sails left up over the winter not only increase the chance your boat will fall over, but they also sustain both wind and UV damage.

· Remove drain plugs. Rain will rapidly fill and damage your boat. If you have to prop up your boat to drain, you may have to lower it if high winds are predicted. If the boat does not self-drain, you should cover it with a watertight cover (water may still get it) and/or you should plan on coming down periodically to bail it out.

· If you are removing your boat for the season, please tell us, and place in your current space a 2x4 that is the width (beam) of your boat/trailer, with your SSP number written on it in broad permanent marker or paint. This ensures we do not overbook the yard, and you will still have a boat space come spring. If you leave just the trailer here over the winter, write your boat number clearly on the trailer and tell us, otherwise we cannot identify the trailer.

· Damage is not just an issue for your boat, but also the boat beside you that you hit when yours goes over or your mast falls. You may be liable. If you have an expensive boat, you may want to insure it (it is pretty cheap for non-motorized boats).

· Tension the forestay so the mast does not wobble.  Otherwise shrouds get a lot of shock load and fatigue, they break, and then the mast falls. This is especially an issue with nearly every catamaran in the yard. If the mast if rigged very loose by design, relying on the jib to tension up the rig, use the jib halyard to tension up the rig when stored.

Courtesy of our friends over at Mercer Island, pictures from the Mercer Island camps have now been posted online.  To view them, go to the following link:

www.mercergov.org/files/sailing2009.pdf

Sail Sand Point Reminders and Suggestions for a Fun Sail Camp!

First Day: Remember that we will have paperwork for you to fill out, so come a little (10 minutes) early and bring a waiver. You can download it from the web. Remember it’s two pages, a boat use and a medical waiver. You will swim the first day, so bring a swimsuit and a towel for sure.

Every Day: Things to bring and use!

• Sunscreen! At least SPF 30 and Sweatproof/waterproof.

• Water: try freezing a 2/3 full bottle the night before for cool water all camp.

• Complete change of clothes and a towel, sometimes we get wet.

• Hat and sunglasses. Don’t use the really cheap ones; they are bad for your eyes.

• Closed toed shoes that will stay on your feet (so lace-up or Velcro is best).

• A lifejacket if you have one. We have some if you need to borrow.

Pick up and Drop Off: Class starts at 9:00 or at 1:00. If you come late, the class might already be on the water, not to mention all the good stuff you’ll miss. Class ends at 12:00 or at 4:00. Sign out is between the hour and quarter after. Please either sign out your child every day, or arrange other circumstances with us.

We are so glad you are here!

Paul, Morgan and the whole SSP Staff.

The NWYRC schedule is out. Not listed here is the Milfoil series.

http://www.nwyrc.org/