2003 E.L.A. Meeting at Spenger's (presentation byTom Fashinell).

This summer marks our 19^th year of operation, and at next year's meeting we plan to do a Power Point presentation of our first two decades.

 PATROL AND OPENING:  

Thanks to April storms, yesterdays (5/2/03) Mountain Democrat quoted 110% of average snow pack for our area.  Dave did a patrol on Wednesday; the snow is indeed back up to the front overhang of the Chalet, and all the previously-bare asphalt has disappeared. All of the patrolled cabins appeared secure and intact – no evidence of marauding animals.   

Don Cook is on line for plowing the road the week before Memorial Day, so we will be open on time (weathe permitting).  The lake appears solid, but the ice was getting thin before the April storms, so do be careful.  It is unlikely we will be operating taxis by Memorial Day, but please feel free to call us for updates.  Late afternoon or evening calls are preferred since we are usually running around during the day.  Dave or I will update the website on a regular basis until we are fully operational.  

4^TH OF JULY:  

This year the 4^th of July falls on a Friday, and we have several new families joining the Echo Community, so Kat and I thought we should resurrect the 4^th of July picnic and give folks an early-season excuse to get together.

We do realize some of you will be arriving that day or evening, but let’s go ahead and have it on the actual 4th –that way those who wish can leave to watch the fireworks over Tahoe, and then come back and warm up around the campfire.

We will provide hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages, salad, charcoal, and the campfire.  Bring your own entrée, utensils, beverage of choice, and, if you are willing,  a dessert to share,

 SMALL BUSINESS CLIMATE IN CALIFORNIA :

Political rhetoric notwithstanding, this is not a very supportive state in which to operate.  We are paying larger fees, to more state agencies than ever before, and there are some new regulations which I will discuss later on.  

INSURANCE and LIABILITY:  

We can’t directly blame California for this, but our insurance fees are approaching the ridiculous. For example, our property insurance increased 165%- from $7,900 to $13,000 – and this is with no coverage on the Chaletlees, a $25,000 deductible, and no claims - ever! Our boat taxi and rental liability (for only 5 month coverage) went from $2,700 to $8,100 (a 300% increase).  We cannot have rental boats out at night, or “loaners”, or any non-commercial use – in other words we, specifically, can’t let the crew use them for travel to and from their cabins.  At the moment, we have no policy, but our insurance agent is working on it for Memorial Day opening.  

Let me read something from last month’s issue of the Marina Recreational Association’s Newsletter :  “Legal Corner”…  

          “In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held that plaintiffs who suffered injury or death as a result of coming in contact with boat propellers could bring state law products liability suits against manufacturers and retailers of such boats, despite the fact that the United States Coast Guard had studied the issue and decided not to require manufacturers to install propeller guards on recreational boats” 

The article was unclear on long-term implications, but they project several immediate consequences of this decision:

"1.  A flurry of law suits against boat manufacturers and their dealers arising out of propeller strike incidents that involve boats that have already been sold,  2.  Installation of propeller guards on most, if not all, recreational boats manufactured in the future, and 3. Some manufacturers leaving the field altogether as a result of liability arising out of lawsuits".  

Of course here in California we don’t have to worry about lawsuits – right?  

Naturally, the only prop guard kit Johnson-Evinrude has available is for the older 9.9-15hp engines (nothing at all for larger engines or their new models).  

The Chalet’s biggest risk would seem to be our inexperienced renters, so we now have enough guards for the rental boats We’ll see how the modifications affect handling and performance characteristics.  We would also appreciate your (cabin owner / guests) help. If you see renters involved in at-risk activities, please let us know right away, or even go speak with them if you think there is an eminent risk of injury (like swimming around the boat while it is running, etc)  

Well, at least our previous boat manufacturer, Valco-Westcoaster won’t have to worry about potential liability, because they went bankrupt last fall. This was largely as a result of Workers Compensation Insurance fees, speaking of which, we will be paying over $20 for every $100 of salary for our Chaletlee staff.

