Boat US Report

Is it Drowning, or Electric Shock Drowning?

What You Need to Know to Help Save a Life

No matter how you participate in the boating lifestyle, whenever you begin a new day on the water there is always the chance of something going wrong. My industry friend, Boat US’s Scott Croft, who has sent along relevant and interesting postings in the past, has forwarded this one to me in order that I might share it with you. It is a timely read and one that all of us should pay attention to. Be safe. -Capt. Ken

While standing at the end of your boat dock, you see a person struggling in the water. Do you recognize that the person is drowning, or is something else going on? And what should you do? Doing the right thing could help save someone else’s life, and might keep you from losing yours.

Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) occurs when faulty dock or boat wiring causes electricity (alternating current or “AC” power) to enter fresh water and pass through a swimmer. The swimmer does not need to be touching the bottom, a boat or dock structure, and even minute amounts of electricity can be incapacitating. As more light is shed on this danger, it is likely that some ESD fatalities have been misidentified as drowning, preventing awareness of this summertime boating danger. The risk of ESD is greatest in fresh or brackish waters, so some areas such as estuaries or rivers may only be in the danger zone after heavy rains. In saltwater, electric current takes the path of least resistance, bypassing swimmers.

Unlike a drowning swimmer, who typically can’t yell out for help because their mouth is mostly underwater, an ESD victim is often confused about what is happening to them, may be able to shout, and will feel numbness, tingling, pain and paralysis. A drowning victim often looks “playful”, moving their arms in a ladder climbing fashion, while an Electric Shock Drowning victim looks “distressed” and may simply roll on their back – if wearing a life jacket – or roll face down into the water, totally unresponsive.

A typical drowning can take as up to a minute for an adult or just 20 seconds for a child, with the victim’s arms moving in a climbing-a-ladder type motion, taking quick gulps of air, with the mouth below the water much of the time. ESD victims can be instantly paralyzed and not move at all.

Innocent enough? But is there electricity in the water? Boaters and parents need to know about Electric Shock Drowning, and what to do to save a life. Photo Credit: Brian Fitzgerald

So what do you need to do for both cases? Don’t jump in the water – call 911, and follow the “Reach, throw, row, but don’t go” mantra. Only a professional lifeguard has the training to handle a drowning victim. Far too often, news reports show well-intentioned rescuers increase the fatality count. If the problem is ESD – which may not be abundantly clear – going in the water could kill you.

Whether the person is drowning or suffering from ESD, use an oar, boat hook or throw a floatation device, or get into a boat and try to reach the person from there. Do everything you can – tossing a line, throwing life jackets, grabbing a nearby dinghy – but don’t go into the water yourself. Once you have retrieved the person, start CPR if there is no pulse. Automated Electrical Defibrillators are also becoming more common – just make sure the victim’s chest is dry.

For more information, parents, dock owners, boaters, and marina and boat club operators can go to the Boat Owners Association of The United States’ Electric Shock Drowning Resource Center at www.BoatUS.com/seaworthy/ESD.

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About BoatUS:

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour dispatch, on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits including marina and service discounts, and vital information that improves recreational boating. Its member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating and offers a range of boating safety courses – including 33 free state courses – that can be found at BoatUS.org/courses.

 

BoatUS Report

Towing vs. Salvage: What Boaters Should Know

The Advantage of BoatUS Membership

Ahoy all hands! My good industry friend Scott Croft, who handles all media and information for BoatUS, has often sent in many important and relevant postings to the Boat & Yacht Report. Here is his latest. Hopefully, you will never have to deal with this kind of situation but should you be faced with it, you just might be able to avoid further entanglements. -Capt. Ken

On the water breakdowns, running aground or other mishaps can ruin a day of boating or fishing. But when a boat offering assistance arrives on the scene, how do you know if the service is a “tow” or a “salvage” job? If you’re ever in doubt, ask the boat’s captain. That’s because there could be a big difference in the cost of each service and who will pay the bill, says Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS).

