THE HARBOR COLUMN:

It is summertime. Have you been in or on the water?

I cannot believe how good the seas remain for local coastal cruising and for those who are heading out to catch the big one. We will continue to have a mixed set in the 2- to 3-foot range for swell heights, and winds up to 15 knots in the afternoons.

However, there is a very slight chance of isolated thunderstorms over our local waters.

The sea conditions are changing to our north, but cruisers might find the conditions deteriorating to punch northerly along the Pacific Coast.

Those heading southbound will have a nice push and Point Conception is averaging more than 5 feet. As always this time of year, be sure to keep an eye out for the patchy coastal fog, especially if you are heading over to Santa Catalina Island early in the morning.

Remember that it is summertime and that available moorings will be far and few between, so go in the middle of the week, and do not forget about the great more secluded spots on the westerly side of the Island.

There are webcams at both Avalon and Two Harbors that you can view with different zoom points to see the conditions and the moorings at www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/webcam.php.

Tip of the week is one of the top questions that boaters continue to ask me. The question is: How do I check my boat’s zinc as I am noticing that my boat’s metal parts are showing signs of electrolysis?

Do you know where and how many zincs are on your boat? Zincs are placed to be in contact with the water usually on the stern, prop shafts, vessel’s bottom or in the engine’s heat exchanger.

Every boat should have the metal fittings properly wired to the grounding system, known as bonding, which is connected to the zincs. The electrolysis action caused by the salinity in the salt water creates an electrical transfer of ions, and the zincs will erode first before other metals.

If you are seeing metal corrosion, then you need to check your zincs and the bonding wires for corrosion or breakage.

Remember to tune in every Saturday at 11 a.m. to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” broadcasting from our studios inside Angel Stadium on KLAA-AM (830) blasting with 50,000 watts to Southern California.

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.