Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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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
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
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
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
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
TowBoatUS Fisher's Landing, Ariz., helps boaters and anglers get home after running aground. 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, located at... Full story
The spring boat-buying season is upon us, much to the delight of boat sellers, some of whom may be eager to unload their boats after racking up off-season storage bills. However, when a boat is sold, sellers need to understand – sometimes for safety reasons – that they aren't in the free and clear until critical paperwork is done right. Here is a seller's paperwork to-do list from Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS). 1. Cancel the boat insurance policy. This is the first thing... Full story
States and U.S. territories that shared $19.8 million in total BIG funding in the 2023 grant cycle included Arizona. Does your town or region make it easy for boaters to visit and spend locally? Having safe, protected dockage and offering amenities to these tourists by water can bring boaters in, but how do you pay for it? The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program, first championed by Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), has proven effective in attracting boaters and... Full story
Official-looking vessel documentation renewal notices can lead to confusion and higher costs. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters with vessels that have a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation to be wary of any letter arriving by U.S. mail offering renewal. BoatUS advises that while the Coast Guard does send official annual renewal notices by U.S. mail, other notices being received by BoatUS members are not from the Coast Guard but rather... Full story
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers a range of online boating safety training courses - including 36 free state boating safety courses - that make boating safety education affordable and accessible. More than 220,000 boaters took one of these boating certification courses last year, which require students to correctly answer some questions at the conclusion of each course. Which questions did course takers get wrong most often? While we can't outright give you the... Full story
Across much of America, including parts of Arizona, millions of recreational boats have been laid up for winter storage. With the boating season officially over, some boat owners may think they are free and clear for the next six months. However, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers three best practices for winter storage to ensure the off-season goes smoothy and safely. 1. If you haven’t done so yet, read your marina, boat club or storage facility contract. Every page. W... Full story
Annual lifetime achievement award recognizes sharing sailing. The National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) and Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) are seeking nominations for the 2024 BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women's Sailing Award. Since 1999, the national award has sought to recognize an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing. Past recipients have included sailing instructors, writers, sailboat... Full story
BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water program supervisor Alan Dennison has been elected chairman of the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC). Created in its current form by the Federal Boating Safety Act of 1971, the Council is the nation's principal public-private boating safety advocacy organization, representing a coalition of more than 330 U.S. and international member organizations. Its mission is to promote a safer recreational boating experience through education, outreach... Full story
At any other time of year, the red towing response vessels of the on-water TowBoatUS towing fleet are helping recreational boaters get home after their boats have broken down or run aground. However, in October, seven TowBoatUS response boats across the country were turned pink to bring the message of breast cancer awareness to the water in hopes of saving lives and finding a cure for a disease that affects 1 in every 8 women. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, this year an... Full story
Nonprofit to develop competitive grant program to fund removal of abandoned, derelict vessels. Includes prevention and education measures. Boats end up abandoned or derelict on our nation's coasts for several reasons. Irresponsible owners abandon vessels when they can no longer afford to care for them or pay for their disposal. Poorly maintained, "at risk" anchored boats combined with the increasing frequency and severity of storms leave shorelines littered with wrecks after each hurricane. A... Full story
NEEDLES, Calif. -Las Vegas native Bryan Sloan once answered a classified job post for a part-time professional lake patroller. He applied, got the job, and immediately knew that working on the water was his calling. He next became first-mate, then captain of an 84-foot dinner yacht, and earned his U.S. Coast Guard license. He's since run 100-plus mph twin-hull tour boats on Lake Havasu and most recently was a towing captain with TowBoatUS Lake Mead, helping boaters with on-water troubles. Now... Full story
Summer boating season is in full swing and you've been enjoying your time on the water. Has it all been good so far? Maybe you've found yourself in a situation where, perhaps, you felt less-than-confident behind the wheel, or simply got a sense that something didn't feel safe. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has the fix for that: Taking a free online boating safety course can help make you feel good behind the helm – prepared, more confident, and able to handle situation... Full story
California Governor Newsom's 2024 Budget Proposes 300% Boat Registration Fee Increase Boaters currently pay $107 million in annual motor fuel taxes; revenue increase won't fund recreational boating needs. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -The nation's largest recreational boat owners advocacy, services and safety group Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), and the nonprofit state advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC), are asking Golden State boat owners to speak up o... Full story
TowBoatUS responds more than 90,000 requests from boaters for routine on-water assistance each year – towing, ungroundings, battery jumps and fuel drop-offs. For the captains at the helm of the 600-plus red TowBoatUS response vessels, that means much of their waking day is spent on the water where there's always a chance for more grave trouble. Five TowBoatUS captains who acted as good Samaritans to save lives and help their communities in 2022 were recently honored by their peers at a c... Full story
To maximize fun and safety while towing a waterskier, make sure everyone on board knows these simple hand signals for communication. By Chris Landers BoatU.S.Magazine Contributing Writer 1. Faster: Thumb up 2. Slower: Thumb down 3. Go right, go left: Point right, point left 4. We're turning around: Driver's or spotter's arm up, pointing, making circles 5. Make another loop: Skier's arm up, pointing, making circles 6. I'm finished and letting go of tow rope: Skier uses a hand to simulate "slice... Full story
Dr. Anne Kolker Honored With 2023 NWSA Leadership In Women's Sailing Award She wanted more sailing skills. Once she did that, she showed others. SPRINGFIELD, Va., June 5, 2023 – Dr. Anne Kolker grew up sailing, first as a youngster, then through college, medical school and into marriage. However, when her husband died in 2008, she realized that she needed to learn more about sailing and grow her confidence behind the wheel. Up until his passing, she had never docked the boat that she had p... Full story
On Boating Season's Kickoff BoatUS Reminds Boaters to Avoid a Misfuel Mishap 'Regular 88,' an E15 fuel, is prohibited for use in recreational boats. Today's gas station pumps no longer provide clear and transparent information to help consumers make the right fuel choice. Dispensing pumps have become a marketer's dream, chock full of attention-grabbing video screens blasting amplified sound that visually plaster a captive audience with a mishmash of eye-catching advertisements from two-for-one... Full story
Visual distress signals can be very effective for summoning help from those assets closest to your location – fellow boaters – potentially shortening response time. Five Ways To Be Seen And Heard When You Really Need To Summon Help National Safe Boating Week is May 21–27. When you have an emergency on the water, how do you get help? For National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27, the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is reminding boaters that having the ability to be se... Full story
