Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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On July 11, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) President Margaret Podlich (L) and Government Affairs Manager David Kennedy (R), delivered over 24,000 comments from recreational boaters to EPA Headquarters in Washington DC to urge the agency to stop adding more ethanol to the nation's gasoline supply. BoatUS had asked the boating public to add their voice to a proposal to increase the amount of ethanol that must be blended into the nation's gasoline supply for 2017. If... Full story
If you need to borrow a kid's life jacket for the day or weekend, chances are there is one near you at one of the over 1,500 life jacket loaner sites across the country at BoatUS.org/loanermap. The Web site list is "the nation's largest single source of life jacket loaner sites" according to BoatUS. It includes nearly 600 free BoatUS Foundation kids' Life Jacket Loaner sites at marinas, boat clubs and firehouses, along with over 900 local community loaner sites to give parents and boaters more... Full story
A boat name can reveal much about the personality of a boat owner. Are they into fishing? Reel Therapy on the boat's transom certainly shows it. Do they have kids in school? What College Fund? says it best. Like to sing? In Harmony is a popular choice. Work in the finance industry? Liquid Assets is suitable. Regardless of lifestyles, families or careers, choosing a name can be difficult. To help boaters with this task, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers a list of over... Full story
Federal ethanol fuel mandates and changing fuel supply demand boater vigilance. As the summer boating season is underway, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) urge boaters to be mindful when selecting fuel for their boats, especially as the federal government's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is increasing the risk of consumer misfueling. Even one mistake at the pump can be the source of expensive, warranty voiding repairs and... Full story
During May's National Safe Boating Week, many boaters made extra effort to improve their on-water safety. But, after the annual event was over, will they continue to stay vigilant? "Making boating safety easy to embrace means more boaters will continue to make the effort," says BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water President Chris Edmonston. With that goal in mind, the BoatUS Foundation has three simple tips for boaters that will improve their boating safety game all summer long:... Full story
For the past eight years when recreational boats have broken down on Lake Pleasant - 300 of them last year alone - the red response boat of Vessel Assist Lake Pleasant has been there to help boaters safely return to the launch ramp. Now the 24-hour on water towing and assistance service has a new name: TowBoatUS Lake Pleasant. The move to rename Vessel Assist to TowBoatUS - with locations in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and British Columbia, Canada - recognizes TowBoatUS's... Full story
Get more out of your GPS/Chartplotter. It's an important piece of equipment, able to get boaters safely home, to their favored fishing hole or weekend raft up spot. But, if you've ever wondered about all of the features and functions on your boat's GPS or chartplotter, this is your chance to learn by taking the newest online course from the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and the United States Power Squadrons, "How to Use GPS." Available for a $30 course fee at... Full story
Every spring, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water receives questions from boaters about fire extinguishers. To help set the record straight, here are four fire-extinguisher myths debunked: Myth #1: Tapping or striking the extinguisher keeps the contents "fresh". Reality: Leave the mallet at home. Unlike days of old, today's modern fire extinguishers don't use chemicals that cake, get hard, or need to be broken up. Whacking it with a mallet or hammer could compromise the exti... Full story
The 15th Annual Women's Sailing Conference, organized by the National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA), will take place Saturday, June 4, at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, Mass. Through hands-on workshops, seminars and on-the-water experiences, participants will learn or hone sailing skills, and network with other women sailors from all areas of the country. Contributing sponsors include Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and New England-based Black Rock Sailing... Full story
They are the crewmembers of the nation's largest boater advocacy, safety and services group, BoatUS. And like most boaters, they aren't perfect. They make mistakes and learn from them too. With boat yards, back yards, marinas and clubs now coming to life, spring commissioning time has arrived. Here are eight spring commissioning mistakes that the employees of BoatUS have made over the years that could save you a lot of aggravation, or your life. The Battery Goof-Up #1 "When reconnecting my... Full story
Why take a navigation class when just boating on our local lakes? The very good reason is because prudent mariners should know and understand basic navigation principles no matter how small or large the size of the waterway they are boating on. Knowing north, south, east and west, how to use a basic chart or map, and how to read your compass are musts for safe-boating principles. Take this class and become a safer boater with knowledge. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has authored and developed a... Full story
Fire ranks number five among all boat losses according to the BoatUS Marine Insurance Program claims files. Dig a little a deeper, and those claims files also tell you the six specific areas that lead to most-reported boat fires. If every boater paid attention to these six things, over a third of all fires aboard boats would be prevented. So what are the top six ways boat fires happen, and some lessons to take home? 26 percent of fires are due to "off-the-boat" sources: Over a quarter of the... Full story
