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Skull Creek Marina
February 2009
♥♥ Happy Valentines Day! ♥♥
Skull Creek Marina Website
Check out our new website at www.theskullcreekmarina.com. It has a
colorful, clean new look, has much more information, and is hopefully,
more user-friendly. If you have any suggestions for information to be
included or general comments, email or call us.
Maintenance & Repairs
The inspection of the triangles under the dockboxes is ongoing and the
plywood under the dockboxes is being replaced with starboard. We are
currently getting prices on a bulk rate to replace all rub rail on the
southside.
South Carolina “Clean Marina” Designation
This is the fifth in our series devoted to Skull Creek Marina’s goal to
obtain the S.C. “Clean Marina” designation. We hope you will enjoy these
topics and be proactive about helping us protect our fragile
environment. One of our customers recently wrote us with his concern
about the fact that the marina has no facility for waste collection. We
are currently researching the costs of building a containment site.
Please continue to write or call with your comments and suggestions.
This month’s topic is: Hull Paint
Anti-fouling coatings on boat hulls are another toxic threat to marine
life. These coatings contain compounds such as copper that kill marine
organisms that grow on the underside of a boat. These coatings,
especially ablative (a.k.a. soft, self-polishing, or sloughing)
coatings, also release toxic compounds into the water. Hard antifouling
coatings have extended antifouling properties, but limit the amount of
toxic metals leached into the water. Hard coatings also release less
material into the water when they are cleaned.
Maintain Your Hull Wisely
• Consider alternatives to toxic sloughing bottom paints.
*Some good alternatives are silicon, polyurethane, Teflon, and other
hard antifouling coatings.
*These alternatives rely on a slick surface to discourage the growth of
marine organisms rather than killing them.
• If a boat has a sloughing paint coat, do not clean the boat bottom
while in the water – this creates a discharge of toxic paint chips in
the water. Only clean running gear and anodes.
• Clean boat bottoms ashore over hard surfaces or a tarp, where all
debris can be contained.
• Wait 90 days to clean a newly painted hull, as it will release more
toxins when new.
• Do hull work where rain can’t wash dirt, dust, oil, or solvents into
the water.
• Use a dust-less vacuum sander, or a drop-cloth to collect all paint
chips, dust, and residue. Dispose in regular trash.
Fishing News
Not much to report during this cold weather, with the exception of
Sheepshead, which bite best when it’s cold. Sheepshead, also called the
“striped bandit” feed primarily around structure, such as old pilings.
They eat barnacles with their impressive teeth and can strip bait off
the hook with a bite so subtle, you often don’t feel it. The bait of
choice is fiddler crab, easily found during summer, but requires more
digging to find in winter.
Cruising News
Ron Scott recently returned from a cruise to Marsh Harbor in the Abacos,
on his Island Packet, “Fantasia”. With the exception of a few cold
fronts, they had an excellent trip.
Other Marina News…
Spring is approaching which hails the start of our 2009 Monthly Cookouts
at the Marina. The first of the season will be Friday, March 7 at 5:30.
Please bring something to eat, something to drink, and something to
share. Charcoal and grills will be provided. Guests and pets are
welcome. See you on the docks!
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