Please Don’t forget to click on sub pages on the left side for previous events that you may have missed that happened on the lake. Also, all the info you’ll need to know about this lake. Enjoy, and read on!

Eagle Mountain Lake News & Notes February 2020

Happy Winter from the Royal Bull Yacht Club

Greetings lake & land peeps from the Royal Bull Yaght Club!

Still in it for the fun and sun. If you haven't been receiving regular notifications on updated editions, don't worry, you haven't been taken off the list. I've been busy as usual having fun and writing down that Pulitzer Prize winning story LOL. Just in case, you may want to check that spam folder in your email to make sure that your notification didn’t get marked as spam. As always, I do not use your email to spam you or give it out to some telemarketing firm to send you male treatment ads. You inbox will not get bombarded by me with ridiculous rhetoric.

Now, read on and catch up on what happened at the lake this past summer and what is in store in the very near future.

2019 Eagle Mountain Lake Parade of Lights is coming.

Click on this link for all the details including dates, times, locations, registration, sponsorships, etc. https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/parade-of-lights-2019

Jason Dyer is the chief organizer this year on the event. He is working very hard to reach a goal of having 60 boats entered which would smash any previous record that I can think of. Spread the word on the event and text your friends this link: https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/parade-of-lights-2019

If you missed the Parade of Lights 2018 it was a great success. Catch up on what you missed. Lots of photos and videos on this link: https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/parade-of-lights-2018

Real Estate & other organizations sunset cruises were once again one of my main things this past summer.

Fall is here and we’re fast approaching the tale end of it and winter time we’ll be upon us before you know it. If you have a trailered boat or a boat that’s not in the water, you should have already be thinking about winterization on your boat. You have until December. I’ve been helping some you get that accomplished before you set out to the lake. I ran into no fewer than 10 boats that failed to do a winterization this last year and you guessed it, a cracked engine block. You don’t want to play Russian Roulette with your boat. I hope you read and keep in mind my article on how to winterize your boat at the end of the season if haven’t done so already: https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/home/winterizing-your-boat or if you don't want to give it a shot give me a shout in the fall at louisbull@charter.net to get you taken care of.

Now that your boat is ready for the lake. You need to read my article on the “Top 10 Reasons Boats Break Down” Click on the link below:

https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/taking-care-of-your-boat/top-10-reasons

It’s that time of year for open enrollment for your health insurance

Enroll in the same program that I’m in.

Health Insurance… It is something we all need. Whether you are looking at options for your employees or coverage for you and your family, work with someone who has done this for 25 years and worked with several people in the Eagle Mountain Lake area (references available). Open enrollment for individual/family plans begins November 1st and runs through December 15th for a January 1st effective date. If you don’t sign up during this period, you probably can’t sign up, unless you have a qualifying event. Assistance in paying for coverage is available if you qualify. There is NO fee for my help – I get paid through the insurance companies.

Yes, TRWD made good on their threat on removing the flag pole.

This restaurant is now open at Lakeview Marina.

is now open @ West Bay Marina

Click on this to view pictures: https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/annual-raft-ups/2019-annual-raft-up

Click on this link to see the boat and car show this past June @ the Fort Worth Boat Club https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/eagle-mountain-classic-boat-club/2019-eagle-mountain-classic-boat-club-events/wood-waves-wheels-show-5-11-19

Clover Marine is owned & operated by Richard & Jessica McCurry.

Richard & Jessica just happen to be a part of the Eagle Mountain Classic Boat Club.

More info on that club can be viewed here: https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/eagle-mountain-classic-boat-club

5 Reasons Why All Kids Should Sail

There might be nothing in the world that packs as many life lessons as the activity of sailing. It teaches teamwork, engineering, history, patience, oceanography, ecology…all in one fell swoop. Because of this, we believe every kid should learn to sail and here’s the top five reasons why. Feel free to add your own.

