THE HARBOR COLUMN:Save on fuel and keep boats in top shape

Ahoy.

It was slow going on the start lines last Friday for the Newport to Ensenada race, but everyone was having a great time watching the start from Lookout Point Park on the bluffs above Corona del Mar State Beach. Light wind from the southwest kept the southbound boats sailing closer to shore, but the breezes kept the large colorful spinnakers in their sail bags.

This is a popular, annual sailboat race, so the rising fuel prices do not have a huge effect, but I wonder how the high fuel costs are affecting the weekend boaters. You can save money fueling your boat at Island Marine Fuel on Balboa Island, which is a member of the Boat Owners Assn. of the United States’ (BoatU.S.) Cooperating Marina program. This program offers fuel discounts to BoatU.S. members, and card-carrying boaters can also receive discounts for transient slips and repairs from participating marinas and boatyards.

BoatU.S.’s recent survey of anglers showed that 83% acknowledged that boating safety is a major concern. The safety issues of greatest importance are the usual suspects — drunk boat operators, lifejacket use, speeding and reckless boating.

The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and BoatU.S. Angler offers a free online “Boater’s Toolbox” in conjunction with National Safe Boating Week, May 19 to 25. Topics include boating under the influence, lifejackets, rules of the road, hypothermia, carbon monoxide, and safe and clean fueling.

“The Toolbox puts all of the essential safety information in one place so anglers don’t have to chase it down on half a dozen different websites,” said Mike Pellerin, director of the BoatU.S. Angler program. For detail, go to www.boatusangler.com.

This week’s tip is to save fuel by getting rid of the junk on your boat. Extra weight makes engines work harder.

Your boat’s main engines and generators should be regularly serviced. Sailboats usually only have one main engine, but that engine is usually the most overlooked item on a ragboat. You should carry extra primary fuel filters, and I recommend gauges to see when it is time to change the filter.

Finally, use your common sense with the throttles and know your boat’s cruising speed for the best fuel consumption per trip.

Safe voyages.