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Welcome to the HeartLand Boating Newsletter
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Aug. 17, 2010
Vol 8, No 1-10
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Vrroom,
Vroom!
It's time to celebrate powerboats
We really love our
powerboats, and that is what the September issue is all about.
Photos courtesy Cliff and Sandy Steele Recognize these hot young
boaters? They are Cliff and Sandy Steele 45 years ago, when they
started boating together. In September, talented photographer and painter Sandy
Steele remembers good times the family enjoyed with the various boats it's
owned.
Elliot Free remembers, too--but his
powerboat was the destroyer USS Beale, on which he served during the Viet Nam War. Here she is:
Photo courtesy Elliot Free
Free also profiles Gulf Shores Yacht Club & Marina,
and newcomer Kristin Meyer
profiles Smugglers Cove Marina. Both facilities welcome
powerboats.
Gulf Shores Marina Smugglers Cove Marina Photos courtesy of the marinas
Two special lakes are
highlighted, too. Terry Rau writes about Smithville Lake, which is
close to major
heartland metro areas, yet with a secluded feeling.  
Smithville Lake CYC Regatta
Photo courtesy Army Corps of Engineers Photo by Alexandria Elise Brahler And on Kentucky Lake, it is once again time
for the Commonwealth Yacht Club's annual regatta. An exception to other boats
featured, this event is for sailboats.
Capt Fred Davis
reviews small, tough,
newly popular aluminum boats. Here's one, the Tracker Topper:
Photo courtesy Bass Pro Shop
But Gary Kramer
reminds us that caring
for powerboats is not necessarily a joy forever when he talks about painting
his own boat. Here's Sittin Duck II
prepped for the job, and the gorgeous finished product.
 
Photo by Gary Kramer Photo by Carol Kramer
In-water or dry
storage, professionally attended to or DIY, we love our powerboats.
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NEWS FOR BOATERS
Groups Organize to
Oppose Ethanol-15
Trade Only
Today, an online
newsletter recently reported that environmental and industry groups have
launched a campaign calling on Congress to require thorough scientific testing
before allowing an increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline. The groups
have joined forces to sponsor an ad with the tagline, "Say no to untested
E15."
The
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is one of the ad's
sponsors, according to the groups' statement. The parent company of HeartLandBoating is a member
of the NMMA. The leaders of the campaign hope to persuade Congress and the
Environmental Protection Agency to reject calls by some in the ethanol industry
to allow the amount of ethanol in gasoline to increase by 50 percent. Most
gasoline sold in the United States contains 10 percent ethanol.
Because
it can act as a fiberglass solvent and attracts water, ethanol in any
concentration can hurt mileage and even destroy equipment on many powerboats in
use today. For more information, go to this Web site.
Smithsonian Highlights
American Waters
Alert reader Jerry
Stenstadvold sent this link to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's exhibit, On the
Water. It is largely oriented to bluewater boating, but one section is titled
"Inland Waterways, 1820-1940." Here's one of the featured objects, the towboat Jack
D. Wofford.
Towboat Jack D. Wofford
Quad Cities' Floatzilla
Senior Contributing
Editor Gary Kramer sends us information about FLOATZILLA, a chance for
paddlers to get into the "Guiness Book of World Records." The one-day event is
scheduled for Aug. 21 in Lake Potter, off the main channel in Rock
Island.
Photo courtesy of Mac
Thornton
That weekend is also River Roots
Live, the area's largest
community music festival and rib fest. Activities are scheduled for paddlers of
all skill levels. The current record is 1,104 boats. For more information, click here.
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Fun Event in the Heartland
4th Annual Art & Wine Festival at Carlyle Lake
This two-day
festival, scheduled for Sept. 11 and 12, features local artisans, Illinois
wineries, live music, and good food. Carlyle Lake is
Illinois' largest man-made lake; it is 45 miles east of St. Louis.
Artist's booth, 2009 Photos courtesy Art & Wine Festival at Carlyle Lake
The festival takes place "right
across the street from the main beach at the Visitors Center at Carlyle Lake,"
said Lynn Gebke, of Flavors Cafe & Wine Bar. "We had a couple of groups come directly off the
water last year from boating. They parked their boat at the main beach and
walked up to the festival."
The Clinton County Art Guild sponsors the festival.
Local businesses and organizations, plus the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, also
support it.
Gebke
noted that award-winning sand sculptor, Dan Belcher,
from St. Louis, is
scheduled for this year. Bands scheduled include the Soulard Blues Band,
Lucky
Old Sons, and Folk 'n Blues Grass Band.
 
Jennifer Flath, A Chocolate Affair Art Dwyer, Soulard Blues Band
Gourmet food vendors
include A Chocolate Affair,
from Highland, Ill.
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Reader Tom Maxwell
recently wrote, "My wife and myself are fixing to buy a 60-foot houseboat
and are trying to find a marina we can live in, in the Houston/Galveston, Texas, area.
"Would
appreciate any info you might have."
What
about it, folks? Who knows marinas along this part of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West?
Port of Houston. Photo courtesy Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
If you have personal
experience with the area, or advice for Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, please e-mail me, and I will be glad to pass it along.
Watch
this space for answers.
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Want
To Live Longer? Go Boating
Marine-industry
veteran and longtime president of the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, Norman
A. Schultz, writes a blog for
the online newsletter, Trade Only.
In a July post of "Dealer
Outlook," he cites the journal, Applied Research in Quality of Life. "Scientists doing research on longevity have
found that people are happier when they take two or three short vacations each
year, rather than one long one. Apparently, people are happier when they
anticipate a reward than after they've received it," Schultz noted.
Because a boat in
effect offers a vacation every weekend, the result is "better health and longer
life." Schultz goes on to say, "Lots of new discoveries are being made about
the relationship between health and lifestyle."
Photo courtesy Glastron
For example, feeling
happy promotes better health, regardless of age or degree of exercise-even
smoking or drinking. Apparently, researchers have determined that the beginning
of aging is postponed by years
"for those who live a happy lifestyle. Moreover, when these people finally
reach old age, they're in better health," he said.
Amazing! And yet, it
makes intuitive sense. So, keep on boating. It's good for your health.
Sincerely
, Lee
Braff
Lee Braff
HeartLand Boating Editorial Office
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 | FEATURED BOAT
1986 39' ALUMINUM MARINETTE DIESEL
AFT CABIN -
Twin Volvo 250 hp, fast and very fuel efficient, long range, two heads
and state rooms, AC/heat, Garmin chart plotter, auto-pilot, gen., radar,
inverter and much more. Newly redecorated.
$89,900 OBO. 815-235-1501
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