BoatU.S. - August/September 2010

LettersToEditor@BoatUS.com readerforum

Editor’s Note: We apologize for the misspelling and salute Capt. Grivas for his bravery in com- ing to boaters’ aid. Not For The Dogs Your May/June issue has an article about liveaboard dogs and the vets who treat them, and on the back cover is a full- page ad for BoatU.S. Insurance themed around boating dogs. Not everyone who boats is a dog lover, and I ask you to stop glamorizing dogs on boats and around marinas. If you’re environmentally con- scious, why not an article on how many tons of dog excrement is washed into our coastal waters each time it rains? The picture of the dog licking the person’s face disgusts me. There are lots of boaters who don’t want their shore-power cords or dock lines scent-marked by dog urine.

Boat Loans — Banks return to common-sense criteria and money is available

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— Michele andBarry Holt, Apponaug, RI

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You Can Count Me In

Although I sold my last boat (my wife said I’m too old), I continue to follow all the ups and downs of the boating world. I joined BoatU.S. in the ‘70s and have never regretted that decision. Your organization helped us find out a lot of things concerning boating. It has saved us much more than our dues in the add-ons that membership offered. When I read the last issue concerning the taxing of boat owners in various states, I realized why every boater should worry about what’s happening on our waters. This article and many others by BoatU.S. Magazine should be a reason to join and be counted among boaters who oppose such legislation. — Tom Donaghy

Flagler Beach, FL

More Labors Of Love

I just finished “Labor Of Love” (May/ June) and I cried. My heart went out to Ron Jung. This last Easter, I lost my wife to breast cancer. She was an eight-year survivor and we had 13 glorious years of marriage. During her last years, we restored a 24-foot Crestliner cabin cruiser. We rebuilt Miss Maggie from the hull up, replaced the transom, sole, gutter, helm, and rebuilt the cabin. We spent thousands of hours in the hot Florida sun laboring over that boat. She worked beside me when she was tired, not feeling well, and shared my frustration learning to fiberglass. Your article brought it all back. Please pass on to Ron Jung that my prayers are with him and his wife, and that he survives many more years to enjoy his prize. — Bill Mundy

Leesburg, FL

law by registering their boat in a non-tax state to avoid paying the tax then keeping their boat in Maryland waters and using our services. In my opinion, more people are doing this than transients accidentally staying too long in one place. — J. Fitch

Baltimore, MD

Ethanol Angst

If E- 15 (ethanol 15 percent) happens it will be a disaster not only to the two-stroke and four-stroke crowd but to the entire automotive industry; flying under the radar are the monstrous fertilizer companies, Monsanto, and so on, that will benefit big-time because corn is a soil destroyer and needs more fertilizer to rejuvenate the soil it’s in.

— Richard Ibsen Punta Gorda, FL

Captains Courageous

I’m a TowBoatU.S. captain working out of the Shinnecock/Moriches area on Long Island. Last October, I was involved in a life-saving rescue for which I was awarded the prestigious Woody Pollack award from BoatU.S. I was also mentioned in the May BoatU.S. Magazine along with 10 other captains who were also involved in life-saving rescues. But there’s a problem; my name was misspelled! Though I’m proud of the acknowledgement, I’m disappointed that the name in print is not me.

— Capt. Mark Grivas TowBoatU.S. Shinnecock/Moriches, NY

The Plus Side Of State Taxes

The article “When a Tax Bill Is Your Trip’s Souvenir” (May/June) was a little biased in its tone. The implication was that “tax-hungry states” are squeezing recreational boaters for more money to balance their budgets. This is simply not true, at least not in Maryland and most other jurisdictions. The five-percent boat-excise tax assessed on boats registered in Maryland goes directly into the Waterway Improvement Fund and cannot be used for any other purpose. It provides matching funds for local agencies that provide fire, police, and rescue boats, among other things. Paying a tax to support these services doesn’t bother me. What does bother me is the people who try to outsmart the

Taking Boating Dollars Elsewhere

As someone ready to retire and looking forward to traveling by boat, your article on getting a tax bill if you stay too long in a state was quite an eye opener. I had an interesting experience trying to buy an Ohio fishing license. I travel from the Michigan waters of Lake Erie to Ohio to fish with friends. I went into our local bait shop and found out that a yearly Ohio license had risen to $40; we decided to stay and fish in Michigan waters. As I was leaving the bait shop, five Ohio fishermen were walking out; they’d just experienced the same issue with Michigan and decided to head back to Ohio.

I once read in BoatU.S. Magazine that every person on a boat is worth $50 in spending to the local economy (my experience has proven close to that number). My trips involved taking the group to Put-In Bay, so imagine the loss to their economy when I didn’t come back the last four years. As an elected official who deals with budgets and taxes, this has always stayed in my mind. Instead of charging boating visitors, states should provide discounts and bring boaters’ spending to their state.