Jerry Hale

Jerry writes about leisure activities at the lake in his monthly column.

Recent columns

• Recipe for safe boating in 2008
• Little league for adults
• It's not too early to start planning cleanup
• The Roanoke boat show: Why bother?

With April's longer and occasionally balmy days, thoughts often turn to summer activities. And for many, that means anticipating boating pleasures on SML's beautiful waters.

I find myself spending time on the dock getting ready. Not everyone boats as much as I in April (I try to take a boat or Sea-Doo ride every day, and my pals and I started wakeboarding mid-month), but with May just around the corner, it's time to ready the waterfront scene for summer.

Some of us are natural preparers: We've done this before and know the drill inside and out. Others tend to put off getting ready and then find things aren't shipshape when May brings the summer's first weekend visitors.

So in the best Boy Scout fashion, here are 10 ways to be prepared for a carefree summer of boating and enjoyable dock life:

1: Check out the boat's propulsion system. A short list includes:

• Charging the battery. A 2-amp trickle charge overnight will top off the cells for cranking a sleepy engine.

• Checking engine oil levels (crankcase on inboards, VRO reservoir on 2-cycle outboards) and condition. If crankcase oil wasn't changed in the fall, do it now; it should start the season looking shiny honey golden brown on the dipstick.

• Inspecting the prop and filing down any nicks or rough blades.

• Cycling the trim and tilt and making sure they work with authority. Sailboat owners typically know what boat preparation is all about and, with the race season already taking advantage of spring breezes, have likely done their spring fit-out weeks ago.

2: A boat cleanup is in order. Rare is the boater who puts the rig away for winter in pristine condition. Often it's enough to get it winterized and covered in the fall. But clean boats are more fun andseem to run better, and since cleanup is most pleasant while anticipating the season, now's the time. Consider these tips for making spring cleaning easier:

• A shop vacuum is great for getting leaves, seeds, bugs and other winter drop-ins out of cup holders, corners and storage nooks. If you don't have one, your neighbor probably does. A thorough vacuuming is a good way to start.

• A piece of old towel soaked in a 50/50 solution of bleach and water will wipe mildew off vinyl seats and trim. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and wring the rag almost dry so you don't drip bleach on carpet or clothing.

• Clean the windshield with window cleaner, paying special attention to the edges and corners that are often smudged and hazy. Then apply Rainex (available at auto supply stores) to improve visibility.

• If you have removable carpet, take it out, put it on the floater for a hose-down and scrub with a stiff brush and mild soap or carpet cleaner. Then hose it off thoroughly and let it sun dry on a dry portion of the dock, turning it over to bake the bottom, too. A similar process can be done with glued-in carpeting; just wait for a warm day and park the boat in the sun with all compartments open. Leave them open until everything has thoroughly dried to prevent mildew.

• Get out the PFDs and make sure they are clean, tangle-free and the right size for those who will be on board this summer. Remember: As kids grow, they need progressively larger PFDs.

• Check running lights, bilge pump, horn, spotlight, and other electrical equipment for proper operation.

• Apply a coat of paste wax to Fiberglas and chrome or stainless steel trim. If the Fiberglas is hazy or spider-spotted, first apply a mild polishing compound. Rubbing compound is too harsh for all but the most oxidized Fiberglas.

If grandchildren are making a spring visit, get them involved in the cleanup. Teach them a few things about the boat -- where the fire extinguishers are, how to use a throwable flotation device, how to make cleat knots -- while you're poking around in it together. Boater-education moments abound during spring cleaning and equipment check.

3: Clear the junk out of the shed. Boathouse storage sheds tend to collect junk during the season, and if yours is like ours, it harbored last summer's debris and hastily parked boating gear -- and maybe some tenants of the pest variety -- during winter. What better time to remove everything, clean the corners and put back the essentials in systematic, easy-to-find order. Designate a special spot in the basement or garage to store dock equipment that is rarely used.

4: Create new storage space. While you have the shed cleared out, put up an extra shelf, hooks for life jackets, a rack for noodles, a dedicated spot for the trash can ... anything to help maintain order and make things easy to find. Think about the things you repeatedly bring down from the house and create a place for them. Then buy extras and leave them shore-side.

5: Install guest docking lines and fenders. This very easy gesture screams hospitality: Dedicate an extra set of docking lines and fenders to permanent duty on your floater so guests can tie up without scrambling around for their own. Many lake residents use their docks as "front porches" during the summer, and rigging them for convenient docking puts out a waterfront welcome mat.

6: Put an address sign on your dock. This important safety step shows you are among those who understand that a prominent address on the dock helps SML Marine Volunteer Fire/Rescue vessels find you in an emergency. Dock address signs can be ordered from the SML Rotary Club for a reasonable $27. Call Steve Miller at Radio Shack (721-0017) for information.

7: Consider installing a dock light timer. A photo-cell switch or timer on a well-placed flood light will make sure you never come home after dark to a pitch-black dock.

8: Plan for the "attack of the dock spiders." Once the weather warms, those pesky webs will be everywhere, and spider droppings start looking like boat acne. Knocking webs down in the morning may be satisfying, but it means you'll have to do it again the next day. Instead, go to the dock just after dark, switch on the lights and you'll see the little devils working their webs. With a long-handled broom, smash every one of them you can reach, taking special care if a ladder is needed. Do this three or four nights in a row, and your spider problem will be minimized. Do it for a week straight and you'll have the upper hand. Once a month after that should maintain your lead.

9: Deal with the birds and bees. They love the nooks and crannies of dock roofs, and once they take up residence, you have problems. Old CDs or computer disks dangling from the rafters may help. Birds are dissuaded by netting stapled to the rafters, and it looks nautical. Installing a ceiling of the kind used under decks is a more permanent solution, and it dresses up your dock considerably.

10: Tidy your rip-rap. By late April, the water is warm enough for calf-high wading. Wait for the week's low water cycle (usually on or around Thursday), put on an old pair of sneakers and walk below the rip-rap to pick up sticks and other unsightly debris wedged between the rocks. The from-the-water approach is much safer and easier than trying to do this while walking on the rocks, so go ahead and get your feet wet. Use an old 5-gallon pail to hold the debris. This also is a good grandchild project.

Here's a bonus tip: Vow to get or update your vessel safety inspection. Free vessel safety checks are available from the USCG and the Power and Sail Squadron.

Volunteers are needed for the annual Take Pride in Smith Mountain Lake Clean-up Day on May 3 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The event, supported by Smith Mountain Lake Association, Tri-County Lake Adminstrative Commission (TLAC) and the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, each year draws hundreds of volunteers who collect debris from the shoreline and water.

Registered volunteers will receive a commemorative T-shirt, canvas work gloves, special trash bags and a safety/information sheet. To register, pick up a form and return it to the TLAC office at the Lakewood Professional Center (near Dairy Queen) by today. Registrations also may be mailed to P.O. Box 55, Moneta, VA 24121. For information, call 721-4400.

This year's debris drop-off sites are:

• Bay Roc Marina (R87)

• Moorman's Marina (R77)

• Westlake Waterfront Inn (R36)

• Bridgewater Grande (Hales Ford Bridge)

• Virginia Dare Marina (Walton Creek)

• Mitchell's Point Marina (C3)

• Crazy Horse Marina (B11)

• 4-H Center (B40)

• Admiral's Landing (B48)

• Barge located on the water around Beaver dam

For information on how you can participate in Clean-up Day on May 3, call 721-4400.