Boaters Need to be Their Own Best Lifeguard

Seven Swimming Safety Tips

 

Boating and swimming go hand-in-hand, but unlike a public pool or beach, boaters can't count on a lifeguard to watch over them. As this summer's sweltering heat wave drives more boaters to dive into the deep blue, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety has these seven swimming tips:

1. Always ensure the engine is off. The best way to do this is to remove the key from the ignition, leaving it in plain view so everyone knows it won't start.

2. At marinas, stray electric current from poorly maintained boat electrical and shore power systems can kill swimmers. Three separate marina electrocution incidents over the July 4 holiday left four kids and one adult dead, and injured several others who had tried to come to their rescue.

3. Never dive in head first before confirming the water depth. Mistakenly diving into a shallow, mucky bottom may simply leave you bruised and looking more like the creature of black lagoon. However, diving head first into hard sandy bottom, rock or underwater obstruction could put you in a wheelchair. Deploy a boarding ladder first and ease yourself in to confirm water depth.

4. Never swim alone. If you're in the middle of the lake and swimming alone, there's no safety backstop in case you have a problem - which could be nearby boaters unaware of you.

5. It's always a good idea to have a life jacket or floating seat cushion close by (and tied to the boat) that swimmers can easily reach while in the water, or simply hang a dock line over the side. And even if you're a good swimmer, wearing a life jacket while in the water makes you nearly drown-proof.

6. Never swim under a boat's swim platform or near any boat with the engine running. You could strike the running gear or fall victim to carbon monoxide poisoning - it only takes a few whiffs of CO to leave swimmers incapacitated or unconscious. Also stay away from generator exhaust ports.

7. When boats and swimmers collide, boats always win. You're simply asking for trouble if you swim in navigation channels or marinas. Also never swim in area with strong river or tidal currents, which can swiftly sweep swimmers away from the boat.

For more information on boating safety programs from the BoatUS Foundation, such as the free Online Boating Safety Course or free Kid's Life Jacket Loaner Program, go to www.BoatUS.com/Foundation.

BoatUS Towing Services now has over 300 locations

The BoatUS Towing Services on-the-water towboat fleet has reached a milestone: there are now over 300 TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist locations across North America, making it the largest recreational boat towing operation in the world. “We’ve added 14 new locations this year alone, all ready to respond 24 hours a day,” said BoatUS Vice President of Towing Services Jerry Cardarelli. To find any location on a map, go to www.BoatUS.com/serviceslocator.

With half a million members, the on-the-water assistance service for recreational boaters has three times more locations than the closest competitor. On average, 65,000 requests are handled annually from boat owners seeking on-the-water help such as a battery jump-start, soft ungrounding, fuel drop off, or a tow home back to a marina or launch ramp. Business is booming: To date, BoatUS reports that 25 states are already up over 10% in towing dispatch volume over last year. “The free BoatUS Towing App for iPhone and Android have helped drive this increase, along with better weather year to date,” said Cardarelli.

Ten of the program’s 14 new locations this year are located on freshwater lakes and rivers, reflecting the Association’s growth of services for freshwater boaters. “The inland regions, particularly the South, Midwest and Great Lakes, have a lot of boaters who need round the clock service, which many marinas don’t offer. We’ve also had a great response, especially from anglers,” added Cardarelli.

The on-the-water towboat service, a program modeled after roadside assistance clubs for automobile owners, offers a choice of membership plans for recreational boaters and sailors to anglers with fishing boats. Annual towing plans now start at $58 a year for freshwaters and $149 for saltwaters and Florida. Both include a choice of either BoatUS or BoatUS Angler membership.

BoatUS also has a towing service plan for those who trailer their boats – something most roadside assistance clubs don’t include. For $14 additional annually, the Association’s “Trailer Assist” program provides roadside help for both boat trailers and tow vehicles (while towing), and will tow both up to 100 miles to a safe location, repair facility, or home. Ramp winching, fuel drop off and lock out services are also all included. Over 18,000 towing companies nationwide stand by ready to assist.

For more information on any of BoatUS’ towing services, go to BoatUS.com/towing. The towing service is a part of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), which began in 1966 and is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing over half a million members with a wide array of consumer services, government representation and money-saving programs.

Clean Vessel Act Celebrates 20th Anniversary Helping Recreational Boaters Keep Waters Clean

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced $11.4 million in grants to 24 states under the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grant program.  Since its creation in 1992, the CVA program has provided funds to States to construct, replace, renovate, and maintain facilities that assist recreational boaters in properly disposing of on-board septic waste.   The program also provides information and education on the importance, benefits, and availability of pumpouts.  Funds for the CVA program are provided annually from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

“It’s an honor to recognize 20 years of the Clean Vessel Act and helping to keep waters clean,” said Service Director Dan Ashe.  “Over the past 20 years, the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program has awarded almost $200 million in CVA grants.  I am pleased that these efforts are put in place to benefit wildlife, sport fishing, recreational boating, and communities across America.”

In addition to traditional on-dock pumpouts, projects include pumpout boats that travel in designated harbors to make the sewage collection process more efficient and convenient. Some States also have begun installing floating restrooms in areas where boaters congregate and no restrooms are available.

"No group has a more direct interest in clean water than recreational boaters do today," said Margaret Podlich, President of the Boat Owners Association of The United States.  "That's why we support the CVA grant program and all of the other programs that boaters and anglers pay for through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund."