• Balance

• This day and age it’s extremely important to create balance between the natural world and the computer world. For those over 30 it isn’t such a reality (although many would argue that) but “digital natives” truly need to unplug and sailing is perfect for that.

• Work Ethic

• Yelling at kids to rake the leaves or clean their rooms is something that needs to happen but it’s a bit of a bummer for everyone involved. Sailing is such a great way to teach work/reward lessons in an instantaneous way. It illustrates clear meaning and association for issues like organization and cleanliness. There is hard physical work to be had while sailing but it is a work that is gratifying and immediately shows its purpose, which is what short-attention-span kids can use. It also all happens with a great view.

• Bonding

• With electronic communication dominating the worlds of young people, the possibilities of bonding are thinning. It’s become a cliché that kids are always “in their screens,” but it is true. Every moment they are staring into this odd electric tunnel is a moment they are not connecting with the space that immediately surrounds them. This is another area where sailing can come to the rescue. There is no place where conversation, laughter and shared silence happens so easily as on a lazy daysail. A family working together to make a boat efficiently bound over the waves is nothing short of nourishing. There is time. Time to teach, time to joke, time to know each other better. Just don’t yell at them, that ruins everything…

• Systems

• This world is full of systems and seeing one as masterfully designed as a sailboat is valuable. Centuries of trial and error have gone into what’s aboard most modern sailboats and they are living breathing examples of incredible innovations all working in an intricate system that creates travel from a wind source. Reminding kids that this thing is kind of unbelievable might broaden their curiosity and encourage them to look at other systems and become better critical thinkers.

• Adventure

• Instilling a sense of adventure in a young person is an important seed to plant. Sailboats are safe, but they are also a ticket to the wild unknown. Every kid who’s ever sailed into an empty horizon has looked out and thought, “What if we kept going? Where would we end up?” Sailing takes us away from the normal and plants us firmly in an environment unfamiliar and foreign. Outside of the boat we can’t even stand up in this world – we are essentially helpless. There is nature all around us that lives in a place we can’t even breathe. It’s mind-blowing when you stop and think of it… and it’s a place where a child can stretch his or her imagination. And that is a very good thing.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Annual Wood, Waves, & Wheels Show is back again on May 9th, 2020.

Catch up on what you missed: https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/eagle-mountain-classic-boat-club/2019-eagle-mountain-classic-boat-club-events/wood-waves-wheels-show-5-11-19

You, the public are encouraged to participate. If you have a classic car, motorcycle, or boat get in contact with me or if you have any other questions. My phone number and email are on the above poster. You don’t have to member of any association to show your Classic. Next year the date will be on May 9th, 2020 @ the Fort Worth Boat Club.

4 Steps To Take If Your Outboard Quits

You're putt-putting along pretty as you please, when suddenly your

outboard dies. Major bummer!

Check out these steps that have helped me over the years

• First, make sure you're safe — power losses can be dangerous if there are heavy seas or bad weather. If possible drop an anchor or deploy a sea anchor to keep your bow into the waves, and if a storm is brewing, batten down the hatches and lower any antennae, fishing rods, or outriggers that may attract lightning strikes.

  • FUEL problems are often the reason for a sudden shutdown. Check the filters and/or fuel/water separators, and make sure they're not clogged. If you've recently started using gas with ethanol, it can act as a solvent to loosen gunk in the tank that can quickly clog the filter. (You have a spare, right?)

    • Next, check your fuel supply, the primer ball, vents, and fuel lines — in that order — to make sure you have a flow going. If there's too much pressure, suspect a faulty fuel-line connection; if there's negative pressure, you have a venting problem; and if there's a complete lack of pressure, you probably have an air leak in the line. If the system looks good (and especially if the engine shuts down suddenly, completely, and without warning), chances are you have water in the fuel. If that's the case, call TowBoatUS because you have a more serious problem.

