Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine Jan/Feb 2015

January/February 2015 | www.gulfcoastmariner.com

[Letter from the Publisher] Admiral (Publisher) Charles Milby

Water, Water Everywhere?

Vice Admiral (President) Rick Clapp Rear Admiral (Editor) Mary Alys Cherry Captain (Director of Art) Brandon Rowan Commodore (Graphic Designer) Kelly Groce Sales Commodore (Director of Sales) Patty Kane Sales Crew (Advertising Executives) Shannon Alexander Judy Gaines Debbie Salisbury Lisa Waxman

T

Water, water everywhere And all the boards did shrink Water, water everywhere Nor any drop to drink

hese famous

lines are from a poem by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and first published in 1798. The poem tells of the adventures of a ship at sea and how it overcomes many hardships to finally make it back home to England.

Water issues in the state of Texas have reached a critical stage. If this current drought persists, then we’re all in for trouble. How we balance the needs of commercial developers, rice farmers and recreational boating and fishing enthusiasts will be

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

January/February 2015

challenging in the years to come.

Take a look at your own water use. Can you substitute native plants and grass that require much less water for your old St. Augustine lawn? Do you have to wash your car every week? Little things will make a big difference. The solution, is more rain. The reality, we all cut back on water use. Rain barrels work, and I’m going to install one in the new house I’m building this year.

Charles Milby Publisher

Editorial Don Armstrong Mary Alys Cherry Capt. David Dillman Lori Jones Jon Jones Patty Kane Capt. Joe Kent Betha Merit Charles Milby Courtney Smith Photography Patty Kane Charles Milby Distribution Timothy Shinkle Company

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 For information on advertising: Phone: 281.474.5875 Fax: 281.474.1443 r.clapp@baygroupmedia.com www.GulfCoastMariner.com

FEATURES

January/February 2015

10|Fishing Oyster Reefs in Galveston Bay

The positive influence that oyster reefs, both live and dead, have on fishing for trout, redfish, sheepshead and drum.

By Capt. Joe Kent

12|Winter Bay Fishing

Essential tactics, gear, lures, locations and conditions to be a successful fisherman during January and February.

By Capt. David Dillman

14|Hanse 415 Review

This German built cruiser features sleek and streamlined European styling.

By Jon Jones

16|What’s In Your Bag?

The perfect nautical gifts for this Valentine’s Day.

By Patty Kane

17|KO Sailing Gear Guide

Featuring kayaks, sailboats, timepieces and apparel.

18|What Makes a Good Skipper?

The traits and skills that the best skippers possess.

By Jon and Lori Jones

20|Sea Scout Base Galveston

Base brings a love of sailing to Galveston Island through unique maritime and education programs.

22|Bob Randall

Bob Randall of Randall-Porterfield Architects on the design and inception of the Sea Scout Base.

24|The Galley: How to Select Fresh Oysters

How to buy, store and clean your own fresh oysters, including several great recipes.

By Betha Merit

26|An American Success Story

The tale of Johnny Halili, owner of the Prestige Oysters Company, is a true American success story.

28|Galveston Bay Projects Receive Funding

When coastal marshes are robust and healthy, so are fish and wildlife. Oyster Lake, Moses Lake and Dollar Bay will all receive restoration funds.

32|Nissan Titan PRO-4X

The throwback Titan remains largely unchanged since its inception and is still relative against the competition.

By Don Armstrong

ON THE COVER The new Sea Scout Base located on Offatts Bayou in Galveston.

Contents Your best fish of 2014 Nautical Trivia Nautical Numbers Krewe Du Lac Fishy Facts LYC Yacht of the Year S.T.O.R.M. Little Yacht Sales and Marlow Hunter Buying waterfront property Paul Stehfest of HSH

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S N A P S H O T S | send your photos to art@baygroupmedia.com

YOUR BEST FISH FROM 2014

Chase Livingston, pictured right, caught one of his best warsaw grouper with Capt. Cory Talbot.

Kurt Tillman helps his daughter show off her impressive 47-pound gag grouper caught out of Dauphin Island, AL.

Mark Bosler of Team Sword-A-Crazy hauled in this big yellowfin tuna out of Panama City Beach, FL. Nathan Osmin and his jetty kingfish.

Team REHAB with 1st place marlin at the 2014 Texas Billfish Championship.

Chris Gavlick, Jason Waligura, sitting left, Jasen Gast, standing left, Troy Day, sitting right, Mark Phillips and Lee Bull, standing right.

Team shaggy with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place tuna in last year’s New Orleans Invitational.

Joe Dear says goodbye to this 2014 sailfish.

Capt. Anthony Lopez took this great shot of Greg Romero’s boat side marlin.

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine

It was bull reds and double rainbows for Cody Dunn on this good looking day.

Jacob Randall Nink with a true sow snapper caught out of Port O’Connor.

January/February 2015

NAUTICAL NUMBERS 60

Scallops have 60 eyes that line its mantle. Usually a bright blue color, their eyes allow the scallop to detect light and motion.

Answers 1. B, 2. C, 3. D, 4. D, 5. B, 6. A

Conrads take the helm for krewe ‘s Mardi Gras

K

rewe Du Lac, the official krewe of

Kemah, is making some changes in 2015 with Captains John and D’Anne Conrad at the helm of the pirate-themed krewe. “Pirates in Paradise” is the perfect theme for this year as pirates once were known to comb the local shores.

Krewe Du Lac celebrates Mardi Gras as a non-profit organization that promotes the cultural, educational and traditional customs of Mardi Gras while providing information, guidance and activities for all.

The krewe plans to begin the Mardi Gras season by cruising into Kemah for the King’s Cake Party, Sunday, Jan. 4, at T-Bone Tom’s. “Make plans to become a member of the krewe and join the events that conclude with the Fat Tuesday Parade in Galveston Feb. 17,” the Conrads suggest.

“So, grab your pirate or Mardi Gras attire and make this Mardi Gras season a little more special for you and those around you by joining the fun,” D’Anne adds.

A complete list of events is listed below.

• Jan. 4, King’s Cake Party, T-Bone Tom’s •

Jan. 31, Royal Ball, Landry’s Boardwalk, with Kelly McGuire, $80 per person, full buffet dinner and cash bar

•

Feb. 6, Kick Off Party, Bakkhus Taverna

•

Feb. 7, Galloway Gallop—Kemah Mardi Gras Parade—Kemah Mardi Pardi

•

Feb. 7, Yachty Gras Boat Parade, Texas Tease, with Ben Reyna, $40 per person, heavy hors d’oeuvers and cash bar A special price for tickets to the Ball and Boat Parade -- $110

Contact www.krewedulac.org or marmskool@aol.com or 281-382-1435 for tickets or questions.

Limited sponsorships available.

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The cobia state record in Texas is 108 pounds and 71 inches.

Michael Albanese caught the cobia in May of 1998 in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Eating four oysters a day gives you a complete daily supply of copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc.

300,000,000

A female sunfish can lay 300 million eggs each year. Each egg is smaller than the period at the end of a sentence.

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TS

Y FAC SH

Only 1 in 10,000 oysters has a pearl.

The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico is Sigsbee Deep, also known as the “Grand Canyon under the sea.” It is 12,000+ feet deep.

The Texas state sawfish record is 736 pounds and was caught by Gus Pangarakis in 1939.

Oyster reefs and their effects on Galveston Bay fishing

By Capt. Joe Kent

There are over 3,000 different species of catfish.

Oysters, depending on the species, can live as long as 20-30 years.