While there is sometimes a fine line between the towing and salvage, there are a few clear indicators that point to each. With salvage, it is the existence of “peril.” Historically and legally, salvage is any voluntary and successful rescue of a boat and/or its cargo from a peril at sea. Today that definition also includes avoiding or reducing damage to a marine environment.

Providing voluntary and successful service to vessels hard aground, on rocks, taking on water or sunk is generally considered salvage, as are rescues necessitated by collisions, fires, breakaways or other types of immediate peril. Salvage may also come into play when specialized equipment such as pumps, air bags, or divers are called for – even if the boat is at the dock.

Is this a towing job or a salvage job? Boats that are hard aground like this cruiser are most likely to be declared salvage, which is not typically covered by a towing service plan, says BoatUS.

On the other hand, when there is very little or no peril or damage to a vessel – you have a towing situation, which is far more common. Technically, this service is still salvage but of a “low order,” meaning minimal peril. A typical example is when you run out of gas or have a dead battery, and have subsequently dropped anchor to await assistance. Waters are calm, you’re no threat to navigation, and your crew and boat are fine. Ninety-nine percent of the 70,000 requests to BoatUS 24-Hour Dispatch Centers for on the water assistance last year were for routine towing services.

BoatUS members benefit from a special agreement with the TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist on the water towing fleets that treat some low order salvage situations as towing services. For example, if a boat is soft aground, this agreement ensures that if there is little peril, no damage to the member’s disabled boat, and no special equipment such as pumps are needed it’s a simple towing job. BoatUS cautions this service is still technically salvage and that other commercial towing companies may not honor this agreement.

All TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist companies are committed to informing the owner or operator of a disabled boat – before beginning any work – if the services they are offering are towing or salvage. If the owner/operator is not on board or the conditions are so perilous and the rescue of the boat requires immediate action, they will be notified as soon as possible after saving the boat.

Nationwide, towing and soft ungrounding costs average about $600 and $800, respectively. These are either paid by an annual towing service plan or out-of-pocket by the boater.

Salvage services are generally covered by insurance or out-of-pocket if self-insured and are much more expensive than a tow. Salvage awards are the legal system’s way to award a rescuer who risks their boat and themselves to save a boat in peril. Salvage charges can be calculated based on the length of the vessel saved or a request for a percentage of the boat’s post-casualty value. While it’s a reward for successful and voluntary service, the dollar amount awarded factors in, among other things, the degree of peril as well as the risk to the salvor and their crew.

There are significant expenses in operating and maintaining a professional towing operation such as captain’s and staff salaries, insurance, equipment maintenance and increasing fuel costs, not to mention capital expenses such as towboats and other specialized recovery equipment – and it must be available at a moment’s notice.

Time and circumstances permitting, if your on the water assistance provider says it will be a salvage job, boaters should try to call their insurance company so they may attempt to negotiate with the salvor before the operation gets underway. If circumstances don’t allow this, ask the salvor for a fixed price and try to get it in writing.

Boaters should review their boat’s insurance policy to ensure it fully covers salvage. Some policies have limits, high deductibles, or may not include environmental damage – all of which would have to be paid out-of-pocket.

BoatUS also suggests having a copy of the BoatUS Open Form Yacht Salvage Contract aboard, which assures that any salvage claim will go to local binding arbitration if negotiations between your insurance company and salvor fails. Designed to be more understandable, relevant to US laws and potentially money-saving for all parties, the BoatUS Open Form Contract is available free of charge at BoatUS.com/salvage.

For more information on towing and salvage, go to: BoatUS.com/salvage.

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About BoatUS Towing Services: Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing over half a million members with a wide array of consumer services, including on water towing assistance provided by TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist. Combined, these two towing fleets offer boaters, anglers and sailors the world’s largest network of towing ports with over 300 locations and over 600 towing assistance vessels — three times larger than the closest competitor.

