Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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The Sea Scout Ship Invincible (Ship 502) is exemplar of the best traditions of Sea Scouts BSA with more than 15 youth participating in a range of on-water adventures and community service activities. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is proud to honor the S.S.S. Invincible for its incredible program as the 2024-25 BoatUS National Sea Scout Flagship. The honor was created by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) in 2002 to mark the 90th anniversary of Sea S... Full story
Adapted From An Article By Rudri Bhatt Patel For Visit Arizona In Arizona, there are so many opportunities to get out on the water-from the lakes of the Mogollon Rim to the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Here are ten of the top spots to canoe and kayak. 1. Lake Pleasant, Morristown Lake Pleasant, located 45 minutes northwest of Phoenix, is a favorite venue for those on paddle craft. Canyons and cliffs rise over the six-mile lake, islands dot the middle of it and slot canyons hide on the... Full story
Even with a spray skirt, kayaks can ship water, making them uncomfortable and unsafe. With the reliable Thirsty-Mate 318P1 Sea-Kayak Pump from Beckson Marine, it's fast and easy to de-water any small open or closed boat. Made in the USA from non-corroding polyvinyl with solvent-welded construction, the Beckson Sea-Kayak Pump is nearly indestructible. Designed for the rigors of sea-kayaking, an integrated reinforcing shaft prevents the pump from flexing while using it in rolling seas. Because... Full story
Intracoastal Waterway Gets $48.5 million for dredging in FY 2024. There's good news for the hundreds of thousands of boaters who use the 1,100-mile Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) each year to recreate, either as part of their home waters or cruising America's "Marine Highway 95," transiting the AIWW's ten states from Norfolk, Virginia to Key West, Florida. Breakdown Of Funding The Fiscal Year 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations bill recently passed with bipartisan support and with... Full story
According to the nationwide TowBoatUS on-water towing fleet, the busiest time of the year for America's recreational boat owners is, hands down, the Fourth of July holiday period, which typically includes some days, even weeks, before and after the official holiday. It also may be the longest time many boaters will spend the day on the water at anchor, enjoying fishing holes and raft-ups. Are they ready? The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has four tips to help boaters... Full story
Here's to getting boat work done right – and keeping you safe on the water! If there is one thing boaters all agree on, it's the need for quality marine service and repair work. At the heart of any good boat maintenance program is a qualified marine technician with the necessary training, knowledge and skills to tackle the job. With the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) celebrating its 2024 Outstanding Technician Award, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) thought it would b... Full story
The youngest of three children, Jerelyn Biehl was born into a sailing family. She learned sailing from her parents and as a teenager absorbed all things boating at her father's marine store. She shared sailing with kids during summers in high school and college. After competing for the University of California, Los Angeles Sailing Team, she met her husband on the racecourse. They fostered a love of sailing in their sons, Graham (a two-time Olympian) and Cameron (a world champion). Educating, Enr... Full story
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is urging everyone to wear a life jacket, and follow all safety regulations and laws this summer when recreating on Arizona's waterways. "A life jacket does exactly what it says - it saves your life when you need it," said Danny Rodriguez, watercraft law enforcement program coordinator. "However, it can only save your life if you're wearing one, and often it's too late to put one on once you realize you need it." According to U.S. Coast Guard... Full story
From June 10-August 12, organizations are invited to apply for grant funding to clean up their local waterways. WHAT: In a nationwide effort to remove abandoned and neglected boats from our nation’s waterways, the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) Foundation is seeking qualified, diverse and experienced organizations to submit projects for funding. The massive cleanup effort to remove abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) in U.S. coastal waterways and the Great Lakes is f... Full story
Decrease In Fatalities, Accidents, But Problems Persist The recently released U.S. Coast Guard 2023 Recreational Boating Statistics shows some good news on the boating safety front, with fatalities falling by 11.3% to 564 from 636 in 2022, and overall incidents decreasing by 4.9% from 4,040 to 3,844. Nonfatal injuries also dropped by 4.3% from 2,222 in 2022 to 2,126 in 2023. Over the long haul, the Coast Guard report also noted that when the Safe Boating Act was first passed in 1971, the... Full story
Will A Vessel Safety Check Save You From A Random Boarding By Law Enforcement? Each spring and summer, recreational boaters debate getting a free, no-penalty vessel safety check (VSC). Some may also wonder if that VSC decal on their boat will save them from a random summertime boarding by law enforcement. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water, the boating safety arm of the nation's largest membership-based boating group and Vessel Safety Check program sponsor says there is no... Full story
I was going through some old stories today and ran across one of the stories we did on Nitro Chicken a number of years ago. We were fortunate enough to be a minor sponsor of Doug Verstuyft and Nitro Chicken. For several years we were at Firebird Lake where the Top Fuel Hydroplane races took place. Over the years we have attended numerous events. This was undoubtedly one of the most fun and exciting. Carol and I were both able to sit in the Nitro Chicken and when they close that canopy it is... Full story
