|
May Squadron Night
We had a thorough and detailed update from Robyn Oxley and Jeff Desson from Transport Canada on the new regulations and proposed changes to the PCOC , how it is managed and new fees attached to it. As well they updated us on PCL changes and new licensing timelines and costs. A very informative evening. We will have to watch closely how the new fees and rules affect our costs and course content the future. They left us with a digital copy of the latest version of the Safe Boating Guide and also an information/comparison sheet on the PCOC, PCL and PCR, both of which are good documents to have around.
Visit the link here:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/oep-vesselreg-menu-728.htm
|
|
|
Annual General Meeting and Change of Watch
Monday, May 17, 2021
AGM and CoW start: 7:30 PM
Log on start: 7:00 PM here https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/416637357
In addition to several vacant positions, there are a number of Bridge members who have served multiple back-to-back terms and have asked for a rest. Honestly, they really deserve one. If you are able, please, step up for a very rewarding experience to keep our proud Squadron strong. Most Bridge members have generously decided to stay on to assist through a transition.
Open positions as of today:
Executive Officer – assists the Commander with administrative tasks, and steps in during absences
Assistant Education Officer – assists the Education Officer
Communications Officer (Public Relations) – assists with electronic notifications, social media and public events
Cruise Coordinator / (Virtual Event Coordinator) – hopefully we will be able to have a Squadron cruises later this season. Meanwhile, maybe a virtual wine tasting?? Or….
If you are interested in any of the above positions, please email Elizabeth, Bill or Roger.
The reports will be available on the VPS website:
https://vpsboat.org/Notice_of_AGM_2021.pdf
https://vpsboat.org/events.html
|
|
|
Upcoming Boating Courses
Maritime Radio Online
The one-day virtual Maritime Radio course teaches emergency radio procedures and everyday operating techniques. This complete package will prepare you for the Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) with DSC Endorsement exam which is included as part of this courses. To operate a maritime radio, you need the certificate. It's the law!
Upcoming date: June 12, 2021
To register, please click her and scroll down to Vancouver.
Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) Online Self-paced
All operators of motorized pleasure craft are required to show proof of operator competency. You can be confident that this study guide meets all the standards established by Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety. As an extra benefit, if you pass the test offered by Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons, your Card is recognized by BOTH Transport Canada and The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (USA).
To register, please click here.
Please check here for all upcoming classes and dates.
|
|
|
Miscellany
Flare Return Days
There have been a few queries about Flare Return Days. As mentioned in a previous Masthead, due to the increasing cases of COVID-19 and the slow roll-out of vaccines, the Bridge had decided to postpone Flare Return Days until 2022. We did reconsider this at the April Bridge Meeting as some Squadrons have decided to go ahead with revised Covid protocols. With the present state of emergency in BC until May 24 and no guarantee that this will be lifted on that date and the increase in variants of concern, the Bridge again voted to delay our participation in Flare return days until 2022 to ensure the safety of all Vancouver Squadron volunteers. If your flares are expired, you can keep them in a safe place or if they are CIL flares that you will be replacing, Steveston Marine will take them back with purchase of new flares. Please contact them or your favorite marine store for details. You can check the CPS website to see where there may be other Flare Days but please phone ahead to ensure that they are still taking place as many of had to be cancelled because of Covid. https://www.cps-ecp.ca/events/safety-equipment-flare-disposal-days-2/
Recreational Vessel Courtesy Checks (RVCC) s are also postponed until 2022, however, that doesn’t mean that your boat shouldn’t have the necessary safety equipment. You could still be pulled over and checked! Here is the link to the Safe Boating Guide which contains the required safety equipment needed for each type and size of boat:
https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/files/migrated/tp_511e.pdf
Just a reminder that your fire extinguishers need to be checked yearly. Here is a list of places in the Lower Mainland where you can take yours to be recertified or to purchase new ones. If you need to dispose some Fire Extinguishers, they can be taken, free of charge to the Zero Waste Centres in Vancouver and Richmond https://recyclingalternative.com/search/#!rc-cpage=40421
|
|
|
Fire Extinguisher Checks
The fire extinguishers on your vessel are required to be re-certified and tagged on an annual basis. The inspection and certification must be done by a certified company.
