The Show Must Go On

By Michael Argyelan

In case you haven’t heard, Strictly Sail is now combined with the Chicago Boat and RV show. That’s right, RVs, power boats, and sailboats all mixed into one giant show. The official name of the show this year is The Progressive Chicago Boat, RV & Strictly Sail Show.

Compared to previous years, the show is moved up a week, has longer hours, an additional day, and a new location. McCormick Place is the host venue and provides an expansive space to host the expanded audience. Show dates are January 14-18, 2015 and the hours are as follows:

Wednesday: 2:00pm–9:00pm

Thursday: 11:00am–9:00pm

Friday: 11:00am–9:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am–9:00pm

Sunday: 10:00am–5:00pm

For full details visit http://www.strictlysailchicago.com/.

 

Crowley’s will still be the largest sailing retailer on site. We will be representing the

SLAM and Henri Lloyd booths, have a Service Department presence, a massive shoes and boots booth, Lewmar, Closeout, and more. You can expect the same great selection and service of previous years. Bonuses to this year’s event are easier and cheaper parking, a wider variety of people, products, and seminars, and as far as we are concerned a better venue.

 

We will have more details in the coming weeks and months to come. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please email me at mma@crowleys.com. I hope this finds you well, friends. 

On the Line

By Michael Argyelan

          

This weekend more than 120 boats will hit the starting line racing in the Chicago Yacht Club Verve Cup and the Tartan 10 North American Championships. 91 registered boats will compete for the Verve Cup and 35 T10’s will do their best to vow for the ultimate title of North American Champion. Mostly, everyone should have a good time.

As usual, there will be multiple circles for the Verve offshore almost due east of Monroe Harbor as well as an offshore long distance race. The T10’s will be racing in a separate circle off of Belmont Harbor. The Tartan 10 NAC races start this Thursday and race through Sunday. For those racing for the Cup, races start Friday and run through Sunday as well. If you want to follow the results, click here for the T10’s and here for the Verve Cup. For the main page, click here.

Admittedly, I have to ask myself what’s so special about yet another regatta in Chicago? First, I love this stuff and can’t get enough. Second, I support any local regatta. Sailing is fun and the more opportunities to race the better. The Verve Cup offers racing for one design boats, ORR, as well as long distance racers that don’t want to commit an entire weekend to buoy racing. Last but not least, I’m very excited about 35 Tartan 10’s on a starting line.

Some of you may not know just what it takes to compete at the national level in a one design class. Each boat must have a current measurement certificate. This ensures that each boat is meeting strict one design criteria. Also, each crew must be weighed in. Yep, strict one design classes have crew weight limits.

Each class is different. For the Tartan 10 Class, total crew weight must not exceed 1,275lbs. If a boat brings in a different crew as a fill in for a day, he or she must be weighed in as well.

Most of the T10’s are from Chicago. Some boats will be from Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I’m rooting for a Chicago boat to take it all. My top five picks are Skidmarks, Convergence, Winnebago, Honey Badger, and Norboy. The most fun boat on the water will be Mutiny! I’m personally rooting for them, they’re my peeps.

Really, it’s anyone’s race to be had. I’ve seen boats come back from 9^th place after committing a foul, doing their penalty circle, and take a 2^nd. That’s all it takes, a good puff, being on the right side of a shift, or simply put, a little luck. I’ll take luck any day.

Unfortunately, overall numbers for the Verve Cup are dropping each year. Last year, not including T10’s, there were 106 boats registered and the year before 111. You can see the numbers are dwindling.

Can the regatta survive? Chime in. Don’t like my picks for the top 5? Who do you think will win the T10 NAC’s? Post here. 

Always Stand Clear of the Ladder, Boss

By Michael Argyelan

Whether at the dock or on the water, tricky things happen on boats. Safety, right next to fun, should always be a sailor’s top priority. I was reminded of this simple fact yesterday when I helped rescue an older gentleman who went in the drink.

Yep, right at the dock. Someone accidentally fell in. All I heard was a splash and then a single word, “Help!” I immediately ran over to assist another gentleman who was on the scene helping out. How did this all happen? Well, let me tell you.

