Passport to Puget Sound

Fifteen Puget Sound Marinas will partner with the Northwest Marine Trade Association to offer a new program that will reward visiting boaters. The promotion, Passport to Puget Sound, will kick off at the 2010 Seattle Boat Show on Jan. 29.

Puget Sound provides quick, easy access to a boater’s paradise. With fishing, diverse moorage options and events year round, the Sound has a lot to offer boaters that want to take advantage of the area’s unique features.

Participating marinas include:

Arabella’s Landing
Bremerton Marina
Bell Harbor Marina
Cap Sante Boat Haven
City of Des Moines Marina
Dock Street Marina
Elliott Bay Marina
Foss Harbor Marina
Port of Edmonds
Port of Everett
Port of Kingston
Port Orchard Marina
Poulsbo Marina
Shilshole Marina
Swantown Marina

Boaters who visit any of the participating marinas between March 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 and pay for a minimum of one night of guest moorage will receive a stamp in a Passport to Puget Sound book. Once a row of four marinas is completed, vertical, horizontal or diagonal, visitors will receive a “Passport to Puget Sound” T-shirt.

The first fifteen participants to achieve a ‘black out’, where all squares are filled with stamps from all of the participating marinas, will receive one of fifteen available grand prize packages valued up to $500. Prize packages include a variety of hotel accommodations, restaurant gift certificates, event tickets, boat services and more.

Pick up your Passport to Puget Sound book at any of the participating marinas or at the Seattle Boat Show to start your summer adventures early!

For more information on the program, visit the NMTA’s website at http://www.seattleboatshow.com/ or contact one of the participating marinas.

Merry Christmas, Foss Harbor Tenants!

A Budget Tale


T’was the night before Budget and all through the grounds,
Not a tenant was stirring except the Guard doing rounds.

The stockings were hung by the masts with care,

In hopes that our government would not leave them bare.


The vessels were nestled all snug in their slips,

While their radars monitored the on-going blips.

And I with my flak jacket armed with a Mac,

Had just settled down for a long budget chat.

When out on the dock there rose such a clatter,
The Guard inspected to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I moved like a tug,

Cleared the condensation and then tripped on the rug.


The moon on the bow of the newly purchased yacht,
Gave the luster of mid-day to the boats with the rot.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But an extremely tight budget that forced out a tear.

With a little old income, so stretched and maligned,
I knew in a moment that I should be confined.

More expenses than ever, the budget it grew,

I became dejected, just what would I do?


"Now, Taxes! Now, Leases! Now Insurance and More!

Why all these expenses? I must go to war.”

“Lower the lease rates! Topple the tax wall!
We will fight for our marina ‘til the enemy falls.”


So back to face the drawing board, the manager, I flew,
With a handful of implements for crafting budget stew.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the deck,
It was me with the budget, wringing its neck.


It wasn’t very pleasant and the budget almost drowned,
But when it resurfaced it seemed much, much more sound.

It was dressed all in 2009 moorage rates, from his feet to his head,
But his coversheet was tarnished as if he’d been dead.


A bundle of rates he had on his back,
They were identical to last year, with only one exception to the pack.

The tenants-- how they twinkled! Their dimples how merry!
Their cheeks were like roses, their noses like cherries!

Their mouths were all drawn up in grandiose smiles,
They knew they lucked out, lucked out by a mile.

The stump of a budget still maintained his composure.
Despite the fact, he had more exposure.


And the expenses encircled his head like a wreath,
So the budget bore down and growled his big teeth.

Keeping the same rates would take a large toll,
To keep expenses in check was now his big goal.


He carried the weight of the marina on his frame,
When all of a sudden his face looked crazed & insane.

His eyes were darting all over the place,
When he spotted a marked door and his feet made the chase.


With a wink of his eye and a flush of the head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Cleaning the marina and smiling a smirk.


And laying his finger outside of his nose,
Stated,” I need some fuel” and pulled out the hose.

He sprang to his boat and opened the cap,
The tank filled in minutes and he gave a loud clap.

And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"I’ll be back next year and you’d better not bite.”