Here is a list of some companies in the Lower Mainland that may be of help. Please call to make sure they are available to do the inspection before you go. Most are open Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Pricing is for the inspection only of a typical pleasure craft extinguisher. Repair, renewal or replacement will be at extra cost. Please have a mask and follow Covid safety measures.
- DBC Survitec – 1689 Cliveden Ave., Delta (Annacis Island), Our preferred service provider! 604-278-3221, $9.00
- DNA Fire Doctors – 448 1st. St. E., North Vancouver (around the back) 604-987-3577, $11.00, cash or cheque only
- Vancouver Fire – 22131 Fraserwood Way, Richmond, (near Annacis Island), 604-706-0306, $12.00
- Ace Fire Prevention - #128-11180 Coppersmith Place, Richmond, 604-275-0075, $10.00
- Advance Fire and Safety – 2643 Kingsway, Burnaby, 604-877-2217, $14.00
- Bartec Fire Safety Systems – 8561 Government Street, Burnaby, 604-420-2964, $15.00
- Reliable Fire and Safety – 4974 Kingsway, Burnaby, 604-767-2676, $15.00
- Community Fire Prevention - #113-1320 Kingsway Ave, Port Coquitlam, 604-944-9242, $12.00
- Active Fire and Safety – 12110 86 Ave., Surrey, 604-590-0149, $15.00
|
|
|
Special Discount Offer - Outdoor Products and Lifejackets from Coleman Canada and Stearns
New prices, revised process effective March 10th, 2021
All Canadian Safe Boating Council members, and members of their respective organizations or associations, are entitled to an amazing 40% discount off the price off many Coleman Canada outdoor products and Stearns lifejackets.
CPS-ECP is a member of the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC), which avails us of this generous savings opportunity. The CSBC is in the business of promoting safe and responsible boating throughout Canada and works closely with leaders within the national and regional offices of boating safety to bring about changes that make boating on Canadian waterways both safer and more enjoyable.
CSBC’s motto – “helping you stay safe on the water”
How to access the discount:
at the top of the page to see the wide range of child and adult lifejackets!)click on the Stearns logo and locate outdoor recreational products that interest you. (Make sure to
Make a note of the product name and the Item# for each item that interests you (tip: the Item# comes up after you click on the picture of the product in question). Product prices are not provided on either the Coleman or Stearns sites.
Found something you like? Record the details, and place your order by email, using the instructions on that same CSBC webpage.
You’ll be contacted by email with an order confirmation and a request to provide your credit card details in a Secure Link to Pre-authorize to Carolyn Shepherd, the Coleman/Stearns representative.
|
|
|
Tales from Sea
A Near Sinking
The story begins after a successful fishing season in 2019 for Sam and Tim. To store their boat over the winter, they found that they could get very economical covered storage just across the line in the US. But then came 2020 and the Covid-19 problem that closed the border to all but essential workers. How could they get their boat back to this side of the border? Well, one of Sam’s relatives was one of those essential workers and on a trip back to Canada he detoured to pick up the boat and trailer from storage and bring it across the border. He was soon met excitedly by Sam and Tim who were anxious to get things moving as quickly as possible.
Sam towed the boat and trailer to Lynwood where they had secured in-the-water moorage for the duration of the fishing season. Sam backed the trailer down the ramp while Tim was ready to operate the boat. After parking the truck and trailer, Sam joined Tim aboard and they headed up Indian Arm for the shakedown cruise. Shortly, Tim complained that he could not get the boat up on the plane. Sam on looking over the stern, saw the swim grid was under water and on opening the engine cover saw water swirling around the engine compartment. The electric bilge pump was not working. He directed Tim to head for the beach, presumably somewhere on the north shore near Cates Park. While heading at an ever decreasing pace toward shore, Tim got really concerned that they were not going to make it and phoned 911 for help.