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A

nglers fishing

the Galveston Bay Complex often take for granted the positive effects of oyster reefs, both live and dead, on their fishing. That is until the reefs start diminishing and the fishing is affected.

Let’s take a look at what we are discussing and how oyster reefs benefit fishing.

Oyster reefs in Galveston Bay form in the open bay along the periphery of marshes and near passes and cuts and can be either subtidal or intertidal.

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

“The oyster reef community is very diverse with a wide variety of shell fish, crustaceans and fin fish forming a balanced aquarium.”

The reef itself is three dimensional because oyster larvae settle on the top of old shells growing upwards through the water column above the established oysters. The shells create an irregular surface that support a myriad of small marine life.

The oyster reef community is very diverse with a wide variety of shell fish, crustaceans and fin fish forming a balanced aquarium. Predators in this habitat include fish capable of crushing mollusks such as black drum, red fish, sheepshead, and blue crabs and stone crabs, which prey on small oysters with thin shells. At low tide, birds forage on the exposed oyster reef habitat.

When Houston was first settled, an ancient oyster

reef (Redfish Bar) separated Upper and Lower Galveston Bay. This reef stretched from Smith Point on the east to Eagle Point on the west and had only one small gap through which shallow draft boats could pass. There were extensive oyster reefs throughout Trinity, East and West Bays as well.

In the latter half of the 19th century, oyster shell became a construction material and was commercially harvested.

In the first half of the 20th century, oyster shell became an industrial commodity and shell dredging intensified. Millions of cubic yards of oyster shell were removed from the bay, some of it from living reefs.

This practice, which greatly reduced the area covered

by oyster reef habitat, was prohibited in 1969.

Hurricane Ike had a tremendous impact on oyster reef habitat in Galveston Bay. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department estimates that approximately 60 percent of the oyster reef habitat in Galveston Bay was covered by sediments as the storm surge moved through the bay in September 2008.

Scientists do not know how long it will take for the reefs to recover.

With this background on the makeup of oyster reefs and how they are formed, let’s visit about fishing the reefs.

In my childhood years when first learning to fish Galveston Bay, oyster reefs were the prime target. We did not have electronic

equipment to locate the reefs, just a long pole that we bounced off of the bottom. If the pole had a soft landing we kept moving until the pole struck something solid and we had found oyster shells.

Just about every species of fish caught in Galveston Bay can be found on or around oyster reefs. Fish with scales and tough mouths, such as sheepshead and both black and red drum, feed along the shell while consuming crabs and other crustaceans.

Speckled trout also are common around the shell; however, they do not have the physical traits to actually feed along the shell itself.

Trout do not have scales and their mouths are softer than the main predators feeding in and around the shell.

Trout like to feed just off of the reef during tidal movement which flushes the small marine life from their shelters.

Seasoned shell reef anglers know how to fish the reefs and plan their strategy based on tidal movement. During slack or weak tides, they will focus on the reef itself as drum sheepshead and reds and other tough skinned, strong mouthed fish will be working the bottom. When the tide starts moving, then trout on the periphery will be the target.

Trout will be found on the reef itself; however, they tend to be cautious as the edges of the shell can be razor sharp.

Anglers have been reporting reduced catches in Galveston Bay over the past few years and one of the culprits likely is the reduction in acres of oyster reefs. Hopefully our restoration program will prove successful and the sooner the better.

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Ros Polumbo with a nice drum taken from Greens Lake.

do the best with an incoming tide.

This area becomes crystal clear with cooler water temperatures. As the tide begins to move, streaks of off colored water will appear. This provides cover for the fish to ambush whatever unsuspecting bait that is there. You might only see one or two mullet flicker on the water surface. If you see a bird known as a “Loon” in the area, it’s a good bet baitfish are there. Drift fishing gave me that, you got us out is the best way to here for this? look. I looked cover the area and at them and promised, “It’s located the fish. fixing to get right,” as the tide Artificial lures began to move. I suggested this time of year that we move about a half work the best. mile away to a flat that has Soft plastics or produced for me in the past even swim type during the winter. As I slowly imitation mullet idled into the area, I gave them baits are best. I a grin as a tint of off colored mostly use soft water appeared, along with plastic type baits. a couple of Loons swimming The Norton and diving. The next four Sand Eel or Bass hours we caught fish. When it Assassin are my Mike DePol with the last redfish before the storm! was all done our cooler was go to lures during full of speckled trout and a the winter rigged few redfish. We also caught on a 1/8 ounce lead head jig. I gets cold, it’s hard to get warm and released just as many! find that a reel with a retrieve again without heading to the This scenario can be played of 5:1 helps when trying to dock and calling it a day. out during January/February slow your presentation of the The winter area of West in West Bay. First, you need to bait. Keeping your lure in Bay that I mentioned earlier dress for the weather. Layers the “strike zone” just a little is what I call the triangle. of clothing provide the best longer is the key to having a successful day. My favorite color is black with a chartreuse tail.

Just because it is cold, does not mean you can’t have a great day on the water.

Meacom’s Cut to Green’s Cut, warmth, in my opinion. The then between North and South Dressing properly and fishing best part of layering is if you the tides is the key to a great Deer Islands. During this get too hot, you can always day on the water. Fishing a time of year fish congregate remove some. Furthermore, a couple days after the passage in this area. It has a mixture good wind and water resistant of a cold front can yield you a of sand and shell, with depths jacket is a necessity. Stocking box full of fish! Don’t forget to ranging from three to six feet. hats or even a full face mask like Coastal Charter Club on The key to fishing this area are always useful to help keep Facebook. is tidal movement.

I usually you warm. Once your body

Winter fishing Fishing the tides key to successful day on the water

By Capt. David C. Dillman www.coastalcharterclub.com

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tepping outside with my cup of coffee, I was greeted by a deep chill in the air with the passage of a cold front. I hurried back inside the house to finish dressing, layering my clothing. I grabbed my wind and water resistant jacket, before I left on my way to the boat ramp.

As I launched my boat, my customers emerged from their truck, dressed more like Eskimos than fisherman. We chuckled at each other saying “It’s kind of cold.” I told them, “You think it’s cold now, wait for the ride across the bay!”

The five-mile boat ride was quite brutal. Once we got there, we spent the next few minutes rigging our rods and reels with some soft plastic lures.

The next hour and a half provided little for our effort.

With only a couple of speckled trout in the box, my customers

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

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German built cruiser features sleek, streamlined styling

By Jon N. Jones

L

ast summer I had a

chance to sail a new Hanse 415 on Galveston Bay. I’d heard of Hanse, a German production sailboat company very popular in Europe, but had not sailed one, so, of course, I jumped at the chance.

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My first impression was of a sleek, modern-looking sailing machine with uncluttered deck and European styling. It looked much bigger than her 39’4” would suggest due to the ample freeboard, plumb bow and flat transom.

According to Hanse, most owners opt for the fully battened mainsail instead of the increasingly popular in-mast furling. This boat was no exception and it was clear most of the horsepower comes from the main. The mast is noticeably forward of center and the boom comes all the way back to the transom, allowing for a large (565 sf) and powerful mainsail. The jib is a single-sheet, self-tacker, unique to Hanse. The jib sheet connects to a traveler-like arrangement forward of the mast replacing the need for a jib-boom on other self-tacking rigs I’ve encountered.

My first impression of uncluttered decks was

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

confirmed. Other than a tank fill cap, I found not a single fitting on the deck itself. The cockpit was similarly uncluttered with all lines being led aft underneath molded runners on deck and then into molded cockpit lockers. The entire boat is noticeably lacking in trip hazards and toe-stubbers.