  • If the fuel system checks out, then ELECTRICAL problems should be your next suspicion. Obviously, if your battery is completely dead, there's not a whole lot you can do about it. But there are some other common electrical problems that can leave you high and dry, yet can also be easily addressed. One is a faulty safety switch, which “thinks” the engine is in gear even when it's in neutral. So, give the throttle a jiggle, then try holding the key on while shifting the throttle through neutral.

    • If the engine turns but won't catch, your engine cutoff switch may have a short. This happens often when the switch is mounted horizontally on an exposed helm, where water can pool and get into the switch. Try circumventing it, and see if this gets you back in action. Simply look behind the helm and find a black wire with a yellow stripe, which leads to the switch. Disconnect it, and then try the key again.

• If the cut-off switch checks out OK, then it could be that a TEMPERATURE issue shut you down. Usually, that's the result of a lack of cooling water. If the outboard isn't discharging water at the usual rate, you could have a serious problem that requires attention on land. Before you give up hope, however, check the raw water intakes on the lower unit. Sometimes a plastic bag, a piece of paper, or some seaweed gets sucked in and stops the water flow. Remove the discourteous clog, and you'll be fine.

Another relatively common problem comes in the form of a stuck thermostat. Sometimes you can pop it free and clean it up, and then continue on your merry way. If none of these quick fixes work, then you may have to wait for that tow. If so look at the next article right below this one.

What do I do if I need a tow. This video will answer all your questions on that.

How do you know your boat's weight limit if you don't see this sticker affixed in the inside of the boat. I'm sure this will come in handy when you determine how many lake peeps you can take out on your winning boat for the "Parade of Lights".

My boat's weight limit calculations are: 42' Length x 13' width = 546 546 / 18 = 30 people. So I guess that means that "Classy Lady" only can have a limit of 30 lake peeps.

Construction! Construction! Getting to the lake may take take a couple of minutes longer.

If you haven't noticed yet Boat Club Rd. is being expanded. Read about it right here: http://fortworthtexas.gov/news/2017/01/BASC-Boat-Club-Rd/

Watch out for the police!!! They are there at least 50% of the time waiting to pull you over for speeding in a construction zone.

Lake & land peeps study this article carefully and learn it, know it, and live it.

Contact me @ louisbull@charter.net to find you a boat.

Lake Level Report

We are at below level (- 2.23) as of October

15th, 2019

and other

surrounding lakes are below level

My Tip To You For The Week

Frozen Zippers

Zippers with metal slides have a bad habit of becoming frozen with corrosion even though the teeth of the zipper are plastic. If you use force, you'll ruin the zipper. Instead, stand the cushion with the zipper up and place a small rag soaked with vinegar over the corroded slide, cover the rag with a piece of Saran, and wait. The acidic vinegar will dissolve the corrosion and free the slide.

Come out and join this fine organization that has been apart of this lake since 1989. If you need more info contact me @ louisbull@charter.net or click on this link: https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/eagle-mountain-classic-boat-club

Their are some other fine lake organizations to join and again I'll say it that boat ownership is not required. They don't cost hardly anything and fun to be apart of:

Fort Worth Power Squadron - contact Doris Edwards dedwards120@aol.com for more information or look at the link at the left of the page.

Cowtown Mariners - contact Jim Boswell

jbosranger@aol.com

for more information or look at the link at the left of the page.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Eagle Mountain Lake - contact George Ott gott@sbcglobal.net Webpage: http://wow.uscgaux.info/about.php?unit=081-05

Save Eagle Mountain Lake (S.E.M.L.) - contact Keri-Dawn Henke txladysailor@aol.com

Lake Map

Remember that in Texas:

• Children under 13 years of age in or on vessels under 26 feet must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable PFD while underway.

• All vessels under 16 feet (including canoes and kayaks) must be equipped with one Type I, II, III or V for each person on board.

• Vessels 16 feet and longer, in addition to the Type I, II, III or V for each person on board, must have one Type IV throwable device which must be readily accessible. Canoes and kayaks over 16 feet are exempt from the Type IV requirement.

