HOWTO: Reduce Fuel Costs

With Gas hitting all time highs here are some tips to help you save money this summer.

• Slower speeds and lower RPM on the water will reduce fuel usage.

• Proper use of trim tabs reduce drag, especially while accelerating up to planing speeds.

• Minimize the amount of time that you idle at the dock

• Minimize the use of onboard generators.

• Use dock-side electrical power in lieu of generators.

• Have a float plan so you know exactly where you’re going.

• Make sure the hull is clean. Bottom Paint helps reduce buildup on your hull which helps your boats fuel performance.

• Don’t overload your boat. It’s important you have enough motor to handle the weight. Boaters often carry alot of unessarcy weight in unneeded or excessive gear.

• Check your propeller. If your boat is slow "out of the hole" or lacks top-end speed, you might have the wrong propeller.

• A well-tuned engine uses less fuel.

Turn Blue into Green!

We have heard a rumor that we charge to recycle shrinkwrap.

It isn't true.

Every boater in the marina can simply bundle up the shrinkwrap and put it under the bow of their boat and we will collect it and make sure it gets recycled at NO CHARGE. It is part of the Clean Marina program that we participate in. We have been a clean marina for over two seasons and strive to be a GREEN marina. The River and Lake are very important to us as a business and we are very proactive in implementing polices that protect those assets for our own good and the good of the community.

So please bundle up your shrinkwrap and place it under your bow, we will be happy to make sure it ends up recycled.

Celebrate Springs Arrival at the Red Clay

Red Clay on the River announces Put-in-Party.

WEDS APRIL 30TH

PUT IN PARTY

FEATURING THE NAKED MONKEYS @ 7:00 PM

WE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE DUSTING OFF OUR 6 FOOT GRILL AND COOKING FOR YOU;

BURGERS, SHISH KABOBS, RIBS AND A FEW OTHER SURPRIZES!

COME BY BOAT AND THE CAPTAIN GETS A PRIZE

NEED A RIDE CALL CRUISIN CITY II, TAXI

440-242-7833

Steelhead Stocking This Friday at 10am.

The Vermilion River Fish Drop takes place on April 25 at 10 am. 50,000 fingerlings are poured into the wild Vermilion River. Join the crowd at the South Street Launch Ramp to see this phenomenal event, then relax and enjoy our friendly little town.

The Division of Wildlife annually stocks five Lake Erie tributary streams with 6-8" yearling Little Manistee River (Michigan) strain of steelhead. These fish migrate out into Lake Erie and spend the summer in the cooler part of the lake, before returning to streams during the fall through the spring. The Vermilion River is scheduled to receive 55,000 steelhead.

The stocking will take place at the Vermilion Public Ramp and will be attended by representatives from the Dept of Wildlife, ODNR, Vermilion Port Authority, and local officials.

More fromVermilionOhioNews.com

Dairy Dock Gear Now Online

For Ice Cream fanatics everywhere Romp's Dairy Dock has opened an online store at:

http://Cafepress.com/dairydock

Now you can get hats, t-shirts, buttons, teddy bears all with the Dairy Dock "Peace, Love, IceCream" motto. Show everyone how you stay cool when it's hot. Wear official Romp's Dairy Dock gear this summer.

Weekend update

We have updates for those of you who haven't been out to visit in awhile.

• Dockside water is on and available throughout the marina for spring clean up.
• Dockside electric is on as well.
• Dairy Dock is open if you need a snack while you get the boat ready
• Dock boxes are out.
• Picnic Tables are out. If you don't see one at your dock please stop by the marine store (now open Sat and Sun 9-5) and let us know. Or you can sign up for one if you haven't already.
• Want a Romp's hat or other cool gear visit our new online store at http://cafepress.com/romps
• If you have not done so already please fill out your launch order and turn it in as soon as you can. It is a great benefit to help us schedule your work so your spring is hassle free.
• Shrinkwrap users please help us recycle by rolling up your shrinkwrap once your boat is uncovered and placing it under the bow of your boat. We will collect it free of charge and help the environment by recycling it as part of the Clean Marina program.
• Please do not put shrinkwrap in the dumpster.
• We currently have stretches of the grassy area roped off. With the wet spring we have experienced we are trying to let mother nature dry out these areas before cars park there. All these areas will be opened up as soon as possible.
• If you have any question or concerns drop us a line by clicking on the contact us link.

Summers near, we'll see you dockside!

Steelhead Stocking April 25th

The Ohio Dept of Wildlife will be stocking the Vermilion River with Steelhead trout on April 25th at 10am. The stocking will take place at the Vermilion Public Ramp and will be attended by representatives from the Dept of Wildlife, ODNR, Vermilion Port Authority, and local officials.

