Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
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Apply now to present at the "Turning the Tide Online" virtual summit, Feb. 25-27, 2025 The non-profit BoatUS Foundation will host the first-ever "Turning the Tide Online" summit Feb. 25-27, 2025 to discuss sustainable boating-related waste management solutions and is calling for speakers to present. The goal of the summit is to join boaters, recyclers, marine professionals and waste management experts to find solutions and revolutionize best practices for responsible, sustainable... Full story
The nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and the National Safe Boating Council, which provides national boating safety outreach, have teamed up with boating app provider DECKEE to make it easier to find and borrow child- or adult-sized life jackets for temporary use, such as for a day or weekend, with the goal of increasing life jacket wear and boating safety. This pilot program has integrated the BoatUS Foundation's more than 600 life jacket loaner sites across the... Full story
By Rich Armstrong, BoatU.S. Magazine Senior Editor Dog owners love to brag about how good their pooch can swim, but even true "water dogs" can only doggie paddle for so long before exhaustion sets in and drowning becomes imminent. Although it's not a legal requirement, BoatU.S. encourages all boaters to outfit their dogs with a life jacket - and put it on them every time - whether on the docks or out on the water. There are well over a dozen brands of canine life jackets, each with its own... Full story
Say a final goodbye to the summer 2024 boating season as Sept. 22 marked the fall equinox. With the change of season, ushered in by cooler air and water temperatures, boating safety also changes. With that in mind, the BoatUS Foundation offers three safety tips tailor-made to help you safely enjoy the wonders of the water during the off season - yes, even in Arizona. • A life jacket for the season: Unexpected falls overboard could be big trouble fast, so wear a life jacket that fits over your c... Full story
Environmentally conscious individuals with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for national effort to clean our waterways. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is seeking a diverse panel of volunteers who will serve as peer reviewers to evaluate proposals for Abandoned and Derelict Vessel (ADV) removal grants between December 2024 and July 2025. For more on boating safety visit any of these great articles in Arizona Boating & Watersports. The Foundation has been... Full story
Boating Writers International, the professional association for writers, editors, publishers, bloggers, photographers and videographers in the recreational boating and fishing industries, bestowed eight awards on BoatUS Magazine staff and contributors earlier this year. The award recognized the best marine writing and content to winners across 16 categories. Recipients were awarded a plaque noting their "excellence in creating compelling stories about boating through entertaining, educational an... Full story
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