May 24, 2007
Missing the boat
Corinne DeVries
The Muskegon Chronicle
Because of rising gas prices, Tim Crampton is canceling two family trips he had planned this summer -- one to Florida and another to a family reunion in Minnesota. Crampton also is selling his boat. He said he'll use canoes instead. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:08 AM
Lake Erie adapts to deadly fish virus
D'Arcy Egan
Cleveland Plain Dealer
A virus deadly to Great Lakes fish might have run its course in Lake Erie. But it has surprised state fisheries agencies in Wisconsin, Michigan and New York by jumping quickly to inland lakes and reservoirs. Ohio has escaped the spread ing disease, according to fish samples collected from Lake Erie to the Ohio River this spring. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:06 AM
May 23, 2007
Boating accidents up for state in '06
Oralandar Brand-Williams
The Detroit News
Fewer boaters died in Michigan last year but more were injured in accidents involving alcohol, according to figures released Tuesday by the Lansing-based Michigan Association of Insurance Agents. more
Posted by Kenan at 10:13 AM
Coast Guard protects Huron County shores
Gerard Creces
Goderich Signal-Star
The waters of Lake Huron are crystal clear. Even from a depth of 40 feet, the bottom is visible, and for miles the glassy surface barely ripples beneath the warm afternoon sun. Despite the warmth of the late spring day, out on the open water the temperature drops considerably. Just below the surface, the lake has a temperature of 9 C. Even with insulated suits, it doesn’t feel much warmer on the deck of the Cape Discovery. more
Posted by Kenan at 10:07 AM
Survey by NMMA finds boating participation increased to 73 million Americans in 2006
One-third (73 million) of U.S adults went boating in 2006, a participation increase of approximately 1.3 million Americans from the 2005 total (71.3 million), according to findings from the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) 2006 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, released today by the association. The Abstract highlights boating sales and participation numbers complied on behalf of the recreational boating industry throughout calendar year 2006. more
Posted by Kenan at 10:06 AM
June 17 - July 1, 2007
Trawler Trek
Hampton, Virginia to Bermuda
www.carib1500.com
Posted by Kenan at 09:25 AM
May 22, 2007
Scuba diving bubbles with adventure
Warren Gerds
Green Bay Press Gazette
Scuba divers have tales to tell. Around here, they can tell about dives on shipwrecks dating to the 1800s or seeing the return of perch in Green Bay. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:15 PM
Asian Carp: What will happen to Michigan lakes and rivers?
Sarah Sell
WZZM
What can be done to stop Asian Carp from getting into our Michigan rivers and lakes? WZZM 13's Sarah Sell takes you to the electronic barrier just south of Chicago in part three of our Great Lakes, Endangered Legacy series. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:13 PM
New Industry Report Shows More Boaters Hitting the Water While Boosting Local Economies
The recreational boating industry today released its annual sales and participation data compiled by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). The report shows one-third of U.S. adults went boating in 2006, an increase of 1.3 million Americans to more than 73 million, and spent approximately $16 billion on food, drinks, groceries, restaurants and fuel associated with their boating excursions. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:25 AM
Gas prices soar for boaters too as they prepare for Memorial Day
Jodie Snyder
The Arizona Republic
Even in the wake of high gas prices, Jeremy Bowen plans to keep on boating. While many Valley residents grumble about paying $3 a gallon to gas up their vehicles, Bowen and other boaters shell out $4 a gallon to keep their boats zipping along at Lake Pleasant, 37 miles north of downtown Phoenix. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:22 AM
May 21, 2007
The light is out, but somebody's home
Molly Kavanaugh
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Mickey Van Wagnen has heard the question more than once. "You've been working on the lighthouse for 18 years and it still isn't done?" Van Wagnen, chairman of the restoration committee, can only laugh. The historic landmark will never be finished, he tells them. Once all the interior work is complete, volunteers will head back outside to do maintenance and repairs. more
Posted by Kenan at 01:25 PM
Big cargo ships sailing into sunset
Andrew L. Wang
Chicago Tribune
For decades, big ships lumbered into Waukegan Harbor ferrying all kinds of cargo -- wheat, cattle, steel, even outboard motors -- to and from the city's waterfront, a hive of warehouses and factories. more
Posted by Kenan at 01:23 PM
U.S. Coast Guard, boating organization seek boats to crash
Ernie Cowan
North County Times
Are you willing to donate to science? They don't want to study your body or a rare disease, they want your boat. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:44 AM
Club stays afloat with new boaters
Sarah Owen
The Oshkosh Northwestern
Decades ago she navigated the open waterways of Lake Winnebago aboard her father's boat – at first an infant passenger all of 4 months old and later his young crew captain. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:41 AM
Is there a pill available for BE (boat envy)?