The transom itself drops down “tailgate” fashion, which is becoming the norm for swim platforms.

Twin helms are also becoming the norm, but unlike most production boats, Hanse’s rack and pinion steering allows each wheel to be independent.

If one steering mechanism fails, the other can compensate. There is no emergency tiller on board – the other helm is the emergency tiller.

Down below, the Hanse 415 does not disappoint.

(Left) The sleek, modern salon of the Hanse 415. (Top) The salon looking aft.

The self tacking headsail makes for smooth, easy sailing.

Straight lines and 90 degree angles on the interior cabinetry gives the perception of more space and makes the boat feel more home-y, and less boat-y. Interior woods come in a variety of types and shades. The model I saw was outfitted in American cherry.

Interior doors were substantial including hardware more like what you find in a home than on the typical boat.

As nice as it was below, I came out to sail the boat. On our test sail, we had steady 10-12 knot winds from the SSE and calm seas. We motored easily past the Kemah boardwalk with the boat’s Volvo-saildrive and two-blade folding propeller. Steering was easy, two fingers being more than enough to steer the boat under engine.

This Hanse 415 was equipped with an electric main halyard winch, so raising sail consisted of turning into the wind, unzipping the lazy

bag and pushing the button.

Falling off a bit, we unfurled the jib and the boat quickly achieved 5.5 knots close hauled. Falling off the wind, we picked up to just under 7.5 knots with only a slight adjustment of the jib sheet.

Tacking the boat was ridiculously easy. From the helm, I announced “tacking,” and turned the boat through the wind with just one hand.

The self-tacking jib slid across the deck and settled in on the new tack. Nothing touched, no sheets to let fly, no need to trim the sheet. And just like that, we were back up to speed.

The Hanse 415 is a cruising boat, no doubt. It is roomy and well appointed. She was quite impressive under sail with a powerful sail plan and performance-minded rudder and keel. Not only will this boat be very comfortable at the anchorage, she can get there quickly, too. www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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What’s in Your Bag?

By

Patty

K ane

Nautical Gifts for Valentine’s Day

Show how much you love the fisherman in your life with this decorative tray. Only available at Kristin’s Gifts & Décor.

Get hooked with handcrafted charms in sterling silver by local artist, Jack Hall. See the complete collection at Kristin’s Gifts & Décor in Seabrook.

Decorative glass accents for the host or hostess on Valentine’s. Now at Kristin’s Décor & Gifts.

Sailboat wine holder. The perfect accent for your home or yacht.

Available at Home

by Eagles’ Nest in League City.

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

Sailboat reproduction for the sailor you love! From Home

by Eagles’ Nest in League City.

GEAR GUIDE 2015 Hobie Mirage Outback All kayaks are created equal, right? Hardly. Peer closer at the Hobie Mirage Outback and the distinction between lesser kayaks becomes obvious. Stand out features include a nearly indestructible rotomolded polyethylene hull, a Mirage Drive for paddle-free touring, ample above and below deck stowage, a Twist and Stow rudder for finger-tip steerage, and multiple molded-in rod holders. Best yet, a beamy hull provides form stability, allowing you to cast—or land the big one— without rocking the boat.

Sunfish The Sunfish is the most popular recreational sailboat in history. It is well loved for its classic design, unmatched stability, and sailing ease.

Owners appreciate the lightweight hull that two people can easily load on top of a car.

The ultra-durable construction ensures years of maintenance free enjoyment.

Musto Evolution Logo Long Sleeve T-Shirt The Evolution Sunblock Long Sleeve T-Shirt is a technical cottonfeel T-shirt with SPF40 to protect you from the sun’s harmful rays. Wear as a base layer or on its own in warmer weather.

Composition: 60% Cotton, 40% Polyester

Optimum OS Series 11 Watch

Stohlquist Fisherman PFD

Plastic cased watch, fully integrated strap, 1 row LCD display, time, calendar, alarm, sailing functions with audible alarm, 5,4,1,0 sequence or 5 min or 3 min or 1 min programs, countdown & repear or countdown & up, sync button for instant syncronization if a gun is missed.

Ready and loaded, this new fish hunting vest is the ideal PFD for the coastal kayaker.

Comfort and water safety with all the necessities, the Fisherman provides excellent cockpit management with places for the little things that could end up in your seat, or overboard.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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What Makes a Good Skipper?

By Jon and Lori Jones

F

or those of us who

routinely take on crew, either for racing or cruising, it is important to have a reputation as a good skipper. People who crew on other people’s boats talk, and if you get a reputation for not being a good skipper, you will soon find yourself honing your solo sailing skills.

On the other hand, if you obtain a reputation as a good skipper, folks will seek you out. But what makes a good skipper? What are crew looking for when they step on your boat? How are they judging you?

proficiency with other desirable characteristics such as being a good teacher, being confident, and being safe – all traits that have their basis in knowing what you’re doing. For instance, Tammy said, “When I’m on a boat…even when I’m scared due my own inexperience, I am truly reassured when

Right after sailing ability, our crew equally cited both “no yelling” and patience as desirable traits, often linking them to remaining calm.

As Nancy put it, “I do not like skippers that scream or yell or demean their crew.

Remaining calm is a great trait in a skipper.” Ellen said, “I especially like the non-

“Our crew equally cited both ‘no yelling’ and patience as desirable traits, often linking them to remaining calm.”

Who better to consult on what makes a good skipper than the crew? We maintain a crew list of 30 to 40 folks.

Most of them sail on other boats and some of them even own boats of their own. So, we asked our crew what they thought makes a good skipper. Here is what they had to say.

Not surprisingly, being a good sailor was the most cited desirable trait for a skipper. Most of our crew associated sailing

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I can 100 percent trust the experience of the skipper that he will not put the crew or the boat at risk.” Anton said, “For sure, a good skipper needs knowledge to teach, tell stories, and sing sea-shanties.” Josh, an experienced crewmember “prefers a skipper that is a better sailor than I am, since I look at each outing as a chance to learn.” Hmmm… this might explain why Josh hasn’t sailed with us much lately.

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

yelling, non-condescending skipper, which probably stems from their patience and skill.” Several of our lady crew spoke in terms of yelling, screaming, being condescending, etc. This appears to be a sore point and a common one at that. The men of the crew (along with the less traumatized ladies) used the term “patience” as a desirable trait in their skippers, which seems to us about the same thing.

On the third tier of

desired traits were be a good teacher, be organized, and clearly communicate. I was surprised at how many of our crew want their skippers to be a good teachers.

Apparently telling them what to do is not enough. They also want to understand what is going on. Many cited being organized and being able to clearly communicate as important so that crew can be more sure of their role and what is expected of them. As Lauren puts it, “ Every good crew member expects to be flexible- to wind, weather, whims of the group, whatever. A basic sail plan with simple crew instructions and an overview of the boat’s features maximize chances that everyone will show up similar expectations and appropriate gear.”

The next most cited group of traits had to do with enjoying the sail. Cited equally often were allowing the crew to participate, creating a relaxing environment, and fostering fun. The only surprise here is how far down on the list these traits were. Having

fun is certainly essential for the crew, but it was not cited by most of the crew and others cited it only after pointing our other desired traits. Perhaps having fun went without saying, so they didn’t say it.

Rounding out the list were being safety conscience, being of responsible character, looking like a sailor, having sufficient beer and rum on the boat, and knowing seashanties.

