Marina News
For The Week of April 7th, 2008
 
Current Conditions
Lake Level                        4196.1
Marina Mouth Depth         6.7' approx (in the shallow spots.  Center is deeper)
Water Temperature          54 degrees
GSL Drainage Snowpack 107%
 

Hypothermia Chart

Water Temp               Exhaustion or Unconsciousness            Expected Survival Time

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
32.5d                            Under 15 minutes                                        Under 15-45 minutes
32.5d - 40d                   15 to 30 minutes                                         30 to 90 minutes
40d to 50d                    30 minutes to 60 minutes                            1 to 3 hours
50d - 60d                      1 to 2 hours                                               1 to 6 hours
60d - 70d                       2 to 7 hours                                                2 to 40 hours
70d - 80d                       3 to 12 hours                                              3 hours to indefinite
Over 80d                       Indefinite                                                     Indefinite
 
Search & Rescue Tips
Once again, we have had a SAR situation on the lake where communication problems slowed the process down by several hours.  So here are a few helpful tips:
 
1.  USE VHF 16.  If you do not have a VHF radio, we HIGHLY recommend you get one.  Cell phones are very unreliable on the lake.  Also, when you use a cell phone, only one other party is listening to you.  With a VHF radio, anyone that has their radio on is hearing you.  That will greatly speed up rescue response.  Both Antelope Island and GSL Marina monitor VHF 16.  With the proper equipment, VHF signals can also be tracked to their origin.  This could speed up locating you.
 
2. Have a GPS on board.  Knowing your coordinates (and being able to communicate them) will greatly speed up the time in finding you.
 
3. Have a Radar Reflector aboard.  I know we have not discussed this much in the past, but it is a very valuable tool.  These reflectors pack down very small and are easy to stow and to deploy, even in a very small boat.  When seas are moderate or rough, radar becomes very difficult to use in finding a vessel in trouble.  When we are in moderate seas with white caps we pick up too much static from sea conditions to identify a boat.  Masts make very poor reflectors.  Yet a reflector hoisted up a mast or even held up by hand make for a bright target on a radar screen.  Radar reflectors are quite cheep.  They can even be built with supplies in your own house.  A 10" cardboard box wrapped in tinfoil (shiny side out) makes a great radar reflector.
 
4. Have flares aboard.  Very small flare kits (even those that can be worn on the body) are quite inexpensive and may save your life.  At a minimum, they will be a valuable aid in getting help to you much more quickly.
 
Water to the Docks and Service Dock
We are still trying to get the water turned on to the docks this week.  We are watching the weather for cold spells. Hopefully you may have water this weekend.
 
 
Marina Launch Ramp Closure
"Island Serenade" is preparing to be pulled from the water this month.  This will require some heavy equipment, trucks and trailers.  To facilitate this process we will be closing access to the launch ramp on both Friday, April 18th and Monday, April 21st.  This should not affect parking access in the north parking lot though.
 
Crane Day and Parking Lot Closure
There is a crane day scheduled for Friday morning, April 18th.  For this reason we will be closing the southern parking lot Thursday evening until noon on Friday.  Some limited access will be available during this time but please check with the office on where parking in the southern lot will be available during this time.
 
Spiral Jetty Road Trip
Saturday, April 12th
 
The Great Salt Lake State Parks invites you to a Community Outreach Program
 
This is a road trip to the famous Great Salt Lake Spiral Jetty created by Robert Smithson.
 
The trip will leave from the Great Salt Lake Marina and head up I-15 to the Corrine exit.
From there we will visit the Golden Spike Monument and then travel the dirt roads down to Rozel Point on Great Salt Lake.  This is where the old Amoco Oil Marina is located and where the Spiral Jetty is located.
 
We will visit the Spiral Jetty and then relocate to the Amoco Oil Marina for a lunch.  I will provide the main course but side dishes are welcome.  BOYB
 
This is a beautiful part of the lake.  The spiral jetty is made up of black volcanic rock that are now totally salt encrusted.  The jetty is surrounded by pink water.  Yes, the water in the north half of the GSL is actually pink because of the type of algea and bacteria that grow there.
 
On the way back, for those who want to, we will visit the Hill AFB museum. 
 
Itinerary
8:30am        Begin meeting at GSL Marina parking lot
9:00am  SHARP    Convoy leaves the GSL Marina parking lot
9:30am SHARP    Convoy arrives and leaves the K-Mart parking lot at the Woods Cross exit of I-15 (this is the alternative meeting spot for those on the east bench or north SL).
10:30am approx.    Arrive at the Golden Spike Monument
11:30am approx.    Leave for the Spiral Jetty
1:pm approx.        Lunch at the Amoco Oil Marina
Sometime after lunch    Leave for Hill AFB Museum (for those that want to tour this facility)
 
What you should know
The road to the Golden Spike Monument is good, paved road.  The road to the Amoco Oil Marina is fairly good dirt road.  The road to the Spiral Jetty (a very short distance away) is fairly rough road.  For those with low clearance and two wheel drive may want to shuttle or walk from the Amoco Oil marina to the Spiral Jetty.
 
Bring your own beverages.  Side dishes are welcome.  Lunch will be Dave's Famous Taco's.
 
This is a great trip for kids and dogs (dogs are not allowed in either the Golden Spike Museum or the Hill AFB Museum)
 
There is no charge.  This is an open outreach program.
 
PLEASE RSVP SO I KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD TO BRING.  RSVP WHICH MEETING AREA YOU WILL BE AT.
 
Weather Forecasts, Weather Warning Flags, Email Updates are back on line
I'm back from my vacation now.  I will try to keep up with forecasts on the bulletin board, Weather warning flags, email warnings, and storm damage reports.  Thanks for the understanding last week while I was in Bermuda (stormy and cold the whole time).
 
Weather
April can be a very active weather month.  We can have frontal patterns along with thunderstorms and lightning.  These can be associated with violent winds.  Please keep updated on forecasts before venturing on the lake.  Current climate models still show improvement in our drought conditions through April.  Our drought conditions have improved substantially.  The GSL Drainage area is now listed as "Abnormilly Dry" to "Moderate".  Some areas are still listed as "Severe" though.
 
Mast Hoist
What Can I say?  Hopefully next week.
 
Upcoming Events
April 12th                Spiral Jetty Road Trip                Utah State Parks (outreach program)
April 19th & 20th    Spring Regatta #1                       Great Salt Lake Yacht Club
April 26th               Start-Up Day                               Great Salt Lake Row
May 3rd                 Opening Day                                Great Salt Lake Yacht Club
 
A Gentle Reminder
Boating season has started and traffic in the marina will now be quite busy.  Watch for other boats as you proceed down the main channels and in the mouth itself.  Be aware that the scullers and rowers are now quite active again.  Keep a watch for them and other small boats.
 
Thank you
Dave Shearer
Harbormaster
Great Salt Lake Marina