 

 

BoatUS Report

For those of us here in the States who traverse the waters of the East and Gulf Coasts, and besides keeping all your high-tech electronic charts, plotters, and other navigational equipment in optimum operating condition, you have your good old-fashioned paper charts at the ready as well. Now, a long overdue update is being put into motion and, with the help of those of us in the boating community, traveling will be just a bit safer for all. Scott Croft sent this BoatUS update along in an attempt to reach out to readers of the Boat & Yacht Report in case anyone out there would like to help. –Capt. Ken

Over 70 Years Old, “Magenta Line” To Get a Safer Route 
With Help From Boaters

It’s over 70 years old, a thin magenta-colored line appearing on over 50 different navigational charts covering the Atlantic Coast and Gulf, snaking along the route of the Intracoastal Waterway. Now, thanks to NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey and a public-private partnership with Active Captain, an interactive cruising guidebook, NOAA will be updating the “magenta line” on all of its newly issued navigational charts to help keep boaters in safe waters. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) submitted comments on the proposal to NOAA, who had initially proposed removing the line entirely. However, responding to BoatUS’ and other boaters’ comments, NOAA will tap into users of Active Captain to update the route in an on-going effort that will benefit the boating community.

The thin magenta colored line marking the Intracoastal Waterway is like a yellow brick road for boaters transiting the East and Gulf Coasts.’

The magenta line appears in charts covering all Intracoastal waters, and is essentially two distinct routes along the eastern US and Gulf Coasts totaling about 3,000 miles in length. Said Captain Shep Smith, chief of NOAA’s Coast Survey’s Marine Chart Division, “Today’s decision to reinstate the magenta line is not a quick fix. It will take at least three years to fix problems that were 70 years in the making.”

Boaters may contribute to the updating effort by joining Active Captain at www.activecaptain.com

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About BoatUS: Boat Owners Association of The United States is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour dispatch, on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits including marina and service discounts, and vital information that improves recreational boating. Its member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating.

 

BoatUS Report

BoatUS has been an invaluable resource for lots of great information here at the Boat & Yacht Report. For this edition, we look at some helpful tips to get you more informed about how to best protect your investment. If you have any questions on this particular topic, be sure to get in touch with BoatUS at http://www.BoatUS.com -Capt. Ken

Five Ways Your Boat’s Insurance Policy Can Fail You
A Quick Check Up

Insurance is one of those things you hope you never have to use, but if you do, you expect the policy to fix the boat or compensate you fairly. If you haven’t taken a close look at your boat insurance, you could be surprised to find that you may not be entitled to a payout with some common types of claims. That’s because unlike home or auto, boat insurance policies offer a wide range of coverage, from very little to a lot. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) recently took a look at the most common claims over the past five years, and has these tips so you will know if your boat’s insurance policy will live up to your expectations:

Consequential Damage: If you take hurricane losses out of the list of common claims, the number one claim is for sinking, and half of all sinkings occur at the dock when some small part below the waterline fails. The most common culprits include hoses/hose clamps, stuffing boxes, outdrive bellows, and sea strainers. But these parts most often fail due to “wear, tear, and corrosion” which is a lack of maintenance issue, so policies won’t pay you for a new outdrive bellows or sea strainer. But what about the rest of the boat sitting sunk on the lake bottom? Some policies won’t cover that, either, as they exclude any “consequential” damage as a result of wear, tear and corrosion. That’s why you need “Consequential Damage” coverage that covers losses that often start with a failed part.

Boat owners may be surprised to find their boat’s insurance policy may not cover a common sinking like this.

Salvage: Hurricanes lead the list of most common claims from 2008 to 2012. In every hurricane boats get scattered and need to be salvaged and safely brought back to their storage area. That takes cranes, travel lifts, flatbed trucks, and other heavy equipment that typically costs hundreds of dollars per foot of boat length. However, as a few boaters found out with Hurricane Sandy, some policies subtract the money paid to salvage the boat from what you get paid to fix the boat, while others only offer salvage coverage up to 25% or 30% of the insured value. A better policy provides separate salvage coverage up to the insured value of the boat – in addition to any payments to fix the boat or replace equipment.

