THE HARBOR COLUMN:

Ahoy.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I am not going near my bathroom scale after yesterday’s daylong feast. It reminds me of the long-distance yacht deliveries where I am known by my crew for stocking the vessel’s bridge with munchies to help us keep alert on watch.

This being the day after Thanksgiving means it is time once again to release the holiday frantic shoppers, but more importantly it is time to break out the holiday decorations.

Thanksgiving weekend is usually a great time to decorate your boat or to go boating. I usually see families cruising with visiting relatives. Remember that it is lobster season, so outside Newport Harbor’s jetty entrance are lobster cages with their marker buoys floating.

When you are entering or leaving Newport Harbor, I recommend navigating a straight course between the offshore mid-channel buoy and the mouth of the harbor, and do not cut the jetty’s corners, especially at dark. After a storm or heavy seas, pay closer attention to the locations of the floats, as the floats can move directly in front of the harbor’s entrances. Also, within a couple of miles along the coastline, there will be hundreds of marker buoys. So, as always, keep a good lookout.

Tip of week is to check the hoses and clamps to the engine, water intakes and drain fittings. Look at each hose, especially those under pressure, for signs of failing and, if in doubt, replace the hose.

At the same time, check the tightness of the clamps with the engine hoses having two clamps on each end for double protection. Know where the thru-hull fitting are located and periodically open and close the shut-off valves (or seacocks) to maintain the valves in operating order.

If you have to call for help, one of the first questions the Coast Guard dispatcher will ask you is, “Do you know where the water is coming in from?” You better be able to answer, “Affirmative, I have found the problem and closed that valve.” That is, unless you have run over a log and cracked your hull.

Safe Voyages.

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