Brent Wheat
Lafayette Journal & Courier
I have problem, a secret that has been hidden for many years. Actually, as my friends and spouse are more than willing to attest, I have several problems. However, today we are talking about a serious neurosis that affects many men and even a few women. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:38 AM
May 18, 2007
Michigan DNR aims to halt spread of fish virus
Oralandar Brand-Williams
The Detroit News
A deadly fish virus has spread into one of Michigan's inland lakes, prompting the Department of Natural Resources to propose new rules for boaters and anglers. more
Posted by Kenan at 01:29 PM
$20 million would clean up Lake St. Clair
Chad Selweski
Macomb Daily
Macomb County could receive $20 million for environmental projects to battle pollution in Lake St. Clair, under a bill adopted Wednesday by the U.S. Senate. more
Posted by Kenan at 01:27 PM
Deep-Sea Explorers Discover Possible Richest Shipwreck Treasure in History
Associated Press
Deep-sea explorers said Friday they have mined what could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history, bringing home 17 tons of colonial-era silver and gold coins from an undisclosed site in the Atlantic Ocean. Estimated value: $500 million. more
Posted by Kenan at 10:19 AM
Let's use Florida as a bad example
Eric Sharp
Detroit Free Press
While we've created some ecological messes in Michigan, we can take comfort that at least we're not in Florida. That state is in far deeper environmental trouble, the result of short-sighted and corrupt political leaders turning blind eyes to impending threats for decades while truckling to developers. more
Posted by Kenan at 10:03 AM
Wisconsin DNR to expand emergency rules
Lee Bergquist
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The state Department of Natural Resources is expected to broaden emergency restrictions for anglers and boaters today to include the Lake Winnebago system after the discovery last week of a deadly fish virus. The precautions are being taken after authorities were told on Friday that fish in Little Lake Butte des Morts had tested positive for viral hemorrhagic septicemia. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:53 AM
Boating tips and safety concerns for the summer
KSWO
The lakes are full and the weather is warm. So if you have a boat, it's time to get her ready. Time to get yourself ready, too. That includes taking along sunblock and those all-important life jackets. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:33 AM
May 17, 2007
Charleston to Bermuda Race Set for Festive Start
When the starting cannon fires aboard the Spirit of South Carolina on Friday, May 18 at noon, 18 eager crews will cross the line, bound for the distant islands of Bermuda, 777 miles due east. Among the diverse mix of sailboats that will set out from Charleston Harbor in this biennial bluewater contest are entries that range in size from 36 to 70 feet and hail from ports as distant as Hamilton, Bermuda and Hamilton, Mass. more
Posted by Kenan at 04:38 PM
National Fishing & Boating Week Is Fast Approaching
As you may know, interest in outdoor activities is on the decline among today's children. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, kids spend an average of 44 hours a week with TV, computers and video games, so it's no wonder that childhood obesity is on the rise. Congress recently took notice and is holding hearings to begin to address the issue at the national level. more and more
Posted by Kenan at 11:48 AM
The Dragon Boating launched in Brighton
Joyce Cassin
Northumberland Today
After five long years of trying to introduce Dragon Boating to people in the Brighton area, Diane Jones' wish has finally come true. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous benefactor who believed in the dreams of the executive, the Brighton Dragon Boat Club was formed. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:15 AM
Wingra Boats gets you on the water
James Edwards Mills
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison MBA student Tyler Leeper is carrying on a neighborhood tradition. The 24-year-old entrepreneur recently bought the Wingra Canoe and Sailing Center and aims to share his passion for boating that began when he was just a kid. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:09 AM
May 16, 2007
Muskegon Lake environment has remained a big story
Jeff Alexander
Muskegon Chronicle
On typical summer days, sailboats and fishing boats ply the waters of Muskegon Lake, cyclists ride along the water's edge and children frolic on beaches near the lake's west end. The scene is nothing like the one that dominated the Muskegon Lake shoreline for much of the past two centuries, when sawmills, foundries and other factories circled the lake and fouled its waters. more
Posted by Kenan at 02:00 PM
Don't give up the ship
WTVG
Toledo's budget problems are about to sink one of the city's most unusual museums. The Willis B. Boyer is docked at International Park, but its future is now in doubt. The Boyer is 96 years old and needs some work. But Toledo City leaders say they just don't have the money to keep the project afloat. The S.S. Willis B. Boyer opened its doors for tours this month, but this spring might be the last for the floating maritime museum. more
