Marine Rummage Sale June 26,2010

On June 26,2010 the Pettibone Boat Club is going to have a Marine Rummage Sale. The sale starts at 9:30am - 4:00pm.  There will be booths set up throughout the marina where you can buy, sell or swap anything marine you have. All items will be sold or swapped AS/IS. Cash only will be accepted. The Pettibone Boat Club and it's members accept no liability. There will be NO firearms allowed to be sold, bought, or swapped.
All monies after expenses paid are being donated to the Pettibone Boat Club for use for memorials, etc.
The sale was approved by the Pettibone Board of Driectors.

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Stormy Free Fishing Day

The weather started out nice but about mid afternoon the weather became very stormy. This last weekend was Free Fishing Weekend in Wisconsin, which means you didn't need a fishing license to fish. The fish were biting pretty good all weekend, most were catching sunfish and a few catfish. We are in the process of removing carpet off the boat and repainting the deck while some boaters fished with their kids from the docks and others were doing maintenance to their boats. On Sunday afternoon a nasty storm came in and produced high winds, heavy rain, hail, and lightning.  The storm was strong enough that even the fish were taking cover.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                       

The storm didn't stop the diehard houseboaters from doing their maintenance duties, like this guy powerwashing his boat.                                                                                                           

The storm didn't stop some of the fisherman from trying to catch the big one even though they are practically holding a lightning rod.

The storm was successful in stopping us from doing our maintenance duties as we had planned to do some painting but that is for another day so we turned the afternoon into cocktail hour and watched everyone else do their thing. The sky did eventually clear and it turned out to be a decent afternoon.

Please continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise and explore new destinations and provide more information. Help support our 2010 campaign and stop the Invaders: Don't Move Firewood and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.

Bottom Boat Painting

Houseboating is a ton of fun but it also comes with a price.  The not so fun part of houseboating is the maintenance part, but it has to be done. We spent the month of April redoing the bottom of of our houseboat to get it ready for this year's adventures.  It is a critical maintenance part of the boat to make sure the hull is always solid and shows no leaks.  Our houseboat is aluminum so we had to apply a special anitfouling paint designed for aluminum boats. It's purpose is to help keep the bottom of the boat and motors free of algae, and zebra mussels. The antifouling paint we used is called Alumacoat SR. We found our best price for the paint at Wholesale Marine at $174.99 a gallon. It is very expensive so you want to make sure you know exactly the amount you need.

We prepped the boat first by powerwashing the bottom of the boat to clear it free of all old zebra mussels and old loose paint and any water scum.     

We then applied a primer to the boat because there was exposed metal and we wanted to make sure the anitfouling paint would adhere to the boat properly.  We used Zissner 1-2-3 primer.

After the primer was good and dry we then applied the anitfouling paint, Alumacoat SR, to the bottom of the boat. We applied two coats to make sure we had full coverage and good protection. We also applid the paint to the outdrives to aid them in staying clear of algae and zebra mussels.  It is always best to do the work while also enjoyng a cold beverage.

It is very important to wear protective clothing, chemical resistant gloves, and eye protection. This antifouling paint has a strong pesticide in it that can injure you easily. Once the boat is finished you can look back and marvel at your work and you must let it dry for a MINUMUM of 16 hrs. for the solvent to escape and dry fully. Now the houseboat is ready for SPLASH-IN.

Please continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise and explore new destinations and provide more information. Help support our 2010 campaign and stop the Invaders: Don't Move Firewood and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.

Ice is Almost Out

It is getting closer to that wonderful time of year when the ice melts off the river and boaters of all kinds start getting anxious to get on the river. All around you see boat dealer specials and lots of advertising for river fun. Houseboating Excursions went down to Pettibone Marina to check the status on the ice melt and the river stage. The ice is almost completely out and the temperatures for the future are looking good, they are forecasting highs close to 70 degrees and it can only get better.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has issued a NO WAKE on the Mississippi River in the La Crosse area because the flood stage of the river is above 10 feet. This is an automatic warning that goes into effect when the river reaches this level. The flood stage is 12ft. in La Crosse,WI. The flood stage is a guide to warn the public that the water levels are at a point to start overflowing river banks and could start to cause flooding in some areas. In these photos you can see that even just slightly below flood stage some areas are already under water. 

When boating it is important to know what the river stage is in your area and to have a map of the pool you are in as there are many dangers under the water such as wingdams, log pilings, stump fields and underwater sandbars.  It is always  recommended that you stay in the main channel of the river to avoid these obstacles especially when traveling at high speeds. If you venture toward a sandbar or another destination do so slowly and cautiosly. Remember SAFE BOATING is FUN BOATING. 

Please continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise and explore new destinations and provide more information. Help support our 2010 campaign and stop the Invaders: Don't Move Firewood and Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.