An ‘older’ couple was out for a day sail and heading back into DuSable harbor for a port side tie up on G dock. I was on F dock with my wife rigging the boat (ie: stocking rum) for yet another brutally slow Wednesday Night Beer Can Race, when I noticed the couple having a hard time tying up.

The woman grabbed the bow line, which was on one of those dock line hook thingies fastened to the dock, and made it fast to the starboard side bow cleat. However, the gentleman didn’t get off the boat in time and the stern swung to port way off the dock almost making contact with another boat. I assumed they’d figure it out eventually. They seemed to be self sufficient with at least one line tied on and a working engine.

Just moments later the splash and a call for help rang out. Without a second passing I yelled for the dock code, ran down F dock and over to G. When I bent down over the dock a gentleman was holding onto the skipper’s hand keeping him steady. The skipper’s auto inflating PFD had gone off properly and was keeping him afloat. He’s very lucky that someone was there to help him. The 3 layers of clothing on his body may just have taken him under if he hadn’t been wearing a properly functioning PFD.

Now, I’m not sure what happened, I can only assume that he made a foolish attempt to jump to the dock and make the stern line. He was so concerned about the boat getting tied up even when floating in the water with his hand latched to his rescuer’s. “Will you grab the stern line and pull the boat in?” I kindly told him that not only would the boat crush him as he was between the boat and a fixed object but that our only concern for the moment was getting him out of the water quickly and safely.

We let him go and he swam, or awkwardly floated, to the swim ladder on the stern. It took him 3 full minutes to get on the boat. Once he was on the ladder, barely standing, he realized mobility was extremely limited due to the PFD that may have just saved his life. With much needed assistance the PFD was off and he slowly made it into the cockpit. Needless to say everyone was happy that he was safely on the boat, especially his wife.

There are some key lessons to be learned here:

One, wearing a PFD when sailing is always a good idea. I also noticed his wife was wearing a foam type PFD. Good on you both. Well done.

Two, never, ever, jump onto the dock. Fiberglass is cheaper to repair than bones and much less painful. It’s better to ask for a hand from a nearby boater. In this case, there was a guy two boats down who was ready to lend a hand.

Three, know how to get back on the boat, alone. Physically, his wife would not have been able to pull him out of the water. The boat was so far off the dock that she couldn’t get off the boat either. Have an exit strategy, or in this case, a boarding strategy.

Four, swim ladders aren’t just for swimming. Without a swim ladder, the gentleman in the water was going to have to suffer through me yanking on his arms and gear to hoist him out of the water. A dislocated shoulder or bruises and scrapes are all possibilities when bringing a victim out of the water.

He’s lucky someone was on board to lower the ladder. There wasn’t a leash or the like to lower the ladder from the water. A ladder is only useful if you can get to it. I learned this lesson the hard way in my most embarrassing moment on the water a few years ago.

I was waxing the smooth sections of the deck giving my old Catalina 36 a mid season shine. At the time I had ‘Westwind’ on a mooring in Monroe Harbor and wanted to have access to a dock so I pulled her up to the finger pier, aka pump out dock, due East of the Chicago Yacht Club docks. Dry wax dust covered the boat. I slipped a few times walking on deck in flip flops. Flip flops were mistake number one.

The rail at the lifeline gate was an aluminum track with adjustable cars and attachment points. This was covered in wax dust. As were my flip flops. You guessed it, I slipped getting back onto the boat.

My right shin took the first hit ripping the skin right off. My hip bones next leaving a mighty bruise and then my chest and arms. I made a desperate attempt to latch on to the rail with the tips of my fingers to no avail.

My bruised and battered body, and ego, was now in the water trapped between the boat and the pier. Somehow I pulled it together quickly enough to swim away and head towards the stern and the swim ladder; my quickest way out of the water. The only problem now was the swim ladder was out of reach. I made every attempt to reach it. Every effort failed.

Realizing not a soul noticed I landed in the wet stuff, I gave a quick call for help? Embarrassingly, a captain that I was about to interview for my charter company was the one who answered. He looked down at me and asked if I needed help. I swallowed my initial anger at his sarcasm and agreed to his assistance. He lowered the swim ladder and I proceeded to pull out the first aid kit.

