A Word from the Editor: Welcome to the fifth edition of the Lake St. Clair Network Newsletter. What a month it has been! We have many updates to give you. The Metro Beach Fall Boat Show was extremely successful for us, and we truly appreciate all the kind words of support we received. It was also an excellent opportunity for us to meet a lot of great people. I would like to recognize Chuck Brockman and his efforts to save the south channel lights. We all have cruised or sailed by them and we can certainly appreciate the beauty and history they bring to our lake. Chuck is president of “Save Our South Channel Lights” which is a non-profit organization to restore the lights to their original condition. Chuck and I had the opportunity to talk in-depth at the show, and we discovered that we have a mutual interest in creating awareness about things we feel very deeply about. The Staff at The Lake St. Clair Network will join in the restoration efforts by announcing our membership to this great cause, and we encourage all of you to do the same as well. Visit this link for donation details. www.soschannellights.org

The Lake St. Clair Network staff is extremely excited to launch the new look of our home page. We’ve optimized the layout to enhance ease of navigation, all the while improving load times by 25%. We can now be found under an additional URL at www.lakestclair.org. We’ve added the SOS Channel Lighthouse links to the home page under Lake St. Clair. We’ve also added a SOS Channel Lights fact page and links. We are extremely pleased to introduce our new Viewer Polling feature to get weekly feedback on questions that pertain to the lake or The Lake St. Clair Network. Last but not least, water levels for Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario were recently added to the water levels page. We’re already working on additions to November’s content as well. We encourage you to visit and participate in each poll. I hope you enjoy this edition of The lake St. Clair Network Newsletter. Please, stop by often and tell your friends.

Help wanted! We are always looking for content. Content provided can result in free advertising for your company or organization. Please E-mail me with suggestions or proposals.

                                                                            Wishing you Calm waters and fair skies....
                                                                              Captain Rob     

Winner for September - Bill Musselman
Win a Lake St. Clair Network Cap!  Complete a Lake St. Clair Network survey and win a free cap. One winner will be selected each month and announced in our next news letter. Winner will be notified by e-mail. Click here to complete a survey!

          
Enjoy these free services:
Charts - Check out Charts Anywhere, which allows you the ability to view charts ranging from coast to coast.  Add to the 150 plus charts in the Network featuring local business. More and more businesses are being added to the network weekly. Remember, select along the coastline of the major charts and view a magnified version of that area. Select the colored icons to find more information on that business. 

Do it Yourself Classified Ads - Browse through our Classifieds section if you're looking for boats and accessories, and if you are selling a boat, upload up to 3 pictures, video and sound for FREE. Register for up to 10 ads per person. Dealers welcome! Helpful hint: After placing your text ad, you will then be prompted to add multimedia files if you choose to. Place an ad now!


Free marine online pricing! What is your boat worth? Select on NADA icon at the bottom of The Lake St. Clair Network classifieds. Click here!

Bulletin Board - Help out others looking for info by sharing your knowledge of the lake or your favorite water spots.  Post your questions about local water levels, boat maintenance, hot spots and up coming events.  A sample of current discussion topics; The proposed bridge to Harsens Island, winter storage and winterizing, great fishing discussion. Click here to find out more.

Calendar of Events - Have you made plans for the weekend yet?  Before you do - take a look at the LSCnet calendar to see what's happening in your area.  Business owners, as well as the general public have full writing privileges to the LSCnet calendar. Feel free to post and link your own event. Check out Octobers!

Attention Business Owners: Take advantage of our free services!!  Use the Bulletin Board as a forum to discuss upcoming sales or specials you may be running.  Post an event on our calendar letting our visitors know when something special is going on with your business.  Dealers are welcome to create up to ten free classified ads with sound and pictures, so we encourage you to take advantage of this great free advertising opportunity.

1996 - 45' 
Sunseeker Apache
Power - Triple Merc 502 - 445hp
Price - $279,500
Tel (941) 540-3410- Norm


Options: Call - St. Josephs Michigan Hull Material: Fiberglass
This boat is loaded!
Call for details

______________________________________________________________________

Source -- Chuck Brockman

Save our South Cannel Lighthouses

The front light began to lean in 1875 and was dismantled and rebuilt on the same stone and timber crib that it had been built on originally. It remained but is again leaning and in very bad condition from erosion of the base. In 1990, we placed a steel cell around the base, reinforced and filled it with limestone for temporary support until a permanent seawall cold be built. In the fall of 1996, a permanent seawall was completed around the front light island.

