The Chesapeake http://www.the-chesapeake.com Tue, 26 Feb 2013 06:14:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Talbot County Sheriff: fake utility workers are cleaning up with copper thefts in broad daylight http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2013/02/20/talbot-county-sheriff-fake-utility-workers-are-cleaning-up-with-copper-thefts-in-broad-daylight/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2013/02/20/talbot-county-sheriff-fake-utility-workers-are-cleaning-up-with-copper-thefts-in-broad-daylight/#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:07:04 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1639

]]> http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2013/02/20/talbot-county-sheriff-fake-utility-workers-are-cleaning-up-with-copper-thefts-in-broad-daylight/feed/ 0 Coast Guard, Virginia Marine Police and tugboat Maverick rescue sinking sailor http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2012/02/09/coast-guard-virginia-marine-police-and-tugboat-maverick-rescue-sinking-sailor/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2012/02/09/coast-guard-virginia-marine-police-and-tugboat-maverick-rescue-sinking-sailor/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:19:07 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1630 http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2012/02/09/coast-guard-virginia-marine-police-and-tugboat-maverick-rescue-sinking-sailor/feed/ 0 Announcing! The Chesapeake: Legends, Yarns & Barnacles…in Kindle and paperback http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2012/02/06/announcing-the-chesapeake-legends-yarns-barnacles-in-kindle-and-paperbac/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2012/02/06/announcing-the-chesapeake-legends-yarns-barnacles-in-kindle-and-paperbac/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:25:11 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1621 Now available in Kindle edition and paperback at Amazon! ]]> http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2012/02/06/announcing-the-chesapeake-legends-yarns-barnacles-in-kindle-and-paperbac/feed/ 0 THE CHESAPEAKE…see the latest on fun, fishing and, of course, nonsense! http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/10/27/coming-up-soon-the-november-edition-of-the-chesapeake-see-the-latest-on-fun-fishing-and-of-course-nonsense/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/10/27/coming-up-soon-the-november-edition-of-the-chesapeake-see-the-latest-on-fun-fishing-and-of-course-nonsense/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:08:44 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1596

This sailing ship ventured up the Potomac River for the Blessing of the Fleet weekend and a crisp wind guided her into Breton Bay. See more and all about how to catch and cook catfish, by Cap’n Larry Jarboe. Mark Robbins entertains with a Thanksgiving tale of sailing adventures. Ellynne Brice Davis brings forth bunches of terrific recipes all about how to prepare tasty dishes of oysters. Coming in November!

]]> http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/10/27/coming-up-soon-the-november-edition-of-the-chesapeake-see-the-latest-on-fun-fishing-and-of-course-nonsense/feed/ 0 Now! The CHESAPEAKE: Tales & Scales! 53 of the best stories that appeared in The Chesapeake over the years! http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/10/26/now-the-chesapeake-tales-scales-53-of-the-best-stories-that-appeared-in-the-chesapeake-over-the-years/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/10/26/now-the-chesapeake-tales-scales-53-of-the-best-stories-that-appeared-in-the-chesapeake-over-the-years/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:20:22 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1584
Buy now only $2.99 on Kindle on Amazon

and $29.99 in paperback on Amazon

Join us as we visit the pages of The Chesapeake for action, fun and adventure in The Chesapeake region. Murder, Mayhem and Mystery along with blues, rockfish and Serendipity Seranades to convince fish to jump onto the hook.
From Jack Rue, Fred McCoy and Pepper Langley come great stories about the Twentieth Century in Southern Maryland, from the Potomac to the Patuxent. Learn about the early days of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and the boomtown of Lexington Park, called the Walled City. From Lou Clements to Steven Gore Uhler, our collection of short stories is sure to keep you entertained. Cap’n Larry Jarboe’s expertise in fish stories knows no equal!
Join us as we explore the adventures of St. George’s Island as it breaks away from the mainland and drifts into the Potomac.
The adventures of sailing are brought to life by Mark Robbins while Mel Brokenshire shows us the ways of the world.
This first volume of the best of The Chesapeake won’t leave you hanging and will have you running to your Kindle to learn when we will pull together the next round of prose and baloney.
For those who thought Ocean City was the only destination in the summer, Alan Brylawski brings to life the glory days of the Point Lookout Hotel.
And remember, only The Shadow knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men!

