Did you know there is a new life jacket label? The label is being phased in and you may see it printed on the inside of a new life jacket. The new label DOES NOT make obsolete life jackets with the old label. Always look for a life jacket that is U.S. Coast Guard approved.
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has been off to a rapid pace with a record-setting nine named storms so far and has the potential to be one of the busiest on record. Historically, only two named storms form on average by early August, and the ninth named storm typically does not form until October 4. An average season produces 12 named storms, including six hurricanes of which three become major hurricanes (Category 3, 4, or 5).
With the move to phase 2 of the Rhode Island Fiberglass Vessel Recycling (RIFVR) Pilot Program to address the disposal issue of recreational boats, project managers have released “Facing the Legacy: Lifecycle Solutions for Fiberglass Boats.” The short video shares the compelling story of how those efforts have evolved into a first-in-the-nation boat recycling project.
Two brands with rich histories, evolving in an ever-changing landscape, building solutions engineered to encourage you to live beyond land. In a year that has presented many changes in how we experience life from accessing our groceries to connecting with friends and experiencing the outdoors, Mustang Survival & MTI Adventurewear are teaming up to change the way we deliver the gear that gets you out on the water.
Boat On Course, FREE educational boating safety videos from the National Safe Boating Council in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, teach the basic navigation rules of boating. Boaters may watch at their own pace and test their knowledge at the end of each video with a short quiz.
The Skipper Club will set sail this weekend at Lake Allatoona to sharpen the boating skills of area teens. To provide this on-water instruction to ages 13 to 19, Georgia Boat Safety and Training has joined forces with the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Safe Boating Council.
News and updates about our programs, industry happenings, member spotlights and more from the National Safe Boating Council. In this issue: New NSBC Website, Skipper Club™ Launches in Georgia, Start and Stop Without Keys with CoastKey, Become a Boating Safety Advocate, 5 Neck Gaiters for $25, and more.
Maybe you’ve read the statistics, heard the stories, or experienced the dangers of the water firsthand. For instance, in 2019, 86% of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. In partnership with localized grassroots efforts, the Safe Boating Campaign is working to educate the public and reverse this statistic.
Research shows that Gen-Z boaters (those born between 1995-2009) are an inherently more cautious generation than their Millennial & Gen-X predecessors. This could be the generation that views boating safety practices as “the norm” – and Skipper Club can help prepare these young boaters for the waterway.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. NMMA played a critical role in shaping the bill—which includes key provisions that would improve the safety of the millions of Americans who take to the water each year.
Summer is typically a wonderful season for outdoor activities and spending additional time with family and friends. For some people, these activities include drinking alcoholic beverages. In light of the coronavirus pandemic as well as the negative consequences associated with drinking, it is particularly important this summer to take measures to protect your own health and that of your loved ones. This includes following the everyday practices recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus.
US Powerboat Market includes all recreational powerboats (including PWCs) registered in the US as of year-end 2019. Not included are sailboats and self-propelled craft such as canoes and kayaks.
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by a bipartisan vote of 73-25. ORR members were at the forefront of this landmark legislation, leading the effort to include maintenance backlog funding for the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; bringing together more than 100 outdoor recreation businesses in support of GAOA; garnering Senate support and much more.
Every year the Coast Guard Auxiliary provides free vessel safety checks for all boaters. The checks provide important safety information to ensure each boater is prepared for any and all emergency situations that may arise. Once a vessel passes the safety check, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will dispense a vessel safety check sticker. This will show the Coast Guard that this vessel has all of the safety requirements for safe boating.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that more than 30 people lost their lives to drowning in June at lake and river projects the agency manages. The June statistics represent a 47 percent increase in drownings over the same time period last year. USACE also reported that nearly all the drowning victims were adult males between the ages of 18 and 85 and were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the drowning.
(AUDIO NEWS RELEASE) Boating under the influence, or BUI, is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Yvonne Pentz, communications director, National Safe Boating Council, explains the importance of not boating under the influence.
You don’t want to miss Summer 2020 issue of Anchorline, the National Safe Boating Council’s quarterly newsletter sponsored by Rolyan® Buoys! IN THIS ISSUE: 5 Things You Can Do, Giving Back During COVID-19, Put Your Boating Knowledge to the Test, Media Best Practices, Operation Dry Water, and more!
In 2018, 22.9 million Americans, or 7.6 percent of the U.S. population, took to rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans to participate in at least one paddling activity. Learn more in the American Canoe Association’s 2019 Special Report on Paddlesports & Safety is available at https://www.americancanoe.org/page/statistics. Watch this video for an overview of the report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnHl1PHct24
The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2019 Recreational Boating Statistics are available now. Quick takeaways: compared to 2018, the number of accidents increased 0.6%; alcohol use continues to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, and the top five primary contributing factors in accidents ranked are operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol.
The arrival of summer is extremely welcome, and we are all looking forward to spending more time outside and on the water. West Marine is in the final stages of reopening all our retail stores, distribution centers and corporate headquarters.