This is the one and only time I fell in the water. You’ll now find my flip flops at the end of the dock. I don’t even bring them on board anymore.

I now have a leash or line or whatever you want to call it on my ladder. The nerd in me uses 3mm dyneema but any line will do. Even a sail tie will work and your local sail maker will appreciate the advertising. It needs to be low enough that you can reach it if you wind up in the drink.

Let’s recap. Flip flops bad. PFD’s good. Have a way to get back on the boat, alone. When you need help, yell and someone will hear you eventually. Don’t jump from the boat to the dock, always step onto the dock.

Want to chime in? Tips? Email me at mma@crowleys.com.

Sail on, friends.

Racing in the NOOD: Still Funny

Sailing in the NOOD, get it? Ok, I know I made the same joke last June when I wrote an article about the regatta. It's still funny.

For those of you that don’t know what the NOOD’s are, they’re the National Offshore One Design Regattas.

This year there are 6 events planned. St. Petersburg, San Diego, Annapolis, and Seattle have had their events. The Marblehead NOOD Regatta is in July. This week Chicago will get down to business. Racing begins this Friday morning and ends Sunday afternoon. Typically there will be 2-4 races each day for windward leeward courses.

As of this morning, there are 152 boats entered for the Chicago battle royale. T-10’s take the cake for the largest fleet, again. With 28 entries it’s sure to be a good time. I’ll be sailing in the “10” fleet this year and report back next week with a follow up and maybe a few cool GoPro pics/vids.

The Vipers are back as is the Rally Race. Good times to be had there, I’m sure. There are a total of 9 One Design sections overall. The newest One Design fleet is the J70 section. With 14 boats registered, it should be fun and pretty competitive.  

A majority of the races will be windward leeward courses. See the pic below for a good visual.

US Sailing defines the course as, “having two marks: one toward the wind and one directly downwind.  In this course, you must tack upwind to round the first (windward) mark, then sail downwind to round the second (leeward) mark and then sail upwind to cross the finish line.” Often there are offset marks, gates, short courses, long courses, and more complicated designs for each race. Generally the finish is on a downwind leg, not upwind as described above.

For those of you that want to go out and watch some of the racing, head out towards the Four Mile Crib  41°52′22″N 87°32′45″W or Harrison Dever Crib 41°57′58″N 87°35′28″W) and look for a mad house of boats! Please, please keep your distance if you do this. The courses are quite large and between races boats will spread out and need room to maneuver. Binoculars are highly recommended.

Sperry and Crowley’s will be at the event with a fine selection of hot kicks focusing on Sperry’s Performance Line. The tent will be in the Chicago Yacht Club Monroe Station parking lot Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All Sperry shoes will be 15% off during the event.

For more info on boats entered, race results, etc, click here for a link to the official Yachtscoring.com event page.

Matt Markiewicz – Fiberglass Foreman - 20 questions

1. How long have you worked at Crowley’s? Since 1990. 24 years and counting.
2. How did you first start working here? I had just finished my time in the US Army and my brother asked me if I wanted to work in a boat yard. So I said yes. The rest is history.
3. Which departments have you worked in? I’ve worked every department except Customer Service. I’m the Fiberglass Foreman most of the year and then in the fall I work with the Mechanics on the dock performing engine winterization and fuel and oil changes.
4. What is your favorite time of year at Crowley’s? Summer! 
5. How often do you go boating? Depends on the year. In a good year 3-4 times per week.
6. What kind of boat? I own a pontoon boat plus I sail a fair amount too. I’ve completed 6 Mac races, lot’s of Wednesday night races, and numerous port to port races.
7. Did you grow up boating? Yes. I grew up boating with a friend on his uncle’s power boat.
8. What is your favorite boating activity? Kicking back with good friends and good drinks.
9. How many Employees work in your department? 7
10. How often do they go to training? Most training is in house. Every two years I go to Zodiac Inflatable Repair Training to maintain my certification.
11. What job specific training do you have? Zodiac repairs, West Systems, and Awlgrip paint applications. If there’s an issue concerning fiberglass, Gelcoat, or paint, I’ve been trained one way or another.
12. What certifications do you have?  Zodiac, West Systems, and Awlgrip. 
13. What is your number one recommendation to boat owners? Keep it clean!
14. In your area of expertise, what can a boat owner do to maintain their boat? Be sure you’re waxing it properly. If the gel coat starts to go bad, then you’re looking at a very costly fix. In the long run it’s more cost effective to maintain your vessel year round.
15. What is the one complaint that you hear most often? Why is the season so short!
16. What is your number one money saving tip for boat owners? I’ll say it again and again; maintain your boat. Wash, wax, clean, etc.
17. What is the toughest part of your job? Grinding down the bottom of a boat.  
18. When are you most likely to be found in the harbors? Wednesday nights.
19. What is your favorite winter activity? Relaxing and watching football.
20. What is the best way to get a hold of you to ask a question? Through Customer Service or just look for the guy in a paint suit around the fiberglass shop wearing a Bears or White Sox hat. 