BOAT AUCTION NOVEMBER 20TH @ 11:30AM

The Foss Harbor Marina will be auctioning off two impounded vessels on November 20, 2009. The vessels eligible for auction are:

*1975, 24' Bayliner Sailboat

*1967, 33' Fairliner

There is no minimum bid at this time. If you are interested in these vessels, you may begin viewing them on Friday, November 13th, 2009 during business hours. We cannot allow boarding of these vessels until the morning of the auction. The Foss Harbor Marina has no knowledge of actual vessel conditions. The marina is located at 821 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402. Please keep in mind, according to the Revised Code of Washington, vessel owners have the right to show up at any time prior to the auction and pay off their balances. We recommend that you call the morning of the auction to verify that the vessels are still available. The marina can only accept cash or cashier's check. If you have any questions, please call the marina @ 253-272-4404.

Seas ‘N Greetings - A HOLIDAY TRADITION ON THE THEA FOSS

The marinas located along the Thea Foss Waterway in Downtown Tacoma have announced their 4th Annual Holiday Boat Decorating Contest, Seas ‘N Greetings, to be held the evening of December11th. Judging will commence at 4:30pm. Lighted boats will be seen from Foss Harbor Marina down to Dock St. Marina, Delin Docks Marina and Foss Landing.

Vessels will be judged based on their use of lights, their creativity, and their theme. An independent panel of judges will chose an overall Grand Prize Winner for the waterway and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places for marinas North of the 11th St. Bridge and also for Marinas South of the bridge.

In past years, the contest has awarded thousands of dollars worth in prizes and is anticipating similar prizes will be awarded this year as well. Any decorated vessels moored in the Thea Foss Waterway at Foss Harbor Marina, Dock Street Marina, Delin Docks Marina, or Foss Landing are eligible to participate. This includes boaters who come in for guest moorage. Those who do come in for guest moorage will be treated to the Tacoma Yacht Clubs annual lighted boat parade on the following evening of December 12th.

SEAS ‘N GREETINGS individual boater’s awards will be presented at the Foss Harbor Marina, 821 Dock St. between 7:00-9:00pm. The Marina with the best decorated boat will also be awarded with the Waterway Trophy, which will be held at the winning Marina until the following year when the next event takes place. There will be hot drinks, cookies, and possibly some entertainment from Michael Agostini, a local humorist.

The Waterway Marinas, Foss Waterway Development Authority and local businesses are working jointly to promote this event. All prizes have been donated by community-minded businesses. Bring a toy to donate to Toys-For-Tots and help your personal community spirit. A trip down to see the lights from the masts reflecting off the water is a good way to slow things down for a moment and enjoy the season with your family and friends.

Sign-up in your marina office to participate in the contest!

Fall Moorage & Storage Deals

The Foss Harbor Marina is offering the following Fall Sign-up Specials for new tenants:

1. Sign-up for a moorage slip or storage locker this Fall and get the 2nd month 50% off.

2. For members of the military or military veterans: Sign-up this Fall, and receive 20% off of your moorage fee until April 2010.

For existing tenants, we offer the following specials:

1. Pay your moorage a year in advance and receive 10% off your monthly moorage fee.
2. Pay six months in advance and receive 5% off your monthly moorage fee.
3. Refer a new tenant who signs up for moorage or a locker and get a 20% discount on the following months moorage fee.
4. Upgrade your open slip to a covered slip and receive 10% discount on your covered moorage fee until April 2010.
5. Sign-up for a mailbox and receive the second month free.
   

Holiday Happenings

*October 30th - Locker Trick or Treating & decorating contest 5:30-6:30pm
*October 30th- Halloween Party 6:30-9:00pm
*October 22nd & 23rd- Preview of boats for Quinn's Boat Auction
*October 24th- Quinn's Boats Auction of 30+ boats 12:00-1:00 pm
*October 24nd- Liveaboard Association Fire Safety Meeting @ Foss Harbor Seaport 1:00pm
*November 11th- Tacoma Waterfront Association Meeting@ Foss Harbor Seaport 11:30am
*November 26th- Thanksgiving store closed
*November 27th- Shopping Day store closed
*December dates unknown- Esplanade project begins
*December 1st-19th--Toys for Tots collection @ Foss Harbor Marina & Quinn's Boats
*December 11th- Seas 'n Greetings- decorating contest 5:00-6:00pm
*December 12th- Seas 'n Greetings awards @ Foss Harbor Seaport 4:30pm
*December 12th- Tacoma Yacht Club's Lighted boat parade 6:30pm
*December 12th- Cascade Mobile Blood Bank--Blood Drive 4:30-7:30pm
*December 24th- Christmas Eve store closed
*December 25th- Christmas Day store closed
*January 1st- New Years Day store closed

Marina Fires: Preventing them and what to do if you're in one!