Posted by Kenan at 01:58 PM
Tourism secretary touts 'ecotourism'
Charlie Mathews
Manitowoc Herald Times
Chow Chong isn't too picky. The owner of Unique Flying Objects just wants steady 10 to 15 miles per hour winds on Labor Day Weekend. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:02 PM
May 15, 2007
Start of Vessel Safety Check Mega Weeks
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has announced that its annual Vessel Safety Check Mega Weeks will run from May 19 through July 8, 2007. The primary goal of this annual campaign, which coincides with the beginning of National Safe Boating Week, is to help increase recreational boating safety by ensuring that boats are in compliance with all Federal, State and local equipment requirements. more
Posted by Kenan at 01:35 PM
High gas prices stall marine sales
Rick Barrett
The Milwaukee ournal Sentinel
High gasoline prices and a rocky economy have left some boat buyers stranded at the dock and have hurt marine manufacturers such as Mercury Marine Inc. of Fond du Lac. Sales of boats less than 29 feet in length are down about 10% from a year ago, according to industry statistics, partly because entry-level boaters are nervous about spending $3.50 or more per gallon for gas at marinas. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:47 AM
Courtesy boat checks at West Marine May 19
The Grand Haven Tribune
The Grand Haven Flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be conducting courtesy vessel checks on Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the West Marine store, 810 Jackson St. in Grand Haven. The event kicks off National Safe Boating Week. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:40 AM
Four People Missing in Boating Accident
Associated Press
Rescuers continued the search on Sunday for four people who disappeared into the swirling water near a dam on the Mississippi River in Winona County, but are presuming all four to be dead after finding nothing more than life jackets and shoes. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:33 AM
May 14, 2007
What Floats Your Boat?
Dan Simmons and Joe Orso
The La Crosse Tribune
The weather's good, it's the weekend, there's plenty of water around. What's not to love? We asked some local boaters why they do it. Most people who are into boating are cut from the same cloth, Jerry Olson said. They're easygoing. They like the water, maybe a few beers. more
Posted by Kenan at 04:45 PM
Yachting: an economic development tool
Dawn Marie Bracely
The Buffalo News
Experts suggest regattas may play an important role in raising the profile of Great Lakes sailing and attracting businesses and executives to upstate New York. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:06 PM
Crabs in Lake Erie?
Ron Vidika
The Lorain Morning Journal
A fisherman's recent Lake Erie catch turned out to be a Chinese mitten crab, indigenous to China, but there is concern about how it got here, and if there are more. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:04 PM
Fishing the old-fashioned way
Eric Sharp
Detroit Free Press
Each spring, I re-read Izaak Walton's "The Compleat Angler" to prepare for an ongoing if occasional experiment in fishing for trout with some of the limitations that Walton faced. Like him, I use a rod over 15 feet long. But whereas his was made from various woods available in England in the mid-1600s, and probably weighed a pound or more, the one I use now is a telescoping, 19-foot carbon fiber "whip" from Italy that weighs six ounces. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:08 AM
May 11, 2007
June 15 - 16, 2007
Geoffrey Morris Memorial Governors Cup Fishing Tournament
Waukegan Harbor
Waukegan, Illinois
Posted by Kenan at 02:03 PM
June 9 - 10, 2007
North Coast Boating and Fishing Fest
Downtown Cleveland/Voinovich Park
Cleveland, Ohio
Posted by Kenan at 02:00 PM
June 8 - 10, 2007
Mills Trophy Race
Toledo Yacht Club
Toledo, Ohio
Posted by Kenan at 01:55 PM
June 1 - 3, 2007
Blackbeard Pirate Festival
Virgia Air & Space Center
Hampton, Virginia
Posted by Kenan at 01:51 PM
June 9th, 2007
Beaver Creek Boat Club's Annual Walleye Fishing Tournament
Beaver Creek Boat Club - Lorain, OH
Admission fee - $20 per person, min. of 6 people per craft
Registration deadline - June 2nd
Posted by Kenan at 01:21 PM
Bird watchers flock to boats
Associated Press
Growing numbers of binocular- and camera-toting bird watchers are taking a different approach to their colorful pastime: Birding by boat. Waterborne observers can move more quietly. Boating eliminates many property and access problems. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:32 PM
Michigan proposes new rules to slow spread of killer fish virus
John Flesher
Associated Press Writer
Michigan regulators hoping to delay a killer virus' march across the Great Lakes are proposing tighter controls on moving some fish species between waterways for activities such as stocking ponds and selling live bait. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:26 PM
Bye-bye walleye?