Wreck removal: When fires, sinkings, hurricanes or running up on a shoal destroy your boat, you end up with a “wreck.” Most boaters assume their insurance company will cover the cost of cleaning up what’s left, but some policies will give you a check for the insured value and only a specified percentage for wreck removal – 3% to 10% is typical – and walk away. That leaves your wallet short and you managing a job you have little knowledge of. Better policies pay up to the liability limit, usually $100,000 or more, to clean up the mess, and don’t let you go it alone.

Liability-only policies: Looking through the claims files, injuries make the top ten list for payouts not because of their frequency, but because settlements tend to be expensive. Having no insurance could leave you open to a six-figure settlement. If you have a liability-only policy, the better ones will cover injuries as well as salvage, wreck removal and fuel-spill liability.

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About BoatUS: Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour dispatch, on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits including marina and service discounts, and vital information that improves recreational boating. Its member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating.

 

BoatUS Report

Top 10 Pieces Of Gear For Runabouts

As a follow up to my timely posting of information on making a case for the versatile deckboat, my friend Scott Croft at BoatUS sent me this handy list of important items one may want to consider having aboard before going out for the day or some extended time away from the dock.

You never know when having two anchors aboard is just what you will need should more options for anchoring be necessary.

As there’s a lot to be said for owning small runabouts, center consoles or bow riders, and while they are affordable, easy to store, and can keep everyone in the family happy, they have their limits, especially if you want to venture into coastal waters and big lakes. But these journeys can still be done, with the right ten pieces of equipment. Here’s what Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) recommends should be aboard every boat 20 feet or smaller:

Paddles: If your engine quits, paddles are your propulsion. Keep the outboard or sterndrive down for a rudder, and if you’ve got a buddy or a spouse aboard, you can make decent headway. A T-handle paddle, the kind used for whitewater canoeing, gives you a great grip. The aluminum shaft is light and strong, as is the high-impact plastic blade. Those materials don’t mind sitting out in the weather, either. Make sure they’re at least five feet long.

Dry box: Small boats typically lack dry storage. Large, plastic marine dry boxes with lids with O-rings seal out moisture and an extra-deep model can hold the radio, smartphone, flashlight, GPS and more, leaving them dry when you need them.

Anchors and line: Some small-boat manufacturers barely leave space for a lunch hook. But what happens if your engine quits, or you want to anchor overnight in a quiet cove? Stowing two anchors with different line lengths gives you options. Chain between line and anchor also helps. And don’t forget a few docklines. (See image above.)

Wearable life jacket: Luckily, life jacket design has evolved and you can find Type III vest-style models that are comfortable to wear all day. Plenty of small-boat owners wear inflatable jackets. They’re more buoyant, but more costly and require some care. Your best choice is any life jacket you’ll always wear.

Compatible power source for electronics: When your cell phone runs out of juice during a nautical emergency, that’s a crisis. Same goes for your flashlight, handheld GPS unit and VHF radio. Get devices that run on the same power source such as AA batteries and stow and extra sealed pack of batteries in the dry box.

Manual bailer: Small, closed-deck boats rely on a single, submersible pump to keep the bilge dry. But if that pump fails, or seawater comes over the gunwales or stern, or there’s heavy rain, you’ve got a problem. Keeping a hand-operated bilge pump aboard is cheap insurance.

Air Horn: The US Coast Guard says small boats must have a “sound-producing device” for distress signaling, capable of a four-second blast that’s audible one quarter-mile away. While a plastic whistle or an installed electric horn may meet the letter of the law, a better choice is a handheld, gas-powered air horn, which can be heard at greater distances.

Spare prop and fix-It tools: A submerged ledge or log can ding your prop and cripple your boat. Having a spare prop and the right wrench is common advice, but changing a mangled wheel while afloat is easier said than done. Dents in aluminum props can be put back into serviceable shape, at least enough to get home. Beefy, vice-grip-style locking pliers and slip-joint pliers are essential for this repair.

Have a charging source: Cell phones don’t run on AA batteries. That’s why you need a marine rated 12-volt receptacle with a weatherproof cap. Mount it away from spray and rain, and don’t forget the charging cords for other electronics.

