|
Cool
Running (21-5)
by William E. Taylor
|
 The
summer of 2006 has come and gone, and it's time for
boaters across Canada to turn their attention to the
reality of cool weather on the open water. As a hearty
crew, we approach the autumn season with mixed feelings
– shorter days are offset by the magnificent scenery
that can only be appreciated from a waterfront perspective,
and the invigorating experience of skiing or tubing
on an October weekend is always tempered by the limitations
of our dry suits.
As you sit back to enjoy this issue of Power Boating
Canada, it is time to address the many considerations
that accompany the end of the boating season. Have you
made arrangements with your local marina to store the
boat during the off-season? Have you winterized your
engine(s) and cleared all water from the on-board systems?
Have you prepared the boat for cold weather, taking
the necessary precautions to avoid temperature and corrosion
damage? This is all part of the joy of boat ownership,
and if you approach the task in a pleasant and orderly
fashion, it can be a time of great family togetherness,
as you prepare your vessel for its winter hibernation.
Autumn is also the season to evaluate your boating needs
for the coming year, with many decisions to be made…
do you take advantage of the end of season sales, or
wait for new technology that may be just over the horizon?
With the latest information on 2007 models just starting
to filter in to the Power Boating Canada office, it
is difficult to assess the trends from an industry-wide
point of view, but we have commenced the new model year
by bringing you the first views of the ‘07s, with
more to come as information is released by the manufacturers.
During the last few weeks of summer, marine units of
police forces throughout the nation have been warning
boaters about the hazards of hypothermia, which can
sneak up very quickly on the open water, as well as
the need for all boaters to assure that their emergency
equipment is ship-shape and accessible. Statistics show
that there continues to be a strong connection between
alcohol and boating accidents – there is no room
on the water for impaired boaters – remember that
it only takes a split second to ruin your life, or the
lives of other people. |
|
|
|
