COOPER BOATING news ~ latest information about boating in BC
Subject: boat expo seminar schedule
(Posted on Sep 19, 2011 at 08:57PM )
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Here's the schedule of seminars for later this week so far.  We have a few people still to firm up - so expect a few late additions - but this open house has been transformed from static to supercharged with the BOATING EXPO flavour.   We've also got the flavour of the weenie roast!!

(September 19, 2011  v.2)


To gain access to any seminar, bring a non perishable food donation or cash donation to the Vancouver Food Bank to one of the BOAT EXPO participants.   You will receive a pass that allows you to attend as many seminars as you would like.  Thanks for helping this great cause - we hope you enjoy the presentations.


STAY TUNED - A FEW LAST MINUTE ADDITIONS EXPECTED!


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thursday, SEPTEMBER 22

1000 -? 1130 Basics of Boat Buying

COLIN JACKSON - COOPER BOATING

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thursday, SEPTEMBER 22
1400 - 1500 Up Close and Personal With Your Marine Head

 


DAVE BONAR - BOSUN'S SALES AND SERVICE AND DANIEL HAWKES - YACHT SALES WEST

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thursday, SEPTEMBER 22

1600 -1700 Winterizing checklist for your boat 

 DANIEL HAWKES - YACHT SALES WEST

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friday, SEPTEMBER 23

1000 -?? 1100  Recipe for a successful charter trip

DAVE BONAR - BOSUN'S SALES AND SERVICE

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friday, SEPTEMBER 23

1400-1500 Buying your boat from out of country - the good, the bad & the ugly

LEN BARONIT - YACHT SALES WEST

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friday, SEPTEMBER 23

1600 - 1700  The best value in English Bay - the JIB SET sailing club

PETER DERVILLER, JIB SET COMMODORE 

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saturday, SEPTEMBER 24

1000 -?? 1130  Basics of Boat Buying

COLIN JACKSON - COOPER BOATING

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saturday, SEPTEMBER 24

1130 -1230  The best value in English Bay - the JIB SET sailing club

PETER DERVILLER, JIB SET COMMODORE 

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saturday, SEPTEMBER 24

1230 - 1330  Up Close and Personal With Your Marine Head 

DAVE BONAR - BOSUN'S SALES AND SERVICE 

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saturday, SEPTEMBER 24

1400 - 1500  You Work Hard, Your Boat Should Too:  Charter Ownership

COLIN JACKSON - COOPER BOATING

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saturday, SEPTEMBER 24

1600 -?? 1730  Marine Electrical 101 

 

JEFF COTE - PACIFIC YACHT SYSTEMS 

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 sunday, SEPTEMBER 25

1000 -?? 1100  Basics of Boat Buying

COLIN JACKSON - COOPER BOATING

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 sunday, SEPTEMBER 25

1100 -?? 1200 Catamarans 101 (Design, Build, Charter, Purchase, Explore)

IAN STOPFORTH, VOYAGE YACHTS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

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 sunday, SEPTEMBER 25

1300 - 1400   You Work Hard, Your Boat Should Too:  Charter Ownership

COLIN JACKSON - COOPER BOATING


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 sunday, SEPTEMBER 25

1400-1500   Introduction to state of the art - HYSUCAT 

IAN STOPFORTH, VOYAGE YACHTS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

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 sunday, SEPTEMBER 25

1500 -?? 1600   Up Close and Personal With Your Marine Head

DAVE BONAR - BOSUN'S SALES AND SERVICE 

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 sunday, SEPTEMBER 25

1600 - 1700   Voyage of a Lifetime -  Set plans for Alaska, Around Vancouver Island and beyond!

COLIN JACKSON - COOPER BOATING



Subject: More marine mammals seen while cruising
(Posted on Nov 22, 2010 at 10:47PM )
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Looking back on the 2010 charter and boating school season, it is clear we had a lot more sightings of whales and other marine mammals such as the infamous DAHL PORPOISES.   
 Photo courtesy Brandon Brind
Not commonly seen in this area is the humpback whale, but Jeff managed to capture a shot of this one on October 17, 2010:
 Photo courtesy Jeff Motley
If you manage to see some interesting marine mammal while out there, make sure to report it here.

