Letter

Thanks From USCG Auxiliary

glbm — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:54:30 +0000

We receive a far better response from your publication than any responses from our local mid-Michigan news media outlets. Thanks to Great Lakes Boating for supporting the USCG Auxiliary and our many, important missions.

Douglas Colwell
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliar y
9th Coast Guard District
Okemos, Mich.
(517) 574-4154

P.S.: We are a volunteer organization, a component of the U.S. Coast Guard and candidly we need volunteers to assist us as we support the Coast Guard’s missions throughout the 560 states and international waters. Please contact me to learn more about the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Support Science-based Handicapping

glbm — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:51:27 +0000

The Great Lakes is a special place for many sailors, both cruisers and racers. Many Great Lakes sailors want a fair and reasonable handicap that is determined by rigorous scientiﬁc research and testing, and so they support the Sailing Yacht Research Foundation (SYRF).

SYRF’s mission is to support science-based Velocity Prediction Program handicapping not only for the Great Lakes, but around the USA. The organization is designated a 501c3 which allows donors to receive a tax-deductible contribution. Gifts provide support in perpetuity for much needed handicapping research and improvement.

Donations given today will have double the impact. SYRF has received a challenge grant that will match all donations, dollar for dollar! That means that gifts will have double the impact. Donate today and help SYRF to fulﬁll its mission long into the future. Please send check to:

Bait and Catch

glbm — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:07:35 +0000

One Asian carp was found earlier this year past the electric barriers in the Chicago area. Scientists examined the ﬁsh and found that it mostly lived in Lake Calumet, not Lake Michigan.

Elected ofﬁcials in many of the Great Lakes states would like to close the Chicago locks to prevent the Asian carp from spreading any further. How about examining the bait used in the area? If Asian carp minnows are being moved around in the Great Lakes region, they could be causing the carp to pass the barriers. This could easily be a way to help prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes, without shutting down a key part of Chicago’s economy.

I hope that you will discuss this issue in the magazine.

Jim Schwaiger
Dolton, Ill.

CPD Mooring Fee Hike

glbm — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:04:39 +0000

With Chicago marina vacancies around half, why is the Chicago Park District levying additional fees? What’s the logic behind it? This increases to justify a cost-of-living index. It’s deﬁnitely going to make a lot of people mad.

Frank DiSilvio
Chicago, Ill.

Turbines on the Way

glbm — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:03:21 +0000

I’m a boater who goes out every opportunity I can. Every weekend the weather cooperates, I’m out there.

Recently, I found out that Pres. Obama was blathering on about wind turbines in the Great Lakes. What is this? On one side, he’s trying to help the environment, but on the other, is ruining our view of nature! Isn’t there a happy medium somewhere?

Dennis Kretchmar
Muskegon, Mich

Digital Questions

glbm — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:43:57 +0000

Do I understand correctly, that residential subscriptions of your publication have been discontinued?

Is that temporary, or a permanent change due to the economy? We always enjoyed reading your magazine. It will be missed if it’s no longer being sent to homes.

Stefan C, Blache
Detroit, Mich.
Via email

Editor’s Note:
The magazine will still be available from your local Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble and many outlets at the water’s edge of all freshwater seas and inland waterways. Above all, you can even see it for free by just providing your email at www.greatlakesboating.com. You will see the editorial in this issue on page 8, which should clarify the progression of our magazine from print to digital. You can view us on a Kindle, iPad, or download the publication onto your laptop, to read when you’re on the water.

How Rank

glbm — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:41:57 +0000

An environmental group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, recently ranked Great Lakes states with low beach water quality for 2009. This is an atrocity. Although Minnesota was the highest for the Great Lakes states, that ranking makes me want to avoid the beaches. The government should step in and clean up the area. Please bring this up.

Jeanine Silver
Somers, Wis.

Will Asian Carp Interfere?

glbm — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:32:15 +0000

I am an avid reader of Great Lakes Boating Magazine and I love it. You guys are very current and thorough with the news that I need to hear about the Great Lakes. I read your magazine and keep it on my boat. I’m well-aware of all of the articles and editorials that you have done on the Asian carp and I’m very concerned about my boating experience. Having to navigate among these beasts, having learned about how aggressive they are, would my boating experience ever be the same?

Andy Roth
Dolton, Ill.

In-Water Boat Show for Chicago?

glbm — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:31:04 +0000

I moor my boat at Burnham Harbor in Chicago and was wondering when Chicago will have an in-water boat show. This is desperately needed. Chicago hasn’t had one for two decades. An in-water boat show would fare much better than the one staged indoors in McCormick Place during the freezing month of January. An in-water boat show, in any one of the local harbors, would bring a lot of excitement and knowledge to the area boaters.

Who's to Blame?

glbm — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:29:39 +0000

I’m told that the International Joint Commission has completed its study on the over-dredging issue with the St. Clair River. From my extensive reading on the topic in your publication and others, I can’t conclude whether I really understand whether there was an over-dredging. Is there someone responsible for this? Can we really get the truth between what has happened and what will occur in the days to come? The level of Lake Erie is getting higher. Who are we to blame? Evidently, it’s not precipitation, because that should affect the other lakes in a similar fashion.

Thumbs-Up, Thumbs-Down

glbm — Tue, 04 May 2010 20:23:37 +0000

You are to be applauded for your comments on page 9 of the April issue, concerning, "Are Boaters Irresponsible Spenders?" Obama is a man-child, neophyte president who has not only wrongly attacked the good people that are in the boat business, he has done the same thing to the city of Las Vegas and other groups. You and others need to keep on calling him out!

I do find Fred Ludens article, "Climate Change," misguided. Human-caused global warming via carbon dioxide emissions is now being shown to be a scam. I'm surprised to see that article in your magazine.

Wind Turbines in Our Future?

glbm — Tue, 04 May 2010 20:22:51 +0000

I've been informed that wind turbines may become a part of the Great Lakes. I am both an avid boater and an environmentalist. While I agree with part of the agenda, that the turbines will contribute sorely needed clean energy and jobs to the region, my concern is for the sanctuary of the water. Shouldn't this be left alone? I very much enjoy being able to see the horizon. Now, it will become more difficult to escape civilization, with the wind turbines invading the last remaining sanctuary.

Boaters' Frustration with City's Plan for Beaches

glbm — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:31:50 +0000

When this all started, we went down the “environmental” path and then down the “safety issue” path. It felt like the game kept getting changed and nobody was explaining the rules, until Commissioner Mary Ann Moore spoke … [of a] “new” plan.

The perception that the boaters have is that the commissioners are against “boaters.” Communication between the commissioners and the boaters has hit rock bottom.

Traverse City Mayor Reassures Boaters

glbm — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:26:33 +0000

I understand some concerns have been raised, and perhaps some incorrect information has been circulated, about boating in Traverse City, Michigan. I want to assure you and your readers that we love boats and boaters in Traverse City. Our bay is full of boats. People have a great time on the water here.

Thank-You Note

glbm — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:36:22 +0000

As a boater with three boats and a canoe, who loves to fish and recreate on our waters, I wanted to thank you for your inclusion of the manatee ad in your December issue.

Although boats cause many problems for manatees, boaters both care about manatees and the health of our waters.

Thanks for reminding us.

Pat
Via email