]]> http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/10/26/now-the-chesapeake-tales-scales-53-of-the-best-stories-that-appeared-in-the-chesapeake-over-the-years/feed/ 0 Coast Guard reminds people to stay off water after Hurricane Irene http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/08/28/coast-guard-reminds-people-to-stay-off-water-after-hurricane-irene/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/08/28/coast-guard-reminds-people-to-stay-off-water-after-hurricane-irene/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 01:26:04 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1572 PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard is urging residents and mariners to stay off the water Sunday and Monday after Hurricane Irene and to refrain from swimming at local beaches and in tidal rivers.
Tropical storm-force winds and heavy rainfall may have resulted in strong currents, marine debris and hazards to navigation.
Additionally, Coast Guard small boat station crews have returned from the inland staging areas where they deployed to during Hurricane Irene, but some are still surveying their assets. As a result, they will have reduced search and rescue capabilities until they can get their resources established.
Likewise, some Coast Guard aircraft have returned to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and are conducting damage assessment overflights. Their search and rescue capabilities may also be diminished.
“We are working as hard and as quickly as possible to restore our search and rescue resources and to open our navigable waterways to vessel traffic,” said Capt. Mark Ogle, the Captain of the Port of Hampton Roads. “The public can contribute to this effort by limiting recreational boating and swimming.”

]]> http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/08/28/coast-guard-reminds-people-to-stay-off-water-after-hurricane-irene/feed/ 0 Generators and Electrocution Risk from “Backfeeding” Power Lines http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/08/28/generators-and-electrocution-risk-from-backfeeding-power-lines/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/08/28/generators-and-electrocution-risk-from-backfeeding-power-lines/#comments Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:37:21 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1551 In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, FEMA’s U.S. Fire Administration would like to remind first responders and the general public to assume that all power lines are energized.
Even though power may be out in your immediate area, improperly connected portable generators are capable of “backfeeding” power lines thought to be inactive. "Backfeeding" happens when you connect a portable generator directly to your home’s wiring without having a functional transfer switch. Without a transfer switch, your portable generator’s electricity can be sent back into the power grid from your house. This will energize the utility’s power lines on your street and poses an electrocution hazard for first responders, utility workers, and your neighbors who may not know that your voltage is present on the shared lines.
In addition, as the utility’s power is restored, your portable generator and house wiring may be severely damaged from improper usage.
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]]> http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/08/28/generators-and-electrocution-risk-from-backfeeding-power-lines/feed/ 0 Coast Guard responds to lost, disabled sailing vessel http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/06/01/coast-guard-responds-to-lost-disabled-sailing-vessel/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/06/01/coast-guard-responds-to-lost-disabled-sailing-vessel/#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2011 03:52:16 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1530 PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard is responding Wednesday to a call from the lost operator of the sailing vessel Lancastrian, approximately 340 miles east of Atlantic City, N.J.

The boat’s operator called the Coast Guard 5th District command center to request assistance after becoming confused about his current position.

The owner was traveling from Little Creek, Va., to Scotland when he encountered adverse weather and was forced to turn back after his sailing vessel sustained steering damage. The Coast Guard has launched an HC-130 Hercules rescue aircraft crew to maintain communication with the sailing vessel.  A good Samaritan crew aboard the merchant ship Master has also been keeping radio communication with the Lancastrian.

A Coast Guard cutter is currently en route to assist the disabled vessel.

]]> http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/06/01/coast-guard-responds-to-lost-disabled-sailing-vessel/feed/ 0 Almost Free Diving – Part II http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/04/14/almost-free-diving-part-ii/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/04/14/almost-free-diving-part-ii/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 05:19:23 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1526
Last month, I shared the most affordable way to start diving without expensive and complicated equipment. Free diving which is also called snorkeling is easy to do for anyone who can swim. My four year old son, John actually learned to swim when he put a mask and snorkel on at the edge of a clear lagoon. While he was looking through the mask and breathing through the snorkel, he started to do the dog paddle around the shore. He is now thirty years old and a certified diver. Time sure does fly by.If you missed the article last month about choosing your gear, you can go on-line at [the-chesapeake.com] to learn how to choose your gear. Last week, I visited with Mike Broomhall who runs the Sea Dive Shop in Solomons to get a local perspective on snorkeling. He is happy to help people choose good basic gear and offers courses in both snorkeling and scuba diving.
Most likely, you can teach yourself to snorkel if you choose good gear and find a nice warm indoor swimming pool to practice in while you are waiting for the weather to warm up. One of the most comfortable pools in St. Mary’s County is at the Wellness and Aquatics Center at the College of Southern Maryland in Leonardtown.
There is one very important piece of gear to add to your mask, snorkel, and fins when you use a public pool. Make sure you grab a bottle of liquid spit from your local dive shop. Liquid spit is not really spit. It is defogging fluid. It is not a good idea to spit in your mask rub it around and rinse the nasty mix into a pool full of people. The ocean is a far more forgiving to use the natural expectorant process.
…..see more now in the new book THE CHESAPEAKE: TALES & SCALES! Only $2.99 on Kindle and $29.99 in paperback on Amazon!
]]> http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/04/14/almost-free-diving-part-ii/feed/ 0 Sometimes it time for Plan B http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/04/14/sometimes-it-time-for-plan-b/ http://www.the-chesapeake.com/2011/04/14/sometimes-it-time-for-plan-b/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 05:15:28 +0000 krossignol http://www.the-chesapeake.com/?p=1523 By Cap’n Larry Jarboe
The Chesapeake