• For more complete information, check the The Water Safety Act.

"Classy Lady" out again this past weekend.

Don't forget about your Vessel Saftey Check!

It's that time of year to get your vessel safety check done on your boat and George Ott around Eagle Mountain Lake is the man to do it. He does mine every year. You can reach George by email: gott@sbcglobal.net

Flotilla 5-5 Contact and Meeting Information

Serving the Eagle Mountain TX Area

MEETING INFORMATION

MEMBERSHIP INQUIRIES:

• • Flotilla Commander (FC)

  • George G. Ott

  • Vice Flotilla Commander (VFC)

  • Scott W. Strange

BOAT SERVICES ON THE LAKE

If you need your boat worked on, washed, insured, etc. click on this link to get those services:

https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/services-on-the-lake

For example, Rick Hasty, who I use quite frequently. As a matter of fact I used him yesterday to pull a prop underwater. He has all the tools and then some. He cleaned my bottom also. Some of you that I've talked to have not had your bottom cleaned especially my sailboat friends. Lake peeps, it doesn't cost that much. Mine was $175.00. Yes that's right. That was for my 42' boat. Yours will be a little cheaper. He's goes by the length of the boat. It's like having your bottom power washed except for its in the lake and you don't have to have your boat pulled out.

Bottom Cleaning/Prop Inspection/Lost Items In The Lake - ScubaNubs Dive Service

Website with testimonials: http://www.scubanubs.com/home.html

Call Rick Hasty of Scuba Nubs to book this service. I've used this service for the past 5 years along with a few people on this email list and have been very pleased. His services are well worth the price. You'll be pleasantly surprised. He's already doing your neighbor's boat and others around the lake. While he's down under your boat he'll check your props and shafts to make sure nothing is wrapped around them. You'd be surprised what gets tangled up on these things. If your props are bent or damaged he can fix that too. Having this done will help your bottom immensely. It doesn't matter what size your boat is. He does: sailboats, powerboats, cruisers, etc. Give him a call @ (817) 706-9556 or email him @ scubanubs@gmail.com or visit his Facebook page @ www.facebook.com/ScubanubsDiveService?ref=stream he also has an underwater camera that will shoot video of your bottom. Check this one out on my boat.

Check this prop out that was pulled on my neighbors boat. Leaving something like this could do great damage to your boat. Believe me!!!!

Boat Cleaning & Detail

Ship to Shore Boat Cleaning Services By Louis Palmer

A lot of boat cleaning services have come and gone on the lake but one has remained constant throughout the years and that's Louis Palmer's Ship To Shore Boat Cleaning Service. I use this service every weekend and when I get to my boat on Friday afternoon it's all nice and clean ready to go. This service saves me at least 3 hours of work every weekend. At a very reasonable price. The Ship To Shore team will get you cleaned up and shined for every boating weekend. Give them a call @ (817) 688-6378 they're already servicing boats at every marina and private residences on the lake. They also do boat detailing.

Bands & Entertainment On The Lake This Weekend!

Bands that are playing this weekend on the lake can be viewed

here. Just click on the link below

https://sites.google.com/site/treybullemlnewsletter/entertainment

Trey Bull - captain of the "Classy Lady"

Go Tech!!!!

Instructions on how to navigate through this site:

This webpage should be much easier for you to navigate through compared to the previous OneDrive format that took forever for you to load up on your smartphone, laptop, desktop, and tablet. Everything is in sections now and will be updated every week. Pay attention to sub categories at the bottom of some pages.

For example, if your wanting to know what bands are playing at your favorite on the water restaurants then click on the "Entertainment On The Lake This Week" tab. If you want to know what events are happening on the lake this weekend just click on the tab "Events On The Lake This Week" to see about the tie up.

Like I said before go through these categories on the top left side to see updated info. Also the sub categories at the bottom of some of the pages. Feedback is important. Remember this is your newsletter as much as it is mine. Comments can be sent back to my email address: louisbull@charter.net