SNIP: "This led me to wonder what I should do if the bear was on my swim platform. It could easily clamber up the three feet to the deck. Guns, pepper spray, air horns, or just yell a lot.' REPLY: Well, bears getting on boats is not all that hypothetical. We do a lot of our cruising in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Park) on Lake Superior. One popular wilderness island is Stockton Island which has a small safe harbor. During the summer, the little harbor is usually full with boats tied to the concrete government docks. Black bears are common on the islands. A couple of years ago, a black bear sow and cub climbed into the cockpit of a trawler tied up there late one night. There was quite a bit of entertainment on the dock that night. Nobody had any guns or even air horns. But the bears were persuaded to leave by all the commotion they caused. Nobody hurt. Last summer, we got into a row with the local Barney-Fife-type park ranger and then his Superintendent over leaving a small cooling charcoal grill on the beach beside the dock overnight. The Park Service wanted us to put a still warm or hot charcoal grill back on the boat when done so as not to attract bears. I pointed out in less than friendly discussions that a warm charcoal grill in my cockpit would attract bears onto my boat, not to mention the fire hazard. I would rather have the bears on the beach. But that's the government in its infinite wisdom. I reminded the park superintendent that injuries on someone's boat by a bear caused by their inept policy might leave him and the park service open for litigation. Shortly thereafter, they installed a bear-proof locker near the docks for boaters to place their cooling grills overnight. But anyway, we certainly have had the big black critters check out the docks there at night, not to mention otters raiding boats on Isle Royale. Living in Duluth, MN, we have bears in our yard every year. We have had them on the deck of our house numerous times. I have personally chased black bears out of the yard several times. Big deal. Of course, however, when the bear notices the big yellow and red "S" on my blue T-shirt, that intimidates them. David Sorenson Duluth ____________________________________________________________ Consolidate your debt. Lower interest, one payment. Click Here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw2O7FD7ckJ15IQbbiEzi1KyPCbKro3WODgtyRGvvRb2hqZ0Q/