Con Trios Yacht ClubCon Trios Yacht Club

Established in 1966
   
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Miscellaneous Boating Links

Sleep Inn and Suites Con Trios Yacht Club discount

The Sleep Inn and Suites Hotel just behind Big Muddy has offered a special discount rate for all Con Trios Yacht Club members of $62.95 per night for all of 2009 with a few exceptions such as Holidays. They have also donated to our raffles. To reserve a room at this rate call the hotel direct at 636.947.0330 and tell them you are with the "YACHT" group. If you see the manager, Wayne Mackenberg, tell him thanks from Con Trios.

Blessing of the Fleet

Con Trios Yacht Club is helping sponsor the Blessing of the Fleet, check out the website at:

http://www.blessingofthefleetstl.com

There will be a special award presented for the Best Decorated Con Trios Yacht Club member's boat!

Yachting Club of America

One advantage of being a member of Con Trios Yacht Club is our affiliation with the Yachting Club of America.  Check out their website (www.ycaol.com) for more information on what this means, in particular the reciprocity afforded members when traveling to other clubs.  Members of Con Trios should also have received a membership card for Yachting Club of America in their packets with the Roster that has the username and password on it.  If you do not have your card, members of Con Trios Yacht Club can email the webmaster@contriosyachtclub.org to obtain their Username and Password which will allow access to the areas of their website restricted to members only. If you need a card contact the club secretary, Alan Deutschmann, and he will mail one to you.

BOAT U.S.  Boat Owners Association of The United States

As a Cooperating Group Member of BOAT US (www.boatus.com), we are offered discounted memberships. If you are interested in becoming a member of BOAT US contact the club secretary, Alan Deutschmann, for an application form. Annual discounted dues for our members is $12.50 and the application can be done online. Here's the link to the membership application:

https://www.boatus.com/join/default.asp?HEWEBHP

When you get down to the "Tell us about your boat" section enter our group number in the space by
"If you are part of a BoatUS Cooperating Group, please give your Coop Group #:"
enter our group # GA80177Y to get the discounted rate.

River stages and weather radar

One of our members, Bill Kelley, who does the website www.riverbills.com, has a great page on his site that combines the weather radar and river stages at Winfield, Grafton and Alton.  Click on the link below for the most recent information on one page.

http://www.riverbills.com/river_stages_weathers.htm

National Weather Service link for River Stages and Flooding conditions

Corps of Engineers River and Reservoir report in table form

National Weather Service Forecast for St. Charles, MO

Here are links for the River levels. These levels are provided by the U.S. Weather Service and are updated hourly.

RiverWatch Mississippi River Forecasts - Ohio River, Missouri River, Illinois River

Motor Fuel Tax

What is Motor Fuel Tax?

Missouri receives fuel tax of 17 cents a gallon from licensed suppliers on a monthly basis. The tax is passed on to the ultimate consumer purchasing fuel at retail. The tax is distributed to the Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri cities and Missouri counties for road construction and maintenance. There are about 700 licensees, including suppliers, distributors, transporters and terminal operators. Consumers may apply for a refund of the fuel tax when fuel is used in an exempt manner, such as off-road use like farming, construction or boating.  Click on the link below to download the forms.  Most of the forms can be filled in and then printed out to mail in.

http://www.dor.mo.gov/tax/business/fuel/

River Maps and Charts available from the Corps of Engineers

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has been developing electronic maps / charts of the inland rivers that it maintains.  If you are just slightly computer literate you can download, for free, the various charts covering the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers we boat on.  They also have available most of the inland rivers in the United States.  The place to start is the U. S. Corps of Engineers IENC website at:

http://www.agc.army.mil/echarts/inlandnav/

This page will explain what you can download and what programs you will need to view them.

These maps are as detailed as their paper charts and in some instances may even be more current.  They show all the usual navigation information plus they even show most of the wing dams.

Unfortunately I have not found a way to load these maps directly into my GPS units (Garmin and Magellan) onboard so they are only usable on your boat if you have a computer onboard.

The information on these charts is very informative and interesting.  Definitely worth the time to download and install.

Some Government Agencies that deal with education and enforcement on the river

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District

U.S. Coast Guard

Missouri Water Patrol

Boating related websites around the Alton Pool

RiverBills website created and maintained by member Bill Kelley.

The River's Edge Magazine

Websites of organizations that provide safe boating training

U.S. Power Squadron

St. Louis Sail and Power Squadron