Other noteworthy observations: Ben said the most important quality is leadership, but he was the only one to use that word. Erik says he tends to stay clear of skippers who use terms like “avast” and “ye matey.” Cynthia wants skippers to know she isn’t looking for a date. And finally, Katherine responded to my inquiry as to what she is looking for in a skipper with just two words: cold beer.

Taking into account our crew’s input, here is our assessment of what it takes to be a good skipper.

Be technically proficient Know navigation, good seamanship, and how to sail your boat. Know your boat’s capabilities and limitations.

Know what you need to do if you get into trouble, and better yet, know enough to stay out of trouble in the first place. Your crew doesn’t need you to be an expert, but they will expect you to be competent.

Be a good leader A good leader looks and acts the part. He or she displays confidence and instills confidence in the crew. A good leader knows what she and her crew are capable of. A good leader is a good teacher/coach, and communicates effectively.

A good leader explains how things are done with patience and keeps calm in the face of adversity. A good leader does not need to yell, scream, or

demean her crew. Your crew looks to you to be the leader.

Be organized An organized skipper is likely to have an organized boat, which in turn will likely be well-maintained, safe, and will instill confidence in the crew.

The organized skipper will have sufficient stores on board for the crew and will make sure the crew knows what they need to know. Standing orders and standard procedures will be consistent and understood by all. The organized skipper helps alleviate anxiety and confusion in the crew without driving them crazy with his borderline obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Foster a relaxed and fun environment Your crew is not signing up to hunt whales in the Arctic or to exchange broadsides with privateers in the Caribbean.

They sail for pleasure. Good skippers ensure the crew enjoy themselves, feel relaxed on the boat, and allow them to participate in handling the boat.

So relax and sing a sea-shanty or two. Cold beer can help, too.

Be safe The good skipper understands the overriding importance of keeping the crew safe. Your crew is expecting you to watch out for them and keep them from endangering themselves through ignorance or inattention.

If you are crew, look for these characteristics before signing on to someone’s boat. Few skippers will have an abundance of all of these characteristics, but most should have at least some of each. If you are a skipper looking to better your reputation, focus on these five characteristics, especially the first one. Once you have a reputation for being a good skipper, obtaining and keeping a good crew will be a snap.

‘HAMBURG’ WINS LAKEWOOD’S YACHT OF THE YEAR AWARD At Lakewood Yacht Club’s Fall Ball held Saturday, Nov. 15, Commodore Tom Collier announced that racer and member Al Goethe’s J/109 boat “Hamburg” captured the “Yacht of the Year” Award for 2014.

This annual trophy goes to the Lakewood Yacht Club boat that has the best score in clubhosted races on Galveston Bay and off the coast of Galveston. The four regattas are Bay Cup I and II, the Shoe Regatta, and the Heald Bank Regatta in the Gulf of Mexico.

When asked about the award, Goethe admitted that it was unexpected. “I was very excited and surprised when Race Committee Chairman Gerhart Wittich called my name for ‘Hamburg’!” he said. “It is a real commitment to race in all four regattas, especially the offshore and overnight Heald Bank Regatta.”

Goethe credits the steadiness of his crew, most of whom have raced with him for more than ten years. He listed them as Andrew Houghton, Steve Guerin, Moray Sandison, with Doug Cummings and Bill Nickle being the newer ones.

Goethe grew up in Hamburg, Germany, hence the name of his J/Boat. He cruised with his parents in Holland as a child and did not start racing until moving to Houston about 1998.

Outside of local races on Galveston Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico, he has raced in the J/109 North American Championships in Chicago in 2009 and 2013, coming in second place to the same boat both years.

At Lakewood Yacht Club, where Goethe is serving his second term on the board of directors, he has been chairman of the national J/Fest South Regatta for three years and served as Flag Officer treasurer twice. He and his wife, Kathy, have a daughter, Hannah, and a son, Eric, both in college.

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Sea Scout Base Galveston Base brings a love of sailing to Galveston Island through unique maritime and educational programs Photography by Al Ruscelli

S

ea Scout Base Galveston (SSBG)

has hoisted anchor on its high-adventure marine and maritime excursion, and it’s off to a fast start. The 10-acre facility on Offatts Bayou, has already hosted two major national sailing events, the Galveston Regatta, proudly sponsored

by Pelican Rest Marina, and the 2014 U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship. Held at SSBG’s Galveston Community Sailing Center (GCSC), the only U.S. Sailing sanctioned community

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sailing center in Texas, these events reaffirmed the special emphasis SSBG has placed upon teaching youth and people with disabilities the art of sailing.

Adaptive sailing at the GCSC is just one of SSBG’s offerings. SSBG is the home of BaySmart, a youth program promoting the exploration of marine-related Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-based topics and

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

also provides nautical high adventure programs for Scouts in partnership with the Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Galveston Community Sailing Center has applied for U.S. Sailing Adaptive Training Center accreditation and will soon become an official Paralympic training site.

With both individual and family memberships available, GCSC makes sailing

available to all members of the community including veterans and those with special needs. Staffed by U.S. Sailing-certified instructors, GCSC accommodates sailors of every skill level with weekly sailing classes, Open Sail Saturdays and Schooner Sundays. GCSC also hopes to host more than a dozen high school sailing teams through the Interscholastic Sailing Association.

2014 U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship As the name suggests, Sea Scouting is a key component of the base’s mission. In partnership with the Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, SSBG has developed a unique highadventure Scouting program including the Cub Scout Splash Adventure, the Sea Scout Academy, and the Sea Scout Adventure, along with Galveston nautical adventures, lifeguard certification, privateer adventures, scuba certification and swim rescue and paddle safety training in 2015.

The BaySmart initiative is based at the Sea Scout Base Galveston facility on

in the spring.

Working with school administrators, the organization will conduct four-hour excursions aboard the BaySmart Express for up to 84 students at a time supporting existing in-school STEM programs by giving students an insight into nautical STEM topics.

For maritime students in vocational programs, the BaySmart Express, SSBG’s 110-foot floating

“GCSC makes sailing available to all members of the community including veterans and those with special needs.”

Offatts Bayou, and while BaySmart offers educational opportunities for Scouts through its Nova program, it is a separate organization from the Boy Scout of America and is open to anyone interested in studying marinerelated Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-based topics such as oceanography, meteorology, and more.

Several curricula are available under the BaySmart initiative. STEM 2 Stern, a four-hour field trip aboard the BaySmart Express, is open to all elementary-through-high school students. The Nova program was created to foster Scouts’ exploration of STEM fields and REACH is a U.S. Sailing-certified program to help students discover STEMrelated careers. New programs are being created to expand these opportunities.

The educational initiative reaches into public, private and home schools as well.

BaySmart will launch its first in-school field trip program

classroom, offers internships that include working alongside the vessel crew accumulating sea time toward Merchant Mariner credentials and gaining valuable on-the-job training. Keep up with BaySmart on Facebook at facebook.com/ baysmart.galveston.

Founded on the belief that water is a pathway to independence, SSBG’s programs are designed to introduce a new generation of sailors to maritime activities and build confidence in their abilities both on and off the water. For more information about SSBG and any of its varied programs, please visit www. ssbgalveston.org. www.GulfCoastMariner.com

21

Bob Randall On the design and inception of the Sea Scout Base Galveston

R

ANDALLPORTERFIELD ARCHITECTS, INC.

is a full service architectural firm based in the Bay Area with more than 30 years of experience. They landed the contract to design the new Sea Scout Base Galveston building located at Offatts Bayou in Galveston.

Bob Randall was kind enough to share some of his thoughts on how this project all came together.

