Learn more at the boat show

Ahoy.

The 11th annual Orange County Boat Show started Thursday at the

Anaheim Convention Center for the opening of the 2003 boating season.

“The Orange County Boat Show is the perfect venue to kick off the

boating season,” says Dave Geoffroy, executive director of the

Southern California Marine Assn. “This year will undoubtedly be

bigger and better than ever and will afford Southern California

boaters an all-inclusive venue to get a peek at what will be new on

waterways in the months to come.”

This year, the show will have more than 350 new boats of every

variety to entice boating enthusiasts and newcomers who plan to

cruise into the region’s many waterways.

At the show, boat lovers can compare and purchase the new 2003

models, conveniently displayed under one roof. Visitors will enjoy

more exhibits that feature a wide assortment of family deck boats,

performance and tournament ski boats, fishing boats and personal

watercraft, plus a large array of boating aftermarket products and

accessories. Displays will include engine and propeller upgrades,

safety equipment, marine apparel, high-tech electronics and water

sports equipment.

If you are new to boating, or you are looking to buy your first

boat, stop by the show’s Discover Boating Center. The center provides

an unintimidating and friendly atmosphere for curious consumers to

get information on boating safety and tips on how to purchase their

first boat.

The boat show will have many family activities -- a kid’s art

contest, celebrity look-alikes, puppet shows and live entertainment.

Ray Tsuneyoshi, director of California’s Department of Boating and

Waterways, will be at his department’s booth today to meet you, the

boater, and answer any of your questions.

The Orange County Boat Show is presented by the Southern

California Marine Assn., which is one of the largest and oldest

marine trade associations in the country.

The Orange County Boat Show is open from through Sunday. Show

hours are: noon to 10 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 10

a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $9 for adults, while children 12

and younger get in free when accompanied by an adult. For more

information, call (714) 633-7581 or surf over to www.scma.com.

CHANNEL MARKERS

I have a question for those of you who cruise in Newport Harbor.

What do you think of the positioning and types of red channel markers

numbered 8 and 10?

Channel marker 8 is between the mooring fields almost directly out

from the Harbor Department, while channel marker 10 is off Balboa Island near Buddy Ebsen’s former house. Both of these markers are now

placed on steel poles instead of on floating buoys.

I ask because it seems like both of these markers are constantly

hit and damaged by boaters.

On Wednesday, I cruised by marker 10 and noticed the pole is

leaning over from being hit, and the marker’s metal cage structure is

so badly tweaked that it will require costly repair. I wonder if

changing these two markers to floating lighted buoys would better

serve the boaters and be more cost effective in terms of decreasing

repairs to the markers and boats?

TIP OF THE WEEK

Surf over to www.city.newport-beach. ca.us/nbpl/topicks/nautical.

htm for a list of nautical links.

Earlier this week, I received an e-mail from June Pilsitz, who is

Newport Beach’s Public Library’s electronic resources librarian. June

sent over the address to their nautical link section, and I found

this Web page to contain a good list of nautical links, especially

when I saw the Boathouse TV’s link.

On Thursday, I will speak at the Newport Beach Business Club’s

breakfast meeting. I will talk about my recent experiences while

cruising the Pacific Ocean to harbors in Southern California and

Mexico, plus my nautical broadcast and journalistic activities.

The meeting starts at 7:30 a.m. aboard the Newport Harbor Nautical

Museum’s Pride of Newport. I have more information on my Web site.

Click on “Appearances,” listed in the main menu.

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 Mike@BoathouseTV.com or visit BoathouseTV.com.