Author: Jim Coffin

Message from the Commodore

Greetings KYC Members:
It’s that time of the year we begin to get organized for the Club’s activities and functions for the year. For example, the KYC Executive has already identified the weekend of May 10 for Lift-in and associated cradle moving activities.
Another thing we need to do is to identify members to serve on the Club’s Executive. Under our Constitution, members of the Executive are elected at our Annual General Meeting of the members in March. The candidates for office are identified by a Nominating Committee, which is chaired by a member of the Club, assisted by other volunteer members.
I am actively soliciting members who would be interested in serving on the Nominating Committee or serving on the Executive Committee for the 2025 Club year.
The Nominating Committee usually has several meetings before the AGM. The Committee’s meetings can be conducted remotely. The Chair of the Nominating Committee runs the elections during the AGM. The deliberations and outputs of this Committee go a long way to determining the character of the Club’s Executive.
This year, we have three members of the Executive who have indicated they are interested in continuing their roles, being Ed Hogan as Chair of the Lighthouse Committee, Matt Leyden as Treasurer, and myself as Commodore. I think this is a great base group and I look forward to working with them.
We also have four openings on the Executive Committee:

– Chair of the Lift Committee, currently held by Jim Coffin
– Chair of the Social Committee, currently held by Christie Jedemann
– Club Secretary, currently held by Peter Chant and
– Executive Officer in charge of Marina activities, currently held by Rolf Jedemann.
These individuals have all provided years of service to the Committee but have indicated a desire to move on. Their roles are important for the Club and its contributions to the Marina and the Kincardine community. These positions provide an opportunity to participate in the making the decisions that shape your boating experience in Kincardine.
If you think you might be able to serve on the Club Executive or the Nominating Committee, I would like to hear from you. I will likely be reaching out to some of you who I think would be logical candidates.
If you are interested, please feel free to give me a call or text at 519-955-3990 or email Barry Collins. I can tell you it is a lively, enlightening and rewarding experience, and hope that many of you will be interested in contributing to the Club along with me.
Regards,
Barry Collins, Commodore, KYC

Lift-out Wrap-up

Lift-out Wrap-up

We managed to  get great weather for our 2024 lift-out. We safely lifted 48 boats onto the parking lot. The possible removal of the fuel tanks from the driveway and fire restrictions on the North side now limit us to the parking lot. The parking lot is very crowded but all the boats are accessible.

This is the second year we have used the hydraulic lift trailer to move boats away from the crane pad. Much thanks to Barry for organizing and executing the hydraulic trailer activities.

Our lift-out crew performed extremely well. We had almost no instances when the slings were hanging empty over the water. Thanks to our volunteers for the great job and to the boat owners for being ready when their time came.

Cradle moving took place the week before. We managed to deliver the cradles over torn up roads through a big soccer tournament. Cradle moving is a somewhat invisible activity, but essential for the lift-out. Much thanks to our volunteers for a great job.

The lunch provided at the lighthouse was excellent. Thank you very much to the organizers and the people that provided the pots of chili, meatballs, lasagna, salads and especially the desserts.

Lift-in and lift-out are not a service provided by KYC or the marina. They are cooperative club activities performed by club members for the benefit of our boat owners. I have to thank the number of volunteers who stepped up early and performed so well.

The preparations for this year's lift-out should provide a solid groundwork for future lifts. I hope whoever takes my place next year gets everyone's full support.

Boat Lifts with Mast Up

Many boat owners are planning on lifting their boat with the mast up. Some things to consider.

  1. In order to get the slings onto the boat, the spreader bars must go into the space behind the mast and in front of the backstay/topping lift. The backstay must be removed. The owner must be confident that their mast will remain standing without a backstay. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure the mast remains standing throughout the lift process. KYC will not be responsible if things go wrong.
  2. There is a risk that the spreader bars may come into contact with the mast. This is a risk the owner must assume.
  3. The boat owner is responsible to ensure halyards are secure and are not banging against the mast throughout the winter.
  4. The chances of wind instruments and wind indicators surviving the winter on the top of the mast is slim. Consider removing the instruments from the top of the mast before you lift.
  5. Boat owners must sign a waiver that they understand the risks and will not hold KYC or the lift committee responsible. The signed waiver must be in the Lift Captain’s hand before the boat leaves the water.

