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Harbor Talk Weekly
Rex Marine Center and
Norwalk Cove Marina

12/11/14  Vol 5.39
Our Locations
Norwalk Cove Marina
Rex Marine Center  

Fuel Prices at Norwalk Cove
89 Octane Gas
$3.75 /gal   &
Diesel  $3.90 /gal 
Prices subject to change

The freshest fuel in town, with the fastest high speed pumps! 
Weather:

Sat Dec 13th
Sunny
Highs: low 40s
Lows: high 20s

Tides:
H: 4:07 pm  L: 10:07 am
  
 
Sun Dec 14th
Sunny
Highs: low 40s
Lows: high 20s

Tides: 
H: 5:00 pm  L: 11:01 pm 
 
Rex Marine has partnered with Volvo Penta America to offer warranty repairs, maintenance and parts for all gasoline Volvo Penta marine motors.

Contact the Rex Service Department to discuss your needs
or to order parts.  Phone 203-831-5234
Yamaha

Rex Marine is a Certified  Yamaha Service and Stocking Parts Dealer

 

 
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Cove Store  
Hours 

 

Mon - Sat  8:00 - 5:00
Closed Sundays

Note: The marina will be closing at 3:00 pm Fri Dec19th for the employee Christmas Party.

The store will be closing for the season at 3:00 pm Dec 20th.

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Cove Fuel Dock Hours
Please call for fuel dock hours and fuel availability as we install new tanks
203-838-7600

NOTE: Pumpout and Fresh Water are OFF 
for the season  
  
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Rex Store Hours     
Mon - Fri 8:00 - 5:30
Sat 8:00 - 5:00
Sun  9:00 - 3:00


Captains Cup Coffee  Shop
Closed for the 
Season 
Thank you for your continued patronage, 
See you in the Spring! 

  



If you have missed any of our Harbor Talk mailings, you can now "re-live the experience" with our

Harbor Talk Archives:    

Click Here

 

To see an archive of  Boating Articles  

 Click Here  



Brought to you by Rex Marine, your 

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Coming Soon to a Boat Near You
- CHRISTMAS -

    

Last Minute Nautical Gifts - Without the Crowds!  


Has your boat been good?  
Is she getting any new presents?

Norwalk Cove's  Nautical Boutique
 
Boutique Items now 25% OFF!
The Nautical Boutique has a selection of Nautical Ornaments, Clocks by Weems and Plath and A&M, Hostess Gifts & Coastal Lifestyle Gifts,
Helly Hansen Rain Gear and Masks, Fins & Snorkels by Head

Note: The Cove Store will be closing for the season on Dec. 20th


Rex Marine Gift Central
Give a Garmin this Christmas!  or an Inflatable Dinghy, a Mercury Outboard, Sperry Topsiders, Water Toys and much, much more!!

And, If you have no idea what to give...

A Rex & Cove GIFT CARD

Norwalk Cove Presents a Rigging
Seminar with Harken

Saturday Jan 10th from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Reserve your spot by registering with
Kate Russell; kate@norwalkcove.com
or by calling 203.838.3681
2015 Summer Cruises with the
                  Rex & Cove Cruising Club
 
We've set the dates and are asking for commitments:

June 20-21  Oyster Bay Afternoon / Evening Raft-up and overnight anchor out... Head back home early if you can't stay overnight. 

 

July 18-19  Port Jefferson - Danfords Marina and hotel.

If you don't / can't sleep aboard, you can get a room! 

 

 

Aug 15-16  CT River - Saybrook Point Marina.

Rooms are available if you don't stay on board.
Fun place, beautiful marina.

For dates, more info and to sign up, click HERE
 
Fall Boating Seminars -              

Navigating the Norwalk Islands   

 

The Norwalk Islands....  

Their Formation, History, Secrets, Stories and  Navigation around and between the 25 plus Islands.

 

 

From the ice age and the formation of Long Island Sound by the
retreating glaciers, the Indians and early settlers, to the Oyster Industry, Hotels, Bordellos and Prohibition Speakeasy's.  The Norwalk Islands have always played an integral part in the development of Norwalk and the region. Public Islands, Private Sanctuaries, Posh Retreats.... all right off the Norwalk shoreline.  