How is this building different from other buildings your firm has designed?

The main difference is this building has exterior circulation corridors and three exterior vertical stair towers. This allows for panoramic views and a safer more passive form of fire protection by eliminating interior corridors.

In addition to this building, what other projects are you working on?

Two schools, three fire stations, a bay front environmental pavilion, (big reef), dune walkover, soccer and ball fields, medical offices and clinics are other jobs presently in the works.

In the event we experience a Cat 4 hurricane, how well will this building stand up to forces being put on it?

The primary structure is for Category IV hurricanes and the exterior doors and windows are good up to 50-

22

90 PSF, which is in the same range.

What’s your favorite feature of this building?

The external fiberglass louvers filter the sunlight and broadcast shades and shadows changing with the daylighting sun arc. The vistas are quite nice and scenic.

Galveston is home to many historical buildings; will this project inspire the next generation architects to create new structures that will stand up to the test of time?

Resiliency is the operative word and can promote the challenge for a more sustainable path for construction with respect to the test time.

How will the kids like living in this building?

The building was designed with the kids in mind as they can move through the dorms in a wet bathing suit and hang out on the porches.

Did the Sea Scouts have much input on the overall design of the building?

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

The Boy Scouts’ and Sea Scouts’ representatives were very much involved in the design of this facility.

People talk about a building having a LEED designation, what does that mean?

LEED designation is the “common yardstick” by which a person can measure the buildings intent with respect to energy performance, environmental presence and connection with the community to establish a better and healthier building solution for human capital -our most precious resource.

How many different building materials are being used in this building?

Four base materials are used in the building: concrete, fiberglass, coated metals and glass for a long term life cycle.

Did you have an easy time working with the city of Galveston to get this building built?

Tedious, not easy and very time consuming are the operative words with respect

to the city requirements as the project was phased and required variances, appeals, and over 24 permits at the city and federal levels of government.

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome in getting this building built?

The right to build, based on federal and local codes and regulations, coupled with the program and donor initiating funding requirements, were the most difficult obstacles to overcome.

Is Mike Porterfield as good as everyone says?

Yes, he has a very understanding partner and great staff to promote his goodness besides his raw talent.

Is there any way the public can get a tour of the building?

Yes, the public can join the Galveston Community Sailing Club or contact the Sea Scout Base Galveston 409572-2560, ext. 1009, Facilities Director Dennis Henderson.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

23

OYSTER STEW

How to select fresh oysters

Ingredients • 4 tablespoons butter • 1 cup finely chopped sweet onion • 2 celery ribs, finely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 quart shucked oysters, do NOT drain • 1/4 cup flour, dissolved in 1/4 cup very hot water • 1 quart half-and-half, can use fat-free • 1 teaspoon salt, to taste • 1/2 teaspoon tarragon • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning • 1/4 teaspoon pepper • 1/4 teaspoon paprika or cayenne pepper Directions In a soup pot, melt butter. Add the finely chopped onions and celery and minced garlic. Cook for about five minutes until veggies are tender. Add the oysters and their liquid to the pot. Bring to a boil and boil for 4-5 minutes, until oysters curl; reduce heat to a simmer. Whisk together 1/4 flour in 1/4 water until very smooth; add this to soup pot, stirring constantly.

Add all remaining ingredients to the soup pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 10-12 more minutes or until heated through and thickened.

Serves 6.

SOUTHERN FRIED OYSTERS Ingredients • 12 oysters, freshly shucked • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 2 large eggs • 3 tablespoons Hot Sauce • 1 cup panko, (Japanese breadcrumbs) • 2 cups peanut oil, or canola oil • kosher salt Directions In a small bowl, place the flour. In a second small bowl, whisk the egg and 3 tablespoons of the hot sauce. In a third small bowl, place the panko. Dredge the oysters in the flour shaking off any excess. Dip the flour dredged oysters in the egg mixture. Shake off any excess and roll oysters in the panko being sure to completely coat. Place on a baking sheet and place in the refrigerator while oil comes to temperature.

In a heavy skillet, heat oil to 325°. Add the breaded oysters and fry until golden brown about 1-2 minutes.

Drain on paper towels and immediately sprinkle with kosher salt. Serve warm chipotle lime dipping sauce.

Chipotle Lime Dipping Sauce • • •

•

3/4 cup mayonnaise, best quality 2 tablespoons lime juice, from one lime 2-3 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (canned), roughly chopped, plus 1-2 teaspoons sauce (more or less, depending on taste for spicy) 1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped

Combine the mayonnaise, lime juice, chipotle chiles with sauce and garlic in a blender or mini food processor and blend until smooth.

24

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

See recipe for southern fried oysters on the left.

By Betha Merit

S

ince we are all about

oysters for this edition, let’s talk all about oysters.

From buying to storing to shucking to recipes. You might be oyster savvy, so feel free to simply enjoy the recipes in this column. But many of us choose our oysters from a restaurant menu, and lack experience on how to select and process the sweet smelling, briny little bivalve mollusks.

Buying

When purchasing fresh oysters from a fish market or the regular grocer, freshness is everything.

Every oyster should be shut.

If it is not, then tap it, and it should shut definitively. If it doesn’t, don’t buy it. Oysters lose moisture when removed from the sea. They should feel full and heavy in your hand, which suggests that they are fresh harvested. If you bang two oysters together, they should sound solid. Throw out any that sound hollow.

Storage

Remember, oysters are alive and need to breathe. So never place live oysters in water or seal in a plastic bag if you want them to stay alive. One storage option for using a cooler is to sandwich layers of live oysters between two beds of ice. They will last for two days. If you are not using them immediately, you may store oysters in the refrigerator at 40 degrees F, preferably in an open container covered by a damp towel or damp newspaper

layers. This method will keep them for five to seven days.

Either way, place them deep side down to retain their juices.

Cleaning and Shucking

Tools needed for this step include a stiff bristle brush, a sturdy knife, a heavy glove, and a clean towel. We can’t describe this process thoroughly due to space, so we recommend you do an internet search for how-to sites that includes pictures or videos of oyster shucking, or set up a training time with someone experienced in shucking.

If you went through the above process, you have the perfect fresh oysters, each still in its own juices (called liquor) on the half shell. Immediately place them on a bed of crushed ice for serving. Recommended condiments include lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, chili sauce, horseradish, and hot sauce.

You can either use a little fork to pick the oyster out, or you can slurp them out of their shell into your mouth. By slurping you get to drink the liquor. Cradle the shell in your hand, grasping it with your thumb and first two fingers. And Slurp!

It is notable that for many recipes you can buy shucked oysters in pint or quart containers in liquid. These last a bit longer, but do check the shelf life. And, it is a lot easier than buying fresh and shucking yourself. True oyster “fast food” is a smoked oyster from a tin served on a thin slice of cheddar on a cracker. Also delicious!

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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O Y S T E R

R E C I P E S

OYSTER CORN BREAD STUFFING Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •

5 cups crumbled cornbread 1 (14-oz.) package herb stuffing 2 (10 3/4-oz.) cans cream of chicken soup 2 (14-oz.) cans chicken broth 1 large sweet onion, diced 1 cup diced celery 4 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon rubbed sage 1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons butter, cut up Fresh shucked oysters

Directions Combine first 9 ingredients in a large bowl. Gently fold in oysters. Pour cornbread mixture into a lightly greased 6-qt. slow cooker. Dot with butter. Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours or until set and thoroughly cooked.

Try this twist!