Compass Mounts Anywhere Many owners skip installing a compass due to a reliance on GPS, but when throttled down due to fog, rain or unfamiliar locations, it can't display direction well — and not at all if stopped. The Helmsman HB-740 from Ritchie Navigation is the ideal addition to any boat. Its bracket mount fits virtually anywhere, making it perfect for everything from a sportfish flybridge to a wakeboard dash to the console of a small center console. Made in the USA, the Ritchie Helmsman m... Full story
Reprinted from US Sailing Ed Huntsman, 72, who devoted his personal and professional life to boating safety, died after battling stage 4 cancer for nearly seven years on May 1, 2024. He was a committed volunteer to US Sailing as a member of the Safety at Sea Committee and Chair of the Committee Structure Task Force along with being a licensed captain, certified instructor, and combat veteran (Vietnam War). His First Family Son of Arral B Huntsman and Ann McFarland Viles Huntsman, brother of... Full story
The recreational boat owner's advocacy, services and safety group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), has help for all types of boat owners with its highly popular Spring Commissioning Checklist. A printer-friendly PDF copy of the checklist is available to download and take to the boat. Be sure to follow all manufacturer recommendations for your specific boat, engine and accessories. Before You Launch 1. Check the condition of antifouling paint and repaint if necessary. 2.... Full story
Publishers Note: We realize that we ran this story in our April issue. We feel that it is a timely and important message. Thank you Ed. Have you completed your National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved state boater education course yet? If you're a California resident, effective January 1st, 2024 a NASBLA approved California course is required for any California resident age 60 and under. The course is available online, in a classroom or through home study. More... Full story
BoatUS Foundation offers required trash, oil, waste placard decals for just $5 each. Every new boat comes adorned with a plethora of warning labels for just about everything from obvious hazards to what a tow pylon should be used for. Did you know there are labels that can help remind you and your guests to keep our waters clean and ensure you are on the right side of the law? Boats new or old and 26 feet or greater must have written trash overboard and oil discharge placards "prominently posted... Full story
National Safe Boating Week will be held from May 18-24, 2024, reminding all boaters to brush up on boating safety skills and prepare for the boating season. This observance week is the annual kick-off of the Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being responsible. “We’re committed to teaching boaters that the best boating experience is a safe day on the water,” said Peg Phillips, executive director of the Natio... Full story
Whether you're working in the office, at home, in the air, or on the water, all boating enthusiasts can participate in Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day on Friday, May 17, 2024. This fun day is part of the Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being responsible. "Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day is a great opportunity to share with others your love for boating," said Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the... Full story
TowBoatUS Fisher's Landing, AZ, helps boaters and anglers get home after running aground. YUMA, Ariz., – It's a shallow, sandy-bottomed, blue ribbon of Colorado River that stretches 44 miles across the low desert of the remote Arizona southwest. Now, recreational boaters and anglers navigating here from the Interstate 10 bridge down steam to the Imperial Dam have professional, 24/7 on-water towing and assistance available with the opening of TowBoatUS Fisher's Landing, Arizona. The company, loca... Full story
Large fluid drums can sometimes prove challenging to open, especially the first time when breaching the original factory seal. The Wrench-70 container wrench from Beckson Marine makes fast work of 70mm and 3/4" slotted plugs, enabling users to get on with the job of transferring liquids to smaller containers. Crafted from fiberglass-filled nylon for light weight and exceptional strength, the Wrench-70 provides needed added leverage to help open fluid drum caps. Its ergonomic design is easy to... Full story
Dirt, grime and salt spray can play havoc with zippers and snaps. People even buy special tools to open and close them, occasionally damaging the surrounding fabric in the process. With Iosso E-Z Snap Zipper & Snap Lubricant, a few minutes of simple maintenance early can alleviate hours of frustration later. Made in the USA, E-Z Snap is a unique gel-like formula that protects and lubricates plastic and metal zippers, snaps, hinges and other hardware. The formula won't dissolve with water,... Full story
Since its founding, SeaSucker has been an active member of its community and embraced its philanthropic work. Its new Giveback Color Collection of vacuum-mounted boat accessories vibrantly highlights the work of the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida, Heroes on the Water and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. SeaSucker donates a share of the proceeds of each item sold to the respective worthy cause. The branded products are the Large Recycle Waste Band, Flex-X Phone Mount, 2-Cup... Full story
Rent a boat or bring your own-don't miss this Arizona lake boating experience! Lake Havasu is one of America's best boating lakes. Unlike other recreational lakes in the arid Southwest, Lake Havasu remains at a near-constant water elevation. Boaters enjoy ideal boating conditions and great weather year-round. From high-performance race boats to pontoon boats, there's plenty of room for everyone to have fun. Family Boaters If you have a family, you'll cherish making lasting memories on a... Full story
NWSA To Host 2024 Conference Saturday, June 8, In New Orleans The National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) comes to the Crescent City with the 2024 National Women's Sailing Association Conference on Saturday, June 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Southern Yacht Club with help from Community Sailing New Orleans. The all-day event welcomes women sailors of all levels and ages to workshops including the popular "Take the Helm" track - an introduction to sailing for women. A sailing scholarship... Full story