We've been seeing guys like this for all the years we've been offering boating holidays - clearly there are more around now than there were a decade ago.   Internet bonus - if you know what this whale is doing, contact our office for a special gift (just in time for the holiday season).  Hint: We had a boat in the fleet with this name!!
 Photo courtesy www.wildwhales.org

Subject: EASTER BUNNY SAILS AGAIN!
(Posted on Nov 19, 2010 at 06:18PM )
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What is a flotilla you say??

EXTREME FUN ON THE WATER we say!!

FLOTILLAS - While the word flotilla originates from a formation of warships, the only mission of the flotillas organized around BC waters is to have fun and experience this great coast in a fantastic group environment. Those who are new can draw from those who have done it before. Those who have done it before come back because it's - well - just piles of fun.
 



The first FLOTILLA of the 2011 season falls on Easter and the dates are April 22/23/24/25th. We have a coordinator, Marla Hedman whom you can contact for further details.



ITINERARY for EASTER CRUISE

Day One, April 22 at 0900 we depart Vancouver and our destination is Porlier Pass for 1415 hrs.  Once traversing this scenic and exciting pass, navigate through the charming waterway between Reid, Norway, Mowgli and Hall Islands and set your course for Thetis Island Marina for Friday nights stay.  This marina and its owners are always hospitable and the rustic shore amenities never fail to entertain! The roadways on Thetis Island are low traffic and easy hilly so for those of you that like to hike or jog, you can get more of the island experience. Have your evening meal aboard or ashore at the Thetis Island Pub.  (NOTE: Subject to interest we will have groups originating from areas other than Vancouver Harbour)

Day Two
, April 23 starts out rather leisurely as slack water at Dodd Narrows is 1453 hrs. Sleep in or get an early start if there is a yachting challenge to participate in that day. We're on our way to Newcastle Island in the Nanaimo Harbour. This island marine park is a BIG favourite for many cruising enthusiasts and that evening we will be having a roaring bonfire near the tidal pools. Bring your favourite roasting treats and roasting sticks, too! We do not cut down anything on this island! We encourage all our musical friends to bring guitars and bongos and harmonicas and song sheets.


Day Three
, April 24 is EASTER BUNNY CHOCOLATE TIME! This annual event includes boat crews scouring the rock quarry for Easter Bunny "droppings",  many mugs of steaming coffee and hot chocolate, peaceful gazing at the beautiful surroundings and laughter at the antics of adults becoming children again as they race to gather more chocolate than the young yuns. It is recommended to get off the docks around noon as we have approximately 21NM to travel to reach our Sunday night home: Gibsons Landing on the Sunshine Coast. Everybody loves Molly's Reach and well known foodies say that the best carrot cake on the coast can be found here. Good fish and chips, too. For those who like their seafood raw, check out the new Smitty's Oyster House on the boardwalk below the pier.


Day Four, April 25th is Monday and our destination is home. There are some hearty breakfast spots in Gibsons and there is also a fuel dock here for boats needing to top up their tanks. If you want to leave early, you can always stop at Snug Cove for lunch, anchor in Mannion Bay for a picnic or just sail for the city after a sleepy morning.

Why a FLOTILLA is a good thing!

1) FLOTILLA LEADER - The flotilla leader is there as a resource - available on the VHF and by phone. Your fearless leader will keep an eye on the group like a shepherd tending their herd. They are also there to help make sure your anchor is well set, grab a line and give a pointer when you are docking. Flotilla leaders are generally available when you need some assistance. They will also organize some of the shore side activities normally associated with these events. 

2) BASIC TRIP PLAN - While we have adjusted basic plans from time to time because of weather, there will be some great destinations along with that old adage - more than half the fun is just getting there.