Despite the poor choice of phoning 911, luck was undeservedly with them! The message got relayed and it so happened that the CCG hovercraft was conducting training exercises in Vancouver Harbour. They were soon on the scene and pumped out the boat and nursed them onto the beach at Cates Park. It seems that there were two drains, one for the boat and one for the fish tank and the single plug was in the fish tank, not the boat. Sam remarked to the Coast Guard Officer, “the worst part of this exercise is that I will have to tell my father and he is very involved with the Power Squadron”.
After the confession, the father said, “Where the heck was your bucket”. This of course is not the end of the story, enter the insurance adjuster and who had wired the bilge pump incorrectly causing it to short out. An expensive lesson that even resulted in a new engine.
What can be learned from this real life experience? First, put the drain plug in the correct hole, second check that all safety equipment is on board, third don’t leave the dock before checking all systems are operating properly. For your safety, take the Maritime Radio course and finally, consider taking the CPS Boating Course.
Submitted by Peter Girling
|
|
|
Do you have any Stories?
...that you'd like to share?
If you feel the urge to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as the case may be), and have a story you'd like to share with fellow members, we'd like to read it!
Funny stories, lesson-learned stories, great cruising stories, you-won't-believe-what-happened stories...
Please send any short masterpieces to pro@vpsboat.org and we'll try to include them in the Masthead when we have space.
Happy writing... and boating!
|
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 17
VPS AGM and Change of Watch
June 21
VPS Squadron Night: Vancouver Port Authority
on Vancouver Harbour Safety and Security
http://global.gotomeeting.com/join/16574117
September 20
TBA
October 18
Jason King, Station Leader/Coxswain SARS West Vancouver
November 14
VPS Member, Harold Gordon, Marine Surveyor
|
|
|
|
Membership Renewal
Don’t forget to renew your membership! If you are having difficulties or would like an invoice for your dues, please contact Membership Officer, Maureen Forrestal, for help.
Life members!! Yes, you need to renew too, even though you will not be charged anything. You should be able to click on the renewal part of your membership profile to renew at $0.00. If, for some reason, it comes up with a dollar amount, again, contact our Membership Officers, who will be able to directly or indirectly, correct the issues.
|
|
|
Boat Blue
Boat Blue is the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron (CPS-ECP) National Environment Committee's campaign to bring the protection of our waterways to the forefront of what it means to be a responsible boater.
To learn more about the campaign, please click here.
|
|
|
Marine Weather
Attention Boaters! For marine weather warnings, watches or advisories, please check
https://weather.gc.ca/marine/region_e.html?mapID=02, call a marine forecaster (anytime & free) at 1-844-505-2525, access recorded marine weather at 604-664-9010 or subscribe to updates on Twitter @ECCCWeatherBC
|
|
|
Squadron Bridge (2020-2021)
Commander Elizabeth Zygmunt
Executive Officer Craig Douglas
Assistant Educational Officer Peter Girling
Assistant Educational Officer (Radio) Peter Bennett
Secretary Charles Tai
Financial Officer Don Mathew
Assistant Financial Officer Les Hausch
Membership Officer Moe Forrestal
Assistant Membership Officer Twyla Graeme
Programs Officer Brian Kennedy
Environmental Officer Bill Blancard
Communications Officer
Newsletter Editor Carol Anne Humphrys
Supply Officer (Regalia) Don Zarowny
Webmaster/IT Officer Peter Bennett
Historian Dennis Steeves
Past Commander Bill Botham
Officer-at-Large Dave Atchison
Officer-at-Large Roger Middleton
Officer-at-Large Jennifer Dom
|
|
|
|
