The Bitter End

By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill

As we get ready to jump from one season into another, I can’t help but think of some of my other friends that love jumping, namely dolphins. If you'll indulge me for a moment, I’d like to lay some groundwork with general dolphin knowledge, then I will finish the jump into jumping dolphins and hopefully stick the landing.

First off, did you know that dolphins are technically and biologically in the small-toothed whale family? Mind blown, right? So next time you’re out boating and come upon a pod of our finned friends, call your human friends and tell them you’re out whale watching.

There are thirty-eight known oceanic species of dolphins and four species of river dolphins. These range from the largest species of dolphin, the killer whale, to the smallest of dolphins, the Maui dolphin which is a sub-species of the Hectors dolphin, of which, sadly, the are only 50 to 65 left in existence. Oddly enough, the Maui dolphin is found off the coast of New Zealand, which leads me to wondering if Vikings named them, like that whole Iceland/Greenland deal. I spend about a third to one half of my waking hours in pursuit of dolphins, in particular the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, a subset of the coastal or estuarine dolphins. I know, confusing, right? Well, DNA-wise, they’re Atlantic bottlenose, but they derive part of their name from their habitat. These guys and gals prefer living within sight of land or primarily within the saltwater marsh areas. So, while where they live sets them apart from other dolphin species, there are other subtle differences. Let’s jump into that for a moment. To start with, these are considered resident dolphins, meaning they don’t migrate. Typically, our Atlantic bottlenose dolphins live within a 10- to 15mile radius of where they’re born. However, sometimes the males will leave that area to set up their residence elsewhere.

Another difference is size. Coastal dolphins tend to be smaller than offshore dolphins, with females averaging six to eight feet and males averaging eight to 10 feet, but like humans, they can be either larger or smaller than average.

Coloration is another difference; our dolphins are generally a bit lighter in color. The upper backs near the dorsal on offshore dolphins will range from dark gray to nearly black, fading to softer gray down their sides, and then to white on their underbellies. What we normally see when out boating here in the lowcountry is a darkish gray on their backs that fades to white on their stomachs. But, what about the pink bellies on the females? Let me dispel that myth. Pink bellies do not always indicate a female, rather it’s a biological manifestation of excitement or happiness. This coloring can occur on any dolphin, such as when they’re in the act of procreation, as well as when just playing for fun, and yes, even when jumping. There are multiple other differences between our dolphins and other species that I don’t have time to get into right now, cause now it’s time to JUMP.

I know most all of you have seen dolphins jumping. Sometimes they burst up of the water, freaking us out, sometimes while swimming in our wake as we make way. But why do they jump?

Several reasons. Occasionally because they’re chasing fish that are near the surface – they attack their prey from below, similar to sharks, and their momentum can carry them up, out of the water. It’s believed that males will jump to show off their physical attributes and agility to females, or even to intimidate other males. Another reason could simply be to get a better view of what’s above the surface; their eyesight is as good out of the water as it is in.

Did you know a dolphin sheds its outer layer of skin about every 2 hours? Yep that’s right. In order to stay hydrodynamically clean they can’t have anything accumulating on their skin, so another theory is that by jumping, they’re knocking ectoparasites off their skin.

Have you ever seen a dolphin surfing a wave? If you have, you may have noticed that they don’t move their fluke (tail), they just glide effortlessly. This is because they have virtually zero cost of transport. Their physical expenditure of energy is something like 1.29%, meaning they can surf a wave moving at 10 mph, themselves moving at nearly 10 mph, expending almost no energy. Which is why they often use boats wakes and ocean waves, these moving forces being almost like a dolphin Uber, a means of going from point A to point B.

Regardless of the reasons why dolphins jump, it always brings smiles to our faces when we see our finned friends showing off their acrobatic skills. On a side note, did you know a dolphin can jump higher than a house? Yep! They have very powerful tails, and, well, houses can’t jump.

'Til our wakes cross again, peace and love, and shrimp and grits. I'll see you on the water!

Above: Dolphins surfing and leaping in the wake of Captain Gator's charter boat. Inset: The pink blush on a dolphin's underside is similar to a human's blush. Photos by Premkuman Mani

“Life is better on the water,” or so the saying goes. For some people, setting up shop near the H2O is a lifelong dream. So, what does it take to make that happen? Buying property on the water, any body of water, is a diff erent path than buying landlocked property.

Whether you’re considering buying a lake house, or a beachfront oasis, there are some things to consider before writing the off er. One, in particular, is  nancing. Loans for waterfront property are diff erent than property on land, due in part to higher real estate value near water. The process is often lengthy, so plan ahead and start the process early.

Additions like storm shutters or stainless steel hardware on doors are also considerations. In the salt air, door hinges and locks can become corroded, but stainless steel is not aff ected by salt. Good things to know before you’re calling the locksmith, key lodged in your front door.

Here are some other tips of the waterfront-home-buying trade: 1. Put the property before the house. You can change everything about a property except the land. Make sure the view is what you prefer, scout the path to the water from the house, and privacy considerations. Some waterfront properties, especially in new developments, have challenges where utilities are concerned. Check the water, trash, gas, and electric services while reviewing the square footage. 2. Buy what you will use. Are you a boat owner? Look for accommodations for your watercraft, either on property or close enough for you to use. If the property doesn’t include your favorite water accessories, investigate what alterations are allowed. The Corp of Engineers is very strict on additions to waterways it controls, like lakes and rivers. Or you might have to get approval from the HOA before building or altering. 3. Preview loan options. Jumbo loans are common with waterfront property because of higher property values. These types of loans usually take more time to process, leaving a longer time between application and approval. Start early so you can get a jump on your dream. 4. Insurance requirements. Waterfront properties take a beating from the elements like no other type of home. Protect your interests by researching the types of policies needed. Flood, wind, or hurricane insurance could be required, but might not be available through the same insurance company. You might be shopping around to piece together every type of policy to cover your deck and your dining room.

Hopefully, this is helpful in getting you closer to the waterfront home of your dreams. Knowing is half the battle, right? Please let us know how your waterfront home search is going. We would love to hear from you!

lyn@coldwellbanker.com www.lynmccuen.com