    

Don't Move Firewood

The boating and camping season is fast approaching the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa region and it is time to start planning. Here at Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley we have learned that there is a multi-state campaign going on right now to educate everyone about the importance of exotic invaders that are trying to destroy our ecosystem. Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley is dedicated to helping inform everyone of these dangers. The campaign we are discussing is called "Don't Move Firewood". It is about helping stop the spread of a bug called the "Emerald Ash Borer". This little bug is responsible for destroying Ash Trees in several different states. It was recently detected in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the summer of 2008. It was first discovered in Michigan in 2002, it is believed to have come to the United States on a bundle of wood stored on a ship coming from somewhere in Asia. The Emerald Ash Borer targets mainly Ash trees and is rapidly spreading across the country. Please use the link "Don't Move Firewood" to make a pledge that you will help to stop the spread of this invader, the website also has questions and answers and some small quick videos. It is very important to buy firewood and immediately burn it in the state you purchased it in to help stop the spread. If caught transporting wood from one state to another it could lead to forfeiture of the wood and/or fines.The United States Department of Agriculture has an Emerald Ash Borer Hotline 1-866-322-4512 to call for more information.
Please continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we explore more cruise stops and provide more information.

Help Stop Aquatic Invaders

Enjoying the great outdoors is a privilege and important to many of us. Boating, fishing, hunting, and watching wildlife are activities that we want to preserve for our children and their chidren. Due to aquatic invaders these wonderful activites are at risk. There are currently national campaigns that help recreational users become part of the solution in stopping the transport and spread of aquatic invasive species.
One national campaign is called "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!". It is sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Coast Guard. They offer eductional programs to inform us of the different invasive species such as round goby, zebra mussels, purple loosestrife, eurasion watermilfoil, bighead and silver carp, and New Zealand mudsnail. These and other non-native plants and animals will cause ecological or economic problems. The main way they get into lakes, rivers,and wetlands is by "hitching" rides with fishermen, boaters and other outdoor recreationalists. These invasive species are capable of doing irreparable harm to our lakes, rivers, and wetlands. The good news is that the majority of waters are not yet infested with invasive species and we can all help protect our waters. In many states it is illegal to transport invasive species and can lead to a citation, for the first offense it's about $180.00, and $250.00 for the second offense.
Actions to take to prevent the spreading are:
1. INSPECT your boat, trailer, and equipment and REMOVE all visible aquatic plants, animals, and mud before leaving the water access.
2. DRAIN water from your boat, motor, and live wells of all types before leaving the water access.
3. REPORT any sighting of an aquatic plant or animal if your suspect it is a new infestation of an invasive plant or animal, and report it to a local natural resouces department. In Wisconsin it's the WDNR, Minnesota- MNDNR, and Iowa- IADNR.
4. DISPOSE of all unwanted bait and aquatic plants in the trash.
5. SPRAY, RINSE and DRY boats and recreational equipment to remove or kill invaders that were not visible when leaving the water before going to another waterway.
6. CONSULT your local natural resource agency if you have questions about controlling these invaders and they can provide you with recommendations for cleaning solutions and what permits might be required.
Join Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley in the fight against these invasive species so we can all enjoy the outdoors for years to come.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise and explore more stops along the Mississippi River and provide more information.

Mississippi River Lock and Dams

Cruising the Mississippi River is an unique and enjoyable experience, there is so much to see and do including going through a Mississippi River Lock and Dam. The US Army Corps of Engineers maintain and operate the lock and dams. It was in the 1930s that Congress gave permission and a money grant to the Army Corps of Engineers to go ahead and build the lock and dams you see today. From Minneapolis,MN to St. Louis MO there are 29 lock and dams to go through. The majority of the locks are 100 feet wide, which is wide enough for a double-wide barge. Only the three upper most locks are 56 feet wide and require the barges to break down to a single-wide which is very time consuming and costly. There has been some talk among our local senators to grant money for expansion but it is estimated to cost around $2 billion to do it. The locks and dams were built primarily for navigational purposes and not to control flooding along the Mississippi River, they try to maintain a 9 foot depth in the the main channel for easy passage.
When approaching a lock and dam there is a procedure that must be followed. First, upon approach you will see the lock is closed, this could mean someone is coming through or just in waiting. Along side the wall at the beginning of the dam you will see a sign that says "Signal Rope" just proceed up to it and give it a tug and a signal goes off in the tower where the lockmaster is informing him/her of your presence, you may also call them on the CB Radio on channel 14. Secondly, look up at a set of lights that look like stoplights, if it is red, someone is locking through and you must wait, yellow means the gates are getting ready to open, green means the gates are open and it is clear to proceed. Thirdly, approach at a slow speed, it is NO WAKE, and proceed up into the holding area far enough so other boats can also get in, you will see many ropes hanging alongside the wall, you need to grab a hold of one so you don't float around in the holding area. Fourth, when all the boats are in the holding area the gates will close and depending which direction you are traveling the water will rise(going down river) or fall(going up river). Be sure not to tie the rope to your boat it will be disastrous, just hold it. Fifth, when the holding area reaches the proper water level the gates will open and you must wait till you hear a loud horn go off and that is the signal it is OK to exit the holding area and proceed to your destination.
If you are interested in touring a Mississippi River Lock and Dam just click on the above link and then choose the Lock and Dam number of your choice and it will give you the the contact person and phone number to call. Also to see some additional beautiful photos of the different Locks and Dams click this link LOCKS and DAMS.
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