GSL Slip Renters and Marina Users, Just a friendly reminder and warning. January through May are typically the windiest months of the year for the Great Salt Lake area. January and February have also recorded the strongest wind gusts of each year. It is common to see winds in excess of 100mph through these two months. Our record gust of 214mph was during January 2005. If you haven't visited your boat lately I recommend it. Check your dock lines, replace them if they are more than four years old or if they are chafed. Much of the damage to a dock line cannot be detected by looking at it. Salt crystals develop INSIDE a dock line and slowly chafe the interior as the line expands and contracts. Check your rigging. Check your boat covers, Check your sail covers (NEIL JONES - YOUR MAINSAIL IS COMING OUT OF THE COVER). Check your mooring cleats (many of the older nylon cleats will break). Check for loose objects that may become dangerous trajectories. In general, prepare your boat and the surrounding area for the windy season. For those who are on slips with power and have power cords. This is also the time to check your power cords and plug receptacles. DO NOT ASSUME YOUR POWER CORD IS SAFE AND YOUR RECEPTACLE IS GOOD. With the heat of summer and the extreme cold temperatures of winter, your plug receptacles can become an extreme fire hazard. The screws inside your receptacles that attach the internal wiring to the receptacles WILL back out during the season due to hot and cold temperatures. After time this will cause the electricity to arc and then heat up causing an extremely serious situation. Do not come out and find your boat scorched. The best way to prevent a problem such as a burned boat is to feel your power cord where it plugs into the boat every time you are out here. If it feels warm you have a problem starting. If it feels hot you have a serious problem. You are putting your boat, your neighbors boat, and the whole marina at risk. On average, we have at least two boats a year that have scorching damage to them due to this problem. Thank you Dave Shearer Harbormaster Great Salt Lake State Marina 801-209-9142