Coast Guard could use boaters’ help

Ahoy.

The U.S. Coast Guard asks that all boaters help test their coastal

stations’ Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Digital

Selective Calling capabilities.

The marine MF/HF radiotelephone service is part of the DSC system,

which allows boaters, with the touch of one button, to send a

distress signal to the Coast Guard complete with Mobile Maritime

Service Identity number and latitude/longitude if connected to a

Global Positioning System from anywhere in the world.

Also with the DSC, boaters can send or receive distress signals

and regular radio calls by dialing another boater’s radio directly.

The test will start Monday and last until March 24 for all vessels

between 20 and 150 nautical miles from the Coast Guard stations.

There is one in Washington at Group Port Angeles (MMSI 003669904);

and two in Oregon, at Group Astoria (MMSI 003669910) and Group North

Bend (MMSI 003669911).

In California, there are Group Humboldt Bay (MMSI 003669909),

Camspac San Francisco (MMSI 003669990), Group San Francisco (MMSI

003669926), Group Long Beach (MMSI 003669912) and Activities San

Diego (MMSI 003669913).

The Coast Guard asks that you initiate a routine DSC test call

directly to one of the coast guard stations listed above using the

MMSI number for that station. When calling the station, you will use

the frequency of 2187.5 kilohertz. Once sent, you should wait for the

DSC acknowledgment and then shift to 2182.0 kilohertz for voice

communications with the station.

If you cannot establish DSC or voice communications with the Coast

Guard, call (510) 437-3510 or send e-mail to [email protected] to

report the problem. You can read more information on at

www.navcen.uscg.gov/

marcomms/dsc_test.htm.

GRANTS AVAILABLE

On another note, the OMC Foundation is closing their doors, since

OMC went bankrupt. The foundation is giving its final round of grants

to nonprofit groups that teach young boaters.

I have heard there may be up to $1 million remaining in the trust

to be distributed to the various organizations. A portion of the

money will be used in the communities affected by OMC closures, and

one-fourth will be available for those nonprofits meeting the

eligibility requirements.

The OMC Foundation began in 1945 with a grant from the Evinrude

family as the Ole Evinrude Foundation. It changed its name in the

late ‘80s. The primary mission was to give scholarships for OMC

employees. Any scholarships still remaining will be honored. I

encourage youth nonprofit boating organizations to send an e-mail to

[email protected] before the application deadline of March 31.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Check your vessel’s sea strainers regularly during the rainy

season. Sea strainers are the collection baskets that are connected

inline after the thru-hull salt water pickups (commonly called raw

water). They look like pool drain baskets.

The sea strainer collects debris sucked up into the hose from the

ocean. The rain water, especially after the first rains, will flush

downstream a lot of debris that has been collecting in the storm

drain channels. This debris will clog up the strainers thus

preventing the normal water flow past the strainers.

What on a boat has strainers? Strainers are on most engines,

including mains and generators, except those with keel coolers,

heating and air conditioning units, water makers, raw water heads,

raw water faucets and raw water wash downs.

It is important to check and clean the strainers for these items

to operate, and it is vital to keep cooling water to the engines’

heat exchangers so the engines will not overheat when operating. If

the engines overheat, they can be damaged. The engines may

automatically shut down, causing the skipper to lose control of the

boat.

You should also keep the strainers clean so that smaller debris

does not work its way through the strainer and, for example, into

your heat exchanger, which would require much more to clear the clog.

Lastly, for those cruising after dark, keep an eye out near the

bend in Balboa Island east of the ferry crossing, as Newport Bay’s

channel light number 10 is still extinguished (the Coast Guard’s term

for not working).

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist.

Send him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story

suggestions by e-mail to [email protected] or visit

BoathouseTV.com.