Yet another good time for boating

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Southern California has good weather to go boating anytime of the

year. The much anticipated midweek storm with the predicted gale

force winds and over 6-foot-high seas had the courtesy of sliding

past us leaving great weather.

There is a cold front moving in over the coastal waters today that

will bring a wind shift from the southeast and increase the swell

heights but will include double digit intervals between swells. I do

not predict much, if any, rain from this system based on weather

reports, radar images and satellite images available on the Internet.

Let’s see if my prediction comes true because I am going boating

tomorrow while most of the country is shoveling the snow off their

sidewalks.

Normally, this time of year I like to report the new boating laws

that go into effect after Jan. 1, but I can only find a couple of

regulations affecting the commercial boat operations. Those changes

primarily deal with new homeland security issues. I will keep looking

for any new laws affecting the recreational boater and if you know of

any new laws let me know so I can report it in this column.

The news item making the headlines in California is the increase

in the State Park launch ramp fees. The parks department is basically

doubling its boating fees beginning July 1, 2004, however, from what

I can determine, the fees are now in line with other boating launch

ramp facilities. The day fee will increase to between $5 to $8 and

the annual boat pass will be $75.

Yes, using the term doubling gives the impression that the fees

are going to skyrocket but these fees have been low for years

compared to what it costs to maintain the infrastructure. The goal of

our government should be to keep the costs affordable and at a

minimum for access to our waterways. I would just like to see an

accounting of where the revenue generated by boating is actually

spent once it reaches our state Capitol.

Did you know that you can still have the chance to attend a

boating event for free?

The San Diego Boat Show starts next week and I have a limited

amount of tickets to giveaway plus several children’s gift bags that

include four VIP tickets, a boating activity book and “Skipper” the

boat show dolphin that is a little stuffed toy. The boat show is at

the San Diego Marriott Marina and Convention Center where you can see

luxury yachts and many booths ranging from marine electronics to

fishing equipment to diving gear and much more. There will also be a

kids’ area, free boat rides and sailing lessons to make the show a

wonderful family outing. Be sure to stop by my booth and chat with

Chandler Bell and myself, and that Sunday, Jan. 11, Eric Hovland will

be calling in live to the radio show.

The show will be held from Jan. 8 through Jan. 11 and it is

presented by the National Marine Manufacturers Assn. which is the

organization representing the $30 billion recreational boating

industry. For more information, visit www.sandiegoboatshow.com or

call (858) 274-9924.

Oh yeah, how can you get your free tickets? You have to call in to

my radio show this Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. at (888) 344-1170. This

Sunday, my guests will be Jeff Hancock who is the San Diego boat show

manager and Ken Guyer who is the West Coast sales manager for the

National Marine Manufacturers Assn.

Tune in to my “Boathouse Radio Show” this and every Sunday from 4

to 5 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170), or listen over the Internet at

https://www.boat

houseradio.com. You can call in to the toll free listener line at

(888) 344-1170 and join in on Southern California’s only boating talk

radio show reaching up the coast from San Diego to Oxnard and out to

Santa Catalina Island.

* 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 https://www.boathousetv.com.