June 1st, 2011 West Erie County, DWCO Randy Leighton, rglerie@msn.com Conditions: Walnut Creek Access Alert: A fairly large "sink hole" has developed in the boat "ready area". The hole is temporally well marked and will be a focus for immediate repair. Boaters are advised to use caution in this area, especially at night. Know Your Fire Extinguisher Before It's Needed: When you check the pressure gauge also give the entire bottle a good look. Plastic nozzles can be easily damaged and may not function properly if they are blocked. It is also recommended to give your dry powder extinguisher a thorough shaking at least twice a year because "the powder charge can settle and become compacted during long periods of disuse." If you shake your extinguisher twice a year, then when you shake it for the tenth time it should be the last. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that non-rechargeable, powder-type extinguishers be routinely replaced after five years, even though they have not been used and appear to be in good shape." For those boat owners with carbon dioxide or Halon type extinguishers, checking and shaking is not the way to go. These gaseous type extinguishers require periodic inspection and certification by trained and licensed service providers. "The tank must be weighed to ensure that it is still full. Those that have lost more than 10 percent of their charge must be recharged in order to be effective. Weighing should be a part of a semi-annual inspection. Your fire extinguisher is required to be USCG approved for marine use and at least one extinguisher should be securely mounted within arms reach of the operator. Extinguishers are required on all boats with internal combustion engines with enclosed compartments for portable fuel tanks and boats with permanently mounted fuel tanks. No matter what type of fire extinguishers you have aboard your boat, a little regularly scheduled TLC will go a long way to ensuring a long lasting friendship for you and your extinguisher. Ref. ICBM Inc. Law Enforcement: Marker buoys are now in through out Presque Isle Bay to assist boaters in identifying minimum wake areas and swimming areas. These markers are the traffic signs on the water and citations can be issued if they are ignored. Boaters are advised that specific minimum wake areas in the area include the Erie channel to the lake, Marina Lake and its entrance channel, Misery Bay, and Horseshoe Pond, and areas with in the marker buoys around Dobbins Landing, Beach 11 outside the Erie Channel and the south side of Presque Isle. Pennsylvania / Ohio Line: Local Weather: Wednesday Night...Mostly clear and breezy. Cooler with lows in the mid 50s. West winds 15 to 25 mph...diminishing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Thursday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Thursday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. West winds 10 to 15 mph...becoming southeast around 5 mph after midnight. Friday...Partly sunny in the morning...then becoming mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent. Friday Night...Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 30 percent. Saturday...Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Saturday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. Sunday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s. Sunday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. Monday...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
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