THE HARBOR COLUMN:Battery roundup is this weekend

Ahoy.

The big waves will continue to pound the shorelines this weekend, and it looks like the swells will build up to 8 feet on Sunday before dropping next week. The mixed set coming from the west and south will continue, but watch out for gusting winds causing small-craft advisories.

Unfortunately, the raging ocean may have claimed two lives when, according to a witness, southern swells washed a man and woman off Newport Harbor’s east jetty into the sea. Whether you’re a boater, swimmer, fisherman, or someone walking the beach collecting sea shells, it is imperative that you know the sea conditions and keep an eye seaward when near the water. This tragedy, one that was completely preventable, should remind everyone to use his or her head when around any body of water.

Boat owners should be advised of the AAA Great Battery Roundup’s fifth year. The roundup offers you an opportunity to dispose of any old boat batteries that you might have lying around and not know how to dispose of properly, hopefully not in your bilges. AAA has designated recycling centers from April 16 to 22. There you can drop off any type of battery, whether from a boat, car, motor home or airplane.

“After the battery roundup wraps up this year, the collection sites at selected roadside assistance tow contractors will become permanent so the public can donate junk batteries at any time,” said the Auto Club’s battery service manager Bill Howell. “We want to encourage year-round conservation, and expanding the battery collection effort is one way to do it.”

The goal is to collect 1,000 batteries, with an bonus from the AAA Battery Service, which will make a donation of $1.50 for each battery to Surfbus. Surfbus is a program that provides first-time beach trips and marine science education to low-income children who may not get the chance otherwise. An adventure with Surfbus can have a lasting effect on the participants, and it can be the educational tool to teach ocean safety to these children.

Don’t have a battery to recycle but would like to help Surfbus bring underprivileged kids to the ocean? Make a direct contribution to Surfbus, 302 19th St., Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Write Auto Club/AAA Great Battery Roundup in the memo line of the check.

You can see a list of drop off locations at www.aaa.com . Click on the “automotive” button at the top.

Remember to think safety when handling batteries. Wear gloves and safety glasses, keeping the batteries upright, staying away from open flames, and use your common sense.

As a reminder, underway now is the Southern California Marine Association’s 15th Annual Orange County Boat Show. The show is at the Anaheim Convention Center though Sunday. Go to www.orangecountyboatshow.com for more information.

The tip of the week is to mark your calendars for next Saturday, April 21, for you and your family to join in our live radio broadcast at the Newport Boat Show. The Boathouse band will kick off at 11:30 a.m. prior to the radio show, starting at noon, and the band will play during each commercial break.

The Newport Beach Boat Show is celebrating its 34th year as the West’s premier big-boat, in-water show with the largest display of big boats and yachts west of Ft. Lauderdale.

The gangways will be open from April 18 to 22 at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach, where I hope to see you. A nice feature for the boat show is the free parking and shuttle service for all the show’s days from April 18 to the 22. Tune in to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” every Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. on KLAA-AM (830), a 50,000-watt giant in Southern California. Join me with my motley crew, Chandler Bell and Eric Hovland, as we talk about all things boating.

Safe voyages.