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Place: Foss Waterway Seaport, 705 Dock Street, Tacoma WA 98402
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Cost: Free
Presented by: Tacoma Liveaboard Association
Contact: Madhuri Hosford (253) 272-2750 ext 102

Lt. Joe Stiles of the Tacoma Fire Department will present crucial tips for avoiding boat fires and how to respond if a fire does occur on board. Most marina fires start aboard an individual boat. However, many of the simple common fire provention tips for residential land based homes also apply to living on a boat. Join Tacoma Fire Department for an informative safety presentation with the topics of discussion including:
*The proper use of marine-approved cord sets.
*Smoke Alarms and CO2 detectors.
*The proper use of portable Fire Extinguishers.
*General Fire and Life safety precautions.

Floating Propane Tank Warning

ONE OF OUR TENANTS WARNS:

I found a propane tank floating in Quartermaster Harbor about two weeks ago, carried it back to Tacoma on our boat (Night Watch) and then drove it to the Tacoma household hazardous waste facility at the landfill. The attendant inspected it and took it but he said there is a better approach.

Essentially the hazardous waste people suggest securing a loose propane tank in the water (with fishing weights as an anchor or w/ a line to a dock) then calling the Department of Ecology or the Coast Guard. Apparently some people who make meth store very dangerous chemicals in tanks normally used for propane and keep the tanks in the water so they stay cool. The haz. waste man said the chemicals used to make meth can become dangerously unstable and may explode if they get warm, hence his direction to leave the tank in the water next time. Ecology has equipment and trained people to dismantle meth labs so they can safely remove the floating container.


All this was complete news to me. I've been on the water for many years and this was the first time I've found a floating propane container so the whole scenario might be pretty unusual but who knows.

Regards, Charlie Douthwaite

Post Your Fish Stories Here

We only have a few slips left. Time for your fishin' friends to get their boats in the water before the 5.1 million pink salmon that are expected, come through the Puget Sound.

What is your best fish story???

My Dad went on a charter fishing trip in Mexico last time he traveled. It went well, he caught a large marlin and had fun. He wanted to bring his fish home, but noone spoke English well enough to understand that he wanted a box to ship the fish home. The funny thing is that we lived in El Cajon for nearly a decade. Cajon is the Spanish word for BOX. That is his "one that got away" and we won't ever let him forget it :~)

I don't fish & I still had a story; bet you've got one too! Post it here please, so my story isn't lonely. Thanks.

Only a few slips left: 2- covered 30' slips, 1- covered 28' slip(available soon) & 1- 50' slip. There is a $50 bonus for referrals, just have the new tenant mention that you referred them!

&. . . .Your new neighbor will receive 10% off their first month's moorage!

Boat Auction on July 31st at 11:30 am

Please join us for a boat auction on Friday, July 31st at 11:30 am. We will be auctioning 5 vessels; a 40' 1979 Cruise-a-Home, a 35' 1959 Boatel Houseboat, a 31' 1977 Cruise-a-Home, a 31' 1966 Fairliner, & a 28' 1965 Owens. Bidding will begin at 11:30 am. There is no minimum bid at this time. If you are interested in this vessel, you may begin viewing it this week during business hours (8:00 am-5:00 pm). We cannot allow boarding of this vessel until the morning of the auction.
The Foss harbor Marina has no knowledge of actual vessel conditions. Please keep in mind, according to the Revised Code of Washington, vessel owners have the right to show up at any time prior to the auction and pay off their balances. We recommend that you call the morning of the auction to verify that the vessels are still available. The marina can only accept cash, credit cards or cashiers check. If you have questions, please call the marina @ (253) 272-4404.
to see pictures of these vessels, please visit the craigslist ad http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/boa/1266338120.html