2012 Sailing Calendar Released

Next year's sailing calendar was released from the Port Townsend Sailing Association's central home office. To download your copy of next year's scheduled fun on the Bay and surrounding waters, click the link below. 2012 PTSA and Regional Sailing Schedule-1.pdf.

Scholarships available for sailmaking and rigging course

From Three Sheets NW, Deborah Bach

Students learning canvas work during last year's sailmaking and rigging course. Photo courtesy of NSWBB

There are still spaces left in the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding’s upcoming sailmaking and rigging course, and even better — there are also scholarships available.

The scholarships offered by the boat school [...]

Project Time – Mike’s Quick Rope Whipping

Time to clean up some of those fraying lines, from Boating Safety Tips, Tricks & Thoughts from Captnmike

This is the quick and secure whipping I use to whip the ends on double braid line.  I have not seen this in any book.  It has some of the elements of the classic [...]

Standing Rigging Checks – the vital checklist

If the wind is going to roar this winter, your rigging needs a check.

Sail-World picked up a post from Captain John at Skippertips that lists the most vital rigging checks you need to make.

Sailing Rigging Inspection Checklist: Just as pilots of aircraft large or small wouldn’t think of taking off without [...]

Stretch vs. Creep

A post by Ryan Scott on the West Marine Rigging-Newport site that might be helpful as you prepare your boat for the coming season.

One common misconception that I am asked about, is whether stretch and creep are the same thing. They are not. I saw an analogy a while ago describing the difference, and I still think it is one of the best ways to demonstrate it. Rubber bands stretch, taffy creeps.


continue reading » Stretch vs. Creep

PTMTU Proposes Changes to Copper Paint Ban Bill

This morning Bertram Levy of the Port Townsend Moorage Tenants Union sent along the following memo that makes three specific changes to the proposed legislation that phases out copper bottom to recreational boats under 65′.

"Old Norse Hauled Out" painted by the artist Martin Justin David. http://martydavid.com

Over the past ten days since we sent out the February 11 position paper on Senate Bill 5436, House Bill 1785 that is similar in many ways to the Senate bill, has been posted on the web.   Both bills have undergone hearings and some changes.

During this time, three members of the Moorage Tenants Union have been speaking to a variety of people, including paint manufacturers, members of the Port Townsend Marine Trades Association, The Port Manager, the Commissioners, Practical Sailor magazine, and the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance.  We’re told it’s late in the game and that the bills are well along, so here are the changes we want in this legislation.

1)  Strike the proposed amendments in both bills that limit the definition of  a recreational boat to 65 feet, and include ALL recreational boats, regardless of size. There should be no exemption for recreational charter boats.

Rationale:  No justification exists to change the legal definition of recreational boat as it is found in 33 C.F.R. 6(V)§1362; or in the federal Clean Boating Act; or in Coast Guard regulations or literature.  The use of federal Vessel General Permits to suggest size limits on recreational boats is also not justified because VGP is about ballast water, deck wash, graywater and bilgewater discharges, not bottom paint.  Therefore, no size limit exists on the legal definition of a recreational boat and all should be included.


continue reading » PTMTU Proposes Changes to Copper Paint Ban Bill