THE HARBOR COLUMN:

Great boating weather continues for coastal cruising on ocean and inland waters in Southern California. Water enthusiasts and boaters will set in the two- to four-foot swells with winds up to 15 knots that are perfect for the weekend recreational sailor controlling the mainsheet. However, those venturing out into the outer waters need to check the sea conditions, which should improve through the weekend and into next week.

There are no tropical cyclones in the Pacific, over land in the Southwest or in the Gulf of Mexico as Tropical Storm Fay lashes Florida. An update for those who might want to head north is that Point Conception will be windy with seas six to nine feet. I would consider maybe rounding Conception southbound, but northbound might be too bumpy.

On the local front, the California Coastal Commission has approved the renovation project for Newport Harbor’s local Coast Guard facility at the Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol’s property. The Coast Guard’s buildings consisting of the crew’s living quarters, office and storage is slated to be demolished along with a large section of the seawall and docks.

The facility will be replaced with new quarters, bulkhead and guest slips.

A temporary Coast Guard location for the crew will be established in Newport; otherwise, the Narwhal — the Coast Guard’s cutter in Newport — and its crew would have had to be temporarily relocated to a neighboring harbor. Narwhal Commander Lt. Kris Ensley will have his hands full with his regular duties and now the pending renovation of his facilities.

Tip of the week is one that emerged from my radio show. How do I clean the bird dropping off my boat’s canvas? Mark Silvey of Mark Silvey Marine Services answered the question. Boaters first should try to keep birds from roosting on their boats if at all possible.

However, to clean the droppings, you should spray the area with water and let it soak in for at least 10 minutes.

Then scrub lightly, making sure you do not stretch the canvas or rip the stitching. Do not use any solvents that are harmful to the material or the environment. Good luck.

Remember to tune in at 11 a.m. Saturdays to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” broadcasting from our studios inside Angel Stadium 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.