Survey by Leading Boat Insurer Reveals Boaters Are Happier (Yahoo Finance)

Survey by Leading Boat Insurer, Progressive, Reveals Boaters Put Their Vessel Ahead of Major Milestones in Their Lives and Are Happier for It

MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio----Are you worried about the value of your home or the cost of your daily commute? Well, maybe its time to rethink your priorities. A recent survey of more than 1,000 boat owners conducted by Progressive, a leading boat insurer and the number one seller of personal watercraft insurance in the country shows some pretty happy boaters. While some may believe a “boat owner’s two greatest days are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells it,” most boaters surveyed (38 percent) disagree. In fact, 66 percent of boaters say they “love boating” and describe their overall experience as “smooth sailing.” One in four boaters surveyed even said their biggest worry was simply finding time to use their boat. In , nearly half of boaters surveyed said they bought their boat before ...

The Secret Priorities of Boaters (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

Red Clay Kickoff Party Tonight

Red Clay on the River will celebrate it's annual Put In Party on Wednesday, April 16th with an outside grill, limited menu and entertainment featuring Colin Dussault at 7 pm. Boat rides will be provided by the Mystic Belle from 7 pm to 10 pm.

Guest are asked to park at the South Street Boat Ramp. A free shuttle will be provided, both ways, starting at 6 pm. The shuttle will continue until all guests have gone. Service will be provided by Crusin City Taxi, tips accepted.

Crusin City will also pick you up and drop you off at home. Please call them direct to make these arrangements at 440-242-7833.

Red Clay is located at 5150 Liberty Avenue, Vermillion, at McGarveys Landing. 440-967-0313.

WWW.REDCLAYONTHERIVER.COM

REDCLAYONTHERIVER@YAHOO.COM

All you need is BOAT (VON)

From VermilionOhioNews.com

Boating: Affordable & Fun

Boating is affordable and there’s a boat for every age, lifestyle and budget. Most people don’t realize how affordable boating is: in some instances, you can buy a brand new boat financed for around $250.00 a month, like a car. Boats provide tax deductible and cost effective second homes. Interest on a boat loan can be deducted if the boat has a galley, berth and head.

Average boat prices in 2006:

• Average price of a new boat was $13,035

• Average price of a pre-owned boat was $10,491

• Average price of a new outboard engine was $10,790

• Average price of a pre-owned outboard engine was $3,776

• Average price of a new outboard boat, motor and trailer package was $26,085

Fuel:

• The typical boater only operates his or her vessel about 75 hours a season.

• Nearly 95 percent of boats on the water today are under 26’ in length. These crafts do not require exorbitant amounts of gas, so any impact would be negligible.

• In fact, 64 percent of boaters say they purchase less than fifty gallons of gas per season—roughly two trips to the gas station to fill up your SUV or Minivan. (NMMA/RMRC, July 2005)

• Boating isn’t an activity like driving where you are using gas all the time. In fact, when a person is boating, they may be fishing or swimming and not using the motor at all. If you own a sailboat the motor is used even less.

• Higher fuel prices present a marginal increase in the operating cost of your boat. For owners of $500,000 boats that use 100 gallons in a weekend, a 50 cent increase in gasoline means that a weekend of fun on the water will cost $50 more, while owners of smaller boats that use 20 gallons of gas will end up spending $10 more on gas. The small increase in operating cost isn’t expected to limit boaters’ time on the water.

Insurance:

• Boat insurance costs vary by boat length and type, cost of the boat and level of coverage.

• Consult your insurance agent for quotes or compare rates online. Some smaller boats can be insured for a nominal sum as a rider on a homeowner’s policy.

• You can reduce the cost of marine insurance premiums by taking a boater’s education course.

Maintenance:

• Boat, trailer, and motor maintenance can be as simple as a freshwater wash down after each use and keeping them covered between adventures, helping to keep maintenance costs at bay.

• Costs for routine maintenance vary by region, but for more involved services, such as oil changes and winterizing, expect to pay what you would for your car on an hourly basis. Pre-owned boats can require significantly more maintenance.

Storage:

• You have several options depending on the size of your boat. You won’t find a less-expensive way to keep a boat than storing it on a trailer in your driveway or backyard. Another alternative for smaller boats is rack storage. A typical rack storage facility keeps your boat in a covered shed with trailer-like cradles.

• For owners of larger boats, and owners of small boats who crave convenience, a marina slip is the best way to go. Costs vary by state/region as well as by the size of your boat.