 

2 opportunities to attend:  

Saturday morning Dec 13th     9:30 am thru 1:30 pm    

Saturday morning Jan 17th     9:30 am thru 1:30 pm    

 

Note: Bring a bag lunch or snack to the Saturday Seminars 

Please register in advance and bring $ 60.00 per person to the seminar. The Seminar will be held at Norwalk Cove Marina. Click HERE for Information or e-mail / text Capt. Rick rick@rdelfosse.com 203-216-7800 

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Coastal Cruising 
        Become the boater you were meant to be! 
2 opportunities to attend:    
Saturday Dec 13th   2:00 pm - 5:30 pm 
Saturday Jan  17h   2:00 pm - 5:30 pm

This seminar will focus on the preparation, planning, and skills needed for memorable and safe cruises   Info    HERE  
Technology Trickle-down - A Case in Point:     
 
Last week a boat "bristling with technology" hit a known reef while competing in the Volvo Ocean Race.

After reviewing what happened and how other boats competing where able to miss it one thing became obviously clear:

YOU CAN'T PUT ABSOLUTE FAITH IN GPS CHART PLOTTERS

What, you say, I've spent ($ XXXX insert your $ here) on an integrated GPS Plotter / Radar / Sonar unit and an iPad with the latest software... and I can't trust it?    

Actually, No, you can't.  At least at the same level you have been trusting it in the past.

When Team Vestas Wind was approaching this "known reef" they saw it clearly on their state-of-the-art navigation program. The chart said there was 40 feet of water in the area and they pressed on - to disaster. We all know that zooming in reveals more information. It seem their navigator was one zoom level shy of seeing the rocks. After all, they are sailing in the ocean, how much do you need to zoom in? Apparently all the way down. 

So what is the trickle-down for non "rock star" boaters like us? Make a course on your plotter, (lay down the point "A" to "B" at the scale you can see both ends of the course) then return to the "A" point and zoom in. Next, pan along your proposed course and look for details that weren't visible at the higher level zoom. You might be surprised.

Also remember that many of our charts are old, sometime decades old. Just because your GPS has 15 ft accuracy doesn't necessarily mean the rocks are where the old (pre-GPS) chart say they are. Slow down, look around and make sure your depth sounder concurs. Make sure your instruments and your intellect come to a consensus.
That's prudent navigation.   

For an article on how a boat bristling with technology could hit a reef click... HERE   and for the navigation details, click...  HERE 
Things To Do:     
 
Safe Boating Class at Rex Marine  

Starting on January 24th from 9-5, classes will be offered once a month at Rex Marine. 

Join SEA Dolphin for the first SBC class of the season.  This one day class will allow you to earn the CT Safe Boating Certificate required to operate a boat in Connecticut.  Please see the online schedule for dates. Classes will be held in the new Vic Porter Training Center, Formula Boats Northeast Showroom Gallery at Rex Marine Center.

Please call 800-510-9995 to register or sign up online... HERE

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USCG Captain's Course Starting Tues. January 20th  

 

If you've been boating for number of years and/or you'd like to elevate your boating knowledge to the next level, Rex Boating Club's Capt. Chris Kelly (founder of American Marine Training) will be teaching the USCG Captain's course starting in mid-January.

 

Starting January 20th, the course consists of six Tuesday night classes (6:30-9pm) and includes everything you'll need to sit for the USCG Captain's License exam, including text book, sample tests, chart, plotting tools, and USCG Application forms.

 

In addition to passing the USCG Exam, minimum requirements for the basic "Six-Pack" charter boat captain's license are:  

1) 365 days of on-water boating experience

2) Physical exam and drug test

3) Transportation Worker's ID card (TWIC)

4) USCG Licensing Application fee


Topics to be covered include

 

A) "Navigation Rules" (RULES OF THE ROAD)

* Definitions 

* Steering and Sailing Rules including Rights-Of-Way

* Lights and Shapes

* Sound Signals and The Annexes

 

B) Chart plotting and Navigation

* Chart No. 1: Chart symbols and abbreviations

* Visual position fixing

* Electronic position fixing

* Compass rose

* Dead reckoning

* Course plotting and ETAs

* Compensating for current set and drift

 

C) General Knowledge and Seamanship--brief review of  test topics contained in the text book

 

Space is limited and the fee is $295 including all course materials. To register, email Capt. Kelly at ckelly@videoleadgen.com

 

From this point forward you'll look at the water from the professional's point of view, and even if you do not plan to sit for the USCG exam, this advanced boating course will provide you with a wealth of valuable boating information.

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35th Annual International Marine Art Exhibition - Mystic Seaport
Sep 28 - Dec 31, 2014
The exhibition showcases the most recent works of more than 100 award-winning marine artists from around the world. Mystic Seaport Maritime Gallery   www.mysticseaport.org 
 
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Mark your Calendar

Jan 21 - Jan 25   New York Boat Show 
See Website....   HERE 
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CT Events from the NY Times...... HERE   
On a Final Note