Groups can apply all year for funds for boating safety and clean-boating projects. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water just made it easier for nonprofit organizations including community-based groups, boat clubs, angling and environmental organizations, USCG Auxiliary, or US Power Squadrons to apply for a Grassroots Grant. Started over 25 years ago, the BoatUS member-funded grant program provides groups up to $10,000 to help educate boaters on safe and clean boating topics.... Full story
There are at least 11 technical faults that, if not addressed, could cause serious problems. How many can you find? Here's a hint -- they fall into two main areas: electrical and fuel/ventilation. To find the answers, go to BoatUS.com/findthefaults.... Full story
In 1966, boaters could buy a new mid-sized cruiser for about $7,000, outboard engines had just surpassed 100 horsepower, and recreational boating was growing on a large scale across America. It was also in '66 that the nation's largest recreational boating group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), got its start thanks to Founder Richard Schwartz who saw a need to make recreational boaters' lives better. Schwartz's Vision His vision of offering representation, improving safety... Full story
With the latest technical advances in recreational boat lights - both for navigation and aesthetic purposes - recreational boaters have more choices than ever when upgrading their boat's lighting. However, the US Coast Guard wants boaters to know that some of the new lights aren't up to snuff and could increase the chances of a collision. It has found that some sold for navigation purposes don't meet regulations, and other aesthetic lighting products such as LED ropes and underwater lights may... Full story
A local company that that helps boaters get safely home was singled out for its professionalism at the BoatUS Towing Services Annual Conference recently held in Jupiter, Fla. "Tower of the Year" honors went to TowBoatUS Catalina, which is owned and operated by Captains Nathan Lins, Jordan Lake and Greg Dreischmeyer. The company, a familiar site in Avalon Harbor and Catalina Island waters with three red response vessels, was recognized for its near perfect 24-hour towing dispatch operation, super... Full story
In a victory for boaters and anglers, the recent passage of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act also includes re-authorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through the year 2020. After significant lobbying by Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) along with other boating and angling organizations, in 1984 Congress passed legislation establishing what was then called the Wallop/Breaux Trust Fund. Now called the Sport Fish Restoration and... Full story
On Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, when boaters, sailors and anglers want to celebrate their generosity and give, they go to BoatUS.org, the online home of the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Since 1981, the boating non-profit's sole mission is to reduce boating accidents and fatalities and increase stewardship of our waterways, so giving to the Foundation means they're giving back to boating. Based in Annapolis, Md., the tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization is the boating safety and... Full story
Mustang Survival has announced it is voluntarily recalling two selected models of inflatable personal flotation devices (PFDs) manufactured in Canada between September 2014 and September 2015. The recall is being issued for the reinforcement of a portion of the bladder assembly that may tear when the bladder lobes are flexed apart while fully inflated. While a solution has been developed that corrects any affected products and prevents occurrence of this issue, the repair can only be performed... Full story
Where do women sailors go to learn? The Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) will hold its 27th Annual Women's Sailing Convention on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Corona del Mar, California. The day-long, ladies-only series of shore and boat-based workshops offer beginners to experts a welcoming environment to learn more about all topics sailing. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has been the event's primary sponsor since its... Full story
Visiting boaters, whether staying over for just one night or a couple weeks, offer real economic benefits and add to the vitality of waterfront communities, marinas and boat clubs. But laying out the welcome mat can be challenging. Transient boat docks that are protected and safe for overnight tie-ups, deep-water channels, restrooms, and pumpouts - just some of the infrastructure necessary to draw visiting boaters - can be expensive. However, the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program from... Full story
For recreational boaters, the waterway signposts known as aids to navigation are critical for a safe journey. But, what if an aid to navigation (ATON) such as a floating buoy marking the edge a deep-water channel could only be seen on an electronic screen and not by the naked eye? Will recreational boaters benefit from these new “eATONs”? That’s the question the US Coast Guard wants to find out with a 25-question online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/21stCenturyWaterways. A full look at the i... Full story
When it comes to enjoying the outdoors, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) has led the nation in growth with a 38 percent increase in participation from 2013 to 2014, according to the Outdoor Foundation's 2015 Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report. But, as these human-powered watercraft become more common in crowded harbors, busy waterfronts and other navigable waterways, sharing the water with both recreational boats and commercial vessels requires paddlers to up their safety game. With... Full story
Now through May 22 is National Safe Boating week, reminding anyone who spends his or her time on the water to think about ways to have a great summer and avoid any chance of becoming US Coast Guard statistic. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has four tips that follow the familiar K.I.S.S. principle – but with a bent for boating safety – that are nearly universal: Keep your life jackets handy: This means readily accessible within arms reach, not still in it's plastic bag... Full story