Paper chart in plastic cover: Even a waterproof chart is hard to manage underway in an open boat. But by putting it in a clear, plastic holder, wind and water won’t matter it will always be ready when you need it. You can buy one or make one with clear plastic from the hardware store and duct tape.

Safe travels shipmates.- Capt. Ken

                                          ________________________

About BoatUS: Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits that include marina and West Marine shopping discounts, and vital information that improves recreational boating. Its member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating.

 

Boat US Report

Open for Business: Cruising Guide Seeks
Superstorm Sandy Region Marina Updates

Waterway Guide, AMI, BoatUS Team Up to Offer Boaters the Latest Information on NJ, NY Waterways.

The damage to Trixie’s is just one example of the devastating aftermath of Superstorm Sandy’s effect on local marina businesses along the New Jersey shoreline. (Photo Courtesy of Chip.)

Superstorm Sandy dealt a devastating blow to marine facilities, navigation aids and channels along the New Jersey and New York coastlines. The storm also choked northern New Jersey’s Intracoastal Waterway and other channels with sunken boats, sand, silt and debris from buildings and piers. How will boaters know what services are available or where the navigational hazards exist?

Trixie’s Berkeley Island Marine in Bayville, NJ, before the storm. Trixie’s is once again fully open for business and ready for the 2013 summer season. (Photo Courtesy of Lindsey Sessions.)

Waterway Guide, the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) and Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) have teamed up to offer an easy, up-to-date, free online guide for boaters at www.WaterwayGuide.com/superstorm-sandy. But, marinas and other boating service providers need to share their operating information and update it throughout the season by sending an email to superstormsandy@waterwayguide.com.

“The good news is there has been a monumental rebuilding effort and the majority of marine facilities are either open or expect to reopen by the boating season,” said BoatUS Technical Director Beth Leonard, “In addition, the New Jersey ICW and nearly all channels are open to navigation, although many hazards still exist in shallower areas and will likely remain that way for the 2013 boating season, especially in the northern Barnegat Bay area. Boaters cruising the ICW or just headed out for a Saturday afternoon, however, will need to know where navigational hazards still exist and where they can find fuel, slips, pumpouts, and repair facilities. This online resource is available to any marina, yacht club or boat club in the most storm-damaged areas wishing to post their information. Individual boaters can also send an email to superstormsandy@waterwayguide.com to provide updates on their marinas, boating facilities and any hazards in their local waters.”

The special Superstorm Sandy webpage covers all marinas on the New Jersey coast, New York City, Hudson Valley and Long Island’s South Shore. Marinas and other boating businesses do not need to be currently listed in Waterway Guide to participate. Updates can be sent at any time and will be posted promptly.

“This is a way for BoatUS, Waterway Guide and AMI to help the industry get back on its feet by generating business,” added Leonard.

About Waterway Guide: Waterway Guide is the time-tested, best known and most respected cruising resource available. For over 65 years, boaters have trusted Waterway Guide before making their cruising and buying decisions. Waterway Guide is the boater’s choice for verified and accurate information on thousands of marinas, businesses and attractions along the way. All six print editions (Bahamas, Southern, Atlantic ICW, Chesapeake Bay, Northern and Great Lakes) of Waterway Guide, totaling 3,000 pages, are updated annually by on-the-water cruising editors, each possessing an average of 35 years active boating experience and by our professional production staff in Deltaville, Virginia. www.WaterwayGuide.com adds all the latest cruising news, navigational updates, fuel reports and other resources.

About AMI: The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) is a nonprofit membership organization that provides management training, education and information about research, legislation and environmental issues affecting the marina industry.

About BoatUS: Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half-million members with government representation, services such as 24-hour on-the-water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-rich boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits that include marina and West Marine shopping discounts, and vital information that improves the boating, fishing and sailing lifestyle. Its member-funded BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating.

