THE HARBOR COLUMN:

Ahoy,

Take a look at the newly revamped National Weather Service website. It’s not just for boaters as land zones are listed as well. For boaters, however, the newly designed page has divided the Pacific Ocean off our coast into smaller zones, which I like much better.

Before the redesign there were only the two zones of inner and outer waters that made broad predictions to cover the large zones. Now the zones are more focused to where most boaters will be sailing. Additionally, landlubbers can click on one of the zones over land to see the its forecast.

The forecast for boating looks spotty this weekend on the high seas with a chance of rain Friday and early Saturday morning, but the Southland could use some precipitation. The swells will drop a few feet in height to 2 to 3 feet from the west, but it depends on how this weather system will churn up the waters.

Hopefully, the seas will flatten out after the system passes for smooth sailing. You can go to www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/ for the weather forecast.

Tip for the week is that the rainy season is approaching and now is the time to check the cleanliness of your bilges and ensure your bilge pumps are working. There is an actual rainy season that starts every November for sunny Southern California.

Firstly, make certain your bilges are clean so that any rainwater entering will not pick up contaminants such as engine oil from blow-by or drips. You do not want to inadvertently pump the oil into the harbor because of your lack of maintenance.

Secondly, make sure your bilge pumps are operational and there is adequate electrical power to maintain operation during a storm.

Most vessels at a dock are connected to shore power, but vessels on moorings have only the battery power on board. I have seen vessels sink because the batteries went dead and thus, the bilge pumps would not operate.

And when it is raining, check your boat before you get a call from the harbor department asking you to refloat your boat and pay for the environmental cleanup.

Remember to tune in at 11 a.m. Saturdays to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” on KLAA-AM (830).

Safe Voyages.

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to www.boathousetv.com.