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Everything you need now in stock backed by knowledgeable staff. Free Parking • Expanded Inventory Convenient Location Next to Park Street Bridge expires June 30, 2008
Boston Whaler Outrage 21
Legendary performance and quality in our efficient, trailerable family package.
Ranger Tugs Classic line, unusual comfort with galley, head, bunks tucked in efficient 21' pocket cruiser. 30 hp Yanmar.
N.A.B.N.W.B.R.
Honda Yamaha Evinrude Mercury Universal
Where the professionals shop! (formerly Seapower Marine)
(510) 533-9290
www.outboardmotorshop.com 333 Kennedy St., Oakland, CA 94606 • Fax 510-533-3374 Page 58 •
Latitude 38
• June, 2008
than most of them do with their seldom-occupied palaces. After all, the path to happiness is paved with interesting experiences, not things. Anyway, we're delighted to note that you folks are part of a growing number of cruisers who use very little, if any, fossil fuels other than for propulsion. With limited needs and excellent sources of alternative energy to meet most of them, the future doesn't look gloomy at all. And let's not forget that there are some big time racers thinking lf you live in a big house, you need a roof covered along the same in solar panels to meet your energy needs. If you lines. When Franlive on a small boat, three or four will do. cis Joyon took off to astound the world with his recent 57-day solo circumnavigation aboard his 97-ft trimaran IDEC, he insisted that he not use any fossil fuels in the process. Brilliant! If any of you other folks out there cruising are living almost entirely off Mother Nature, we'd love to hear from you also. ⇑⇓I HATE TO BE A WINE-ER AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT . . . Last year I wrote about a mess left on our boat, and the generally disheveled state of affairs at the Vallejo Marina, after the departure of the Vallejo Race fleet. Things weren't as bad after the race this year, but it was still disturbing. As I was recoiling our power cord — which had been partially unwound by someone and was almost in the water — a red blotch caught my eye. Looking to the side, I could see it was red wine spilled on the deck of our boat! A plastic wine cup, as well as dried wine, were right there against the starboard toerail that we'd just varnished. My assumption is that someone, not having found a trash receptacle in the immediate area, set the cup down and it blew over in the wind. It would have taken about two minutes to rinse it off before it stained. It wasn't a huge job for us to clean up the mess, as it only took about 30 minutes of scrubbing. And it appears there isn't a lasting stain. Nonetheless, it's very irritating for me to find that someone has made a mess of something that my wife and I care very much about. Our boat is by no means new, but we do take pride in The red wine cup felleth, unfortunately, over. her, so we not only try to maintain her, but improve her — and keep her clean. For example, the gelcoat on our boat is original, but it's still shiny. When it comes time for the Vallejo Race next year, I think I'll move my boat so racers won't use her as a garbage can anymore. I don't think that I should have to make changes for the one or two people who are probably the culprits, but we