America's Boating Club - Grand Lake

09/07/2025

DID YOU KNOW?
Sound signals with a horn or whistle can be very helpful for safe boating. One of the more important signals is for danger. When in doubt whether sufficient action is being taken by the other boater to avoid a collision, the boater should sound five short and rapid blasts with a horn or whistle. Another signal that can helpful is when overtaking another boat. One short blast indicates that you are going to overtake the boat leaving him on your port side. Two short blasts indicate that you are going to leave him on your starboard side. The other boat should respond by giving the same signal indicating that he is in agreement.

08/23/2025

Thank you Earl & Arlene for helping out today at the The Grand Lake Visitors Center!!
Please stop in before 3pm and say "hey"!👍🏻😎😂

08/19/2025

We knew those loaner stations were being used!!

08/16/2025

DID YOU KNOW?
Rafting up with friends is a popular Grand Lake activity. When approaching an anchored boat, determine its swing behavior and approach at an appropriate angle at minimum control speed (mcs). This is the slowest speed at which control of the boat can be maintained. This is typically less than the speed accomplished when the engine is in gear and at idle rpm. It is done by the use of intermittent power going from idle rpm to neutral and back again as needed to maintain control of the boat’s movement.

When the boat is about half to one boat length away, make a smooth turn to bring the boat parallel to anchored boat, shift to neutral and then reverse to stop. If necessary, increase throttle to accelerate swing if the anchored boat starts to swing away. Finally, shift to neutral and tie up.

08/09/2025

DID YOU KNOW?
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur with the “station wagon effect” on boats. When running your boat under power, make sure the cockpit has some positive air flow through it. Those with cruisers should remember to close the stern ports. People have gone below to nap in the aft cabin and have been overcome by the CO fumes that were sucked in through the open ports of the cabin. Be cautious about rafting up with another boat that is running a generator or its engines. The exhaust fumes may enter your boat depending where the exhaust is exiting. Avoid going under a swim platform if the generator is running as the concentration of carbon monoxide can be so great one large breath can be fatal.

If you have a carbon monoxide detector, check it periodically to make sure it is working. If you don’t have one, it is time to install one. For many cruisers it is wise to install at least two. Put them in the sleeping areas and salon.

The symptoms of mild carbon monoxide poisoning are nearly the same as motion sickness or flu-like with nausea, weakness, dizziness and headache. Confusion may occur and if the concentration is heavy enough one will become almost immediately unconscious and stop breathing leading to death.

08/09/2025

Thanks Jack & Juanita for volunteering to work the The Grand Lake Visitors Center today!!

If you're out and about - please pop through the Visitors Center and say "hey" to Jack & Juanita! 😎🤗

07/27/2025

DID YOU KNOW?
An afternoon forecast of 20% chance of thunderstorms may sound routine, but it can change rapidly. Few weather phenomena can threaten boaters as quickly as a thunderstorm. Be alert to the formation of towering cumulonimbus (Thunderheads) clouds and observe the typical anvil-shaped that indicates the direction the storm is moving. If the sides are moving in one direction, it should miss you, but if one side is streaming to the right and the other side to the left, you are likely in its path.

The rough distance to the storm may be estimated by timing the interval between the lightning flash and the thunderclap. Divide the time in seconds by five for the distance in miles. Remember the National Weather Service rule of 30/30. Seek shelter if the delay between the lighting flash and the thunder is 30 seconds or less. Remain in the shelter for 30 minutes after the last thunderclap.

The wind ahead of a thunderstorm can be variable or light, but when the roll cloud passes overhead, the wind will shift and blow violently with gusts that can exceed 60 mph, followed by heavy rain.

07/26/2025

They are back!!
Thank you Clayton and Mina Hale got working the The Grand Lake Visitors Center today • on behalf of our America's Boating Club - Grand Lake summer committmemt! 😉❤️🛟💦

07/16/2025

Know your hand signals when water skiiing or tubing.💦🛟😎

Get somebody new up on the water! Be sure the person(s) being towed and all those watching them know these communication hand signals. It’s the watcher’s responsibility to convey messages to the boat operator so they know what to do.

07/12/2025

Shout of thanks to Harvey & Marge Blattner for volunteering to greet folks at The Grand Lake Visitors Center today!!