Fishing Boats

Top Ten Boat Names

2012-02-14T17:22:00.000-08:00

The Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has released their 22nd annual list of the Top Ten Boat Names. And the winners are:

1. Seas the Day
2. Nauti Buoy
3. Aquaholic
4. Dream Weaver
5. Pegasus
6. Serenity Now
7. Second Wind
8. Liquid Asset
9. Miss Behavin'
10. Blew ByYou

Check out the BoatUS Annual List of Top Ten Boat Names for the last 22 years as well as a list of over 8,000 boat names by visiting http://www.BoatUS.com/boatgraphics.

New Sponsor of Vessel Safety Check Program

2012-02-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

The US Coast Guard and US Power Squadrons expect to complete over 200,000 voluntary Vessel Safety Checks this year. The no-cost, no-risk courtesy inspections, done at boat ramps, marinas and boat clubs, have ensured the safety of thousands of lives. Now, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has stepped in to sponsor this important boating safety program for the next three years.

"A vessel safety check is done as a courtesy and with no risk to the boater - you won't be in trouble if discrepancies are found," said BoatUS Foundation Assistant Director of Boating Safety Ted Sensenbrenner. "What it will do is point out, in a very friendly manner, where you can improve your boat's safety and help educate you on the value of recreational boating safety. Simply put, having a Vessel Safety Check done on your boat at the beginning of the boating season will help prevent bad things from happening and ensures that if something does occur, you're prepared."

If you are ever stopped by law enforcement, the Vessel Safety Check program can also help prevent citations by ensuring your boat meets federal, state and local safety equipment requirements, such as the proper display of registration numbers and documentation.

It also points out both the required and recommended items to have aboard, such as fire extinguishers, life jackets, distress signals, first aid kits, and engine spark arrestors, and also helps provide a better understanding on the care and use of this critical equipment. Additional items covered include the use of local navigation charts, float plans, safe refueling, ventilation, marine heads, weather, sea conditions, survival tips and more.

To find a US Coast Guard Auxiliary or US Power Squadron Vessel Safety Check examiner near you, go to www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC. A "Virtual" Vessel Safety Inspection that boaters can use to self-inspect their boat can be found by going to www.safetyseal.net/what_is_vsc.asp. For a look at some of the top reasons why a boat may fail a courtesy Vessel Safety Inspection, go to www.safetyseal.net/vsc_stats.asp.

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 on-the-water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, specialized boat insurance programs, money saving benefits that include marina and 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.

Pennsylvania's new mandatory PFD regulation

2012-02-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Beginning on November 1, 2012 the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) passed a new regulation making it mandatory that Personal Floatation Devises (PFD's) be worn by anyone on a vessel less than 16' in length.

This is a cold water month regulation that is effective between November 1st and April 30th. It applies to all kayaks and canoes regardless of length and on all other vessels less than 16 feet. The regulation is applied while a vessel is underway or at anchor.

For more information on this and other Pennsylvania boating rules and regulations visit the PFBC website at www.fishandboat.com

Why Not Butanol?

2012-02-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 6, 2012 -- With its ability to attract moisture and clog fuel filters, it's no wonder America's boaters have not been thrilled with ethanol in gasoline, which today is most commonly found as a 10% blend and known as E10 at the gas pump. America's desire for renewable fuels is growing, but recent Department of Energy tests on boat engines showed that increasing the amount of ethanol to 15% doesn't work for boats. While higher ethanol content has been approved by the EPA for 2001 and newer cars and light trucks, E15 is not legal to use in boats and other gas-powered equipment.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) suggests that butanol, an alcohol with a characteristic banana-like odor typically made from corn and beet byproducts, may be an answer.

Unlike ethanol, butanol is less corrosive, doesn't attract moisture which can cause harmful "phase separation" of the fuel, and can be mixed in ahead of time and shipped through existing pipelines. It has a higher energy value (110,000 Btu per gallon versus ethanol's 84,000 Btu), and is safer because its flammability is similar to diesel fuel. So why aren't America's boaters, motorists and gas-powered tool and toy owners using butanol?

"Part of the answer is how the stuff is - or was - made," wrote BoatUS Seaworthy Magazine Editor and Damage Avoidance Expert Bob Adriance. He says, "Back in the 1980's when the government was looking at biofuels, the cost to produce butanol was much higher than ethanol. Congress also gave ethanol a head start 30 years ago with a subsidy to produce it from corn. However, the subsidy is now expired and new technologies have made the costs to produce both fuels similar, although butanol is ultimately far less expensive to produce in terms of the amount of energy delivered per gallon.

"With its new cost competitiveness and energy advantages, butanol could be a biofuel that boaters embrace," said Adriance. "However, we need to find out more about any potential long-term effects, and would need to overcome the not-too-insignificant reality of ethanol's financial and political momentum in the market today."