The rear light was built on the same type of crib but has weathered the elements over the years. There was a large keeper's house on the island surrounding the light that was taken down in the early 1930s. Vandalism has played a part in the overall deterioration and, combined with age and the elements, the rear light is also in need of major foundation work.

If this maritime heritage on Lake St. Clair is to be saved, restoration efforts must continue. Save Our South Channel Lights is an all-volunteer, non profit organization that was formed to accomplish this. The lights have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. With your help, we will pursue our efforts to preserve these remarkable pieces of Lake St. Clair history.

Please go to our Membership page now to see how you can have a part in this most worthy effort.

______________________________________________________________________
Shores Sentinel Spotlight
Lakefront Property Specialist

If your looking for that special waterfront property or for a real estate company that will knock itself out to market your current home using the latest internet-enhanced capabilities, look no further than Land & Lake Realty in Harrison Township.

Located at 35442 Jefferson Avenue at Shook Road near the Lake St. Clair shore, Land & Lake is a full service brokerage in the heart of the boating capital of Michigan. It excels in working with clients whose needs vary from those of a first time buyer to clients interested in owning truly distinguished property. Run by owner Lan Lozon, a third generation broker with 32 years experience, Land & Lake specializes in serving the real estate needs of the waterfront communities of  St. Clair Shores, Harrison Township, Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore and St. Clair County.

"I grew up knowing service is the more important part of business," He said. Although promoting the sale and purchase of waterfront property is the company's primary focus, it's also well established as a prominent real estate agency promoting the purchase and sale of all types of property throughout southeastern Michigan.

The office staff consists of 30 licensed agents under the direction of Bill Shannon, one of the most highly respected and accredited manager/brokers in the industry, according to Lozon. Land & Lake prides itself on being small enough to provide personal service, yet large enough to command significant attention through the real estate community.

Due to great effort, investment and future vision, the company now offers the most advanced computer technology available to today's real estate consumer in Michigan. Visit their site at  www.landandlake.com, the company is networked for  easy access to the web virtual tours, Michigan Multi-List Services and much more. Brokers have their own website and there is a full-time computer guru, Kevin on staff. Office hours are Monday -Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (810) 792-5253.

______________________________________________________________________
By: Chad Selweski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
Program cited for cleaning up marinas

Bill Chamberlain remembers when boaters loved the water, but didn't protect their own environment.

A marina operator, Chamberlain has become actively involved in teaching boaters to keep pollutants -- gas, oil, on-board sewage -- out of Lake St. Clair.

"Boaters today are definitely more aware of the effect they have on the environment," said Chamberlain, operations manager at MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township. "Twenty years ago, nobody thought twice about leaving a mess of spilled paint or paint chips or sand residue.

"Everybody's getting wiser about their environmental responsibilities."

Responsibility is the idea behind the county's Marina Pollution Prevention Project, which has won rave reviews from state officials and earned awards for seven local marinas.

Launched in 1999, the program has 17 participants who were enlisted by the Macomb County Health Department.

The Clean Marina Awards went to those facilities that best met the criteria set by the health department. They are:

• MacRay Harbor
  

• Belle Maer Marina
  

• Bosun Marine
  

• Jefferson Beach Marina
  

• Lens JBM Service
  

• Sundog Marina
  

• Emerald City

COOKING
   
Hold each ear of corn over a wide shallow bowl and cut off kernels with a large, sharp knife. Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over moderately high heat, until foam subsides. Sauté corn and shrimp, stirring until shrimp are cooked through (3-4 minutes). Stir in scallions and basil and season with salt and pepper. Serves 4.

Source: Newsday, 9/27/00

Winterizing Storage

Storage in the water means you might get a jump on the boating season next spring. On the other hand, boats stored ashore (on high ground) won't sink. If you have a choice, storage ashore is a safer bet.

Storage ashore may also be less expensive over the life of a boat, since a hull surrounded by air for several months each winter is less likely to develop blisters than a hull that remains in the water. These blisters, the fiberglass equivalent of rot, occur on many boats when water soaks into the laminate below the waterline.