Mike Travis - Crowley's Ship's Store Assistant Manager, 20 Questions

How long have you worked at Crowley’s?

I started working at Crowley’s in the rigging department in the spring of 2009. Almost 5 years.

How did you first start working here?

Sailing has been a hobby of mine since I was 7 when my Dad purchased his first boat. After that, I spent a lot of time in boat yards and it was a natural transition to work in one!

Which departments have you worked in?

I started working part time in the rigging department and then as a full time employee in the store. Now I'm the Assistant Manager of the Ship's Store. 

What is your favorite time of year at Crowley’s? In the spring when everyone is energized. Everyone wants to get boats in the water and have some fun.

How often do you go boating?

2-3 times a week.  Wednesday night beer cans are great. I switch between racing downtown with Michael Argyelan and at Jackson Park, where my family has had a boat for 22 years. I also race or cruise here and there on the weekends and will take the family boat out with friends too.

What kind of boat?

The first boat we owned was a 24ft S2. We ended up with a T-Ten and started racing.  Currently the family is restoring a New York 36. Until the 36 is done, we will continue to race the Ten.

Did you grow up boating?

Yes. I did my first Race to Mac at the age of 12 on a T-Ten.

What is your favorite boating activity?

I have a competitive personality and I enjoy being part of a team to reach a common goal. Naturally, I love racing.  I’ve sailed in 15 Macs with my goal of being a Old Goat before I turn 40.

How many Employees work in your department? 8

How often do they go to training?

We do frequent in house training.

What job specific training do you have?

My time on the water is the best training anyone in the store can have.

What certifications do you have?  

Safety at Sea.

What is your number one recommendation to boat owners?

Maintain your boat inside and out. Always think ahead and monitor your equipment.

In your area of expertise, what can a boat owner do to maintain their boat?

Always look for projects to do around the boat. Keep an active list of previous repairs and needed repairs.

What is the one complaint that you hear most often?

Why does Chicago have to have a winter!

What is your number one money saving tip for boat owners?

Learn about how to complete little DIY jobs. A little knowledge goes a long way.

What is the toughest part of your job?

Sailors using different lingo when describing parts.

When are you most likely to be found in the harbors?

Wednesday nights and the weekends.

What is your favorite winter activity?

Watching football and traveling to sunny and warm locations.

What is the best way to get a hold of you to ask a question?

Give me a call or shoot me an email anytime.

773-221-9990 ext. 345  -  mjt@crowleys.com 

Safety Isn’t a Four Letter Word

By Michael Argyelan

Anyone living in the Chicago area has heard of tragedies involving our greatest of lakes, harbors, and tributaries. Whether it’s a fisherman falling in the water accidentally, a man overboard during a sailboat race, or the soft spoken gentleman a few docks down that decided to take friends out during a gale, accidents happen when on or near the water and we all need to think safety first.

As the Store Manager at Crowley’s, I hear so many stories in the store and around the yard. Some end as a comedy and some as tragedies. The most recent was of a MOB during a MORF race. Turns out that in the heat of the moment, “things”, very important procedural things, were missed or forgotten. All ended well with the sailor brought back aboard safely and a successful debrief. How can we prevent mistakes? One key word comes to mind, preparation.