 BACK TO THE STATE: THIS TIME THE AIR RESOURCES BOARD:  

First of all, you should know that we already pay the El Dorado County an air-pollution mitigation fee for our gasoline dispenser, and the smallest fee category they have is for stations that dispense 100,000 gallons or less/ year (we pump about 8,000-so we’re paying as much as a station that pumps over ten times as much).  Last fall they proposed installing a Phase II vapor recovery system (this is at the nozzle-with the boot).  These systems are quite expensive and certainly not maintenance-free. Based on 8,000 gallons, we release a maximum of 46 pounds of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air each year (sounds like a lot, but to put it in perspective, our local lumber mill puts out 250-750 pounds per day! Phase II systems won’t work with most Inboards or I/O’s, because, unlike automobiles, they don’t have an internal venting system.  Furthermore, the nozzles are difficult, at best, to use with portable tanks. Attempts to bypass the automatic fill shutoff by pulling back the boot and holding the nozzle in a partially-inserted position will assuredly result in spilled fuel, all of which will then go into the atmosphere.  If we are forced to install the system, then we will have to pass the costs on in terms of price / gallon.  Some of you will opt to transport your tanks, or even your boats, into Tahoe for a fill-up – and of course that’s not exactly pollution or risk-free.  We are hoping that the Air Resources Board will demonstrate good old-fashioned common sense, but they may be bound by an arbitrary code (like the 100,000 gallon figure).  So…we’ll keep you posted.  

Where’s The good news you ask:  

First: We have pretty-much completed any planned reconstruction or deferred maintenance projects – so the insurance fees and increased demands by state agencies are “on the margin” so to speak. Although we would like to show a profit, we will continue to keep our prices as competitive as possible.  

Second:  Bankrupt Valco-Westcoaster was purchased by Klamath Boats, and we are now a Klamath Dealer.  I visited their plant, I like their product, and did order some boats for delivery in June.  

Next: Bombardier (Johnson-Evinrude) has finally brought their 2-stroke FICHT engines down to the 40 thru 70 HP range.  This technology is the reason that Bombardier bought OMC in the first place, and we have been waiting for these engines for two years.  They’ll go under the trade name E-TEC, and are essentially the same engines that we run on our taxi boats. They’re California and TRPA legal, they run cleaner, weigh less, and are significantly more powerful than any 4-stroke. They will come with a full three-year warranty, there is no break-in necessary (wide-open throttle out of the box), they automatically adjust for altitude, and they require no maintenance of any kind for three years. Unfortunately, they probably won’t be available until August. We may be one of the  very first dealerships to actually get our hands on one, since they would like to do some high altitude run testing.  I did bring some brochures for those who might be interested, and you may log onto their website (easy to remember – it’s just www.evinrude.com for additional information.  Also, a variety of carburetor jets have just been approved for the 9.9-15HP 4-strokes, and David Durein and I will be taking a new 15HP up to Tahoe this week to link up with the Evinrude field service expert, Mike Martinson, and do some on-the water re-jetting for altitude. This should resolve some idling issues we had last summer. Lastly, we now have California EPA legal 4, 6 and 8 HP 4-stroke engines, and we will be putting them into stock  ASAP.  

CLOTHING:    

As most of you are aware, we have had top-quality clothing at very competitive prices due to the fact that Kat’s bother Dave has been the rep. for Gear for Sports and U-Trau.  He has now switched to Russell Sports and U-Trau, and we have a great new line on order.  

CREW:  

We have 13 returning full-time crew members, 8 part-time, 6 “occasional”, and 9 new additons, for a grand total of 36.

Full: David D, Scott H, Cyndy, Kevin & Megan C, Ben H, Naomi L, Erica Barrett (Kat’s niece from Iowa), Blair Bailey (Cummings), Brian Bort, Matt Pocock, & Liz Powelson.

Part: Jim Drennan and Steve Monday (both are now full-time firemen at S.L.T.), Kat Powelson, Eric Schlager (our master mechanic),Chris Brown, Tyler and Scott Fashinell

New: Nolie Pierini, Helen and Nellie Warner, Tim and Ward Sorrick, Jazman Summerset, Tracy Clevenger, Robbie Bowe, and Christina Bethea.

Occasional: Bryan Clevenger, Kim Demus, Gordon Brown, and possibly John Durein ( he has expressed an interest in learning the new O/B technology-he has always been an excellent mechanic- and will be available most of the summertime).  

INVALUABLE VOLUNTEERS:  John Clevenger is still licensed by Boats and Waterways, and is sometimes willing to drive the taxis and forest service tours, John Oakes still carries flamos (propane tanks for you new-comers) like a 20 year-old, and, of course, we continue to rely on our dear friends and family Newt and Betty Drury.

As always, we appreciate your support and understanding, and we’re looking forward to a productive and entertaining summer.

05/22/2008

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Last modified: May 22, 2008            Webmaster: Tom Fashinell

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