THE HARBOR COLUMN:

Ahoy,

Well, I now believe that we are in the middle of winter after being snowed-in the beginning of this week at my cabin in Lake Arrowhead.

The snow keeps falling along with periods of sleet that made our driveway and the roads icy. However, the snow created a winter wonderland, and gave the ski resorts an extra boost in these tough economic times. Watch out again the end of this weekend as rain might blow through Sunday and Monday.

Speaking of tough economic times, I am noticing ads and banners of slip availability in Newport Harbor.

In the recent past, Newport Harbor has had a waiting list for slips and moorings that one could be on the list for a decade.

The availability of slips shows that the boating community and the marine industry are being affected by the recession.

Boats are not moving off show room floors with the lack of consumer confidence in the economy. Rumors on the bay are suggesting the credit market is starting to loosen the purse strings for boat loans.

Many boat owners are pulling their towable boats out of the slips for dry-land storage. Recently, Dave New, owner of Basin Marine, and Jim Landis have opened a new, local dry-boat storage that can accommodate RVs as well. The lot (Newport Superior Boat and RV Storage) is at 1455 Superior Ave., just up the hill from the harbor. Dry storage is considerably less expensive than in water mooring especially for those who use their boats occasionally.

Tip of the week is that owners of commercial passenger and fishing vessels should take note that the Coast Guard has extended the comment deadline for the proposed change to the number of passengers aboard commercial vessels.

The change is due to the increase of the average weight of passengers aboard vessels and how the maximum number of passengers is calculated for vessel stability by the Coast Guard and marine architects and engineers.

This arose after the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board of a passenger vessel capsizing in protected waters.

The NTSB recommended that the Coast Guard increase the passenger weight to an average 185 pounds for calculating the vessel’s stability.

Safe voyages.

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to www.boathousetv.com.