 

 

BoatUS Report

Hot Weather Fishing Tips From BoatUS Angler Pro Staff

It’s been a scorcher of a summer around the country, but that hasn’t kept anglers from fishing. Some, like BoatUS Angler Pro Staff angler David Gnewikow (juh-nee-vuh-koh) of Tennessee, have simply figured out a way to manage the heat as they battle it out with pizza oven-like temperatures. So what’s the secret? Here are some tips to help keep anglers and their catch cool from Gnewikow that may seem forthright – but after spending a long hot day competing on the water, you’d be surprised at how many pros “still look they’ve been smashed by a beat truck” chuckles Gnewikow.

When temperatures get this hot, anglers need a new playbook.

While it may seem overkill, covering your skin not only protects you from sunburn, it is actually much cooler. Purchase a good, lightweight long-sleeve top with a decent SPF rating. Gnewikow also believes in head, neck and face protection. “I bought a Buff and while it’s a little goofy looking, at the end of the day I’m not red-faced and I’m actually cooler during the day,” says Gnewikow. He even recently took the plunge and bought a pair of sun gloves. “If your luck holds out they get stinky at the end of the day, but all you have to do is get them wet and your hands stay cool.” He also has invested in a good wide-brimmed sun hat.

Gnewikow once had a co-angler simply bring two, one-liter bottles of Mountain Dew aboard for a tournament day. By noon, the man felt ill, clearly on his way to winning a case of sunstroke. “I drink a bottle of water every time I start the big motor and if I move 10-15 times a day I stay plenty hydrated,” says Gnewikow. So what’s your timing trick to ensure you get enough water? Use whatever works for you, but bring plenty for the day’s outing and avoid sugary drinks.For the fish in the livewell, getting enough oxygen is key. Working against you is the heat – warmer waters contain less oxygen. A simple aerator which puts thousand of small bubbles in the water by way of an “air stone” is fine – just make sure you check its operation throughout the day. At higher temperatures, frequency oxygenators which create millions of “Nano” oxygen bubbles may do a better job maintaining oxygen levels. Some systems are for fresh or salt water but not both, and if your system uses chemicals, be sure to use the recommended product.

If temps are really hot, keeping the livewell at a cooler temperature will help. If you have access to a freezer, you can also freeze lake water in zip lock bags to take along. Just use it in moderation – a rule of thumb is that livewell water should neither feel cold nor warm like bath water. Good luck staying cool! Anglers can check out David Gnewikow’s Pro Staff Blog at www.BoatUS.com/Angler/Gnewikow.

About BoatUS Angle: BoatUS Angler, a membership program from the nation’s largest association of recreational boaters, offers services such as on-the-water towing for disabled fishing boats, roadside assistance for both boat trailers and tow vehicles, and fishing boat insurance. It also protects the interests of boat-owning anglers. Visit BoatUSAngler.com for more.

 

BoatUS Report

Host  a Cleanup in Your Area With the Help of BoatUS Foundation

New Guide to Waterway Cleanups for Boating Business and Boaters

Clean waterways are essential to  safe and fun boating. Whether you are a boater, a marina owner, a towboat  captain or other waterfront business owner, helping to keep our waterways clean  is in everyone’s best interest. Each year hundreds of thousands of individuals  help by participating in beach and waterway cleanups around the world,  collecting millions of pounds of trash and debris. Boaters and marine-based  businesses are especially well equipped to help in this effort. With waterfront  access and boats, we can easily get to locations that can be otherwise  difficult to reach. Thanks to the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and  Clean Water, conducting your own cleanup event is now a lot easier.

Cleanup events are a great way to show your commitment to your community and the environment.

If you are interested in conducting a cleanup event in your area,  visit BoatUS.com/Foundation/Cleanup to download the guide and start planning  your event.

Not ready to dive into planning your own cleanup event? Why not  participate with an established event in your area? Your special skills, access  to boats and understanding of local waterways could be invaluable to other  groups in expanding their efforts during a cleanup event. Contact the ICC to  participate in an established event by visiting signuptocleanup.org

The  BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national 501(c)(3)  nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting safe and environmentally  sensitive boating. The Foundation’s goal is to be the leader in boating safety  and environmental education and outreach, with the purpose of reducing  accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of our waterways, and keeping  boating a safe, accessible and enjoyable pastime.