3) BRIEFING - Before departing, the flotilla leader will brief skippers and everyone interested on the route, destinations, navigational considerations, timing and a review of the most recent weather information. For those who are new - think of this as cruising with the training wheels still on!


4) GREAT PEOPLE - From beginner to expert, flotillas attract a wide range of experience and mixing this allows for great learning and mentorship. If you enjoy new experiences and meeting new folks - you're one of those great people welcome to join the next flotilla!


5) FLAVOUR - There's usually some theme to the flotilla that - a treasure hunt at Easter, a jazz festival in the fall... a cool potluck dinner between great friends to wrap up the season each year in November - each flotilla has a flavour to allow you to pick your favourite!


6) TRAINING BOAT- there is always a CYA instructor or two or three ready to mentor sailors on their first big cruising experience.


7) CREW FIND MEETING - join the flotilla leader to meet new and old friends to discuss sailing and boating plans.  FEBRUARY 27th, Sunday afternoon at 5PM on Granville Island at the classroom of the Cooper Boating. 1815 Mast Tower Road


FLOTILLAS ARE ORGANIZED BY THE BC SAILING ASSOCIATION.
Subject: Bareboat key elements from Cooper Boating
(Posted on Oct 31, 2010 at 11:49PM )
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Following up on the meaning behind the bareboat concept of our earlier post, it seems appropriate to look at how we at Cooper work as agents to take care of our bareboat guests.

The legal side does create certain obligations and a competent charter agent can help with all of those.   Cooper's two guiding principles surround COMFORT and INSURABILITY.  

Comfort aboard comes not only from the boat itself and its fit, finish and equipment, but the comfort of the skipper and crew operating the boat  their experience and familiarity with the vessel type.  Perhaps it has been several years since you last skippered a vessel.  In this case, the prudent skipper often reaches out for some assistance to refresh their skills - either via a formal lesson before hand or by taking someone at the beginning of a bareboat charter holiday to help break free of the boating cobwebs and ensure that the skipper is comfortable handling the vessel and the navigator is up to back up to speed on coastal pilotage.

Familiarity with a vessel type leading to comfort aboard does depend on whether or not this is  a boat you've operated before (or a near sistership).   Changing vessel types - especially large changes like different prop configurations or North American vs. European manufacturers - can lead to an increased challenge for a skipper.  We've seen the greatest frequency of changes when people make large changes to the type or size of vessel they are using.  

Some of the same factors that drive comfort also affect insurability of a skipper.   As mentioned in the post about the word 'bareboat',  the insurance on the vessel is transferring to the charter client for the duration of the trip as if they were an owner.   Insurance depends on the risk factor and that includes experience, most specifically recent experience on the size and vessel type.   A long track record of boating experience without an accident is a great step to being insurable, as is formal training - especially hands-on training to a national or international standard.

Ironically, when renting a vessel, it is not essential to have a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) - providing one walks through a rental boat checklist and signs this off as the charter commences.   The fact is, the PCOC seems to be addressing specific accident situations and is especially focused on vessels smaller than those in our charter fleet - the standard of training and competence required to be insured on a charter vessel is far greater than the level offered by a PCOC alone.

If there is an accident in one's past, it does not preclude insurability - one accident can be a vital learning experience - but it should be fully disclosed so that future risks are properly covered.    Indeed, we use past experience from debriefing accident situations to alert future people to the inherent risks of operating a boat on our coast.   Come to think of it, everything provided to back up one's experience as provided on a boating resume should be completely factual as it becomes an integral part of the charter arrangements.   The insurance company isn't out there checking everything up front necessarily, but if the boating resume is found to contain fictional content when following up a claim, it would certainly jeopardize the insurance coverage in place.

While some of this sounds heavy and does carry with it real obligations, we have been working with folks wanting to have fun on the water for over a quarter of a century now and can make most of this fall to the routine.   So, if we're suggesting something to help you bolster your resume it merely stems from our guiding concept that we want to you be properly insured and comfortable on the boat of your choice.   Let's get going with your spectacular experience!