Our boats are safely snuggled up in a boat yard, shivering and dreaming of warmer times. This does not mean our season is over. It’s never over if you’re planning on being prepared. This article will not be the be-all end-all to all things safety. We can only give you tips, tricks, and products to be aware of. It’s up to you to stay up to speed on all the rules, regulations, products, personnel, and hardware on your vessel.

Do you and your guests know where your safety items are aboard?  If not, it’s time to use the off season and make up a safety diagram. Find a diagram of your boat or a similar boat (try sailboatdata.com), and mark where your safety items are. Items we mark on my boat are the knife, flashlight(s), fuel shutoff, battery switches, fire extinguishers, PFD’s, flares, and wood plugs/through hulls.

With that last list in mind, don’t forget to check your equipment for optimal operational status. Check all extinguishers. Make sure your flares are up to date. Make sure the fuel shutoff opens and closes smoothly.

If your PFD’s are inflatable, take them home, blow them up manually, and let them stay inflated for 24 hours. If they are just as full as when you left them, you’re good to go. If not, it’s time to check for leaks. With the same PFD’s, check the dates and condition of your cylinders and see that they are in optimal working order. If you don’t have whistles on your PFD’s, get some.

Do you have an air horn or signaling device? You need one. Do you have extra batteries for your flashlight? When was the last time you replaced them? You get the idea.

Going above deck, we need to check our lifelines, hand rails, stanchions, and pulpits. Be sure to check the bases for cracks and the fittings for corrosion. Do any of the fittings leak below deck? If that’s the case, you will be dealing with wet spots in the deck and have weak areas where you need strength.

When was the last time you practiced a MOB drill? Have you ever been shown recommended methods? If not, it’s time to get on YouTube and watch some videos, at the very least. I highly recommend having a written procedure that you practice at least twice per year. The process should be memorized. Only practice will develop the necessary muscle memory to be fluid while on the water in a panicked situation. A general Google search will bring up images and videos on techniques like the quick stop and figure 8 methods.

What equipment do we recommend above deck? At a minimum, we recommend having a horseshoe buoy attached to a 50 foot heaving line that floats that can be tossed carefully to the victim. That’s bare minimum.

The next step above that is the Lifesling2. 

The Lifesling2 is highly recommended and has a horseshoe shaped buoy with the heaving line attached all neatly stowed in a bag that hangs off the stern rail. The next step above the Lifesling2 is the MOM8.

MOM stands for Man Overboard Module. The MOM8 is one of the most advanced products in man overboard safety equipment. Here are some notes from the manufacturer’s website, “With the MOM 8 the only focus is on pulling a single pin. Located on the top of the canister is a deployment handle, which when pulled, releases the bottom of the canister and allows the inflatable devices to automatically inflate while falling into the water. When inflated, the ballasted Locator Pylon has a 6-foot waterline height. Located on top of the pylon is a water-activated, lithium-powered, flashing light with 5 years of life. The light can be seen nearly a nautical mile under normal night conditions. The pylon has 2 SOLAS reflective panels to aid the boat's search. Tethered to the horseshoe and the pylon is a 16" diameter, ballasted, self-opening Sea Anchor to reduce downwind drift keeping the victim in the same position as when he went overboard.” Pretty amazing huh?

To summarize, you mount the unit to the stern rail following the instructions, pull the pin in a MOB scenario, the unit automatically deploys a MOB pylon with a light, a line, a horseshoe buoy, all without thinking past step three of pulling the pin. If you don’t know what step one and two are in a MOB situation, it’s time to study!

Safety on the water applies to us all. Power, sail, race, or cruise, all boaters need to take safety seriously. If you have any questions, we are here for you. If you have an experience, tip, photo, or anything safety related you’d like to share, please email me at mma@crowleys.com.

20 Questions with Dan Bochnovic, General Manger.

1. How long have you worked at Crowley’s? 

24 years.

2. How did you first start working here? 

My recreational marine career started in 1979 at Sailing Specialist, a small shop in Clarendon Hills, IL. That experience led to working at Sea Castle Marine in Broadview, IL and then Patterson Marine in Chicago. I landed at Crowley’s as a Customer Service Representative in 1989.