 

BoatUS Report

EPIRBs and PLBs: Both Rescue Beacons Now Available From BoatUS Foundation Rental Program

PLBs are delivered in a padded pouch to keep them safe and can be attached to a belt, harness or life jacket.

Recreational boats sometimes travel far from land, perhaps for an offshore fishing trip or tournament, summer vacation, regatta or race. That means safety measures need to be upped, and the best way to do that is to have a GPS-enabled Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) aboard the boat, and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) attached to crewmembers, which both can instantly summon help and provide rescuers with precise location information. However, fitting out a boat with these life saving rescue beacons can be expensive. To help fill the temporary need for onboard safety, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water now rents both GPS enabled EPIRBs for only $65 per week and PLBs for $45 a week (+ shipping). A new online ordering system at www.BoatUS.com/foundation/epirb makes reserving a beacon easy.

EPIRBs are great for voyages where traditional communications are spotty. Once activated, either manually or automatically by submersion in water, the Foundation’s McMurdo Cat II 406 MHz GPS-enabled EPIRBs broadcast a repeating SOS signal with integrated GPS location from virtually any point on earth. The signal is received by COSPAS/SARSAT satellites which identify the beacon’s position within a few hundred yards in mere minutes. Search and rescue personnel then contact BoatUS for critical renter information and notify the appropriate rescue agency to respond. Once activated, they are effective for 48 hours of continuous operation.

ACR ResQLink 406 PLB.

The Foundation’s ACR ResQLink 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons are like small EPIRBs, except that the PLBs can only be activated manually and are secured to the individual crewmember – not the boat. They use the same satellites and send an SOS signal with GPS position to summon help. However, with smaller batteries, PLBs are effective for only 24 hours of continuous operation once activated. PLBs make a great addition to a rented EPIRB, providing ultimate peace of mind when it comes to your crew, especially when on deck, on the night watch, or solo cruising. They are also suitable for small craft, like paddle sports and personal watercraft, making outback voyages to remote locations.

“Personal Locator Beacons are lightweight, compact and easy-to-use, and if your budget is tight, you can’t beat our rental cost,” said BoatUS Foundation Assistant Director of Boating Safety Ted Sensenbrenner. For more information go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation/epirb

About the BoatUS Foundation: The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Funded primarily by the half-million members of BoatUS, it provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America’s waterways and keeping boating safe for all. To make a tax-deductible donation to this 501(c)(3) nonprofit, go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation

 

BoatUS Report

Largest Online Archive of Boating Repair, Maintenance “How-to” Available from BoatUS

Extensive “BoatTECH” Resource

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), has relaunched its extensive online “BoatTECH” resource at BoatUS.com/BoatTech, making it the largest, no-cost online archive in the country with hundreds of articles on boating technical, repair, maintenance, and other how-to resources for boaters, anglers, and sailors.

Armed with a tool bag like this and the online “BoatTECH” archive at BoatUS.com/BoatTech, boat owners can tackle a lot of their boat’s repair and maintenance issues.

BoatTECH articles now cover, in-depth, the entire vast range of subjects for the practical do-it-yourselfer, including everything from how to add an inverter and use downriggers, to how to repair fiberglass and maintain boat trailers. From plumbing to polish, articles are enriched with more useful photos and up-to-date advice.

The site is easy to navigate, is being expanded continually, and boaters who are not BoatUS members are welcome to visit, search topics, follow chat narratives and learn from the authoritative articles written by the BoatUS Tech Team, including:

• Tom Neale, liveaboard expert and top technical editor who also provides exclusive navigation and chart updates for the American East Coast.

• Don Casey, best selling author of “do-it-yourself” books, including the DIY boaters’ bible, This Old Boat.

• John Adey, President of the boatbuilding standards organization, American Boat and Yacht Council, a technical expert who has owned a marine supply store and completely restored his classic 1976 Irwin ketch.

For membership information visit http://www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628

BoatUS is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its over half million members with government representation, services such as boat towing and insurance, boating safety programs, and money-saving benefits.