The warm spell that we experienced last month in February almost convinced me to de-winterize my boat and head up to the warm water discharge canal at the Chalk Point Power Plant on the Patuxent River. The thought of cranking in a nice mess of ten pound channel catfish nearly overcame the realization that I would have to re-winterize the boat when real winter returned. Instead of fishing during those balmy days, I prepped my boat, trailer, and truck for the day when I can launch my rig without fear of future freezing weather.

One of my projects during this spell is securing and mounting a “Plan B” motor for the inevitable day that the single inboard engine in my 20’ Shamrock fails to allow me to return to the dock.

Plan B is usually not a problem with twin engine boats. In fact, other than increased docking maneuverability, the get home insurance of a second engine and running gear is the main reason anyone would want twice the cost and maintenance of a single screw vessel.

Tow insurance is a good idea for the vast majority of us who have single engines in our boats. However, if you are twenty five miles up the Patuxent River in January trucked deep in the Chalk Point discharge canal, it is going to take a while before your friendly towboat operator from Solomon’s Island gets to you. Maybe, you should install a “Plan B” motor.

It does not take a very big outboard motor mounted on a “kicker bracket” to take you home at three or four knots. I used to run a 25’ diesel powered 6 passenger fishing/dive boat from a campground in Key Largo. I mounted a spring loaded anodized aluminum marine outboard motor bracket on the port side of the dive ladder at the stern of the boat. In the forward cabin, I kept a 5 horsepower 1965 Evinrude Angler outboard that was stored upright clamped to another simple bracket. This kept the outboard from bouncing around and the float in the carburetor bowl from sticking. This is the fundamental reason to always store outboard engines upright. The plastic gas tank full of pre-mixed fuel was stored in the stern under the broad gunnel.

Twice, once on a fishing trip and once on a dive trip, I was able to use the outboard to take the boat home when a mechanical problem occurred that was not repairable at sea. In both events, we had a fine time putt-putting back to the dock telling boating adventures and fish stories. The divers even gave my mate and I a twenty dollar tip which is remarkable. Most divers, me included, are notoriously cheap.

A very reasonably priced means to make headway when the main engine or marine drive train fails is to use an electric trolling motor. Most well equipped boats have a couple of heavy duty batteries that will power an electric trolling motor for a few hours. That should be enough to get you to a safe dock from most river and Bay locations. The electric trolling motor is a good affordable “Plan B” choice for trailerable boats in the range up to 20 feet.

In the Chesapeake Bay area, a marine rated trolling motor is the proper match for a smaller boat. Freshwater electric trolling motors are not designed to meet the corrosive rigors of saltwater immersion. During this cold spell transition to Spring, I chose a Minn Kota Riptide 45 that was delivered new to my door for less than three hundred dollars. Before my first trip out this Spring, it will be mounted and wired for use.

Not only will I have a cost effective “Plan B” motor to avoid the hassle and embarrassment of being towed home, but I will have a time tested motor to try out some slow trolling techniques for white perch after limiting out on striped bass. In the past, I have paddled home with a tee shirt tied over a crab net or sailed in using my Bimini top. Though these are still options, they are relegated to “Plan C” and beyond. Now, I think a spinning prop connected to a working motor is the better idea.

You have numerous options to get your boat back to the dock when the power train fails. If you take a little time and investment installing a system that works for you, it can pay back big dividends in saved tow charges. Plus, it makes you look like a well prepared, smart boat operator. Someone might even call you Captain when you help them get back to the dock after a mechanical mishap. Please, stay safe and don’t forget “Plan B”.

- bass21292@yahoo.com

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