THE HARBOR COLUMN:

Last Monday, I had to put the snow chains on our vehicles to leave our cabin in Lake Arrowhead after it snowed the previous night. I did not predict the snow coming down to the 5,000-foot level, but then again I usually track ocean conditions for boating.

So, it is no surprise that the question de jour I am being asked is, “Will I be able to use my boat this weekend?” We need the rain in Southern California, and it looks like the rain will be on and off for the weekend.

The ocean will be a little rough with winds gusting to 25 knots and seas potentially building up to six to seven feet with wind waves on top.

The weather might pose small craft warnings inside the harbor as well with the gusting winds.

So, can you use your boat this weekend?

Of course.

If you keep your boat in the water, this will be a perfect time to check your mooring lines, check your bilges, look for leaks, and inspect your safety equipment. Then switch on the satellite TV or sit down with a good book and enjoy the sounds of the rain.

If your boat is on a trailer then you should make sure the cover is still secured, and also look to see that any rain water is not building up inside the boat.

Tip of the week is to check your vessel’s sea strainers regularly during the rainy season. Sea strainers are the collection baskets that are connected inline after the thru-hull salt water pickups (commonly called raw water). They look like pool-drain baskets.

The sea strainer collects debris sucked up into the hose from the ocean. The rain water, especially after the first storms, will flush downstream a lot of debris that has been collecting in the storm-drain channels. This debris will clog up the strainers thus preventing the normal water flow past the strainers.

What on a boat has strainers? Strainers are on most engines, including mains and generators, heating and air conditioning units, water makers, raw water heads, raw water faucets and raw water wash downs.

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

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.