Sausage-Apple Cornbread Dressing: Cook 1 (16-oz.) package ground pork sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 8 to 10 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink; drain. Stir sausage and 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced, into cornbread mixture.

FRIED OYSTERS #2 Ingredients • • • • • • •

1 quart fresh oysters, rinsed and drained 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 1/2 cups saltine crumbs (1 sleeve crackers) 1 cup ketchup 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1/8 teaspoon hot sauce (optional) Canola oil

Preparation Dip oysters in egg, and dredge in cracker crumbs. Place on a pan, and chill 2 hours, if desired. Stir together ketchup, horseradish, and, if desired, hot sauce; chill. Pour oil to a depth of 1 inch in a Dutch oven; heat to 350°. Fry oysters, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with sauce.

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

An American Success Story

J

ohnny Halili migrated from

Albania to the United States in the 1970s. Upon arrival in America he lived in the projects of Chicago.

Johnny got his first job at a local car wash. He moved from job to job until relocating to Louisiana after hearing of work from his cousin.

His first job in Louisiana was as a deckhand. He had never been on a boat before so you can imagine the cultural shock that was. But, after many years of hard work, he fell in love with the concept and bought his first boat, Lady Katherine.

Johnny’s best deckhand over the years was his wife Lisa Halili. Together they weathered many cold winters oyster fishing and hot summers shrimping. From that one boat, and a lot of hard work, Johnny and Lisa created a successful family business.

Johnny started an oyster company unlike any other. In the summer of 2010, Prestige Oysters installed the Quintus 350L HPP machine from Avure Technology to treat and shuck oysters. Recently the Cryo-Quick tunnel also known as IQF (Instant Quick Freeze) has been installed to

freeze oysters. At present day, Prestige Oyster provides a market for over 100 oyster boats and sells over $20 million worth of oysters every year.

Prestige Oysters is a family owned and operated company. The Halili family realizes that being in the oyster business comes with a responsibility and as Raz, the Halili’s son, says, “It is important to us, as a company, to create a sustainable oyster resource so that we can harvest oysters year in and year out for years to come.

Prestige Oyster, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading year-round oyster producers. We specialize in fresh, frozen and high pressure processed oysters and our goal is to provide our customers with the freshest, highest quality oyster product available.”

The Prestige Oysters Company’s legacy is a true American success story.

Starting out with that one boat, and now creating and farming a delicacy that is an American product shipped all over the nation, is a dream come true for Johnny and his family.

For more information about Prestige Oyster’s, Inc. call 281-339-2111 or go to www.prestigeoysters.com.

“From that one boat, and a lot of hard work, Johnny and Lisa created a successful family business.”

A message to the concerned citizens of the Texas Gulf Coast

T

his is a critical matter for the entire seafood industry, recreational fishermen, and private land owners.

Recently, a private entity, Sustainable Texas Oyster Resource Management, LLC (S.T.O.R.M.) has alleged that it controls the rights to 23,000 acres of water bottoms along the Texas Coast. STORM alleges to have obtained those rights from the Chambers Liberty County Navigation District by way of a lease issued earlier this year. After obtaining its purported lease, STORM has aggressively tried to assert its alleged rights over those in the seafood industry who have been lawfully operating in these waters for generations.

STORM has gone so far as to tell oyster leaseholders that it will ban them from harvesting or bedding on their own leases.

STORM also has expressed plans to prevent the fishing industry from operating on Texas waters without STORM’s permission. STORM has even stated that it will arrest and prosecute anyone caught trespassing or fishing in these 23,000 acres.

To date, the TPWD and the Texas General Land Office has refused to acknowledge STORM’s position, citing the laws of the State of Texas and the powers and authorities granted to both the TPWD and the GLO to govern such matters. Having failed to convince anyone that their actions were legally valid in the State of Texas, it is anticipated that STORM will now go to our lawmakers to try to change the law.

Such efforts simply cannot be allowed to succeed. These water bottoms and natural resources belong to the State of Texas and its citizens. No private entity should have the right to strip Texas citizens of such long standing rights.

If STORM is successful the public will no longer have commercial or recreational access to this part of the Texas Coast. This will put in jeopardy the entire seafood industry from fisherman, harvesters, and leaseholders to processors, brokers, and restaurant owners.

This petition is intended to urge our state officials at TPWD and GLO to continue their defense of this position and to take whatever legal steps necessary to ensure that the laws in place remain in place so as to protect resources, the seafood industry and State’s rights.

You can sign the petition online at: http://chn.ge/1xHtJA4?share id=PWuILPURo

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

Galveston Bay projects receive funding

By Courtney Smith

S

cience and sport agree

— where coastal marshes are robust and healthy, so are the fish and wildlife. Scientific studies — a number of them specific to Galveston Bay — clearly show the correlation between populations of important species such as red drum, white shrimp, brown shrimp and blue crab to the amount of marsh habitat.

In fact, estuaries like Galveston Bay are considered one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Because of the importance of both natural and living resources in Galveston Bay and the need to protect and enhance them, two habitat restoration projects under the direction of the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) were recently selected by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to receive significant funding through the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (GEBF), the fund established to administer funds resulting from remedial orders in the plea agreements associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill event of 2010.

The Galveston Bay Foundation was established in 1987 as a nonprofit organization tasked with preserving, protecting and enhancing the natural resources of Galveston Bay. Since the early 1990s, GBF has been actively restoring coastal marsh habitat, primarily through a structural

approach to ensure healthy fish and wildlife populations.

This approach is best demonstrated by the saying “if you build it, they will come.” Over the years, GBF has preserved, protected and restored over 17,000 acres of coastal habitat within Galveston Bay. The announcement from NFWF on Nov. 17, 2014, represents the second obligation of funding under the GEBF. This round awarded more than $99.2 million from the GEBF to 25 projects from all five Gulf of Mexico States. Texas’ share amounts to $13.2 million for eight projects that address high priority conservation needs and represent efforts to protect and enhance natural and living resources along the Texas coast. Of the selected projects, GBF will receive $1.32 million aimed at protecting and restoring vital coastal habitats at two project sites. n Oyster Lake – Northern shoreline of West Bay adjacent to the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. This project will protect 4,700 feet of fragile shoreline and critical coastal marsh habitat in West Galveston Bay. It is estimated that since 1944, nearly 1,000 feet of shoreline between Oyster Lake and West Bay was lost.

The persistent erosion has come close to creating a breach between the calm and shallow waters of Oyster Lake and the deeper, more energetic waters of West Bay. Through the installation of hard structure breakwaters, the project will reduce wave energy affecting the shoreline, impede the pending breach between the lake and the bay, and allow sediments to accrete behind the breakwaters to facilitate the restoration of marsh habitat. n Moses Lake and Dollar Bay – Western shoreline of Galveston Bay just north of Texas City. This project will fund the data collection, geotechnical analysis, and engineering/design necessary to protect up to 4,000 linear feet of fragile bay shoreline along the western shoreline of Moses Lake and to restore approximately 30 acres of adjacent coastal marsh habitat in Dollar Bay.

Courtney Smith is vice president of operations at the Galveston Bay Foundation. Her email is csmith@ galvbay.org)

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

29

Little Yacht Sales Named Texas Dealer for Marlow Hunter

A

s the new year approached, Little Yacht

Sales had some good news to share, excitedly announcing that it will be the Texas dealer for the Marlow Hunter line of sailboats.

“We feel this is a natural progression for LYS to offer another line of new sailboats to the Gulf Coast to complement our current line of Catalina Yachts,” owner Kent Little said.

