After nearly three years of temporary measures that kept the money from flowing to state boating programs, Congress finally reauthorized the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund on June 29, with only hours to spare. The trust fund, quite literally boaters’ tax dollars at work, generates about $650 million annually through the federal excise taxes that boaters and anglers pay on motorboat fuel and fishing tackle. About $52 million of that go directly to the states to build and maintain launching ramps plus parking areas, courtesy docks, marina slips, and moorings.

Like most federal programs, though, Congress must renew the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund every few years, and BoatUS has successfully defended it through six congressional reauthorization periods over three decades. This time, however, it became mired in contentious and unrelated congressional negotiations over much larger transportation spending legislation, known as “The Highway Bill,” to which the trust fund is attached.“Advocating on behalf of boaters in Washington is a continuing process,” says BoatU.S. President Margaret Podlich, “and our Government Affairs team is already planning a strategy.

Ryck Lydecker

 

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More Inspections, Less Inspectors

In an effort to keep invasives out of Minneapolis lakes, the city’s Board of Parks and Recreation says boats have to be inspected prior to being launched on Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, and Lake Nokomis. Some boaters are upset about the move because the boat ramps will be chained off when inspectors aren’t available. While the hours are from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, they’re only from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, meaning no afternoon boating during the week.

Boat Ramp Rehab

A pair of Florida boat ramps are getting some much-needed attention. Galvez Boat Ramp at Innerarity Point and the Navy Point ramp on Bayou Grande were the go-to places to launch boats that removed oil and moved oil booms during the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The cost is being borne by BP as part of a $1-billion settlement to restore areas most affected by the oil spill.

Here Comes The Sun

With fuel prices remaining unstable, there’s a new idea out there. Last May, the Solar Star 23 traveled the 363-mile Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany, New York, using only solar power. At about the same time, the 102-foot MS Turanor with 38,000 photovoltaic cells completed its 585-day trip around the world using only solar energy.

Eating The invaders

Every summer, the Taste of Chicago festival features lots of food, and this summer was no different except for the state DNR offering Asian carp — for free. The invasive species, which has been the bane of Great Lakes watchers for years because of fears it could destroy the sportfish population if it gets into the lakes, was a hit with those having a taste. Flavored with olive oil and lemon zest and served with a tomato- jalapeño sauce, the delicacy was prepared by Dirk’s Fish & Gourmet Shop, which sells the invasive fish at its nearby store.

For recipes on Asian carp, see http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2011/august/aliens.asp

Helicopters Replace Boaters

Colorado’s Horsetooth Reservoir was ground zero for the huge wildfire that burned more than 100 square miles of forest acres and destroyed 189 homes recently. A boat ramp on Horsetooth Reservoir was closed to allow helicopters room to use the boating basin as a source of water to fight the fire. This was the largest forest fire in Colorado’s history, but the Full Moon Bass Tournament opened as scheduled in July for 100 anglers after an “all clear” was given by Colorado firefighters.

Just Ad Water

An advertising executive sees the potential for sales amid the sails on Lake Huron and Lake Washington in Washington state. Darren Bruce says there’s a future for floating billboards for clients wanting to reach the boating public. Seattle police tell KING-TV there’s really no law against an ad on the water. But the state department of Transportation says the idea is going to have “jurisdictional problems.” Translation: Floating billboards have sunk.

The Long Road Home

Want to see something cool at the boat shows this winter? Regulator has plans to display Queen Bee at a few shows this season. For those who haven’t heard, Queen Bee is the wonder boat that turned up on the Spanish coast in January. In August, 2008, Rich St. Pierre and his brother-in-laws Scott Douglas planned to go fishing off the coast of Nantucket. The weather turned bad and a 6-foot breaking rogue wave washed them both off the 26-foot center-console Regulator boat named Queen Bee. Unable to get back onboard, they watched their boat slowly move farther away so, with no choice, both swam a mile or so back to shore. Then, this year the U.S. Coast Guard received a call a 26-foot boat had washed up on the shore in Spain with the word “Nantucket” on the transom. Yep, it’s the same boat.