One note of caution: The vast majority of the claims in temperate states involved boats that were being stored ashore. Since water retains heat longer than air, boats surrounded by air are more vulnerable to a sudden freeze than boats surrounded by water. Even a brief cold spell that lasts only a night or two can do considerable damage. In temperate states, boat owners must winterize engines and freshwater systems, especially when boats are stored ashore. In deep freeze states, boats stored ashore must be winterized earlier than boats stored in the water.

Supporting Hulls

To say that a boat is better off stored on land is to assume it will be resting on something that provides adequate support. According to one industry expert, three times as many boat hulls are damaged by mishandling ashore than are damaged in the water. Some of the boats on shore are damaged suddenly when they are blown over by windstorms. Many others, however, are damaged slowly because hulls were distorted in storage, creating problems ranging from poor engine alignment to broken stringers and bulkheads.

The most reliable support is provided by custom-made cradles, which are designed specifically to support critical areas of a boat--its engines, bulkheads, and keel. (Don't store your boat on a cradle that was built for a different model boat.) Steel cradles are best, but wood cradles will also do the job if they have been inspected for deteriorated wood and corroded fastenings. Shipping cradles are probably OK, but most will require some modification to improve lateral support before they can be used for winter storage.

Despite the advantages, storing cradles in the off-season is often a problem at many crowded boatyards, which instead rely on a combination of screw-type jack stands, blocks, and timbers to support hulls. Most boatyards do a competent job of positioning the supports, but it never hurts to discuss technique with the yard manager before the boat is hauled.

You could also take a cue from commercial vessels, which have their own blocking plans indicating where blocks and jack stands should be placed to provide the best support for your boat. Manufacturers may be able to supply you with a plan, or you can work with the yard manager to devise one yourself using a diagram of your boat. Save the plan and give a copy to anyone who hauls the boat in the future.

With jack stands, the stand should be perpendicular to the hull so it directs the boat's weight toward the ground. Misalignment of the stand will force it out as the load is applied. Even if the stand is aligned perfectly, safety chains must be used to prevent stands from slipping out from under the hull.

Jack stands should be placed as far out from the boat as practical to support the boat in high winds, with at least three per side for boats over 26' and additional supports at overhangs. Plywood must be placed under each base to prevent its sinking into mud, sand or asphalt. Even when stands rest on clay that seems brick hard, they can be loosened by heavy spring rains, shift, and spill the boat.

While jack stands must be placed properly to prevent the boat from falling over, most of the boat's weight usually rests on its keel. Some boats have specific requirements for support of the keel, but at least one manufacturer warns against putting weight on the keel. If the marina manager isn't familiar with your boat, check your manual or contact the manufacturer.

Keels must be supported by wide timbers or blocks--the wider the better to distribute the load. On powerboats, additional support is usually recommended for inboard engines, fuel tanks, and heavy machinery.

With outboard and outdrive boats, weight should be taken off the transom by lowering the drive units onto a block.

After the boat is blocked, sight along the hull and keel to make sure the jack stands aren't depressing the hull. (You should also check in about two weeks, after it has settled.) The boat must also be level, or water could pool and cause stains, mildew, and/or gelcoat crazing. Finally, never secure the boat's winter cover to the jack stands or support blocks. There are many accounts in the claim files of boats that fell over after stiff winds filled the covers and yanked the supports from under the boats.

Storage on Racks and Trailers

An increasing number of boats are being stored ashore on dry storage racks. These racks are designed to support "typical" boat hulls, but can't always be adjusted to support unusual or atypical designs. If you have doubts about the support provided by a rack, consult a marine surveyor or consider an alternative winter location such as a trailer, which has adjustable rollers and pads to support critical areas.

The exception is deep-draft sailboats. Trailers are designed to support these boats when the wind is on the bow and are rarely wide enough to provide adequate protection for certain boats (typically, racing sailboats) when strong winds are on the beam. To provide additional lateral support, use extra jack stands along the hull and unstep the mast to reduce windage. Centerboard boats will probably be OK on a trailer, especially if they are secured to the trailer's frame and the mast is unstepped.

Source: Boat U.S.
    

Q. When was the Grosse Ile North Channel Front Range Light House built?
A: Built 1906

Q. Where must you report when cruising and docking in foreign waters?
A: Customs

Q: When was the lowest lake level ever reported ?

Q: When was the highest lake level ever reported?

Answers will appear in next month's Newsletter.