McDowell - Marinas: the complete guide for marina selection, storm awareness and living comfortably aboard your yacht

Marinas

The Complete Guide for Marina Selection, Storm Awareness and Living Comfortably Aboard Your Yacht

By Scott E. McDowell

USCG Licensed Captain and Ph.D. Oceanographer

MARINAS: The Complete Guide for Marina Selection, Storm Awareness and Living Comfortably Aboard Your Yacht

Copyright 2015 Scott E. McDowell

Published by: Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McDowell, Scott E.

Marinas : the complete guide for marina selection, storm awareness and living comfortably aboard your yacht / by Scott E. McDowell.

pages cm

ISBN 978-1-62023-087-9 (alk. paper) -- ISBN 1-62023-087-9 (alk. paper) 1. Marinas--United States. 2. Boat living--United States. I. Title. II. Title: Complete guide for marina selection, storm awareness and living comfortably aboard your yacht.

VK369.5.M37 2015

643.2--dc23

2015011940

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EDITOR: Melissa Shortman mfigueroa@atlantic-pub.com

COVER & INTERIOR DESIGN: Meg Buchner megadesn@mchsi.com

Cover Photo Courtesy of Longboat Key Club Moorings. 27.36744 N.82.61936 W.

Photos on pages 22, 135, 246 and 253 Courtesy of Lloyd Wilkonson

This Atlantic Publishing eBook was professionally written, edited, fact checked, proofed and designed. Over the years our books have won dozens of book awards for content, cover design and interior design including the prestigious Benjamin Franklin award for excellence in publishing. We are proud of the high quality of our books and hope you will enjoy this eBook version, which is the same content as the print version.

Table of Contents

Disclaimer

This guidebook describes many features and procedures common to marinas along all U.S. coasts as well as in the Great Lakes. Specifications of individual marinas are purposely not given, as they can be obtained directly from marinas and their websites. Marina information also can be obtained from independent Marina websites whose purpose is to aid boaters in identifying marinas throughout the U.S.

Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author and publisher do not take responsibility for errors, incorrect information or omissions. Similarly, any websites given herein may not be active at the time of readers query and this is not the authors responsibility.

The author and publisher have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.

The purpose of this guidebook is to help boaters evaluate various marinas for suitability of their vessel and personal lifestyle. Additionally, this book educates the reader on oceanographic processes and storms that can impact the marina and the owners vessel. Hopefully new boaters as well as experienced captains can gain from the information provided herein.

Dedication

To my Great-Great-Grandfather, Samuel McDowell who emigrated from Scotland to Dennis, Massachusetts where most of my paternal family live today. Born in 1803, he spent much of his life on the sea, raising a hardy family on the shores of Cape Cod Bay. The 1860 Census in the Town of Dennis identifies Samuel succinctly as Mariner and its his salty blood that I carry in my veins today.

His Grandson Walter, my Grandfather, purchased a special plot of high ground in north Dennis that spanned from Scargo Lake to Cape Cod Bay, upon which many generations of strong-minded McDowells were spawned. That land was within a quarter mile of Samuels initial plot. Walter walked the Bay shore each day, remembering Samuel on the same clam flats 100 years before.

I died of total cardiac arrest in February 2007 while ice-skating on the same Scargo Lake with my daughter and cousin. She and Dennis firemen worked me hard for nearly 30 minutes until the ambulance arrived and used a defibrillator to finally get a pulse. Thank you all for not giving up on me as I lay lifeless on the ice that cold day.

During my recovery, my uncle Peter graciously took me into his home (previously Walters) situated on a sand dune overlooking the shore where Samuel and Walter walked. I walked the same flats during my convalescence, thinking of Samuel being the first. His footprints were long since washed away, as will mine.