Duluth News Tribune
John Myers
Scientists warn that Minnesota's most popular fish may be harder to find in future years, as rising temperatures make some lakes too warm for walleye to survive. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:24 PM
May 10, 2007
Boating Safety For Eager Anglers
Jason DeRusha
WCCO
Just days away from the walleye and northern fishing opener, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers to be careful on their boats. more
Posted by Kenan at 01:33 PM
Town of La Pointe to receive emergency dredging funds
Ironwood Daily Globe
State Sen. Robert Jauch, D-Poplar, said the state has approved a plan to provide emergency dredging funding for the Town of La Pointe. more
Posted by Kenan at 01:30 PM
May 09, 2007
Effects of low water levels being felt
Mike Fornes
Cheboygan Daily Tribune
Docks along the Lake Huron shoreline of Mackinaw City again needed to be dredged this spring to accommodate ferryboats, and the same procedure was used to provide deep water last summer for access to a new marina being built here. More and more waterline paint has become visible on ships transiting the Straits of Mackinac under the Mackinac Bridge. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:27 PM
Old barge target of beach dig; Vessel to be moved away from shipwreck
Sandy Lindsay
Owen Sound Sun Times
Volunteers have returned to what has become an annual archeological dig on the beach in Southampton. The first dig began when ribs of a vessel began protruding through the sand. Ken Cassavoy, a marine archeologist who has worked on shipwrecks around the world and who now lives in Southampton, was quickly acknowledged as the man to head up what would become a major archeological dig. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:23 PM
May 08, 2007
Boat owners scrape by
Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki
Detroit Free Press
Watching water levels has become a regular spring pastime for residents around Lake St. Clair, and most can point to a stain on the seawall or a stump in the water, and predict whether the water will be up or down this year. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:23 PM
Ag department wants ban on hauling fish modified
Steve Pollick
Toledo Blade
The Ohio Department of Agriculture is seeking relief for about three quarters of the state from a federal order banning movement of any of 36 species of live fish because of their susceptibility to a quickly spreading fatal fish virus. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:21 PM
Ashtabula lighthouse saved for renovation
Caitlin Kollar
WKYC
Volunteers in Astabula have come together and succeeded in saving and preserving a landmark that's part of the city's history as a major Great Lakes port. more
Posted by Kenan at 12:19 PM
May 07, 2007
Boating safety questions sought
Grand Haven Tribune
In the spirit of Boating Safety Week, which runs from May 19-25, Coast Guard Sector Field Office Grand Haven announces the opening of a Boater Safety Question Line. This new phone number, 850-2589, will give anyone in the local boating community the opportunity to get answers to their boating safety questions. more
Posted by Kenan at 02:36 PM
Anglers must join virus fight
David Figura
Syracuse Post-Standard
A pernicious viral disease capable of wiping out large numbers of fish in Central New York is looming up in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, and the state Department of Conservation has joined federal officials and others in taking measures to stop its spread. Fishermen will be asked to produce a receipt to prove their bait fish are disease-free. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:42 AM
Drifting Dune
Diane Krieger Spivak
Merrillville Post-Tribune
Aerial photographs tell the tale. Over the past 69 years, Mount Baldy, the largest moving dune within the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has moved considerably, more than 1,300 feet. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:40 AM
Fishing for Answers
Eric Sharp
The Detroit Free Press
The bad news is that southern Lake Michigan is showing early signs of a bottom-up collapse in the food chain seen on Lake Huron before that lake's salmon fishery was decimated, and that alewife numbers in southern Lake Michigan are about 30% lower than last year's levels. And the even worse news for all Great Lakes area anglers is that new federal and state rules aimed at containing VHS will be announced this spring, and they likely will include: more
Posted by Kenan at 11:36 AM
May 04, 2007
Canal awash with big plans
Nicole Lee
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
