Several of you visited us at the Huntsville Boat Show and the Birmingham Boat Show...and a few asked about the MSD (marine sanitary discharge) fees that will go into effect very soon.  It's $75 now...used to be no charge...and performed by the Alabama Marine Police...which seems strange to me that they have to check bathrooms on boats and patrol miles of shoreline, too.

Over dinner, Larry Long brings up a good point.  What about the boats that do not have a head?  Please understand...we're not picking on fishermen...we're fishermen, too.  But if the state is going to charge, let's just call a spade a spade.  It's not completely for the sake of keeping our waterways clean...or else there would be 'fines' for the guy relieving himself or the lady floating happily with a lifevest on and a smile on her face.  I don't mind a bit being charged $75...and if it's completely to fund the Alabama Marine Police, I'm great ...

Okay...by now, many of our readers know that I sell boats.  There.  I said it.  I sell boats.  And I adore it.  Don't start that 'the best day in a boat owners' life is when he buys the boat and sells the boat' stuff.  You haven't had the love affair that I have with the water. 

This weekend was the Huntsville Boat Show.  I have the blisters on my feet to prove it.  Birmingham is 2 weeks away.  Billy and I even went to Nashville with friends Rick and Pam Knauf just cuz...we love boats.

But the transformation of faces from getting off the elevator at the Von Braun Center, going through the show, and then leaving the show was unsettling at best.  Dazed and confused.  And the Huntsville Boat Show is tiny, miniscule in the scheme of 'REAL' boat shows.   What are we doing to people?  Has quotas and 'the hard sell' taken the place of ...

I had the great pleasure of attending a meeting on Tuesday, January 8th that was quite impressive.  The Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority is a collection of the marinas along the Tenn Tom Waterway.  They meet to discuss issues they're facing, get ideas for improvement...and they contribute dollars to an advertising fund just to get folks travelling on their waterway.  President of the group, Fred Hansard of Demopolis Yacht Basin, explained, "We see travellers from around the world on our waterway.  We formed this association to make sure we are accommodating our customers in the best way possible."

Tennessee River marinas in North Alabama have just formed the North Alabama Marina Association.  Much like the TTWDA, marinas are starting to realize that waterway tourism have even more viable growth potential.  Ditto Landing in Huntsville, AL has just applied for Tier I and Tier II grants through the Boat ...

There is still a place...that's even their slogan.  It's Clifton, Tennessee at Mile Marker 158 on the Tennessee River.  A Mayberry episode on the Tennessee River.

I grew up in Wayne County, Tennessee...the county where Clifton is located.  The jealousy among the 3 main towns is still prevalent.  Clifton, overlooking the Tennessee River, is less than 1000 people.  Cobblestone streets, antebellum lighting on the sidewalks...and the 'downtown' literally right on the river.  The ferry has long gone and been replaced by a brand new bridge...so it has become connected to the rest of the state.  Clifton always seemed to be the town with the most potential...but just couldn't seem to get there.  Talk of restaurants and more shopping still fill the streets.  Some want it to change.  Others want it to stay the same.  I am glad the persona of the people has not changed.  Warm, friendly ...

I got an e-mail from a reader who was quite disappointed in their trip up the Tennessee River.  They are from Florida...had heard about the majestic beauty of the Tennessee and the kind hearts of its residents.  She fed my ear full about rub rails falling in the water, her foot going through a dock and no where to eat on the water.

Now I know what you're thinking...Delta's ready when she is, right?  But we've got to think about this.  Is she right?  Are we promoting our area only to cause disappointment?  I'd love to hear your thoughts...

To go to a football game at Milton Frank...not get out of there until 8:30 or 9 o'clock...then wag our stuff to the boat may seem like a lot of trouble.  It's totally worth it this time of year.  It was a pleasant 71 degrees...and this morning...oh!  it was breathtaking to see the hint of fall on the river.

Grab some sandwiches, a blanket and head to whatever body of water is close by.  You will be refreshed and relaxed in about 2 minutes!

Look for the next issue of LIFE ON THE WATER to share the great ways to enjoy our waterways in the fall...IT'S THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO BE ON THE WATER!

Attending the first meeting of the North Alabama Marina Association yesterday in Guntersville, a hot topic reared its head again.

Can some legislator actually SELL the water to another city or state from the Tennessee River?  Hello...TVA??  I'm thinking you need permission from them first.  But then...can TVA sell our water?  I'm getting pains in my stomach just thinking about this one.

Look for upcoming issues of LIFE ON THE WATER to ask these questions and more...

It's a call you hope never comes.  2:30 p.m. on a Thursday.  Hot as all get-out.  I mean hot.  Your friend calls and says there's smoke coming out of the engine compartment.  That's when your Coast Guard Auxiliary classes and Power Squadron textbooks' memories kick into play.

Here's a list of things we learned:

--your VHF radio is not like a CB.  Channel 9 is not the hailing channel.  It's Channel 16.  Boaters and marine police and marinas monitor channel 16.  He hailed on 16 and the Coast Guard Ohio Valley Louisville, KY sector came on immediately to tell him what to do and that help was on the way.

--Smoke billowing out of the engine compartment.  I'm thinking that's a May Day call.  Captains I've spoken with said it would be a 'Pan Pan'.  If I were behind the helm of that boat, I would have probably kicked into a 'Securi-tay Securi- ...

Someone's thinking about us out there...but it may not be our representatives and senators at the State of Alabama.

I got a call on August 1st from an administrator with one of our counties on the Tennessee River.  She wanted to know if I'd heard about the INCREASES.  What increases?  She said boater registration.  Okay, that's the $10 fee that will benefit local rescue squads...I'm good with that.   "No," she said, "This DOUBLES your registration fees...and from what I'm reading, it's vague as to where the increase is going."

She directed me to the Alabama Department of Revenue site:

www.ador@revenue.alabama.gov

then 'legal' then 'code of AL' then 'boating'

section 33510, 33515, 33516, 33517 and 33520

The fee is not pro-rated.  I ...