January
31 - February 6 |
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- Boat for Sale magazine and Mason's The Store are beginning
their spring seminars and presentations about safety with flare demonstrations. Lori
Mason from The Store in Port Credit, Ontario, Canada is coming to clubs to talk about
safety equipment, procedures and regulations. While you might think that you know
how to fire a flare only by reading the instructions - you might be dead wrong...
Many people do not perform when in greatest need, because they never truly learned how to
do this. If you book a seminar with Lori - all people interested in learning will
better understand many safety procedures, including lighting a flare. Don't hesitate
to contact her through Heather Robertson (who does the bookings) at 1-800-BOAT-ADS, or info@boatforsale.org, or simply call Lori at The
Store, at 905-278-7005.
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- Feb. 4 - 6: The Finn Midwinters East regatta will take place in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, USA. It's a great event for the Finn owners - right in the middle of
winter. For more information call 954-524-5500.
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- Y2K problem - Year 2000 problem is something you hear more and more about. In case
you still don't know, it involves the use of two digit field (01/27/99) to represent the
year in computer databases, applications and chips. The problem is that with the
coming of the year 2000, the "non-compliant" computers will "think"
it's 1900... Most of the computers still being built today are Y2K non-compliant,
and problems are sure to arise.
The marine industry depends on technology nowadays. Systems may experience
shutdowns, or produce flawed data. They include: GPS, Loran-C, radars, radio
communications, depth sounders, engine and rudder control systems, and possibly more.
Another date problem forthcoming for the marine industry is the "GPS
roll-over". On August 21, 1999 the GPS system time will roll-over at midnight,
and some receivers won't process this properly, and will result in similar problems as
Y2K.
Things you must do right now are to go to your equipment manufacturers and ask whether
the equipment is Y2K and "roll-over" compliant. You should also work out a
back up plan in case your electronic systems do fail you. Do not minimize the
problem. It might not be bad, but it could also mean a lot - your safety could be at
stake.
Remember these dates:
- August 22, 1999 - GPS roll-over.
- September 9, 1999 - new records with a date 9/9/99 may indicate the end of a computer
file or a shutdown.
- January 1, 2000 - Y2K - remember that it's the first time you start your systems in the
year 2000 that counts, not this particular date.
- February 29, 2000 - year 2000 is a leap year, and your systems might not recognize it
correctly, since year 1900 was not.
For more info on the Y2K problem visit: www.info2000.gc.ca,
www.notmar.com, www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/y2k.htm, www.year2000.com.
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