Major sections of the canal system, including in the Rochester area, are expected to open today, but it's still unclear when the portions of the system running through central New York will be safe to navigate. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:44 AM
State ban isolates fish species
Dave Golowenski
The Columbus Dispatch
In an effort to contain a sometimes-fatal disease that threatens inland fish populations, the head of the Ohio Department of Agriculture moved yesterday to isolate Lake Erie's fish from those in the rest of the state. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:40 AM
Smart sites for safe boating
Jan Perry
The Cincinnati Post
Last time I wrote about boating - from kayaks to cruise ships. Today I thought I'd expand a bit on that theme and, since boating safety week falls on May 19-25, I thought I'd start with some great boating safety sites. more
Posted by Kenan at 10:43 AM
May 03, 2007
Working lighthouse defines Michigan City and lakefront
Stan Maddux
Northwest Indiana Post-Tribune
It's hard to imagine a community any more defined as Michigan City is by its lighthouse. Used extensively as a marketing tool to draw people to the city, particularly the lakefront, the 1904-era octagon-shaped building in the eyes of Uncle Sam, though, carries little to no value. more
Posted by Kenan at 02:15 PM
They're from Lake Huron
Eric Sharp
Detroit Free Press
People who have written off Lake Huron's salmon fishing may have acted prematurely, at least as far as the early season goes. "It was the first trip this year," Bay City angler Robert Kietzman said, "and we caught chinooks, cohos, lake trout and steelhead." more
Posted by Kenan at 01:29 PM
How to look good, be safe on the water
Associated Press
It's not hard to be chic and safe on the water these days. Personal flotation devices -- you probably call them life vests -- now come in many different varieties beyond the standard heavy, orange vests that most of us remember from childhood. They're lighterweight, more portable and also come in different colors. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:18 AM
May 02, 2007
Boat safety inspections available free
Port Clinton News Herald
Recreational boaters will benefit from free watercraft safety inspections offered this month by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft and its boating partners, including the U.S. Power Squadrons, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and some local marine patrols. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:08 AM
Debate reopens on lake access
Gary Heinlein
The Detroit News
State lawmakers are reopening the contentious argument over public access versus private property rights on Michigan lakes. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:04 AM
Boating Season Begins, Shedd Urges Great Lakes Protection
On your mark, get set... SAIL! Harbors all over the Great Lakes region will open this May. Boating season means the renewal of the public's summer love affair with the Great Lakes, as more people get back on, in or near the lake with family and friends. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:21 AM
VERSUS to Air Live Daily Coverage of the America's Cup Challenger Series
VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition in all its forms, is using digital media outlets in conjunction with its television coverage of the 32ND America's Cup to present viewers with the most extensive coverage possible. Whether it's on VERSUS with distribution in more than 72 million homes, VERSUS.com or VERSUS On Demand, the event is available across all screens 24 hours a day and seven days a week. more
Posted by Kenan at 09:08 AM
May 01, 2007
Dogs, ahoy! Keeping Rover safe on the boat and at the beach
Dr. Tracy Acosta
McClatchy Newspapers
Thankfully, the warm days of spring have arrived. With the beautiful weather recently, so beckons the call to go out on the water -- for humans and their dogs. To make sure everyone has a fun, as well as safe, experience out on the water, be sure to follow a few common sense guidelines. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:31 AM
Boating Safety Checklist
Mike Parker
CBS 21
Operating a water craft can be dangerous as we found out Sunday when a group of boaters went over the Holtwood Dam in Martic Township. more
Posted by Kenan at 11:28 AM
Surfers hang 10 ... in Montreal?
Les Perreaux
Canadian Press
It's the first sunny day of spring and the surf's up in downtown Montreal. Downtown, you say, in Canada's second-biggest city, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest ocean? more
Posted by Kenan at 11:26 AM