“Marlow Hunter’s new owner, David Marlow, bought the company in July 2012 and since has taken a hands-on approach, unlike any previous management, in the development and construction of new models.

“To understand the inspiration and drive of David Marlow, look at his Marlow Explorer line of trawlers that are currently being built from 49-100’ and how they have become a market leader in such a short time. The boats are innovative and that innovation has found a market. We feel the same vision is shaping Hunter. We will have a 37 and 31 on order and available for spring delivery. We would also like to invite all current Hunter owners to stay in touch with us by contacting us at Info@LittleYachtSales.com”

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

31

Throwback Titan Still Relative

By Don Armstrong

H

ave you ever driven

a new 12-year-old vehicle? Probably not, unless it was some improbable barn find. What stands out about the 2014 Nissan Titan is that a truck, conceived 16 years ago, can still be competitive today.

Since its showroom debut in December, 2003, the Titan has remained mostly unchanged.

Unlike some of its quirky brand stable mates, such as the Cube and Juke, the Titan remains true to a recognizable truck design. There were even some firsts back in the day including movable tiedown rails in the bed called Utili-Track, and a lockable storage box behind the left rear-wheel opening. Nissan

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offers an extensive line of bed accessories too, including dividers, extenders, sliding cargo trays, modular storage units, bike and kayak racks and other accessories.

The interior has a comfortable familiarity to it, giving you the feeling that you’ve been here before. The only bump, in the otherwise straight dash, houses a set of analog gauges that display engine functions and fuel level without the need to “page down” to a different readout.

To accommodate that newfangled infotainment system,

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

Nissan just extended the top of the center stack. Smooth move.

And the radio has actual volume and tuning knobs. We love it.

Our Titan test vehicle was equipped with the PRO-4X trim package that includes Rancho® performance shock absorbers, a lower final drive ratio (3.357), additional skid plates on the oil pan and transfer case, an Electronic Locking Rear Differential and unique 18-inch aluminumalloy off-road wheels with off-road style center caps and BFGoodrich® Rugged Trail®

275/70R18 all-terrain tires.

A possible divot in all of this goodness is fuel mileage. The only engine offered is a 5.6-liter V8 rated at 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft torque connected to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. That combo delivers 12 mpg-city and 17-highway in the 4WD version. Ouch! Titan has a maximum towing capacity of up to 9,500 pounds for King Cab and 9,400 pounds for Crew Cab (when properly equipped).

As this issue of Gulf Coast Mariner goes to press, Nissan announced it will debut a highly revised 2015 model with a Cummins diesel option at the North American International Auto Show in January.

With fuel prices at $2 per gallon and dealers making way for the new model, look for deep discounts on 2014 versions.

Here’s your chance to be a rebel in the big 3 truck wars.

MSRP starts at $29,360.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

33

How to avoid ‘dock shock’ when buying waterfront property

By Rick Wade REMAX Space Center - League City, Texas

Y

ou’ve just bought a beautiful home on the water with a great view of the sunset and a slip for your yacht. This is a dream come true because you will be able to walk out on your own dock, board your boat and have a great time on the water….. Buyers Beware!

From above the water everything looks fine, but, the problem may be what is below the water and what you can’t see that can transform your dream into a nightmare.

Here is some advice on how to avoid buying a home or property with a dock that only a dingy can get to.

The best way to shop for a waterfront home that meets the dock and draft criteria you need is to use a realtor who is knowledgeable about the depth of the waters in the area where you want to buy a home, or property to build on. The Bay Area has many realtors who specialize in waterfront homes and are familiar with the navigation of the local waters. A good waterfront real estate agent will have nautical charts and a GPS devise so that you can make an informed decision for a home with a place to dock your boat. Make sure the inspector you hire is also qualified to inspect the bulkheads and the dock.

Educate yourself about shallow sand bars, oyster beds or any underwater obstructions that could affect whether your boat can navigate its way to and from the dock. Most of the local marina supply stores will carry NOAA Nautical Charts. You can also go the high tech way with a marine hand held GPS that has a built in coastal chart feature, such as BlueChart. If your boat has a mounted Marine GPS ChartPlotter, with an updated subscription, you can use that to give you the most up to date water depth information.

Don’t forget to consider the high and low tides. Seasonal effects on the tides such as those strong north winds during the winter months should be considered. Also research the channels that you will need to follow in navigating to and from your property.

The important thing is to do your homework before the purchase so your waterfront living experience is a safe and happy one.

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

Paul Stehfest Co-owner HSH Yachts

I

n 1991 Jeremy Hood started

Blue Water Sailing where he taught courses related to pleasure boating. In 1993 Jeremy expanded Blue Water Sailing and started brokering pleasure boats.

In 2003 Blue Water Sailing merged with Higgins & Smythe and became Higgins, Smythe & Hood. In 2008 the name was changed to HSH Yacht Sales.

In May 2014 Paul and Lisa Stehfest joined Jeremy and his wife Janet as partners at HSH Yacht Sales.

Where are you from and what brought you to the Bay Area?

I worked in the Dallas area for 30 years, then went cruising for 3 ½ years prior to coming to the Bay Area. Opportunity to spend time with family was the driving force behind my decision to move to the area.

How has your life changed since becoming a yacht broker?

Working around boats is fun, but the job entails a lot more work than one might assume. I have had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people within the industry as well as the community.

You obviously like being around water, do you own a boat at this time?

I own a Caliber 40 LRC SE sailboat.

In your opinion what are the biggest challenges to growth in the boating industry?

A lot of good boat builders have closed their doors over the years and since fewer new boats are being sold, I believe there will be a shortage of quality used boats 5 to ten years from now.

What’s next for HSH yachts; do you have any projects coming up for the next year?

We plan to continue our tradition of selling quality yachts to discriminating customers. To best meet that end, we plan on expanding our team of qualified, experienced brokers.

What has been the most important innovation in the boating industry over the last ten years?

The prevalence of GPS/Chart Plotters has definitely made it much easier for new boaters to get out on the water without getting lost. GPS has been around for a long time, but has become standard equipment on most boats now.

GPS equipped safety equipment such as EPIRBS also greatly reduce search and rescue times.

How has 2014 been for your company?

2014 has been a very good year for us. Sales have been steady and continue to increase.

Do you think it is easier to sell a power boat or a sailboat?

It depends if the customer wants a power boat or a sailboat. I think it is easier to sell the boat that best meets the needs of the customer.

If you were not a yacht broker, what would you be doing now?

Cruising the Caribbean.

www.GulfCoastMariner.com

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Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

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Galveston Bay Tides EAGLE POINT, TX NOAA Station Id: 8771013