3. Which departments have you worked in? 

All of them. I can paint a bottom, build a furler, change an injector, drive the travel lift, and program the database. 

4. What is the big new news in your current department? 

A continued push to be customer focused. Through events and technology we want our customers to be the smartest, fastest, safest, funniest, and most generous customers on the water. We host multiple events through the year. This past weekend was our newest event, the 2nd Annual One Day Sale Plus! Crowds of people came in on Saturday morning to learn about their boat and save a little money on holiday gifts and personal gear. We are industry leaders in internet communication with customers through online scheduling, sales, and bill pay.  Soon Crowley’s customers will be able to interface directly with the technicians working on their vessel. We are very excited about this prospect.

5. What is your favorite time of year at Crowley’s? 

I love the spring. The fast paced excitement and beauty of newly serviced yachts setting out for the first sail of the season gets me going.

6. How often do you go boating?

For pleasure, my partners and I have a standing sail date, every Wednesday evening.  Want to sail with us? Come on down, 7pm, North Juliet 11 in Monroe Harbor. Everyone is welcome.  Professionally, I’m on one of our customer’s boats or a work boat almost every day. Last week I took a little run to Hammond Marine to test some depth sounder readings. Walking around the facility is like a never ending boat show.

7. What kind of boat(s)?  

If it has a bow and stern, I’m on it. I have a Ranger 33. I sail both cruising and racing sailboats. I think its fun to back a 72’ motor vessel down the aisle into its berth at Burnham Harbor. Water skiing is cool too. Jet skies are thrilling. Last year my wife gave me the plans to build a wooden canoe. One of these days we’ll take it for a spin down the river.

8. Did you grow up boating?

Sort of. My brother wanted to be a rich banker. He needed his corporate advantage. He wasn't going to master golf so he bought a sun fish. I was the only one who would go with him to learn how to sail. That was the beginning of a long road.

9. What is your favorite boating activity?

There are so many. If I had to choose only one, I would go cruising with my wife Tina.

10. How many employees work for you?

I’m the General Manager at Crowley’s and we have 40 full time employees plus a dozen or more that come and go during the busy seasons.

11. Do they have job specific training? If so, how often do they go?

I make sure everyone attends professional training events throughout the year. I organize our in-house training. We have a class at least once a week throughout the winter. The range of topics is huge. Last month I was at the ASIS security show. Tomorrow’s topic is OSHA workplace safety. In a few weeks Grant and I will be at Underwriter Laboratories observing a test of the new StatX fire suppression system.

12. What job specific training do you have?

Over the years I have been to hundreds of lectures and classes on almost every aspect of recreational marine management, boat building, and repair.

13. What certifications do you have?

My college degree is in computer science. This year I completed the course work for my USCG Captains license. I'm currently reading the City of Chicago plumbing code, just for fun. I'm an IHSA Baseball umpire too. Basically, I have a hunger for knowledge and a self proclaimed nerd.

14. What is your number one recommendation to boat owners?

Take people boating.  Learn about every aspect of boating. Learn about every switch, every line, and every pump aboard. Learn about navigation and weather and the fish and the birds. While you’re out boating, teach others what you learned. Let them repay you with the wealth of their knowledge.

15. In your area of experience, what can a boat owner do to maintain their boat?

Clean it. The simple act of cleaning the bilge, the engine, the deck, everything, reveals the maintenance and repair required. A clean vessel is a safe vessel.

16. What is your number one money saving tip for boat owners?

Use your boat for your family summer vacation. No one will ever forget the experience. Ever. Guaranteed.

17. What is the toughest part of your job?

Time management. I want to spend the time to get the job done right. Many times there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to get to everything I want to.

18. When are you most likely to be found in the harbors?

Wednesday nights chillaxin' on the fine yacht, Integrity, North Juliet 11, Monroe Harbor.

19. What is your favorite winter activity?

#1 Building things in my woodshop.  #2 working on the boat with my partners. We take advantage of indoor heated storage to increase our ‘boating time’. Sunday morning 9 to noon at the boat yard. We meet at the boat about twice a month, have coffee, catch up on life, turn this or rub that. Mostly ponder what we should do next time.

20. What is the best way to get a hold of you to ask a question?

dan@crowleys.com