Commodore's Column - February 2009

by Tom Sokoloski
Catalina 36 International Association

In more than a few places I’ve heard somewhat serious, somewhat tongue-in-cheek comments that told me if I had purchased a (new?) sailboat in 2007, instead of keeping my retirement money in my 401(k), I wouldn’t have lost 30-40-50% in value. I suppose there is some truth in that statement, but for someone who is not close to retirement, it really wasn’t an option. As the meltdown and recovery of the stock market seem to alternate on a daily basis, I like to take refuge in thinking about and dreaming about Julandra floating on liquid water again. In the northern half of the country, the water is in a solid state, and will be for a few more months. Bummer.

Since my last column, two important events have transpired. At the Annapolis Boat Show in October, C36IA held its first member meeting. From as close as Annapolis, and from as far away as Vermont and the Virgin Islands, 32 owners gathered for a few hours, and discussed a whole range of topics. The details were spelled out in the last issue of JibSheet, but suffice it to say that we had a great meeting, and a number of ideas are already being acted upon. The second event, another first for C36IA, was a conference call and webex amongst the officers and fleet captains, which took place in early December. Not everyone was able to participate, but those who did got a lot out of it. Many thanks to Tom Senator for setting it up. The emphasis for both meetings was membership. As I believe all associations are experiencing, membership in C36IA is down. Not drastically, but it is down. Everyone I talk to feels that the Association offers a LOT for its members, so why aren’t our numbers increasing? My guess is that not enough C36 owners know about the association. That’s where you come in. All of you. Every member. Salesmanship 101 will tell you that a personal referral is a 100 times better than any mass marketing campaign. I’m sure that each one of us has seen other C36s at the dock, at the marina, at the yacht club, or while out cruising. Have you met the owner? Do you know them? Are they members of C36IA? If not, why not? Do them a favor. Walk over and introduce yourself. But before you do, make a quick stop at our website, www.c36ia.com. Under the Association tab is an article called “Why Join C36IA?” Attached to that article is a one page pdf explaining some of the reasons an owner should join, and the benefits of membership. Print a few copies. Give one to each C36 owner you meet. If nobody’s aboard, leave it in a baggie in their cockpit. I’m sure they will thank you.

While on the topic of the website, have you looked at it lately? Alex Lynch, our webmaster, has done an awesome job updating it. A new look, more articles, more photos, and finally, a new Forum! The new Forum (Bulletin Board) has the ability to accept photos, and once you set up a user account for the website, you are automatically registered for the Forum. Another new feature of the website is the Owner’s Encyclopedia. It is similar in concept to a ‘wiki’, and all members have the ability to access and update it. It was designed for the little details that you won’t find in the Owner’s Manual, such as cross-reference numbers for Kubota parts and oil filters, and links to replacement part suppliers. The Forum is for opinions, and the Encyclopedia is for facts. If you are a new owner, or simply new to the website, we have a section especially for you. It’s called the New Member Help Section, and there is a link to it from the home page. It has answers to the questions you didn’t even know you had! Check it out. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Time to go down to the boat, crawl under the cover, and imagine the temperature about 60 degrees warmer. Smooth sailing.