Lift Safety

Boat Lift Safety

Lift-out will be taking place on Saturday, October 5. For those new to lifts at Kincardine Harbor and a reminder for others, here is a brief guide to lift safety.

We ask that volunteers register before lift day. We want all volunteers to attend the pre-job briefing and to wear the appropriate safety vest. For those working with their hands, work gloves are a very good idea.

Only authorized are allowed in the lift area. The boat will be lifted only when the area is clear of everyone except the crane signal-person, the tag line holders and the lift captain.

Everyone must keep their eye on the crane and the load. Avoid getting under the load at all times. Keep clear of the crane, especially when it is moving. The only people authorized to speak with the operator are the lift captain and the crane signal-person.

The tag line holders need to work together to control the boat in the air. Both people on the same side of the boat. Stay clear of the boat overhead. If you need help, ask for it. If your way is blocked, pass the tag line to the lift captain or helper.

The sling crew will consist of 4 people at water level and 2 people in the parking lot. All 4 people must get on the boat to keep the boat level until the slings are supporting the boat. Check the slings are not on the propeller shaft and clear of the rudder. Once the boat is level and supported by the slings, everyone off the boat and clear of the lift area.

As the boat goes onto the cradle, don't adjust pads until the keel is resting on the cradle, unless the owner instructs otherwise. When the boat is on the cradle, the slings must be removed. The sling may have to be broken. Often the sling will be trapped between the boat and the pad. Follow directions to release the sling. The risk of getting a hand crushed between the boat, cradle and sling is high. Be very careful and watch out for the other guy.

Owners are allowed in the lift area only to show where the slings go and at the cradle after the boat is resting in the cradle. Boats with mast up must have the backstay removed as well as the boom topping lift. If there is a risk that the mast will fall with the backstay removed, the boat will not be lifted. The owner is responsible for any damage to the mast.

Boat Lift Cost

The cost of the crane is divided amongst all the boat owners as fairly as possible. Ideally, we should just divide the cost of the crane equally amongst each boat owner, however we need incentive for our members to be as prepared and as efficient as possible.

The cost of the crane is billed by Stratford Cranes by the hour from the time the crane leaves the crane yard to the time it returns to the crane yard. The final bill is paid by the club. Some of the crane time is common to all boat owners. This is the travel time to and from the yard and the time to position the crane to lift the boat. We try to minimize the crane moves because of the time needed to move the crane. The remaining time is the time the crane spends specifically on a single boat.

We time the crane lift to determine how much crane time is spent on a single boat from the time the crane is in position to put the slings on the boat until the time the slings are off the boat. The clock starts if the boat is ready or not.

Member time for the cradle moving and the lift crews is applied equally to each boat owner. Member hours are limited to 15 hours for the year, so those member hours more than 15 hours are not applied to the lift bill.

Other costs related directly to lifts are also applied equally to each boat.

Non-members and members with outstanding club or marina bills are charged double for their lift.

Marina Update

Greetings all, marina opening activities are going well and see below points with much more to do:

Water is on to our washrooms

Office is cleaned up

amp has been cleared of sand and new walkway to floating docks installed

Longer ramps are in the grass area and will be installed on B & C dock shortly after lift in. I am not sure when they were last used but the decking is rotten and I will fix them soon.

Diesel sales are going well and Cottrils will be buying the last 300 litres early next week.

We have 4 people prepared to help lower A dock the weekend before lift in and looking for 4 more helpers

Piling for the new fuel dock is now on the ground and will be thumped in by dredging contractor

Pre job meeting for dredging is on 11 April.

Rob