JANUARY

FEBRUARY Sun 2/1 11:41 AM

-0.7 L

Sun 2/15 09:59 AM 10:22 PM

-0.6 L 0.7 H

-0.9 L

Mon 2/2 12:12 AM 12:24 PM

0.5 H -0.7 L

Mon 2/16 10:54 AM

-0.6 L

Mon 1/19 12:15 AM 11:58 AM

0.6 H -0.9 L

Tue 2/3 01:47 AM 01:02 PM

0.4 H -0.6 L

Tue 2/17 12:03 AM 11:46 AM

0.6 H -0.6 L

0.6 H -0.8 L

Tue 1/20 01:21 AM 12:46 PM

0.6 H -0.9 L

Wed 2/4 03:11 AM 01:37 PM

0.4 H -0.5 L

Wed 2/18 02:48 AM 12:36 PM 09:45 PM

0.6 H -0.5 L 0.5 H

Mon 1/5 01:16 AM 01:09 PM

0.6 H -0.7 L

Wed 1/21 02:33 AM 01:33 PM

0.5 H -0.8 L

Thu 2/5 04:27 AM 02:07 PM 11:17 PM

0.3 H -0.4 L 0.2 H

Tue 1/6 01:52 AM 01:47 PM

0.5 H -0.7 L

Thu 1/22 04:00 AM 02:19 PM 11:34 PM

0.4 H -0.7 L 0.3 H

Fri 2/6 02:14 AM 05:46 AM 02:35 PM 10:46 PM

Thu 2/19 12:24 AM 04:47 AM 01:24 PM 09:19 PM

0.4 L 0.5 H -0.4 L 0.4 H

0.2 L 0.3 H -0.3 L 0.2 H

Sat 2/7 03:04 AM 07:14 AM 03:00 PM 10:19 PM

Fri 2/20 01:24 AM 06:35 AM 02:09 PM 09:02 PM

0.3 L 0.5 H -0.2 L 0.3 H

0.1 L 0.2 H -0.2 L 0.2 H

Sun 2/8 03:49 AM 08:56 AM 03:21 PM 09:54 PM

Sat 2/21 02:21 AM 08:24 AM 02:52 PM 08:48 PM

0.1 L 0.4 H 0.0 L 0.4 H

0.0 L 0.1 H -0.1 L 0.2 H

Mon 2/9 04:33 AM 11:07 AM 03:30 PM 09:30 PM

Sun 2/22 03:18 AM 10:24 AM 03:30 PM 08:35 PM

-0.1 L 0.4 H 0.2 L 0.4 H

-0.1 L 0.1 H 0.1 L 0.2 H

Tue 2/10 05:20 AM 09:06 PM

Mon 2/23 04:16 AM 12:58 PM 03:50 PM 08:20 PM

-0.2 L 0.5 H 0.4 L 0.5 H

-0.2 L 0.3 H

Tue 2/24 05:17 AM 07:57 PM

-0.3 L 0.6 H

Wed 2/25 06:22 AM 07:30 PM

-0.3 L 0.7 H

Thu 2/26 07:30 AM 07:39 PM

-0.4 L 0.7 H

Fri 2/27 08:38 AM 08:08 PM

-0.3 L 0.7 H

Sat 2/28 09:42 AM 08:39 PM

-0.3 L 0.7 H

Thu 1/1 10:24 AM 11:57 PM

-0.7 L 0.5 H

Sat 1/17 10:23 AM 11:16 PM

Fri 1/2 11:06 AM

-0.8 L

Sun 1/18 11:10 AM

Sat 1/3 12:01 AM 11:48 AM

0.6 H -0.8 L

Sun 1/4 12:34 AM 12:29 PM

Wed 1/7 02:17 AM 02:23 PM Thu 1/8 02:17 AM 02:56 PM Fri 1/9 01:44 AM 03:27 PM Sat 1/10 01:05 AM 03:54 PM Sun 1/11 12:33 AM 04:15 PM Mon 1/12 12:04 AM 07:39 AM 01:26 PM 04:08 PM 11:38 PM Tue 1/13 07:52 AM 11:13 PM Wed 1/14 08:21 AM 10:48 PM Thu 1/15 08:57 AM 10:27 PM Fri 1/16 09:39 AM 10:35 PM

0.5 H -0.6 L

0.4 H -0.5 L

0.3 H -0.4 L

0.2 H -0.3 L

0.2 H -0.2 L

0.2 H -0.1 L 0.0 H 0.0 L 0.2 H

Fri 1/23 03:14 AM 05:55 AM 03:02 PM 11:08 PM Sat 1/24 04:26 AM 08:19 AM 03:41 PM 10:52 PM Sun 1/25 05:27 AM 11:14 AM 04:10 PM 10:40 PM Mon 1/26 06:25 AM 10:29 PM Tue 1/27 07:21 AM 10:18 PM

-0.3 L 0.2 H

Wed 1/28 08:16 AM 10:04 PM

-0.4 L 0.3 H

Thu 1/29 09:11 AM 09:56 PM

-0.6 L 0.4 H

Fri 1/30 10:03 AM 10:18 PM

-0.7 L 0.5 H

Sat 1/31 10:54 AM 11:03 PM

-0.8 L 0.5 H

0.2 L 0.3 H -0.5 L 0.2 H

0.1 L 0.1 H -0.3 L 0.2 H

-0.2 L 0.0 H -0.1 L 0.2 H

-0.3 L 0.3 H

-0.5 L 0.3 H

-0.6 L 0.4 H

-0.7 L 0.5 H

-0.7 L 0.5 H

Thu 2/12 07:05 AM 08:36 PM Fri 2/13 08:03 AM 08:52 PM Sat 2/14 09:02 AM 09:30 PM

-0.3 L 0.4 H

-0.4 L 0.5 H

-0.5 L 0.6 H

-0.6 L 0.6 H

-0.7 L 0.5 H

NOAA GULF COAST TIDAL PREDICTIONS www.tidesandcurrents. noaa.gov/tide_ predictions.shtml?gid=225

38

Wed 2/11 06:11 AM 08:45 PM

NOAA GULF COAST MARINE FORECAST www.nws.noaa.gov/ om/marine/zone/ gulf/gulfmz.htm

Gulf Coast Mariner Magazine January/February 2015

A message from Sea Lake Yacht Sales to customers, community and friends

W

e want to take a minute to thank you for your business and share some exciting news.

After working with The Beneteau Group, Lagoon Catamarans, and CNB France, we have successfully transferred our dealerships to a new organization. This event will infuse the entire operation with a much greater depth of resources. The Yacht Sales Company will bring more inventory, more exciting events, seven days a week service, and a host of financing and lease options.

Rest assured, the people, the passion, the experience, and the expertise are still with the new company and if anything, have been enhanced.

Vince Morvillo, long time owner of Sea Lake Yacht Sales, will be on the board of the new organization and will assist President Jonathon Davis in directing daily operations.

Sailboat Mike will continue to handle all new boat deliveries and your customer service needs. Pat is here and, as always, is ready to take you offshore for a sail or a learning experience. Richard and James will remain willing to fulfill your yachting dreams.

Doug will be continuing his brokerage business independently and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

If you are considering selling your present boat, we are offering free pre-survey 55 point inspections to uncover and circumvent potential deal killers before they arise. For qualifying listings, we will also provide detailing and staging of your yacht for a positive first impression. In addition, we are working on a strategy to significantly decrease your dockage costs while at our brokerage.

Our new line up of inventory boats will include a Lagoon 450 catamaran and representatives from each of the Beneteau product lines– A First 20, First 35, newly designed ASA 22 and Oceanis 35’s, as well as the OC 38, OC 41, OC 45, and Sense 46. They will all be on display and ready for your inspection and a demo sail.

Watch your email for future announcements! Much is still in the works and we will apprise you of the progress as our agenda moves forward.

•

We have an affiliate yacht service company that will work directly with our staff to simplify your life.

•

We look forward to acquiring tender and powerboat lines in the near future and will let you know as inventory arrives.

•

We have an in-house charter company and will line out specific details for you.

•

We have an affiliate aircraft charter company, should you have the need.

•

Our new floating docks will be installed in January, just in time for the spring season.

We are elated about this transition and would like to have you over soon to see the new line up of boats and our new facilities. We thank you for your continued support over the past 34 years. We greatly value your business and are certain the new venture will enhance your boating experience and give all of our manufacturers the representation they deserve.

Warmest regards, Jonathon Davis and the Sea Lake staff