For more information on the 2012 grant awards made today visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA2012Funding.pdf 

For more information on the CVA program visit:
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/CVA/CVA.htm

Less Damage To Boats Stored, Tied Down Ashore

The Latest Trend in Boat Hurricane Preparation: Tie Her Down

BoatUS Finds Less Damage To Boats Stored, Tied Down Ashore

 With Hurricane season officially beginning June 1, forecasters are predicting a "near normal" year of storm activity, which means there's a good chance that tropical storms will strike the US coastline. However, BoatUS has found a new tactic for preparing for incoming storms - using tie downs with boats stored ashore  - that has proven to significantly lessen the impact of storm damage.

"We've known for a long time that the most effective storm preparation tactic a boat owner can do is to remove the boat from the water and store her ashore in a location above the anticipated storm surge," said BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. "That's why we created the Hurricane Haul-out Coverage overage included in all our boat insurance policies that helps defray the cost to remove a boat from the water."

"But over the last few years, we've now learned that if you add tie-downs on both sides of a boat that are secured to deck cleats and either embedded in the concrete pad or deeply screwed into the earth with helical anchors, you can almost eliminate storm damage from all but the most severe storms. Of course, you also have to include other measures, such as reducing windage by removing roller-furled sails and biminis, and ensuring that jack-stands rest on a firm surface, but if you want the least damage and want to get back on the water after a storm as quickly as possible, pulling the boat from the water and firmly tying her down are a winning plan," added Adriance.

BoatUS also offers free online help with the web's most complete Hurricane Resource Center designed specifically for boaters, clubs and marinas at www.BoatUS.com/Hurricanes. It includes detailed storm-tracking information as well as the no-cost, downloadable Boater's Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes.

All BoatUS boat policies include "Named Storm Haul-out Reimbursement." When a boat is in the path of a NOAA-named storm (within the five-day "cone"), a boater is eligible to be reimbursed for 50% of the cost of labor, up to $1,000, to have the boat professionally hauled, prepared and tied-down, or moved to a safe location. With BoatUS, a hurricane haul-out "claim" does not penalize a policyholder.

LightSquared Files for Bankruptcy

Thanks to Boaters Who Spoke Up: "Save My GPS"

 Nearly a year ago, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) began asking recreational boaters, anglers and the marine industry to speak out about the potential loss of reliable GPS - the country's sole electronic navigation system. A private venture, LightSquared, backed by billions of dollars in funding, had plans to build a nationwide 4G broadband cellular telephone network but unfortunately, tests had shown this plan would interfere with GPS signals creating grave safety concerns. The company recently announced that it has filed for bankruptcy after the build-out of the network was halted by the FCC.

"Boaters can appreciate having GPS first hand," said BoatUS President Margaret Podlich. "They know it will get them safely home, help them find the best fishing, meet friends for an afternoon raft-up, and greatly speed their rescue if the day goes bad. We thank the 18,000 boaters and other GPS users who wrote the FCC asking the guardian of the nation's airwaves to ensure the future integrity of the GPS signal, and the FCC for listening and acting on our concerns."

Even with the company's May 14 Chapter 11 filing, LightSquared continues to be a challenging adversary, stating, "The voluntary Chapter 11 filing is intended to give LightSquared sufficient breathing room to continue working through the regulatory process that will allow us to build our 4G wireless network." Under federal bankruptcy law, LightSquared would maintain exclusive control for several months over the right to craft a path to emerge from Chapter 11. The company originally asked the FCC for permission to build 40,000 network ground stations across the country. Recent government reports concluded interference issues with the GPS system could not be overcome.

BoatUS is a member of the Coalition to Save Our GPS, which worked to resolve this threat to the GPS system. After losing their only other viable navigation system (LORAN) in 2010 after the Department of Homeland Security shut the system down, boaters now solely rely on GPS for electronic navigation. The US Coast Guard's emergency search and rescue system, Rescue 21, also now uses GPS to locate stricken vessels on over 41,746 miles of coastline, and mariners also rely on GPS-enabled communications with DSC VHF radios and emergency beacons to provide location information.

Boat Ramps are Like Security Checkpoints at Airports: Nobody Wants to Wait in That Line

Don't Be That Guy

Memorial Day is coming up. It's a time to slow down and remember every soldier that has made a sacrifice, suffered death or a life changing injury so that goobers like me could run around covering bass tournaments and filming fishing shows. Two simple words: "Thank You."

But look, I'm convinced that if I ever stop filming fishing shows, I could show up on any boat ramp in America on Memorial Day weekend and film a best-selling blooper tape of people struggling on boat ramps.

Look, do me a favor. Do us all a favor. Don't be "that guy." If you're reading this and you aren't absolutely confident that you'll be a thing of perfect efficiency when you get to the ramp this weekend - well, then - fix what needs fixing.

Is your cranking battery fresh, or has it been sitting stale as last year's Christmas cookies? And please tell me you're not going to ask your wife or brother-in-law, neither of whom have ever backed a boat down a ramp in their life, to "help you." 

If you just absolutely have to rely on an amateur for assistance, then I'd recommend going to an empty parking lot for practice until they are experts at backing-up a trailer before you even consider humiliating them and yourself on ?game day' this coming weekend.

See, here's the deal, boat ramps are like security checkpoints at airports. Nobody wants to wait in that line, so don't make it worse by being totally unprepared when you're up to bat.
Boat ramps are not maintenance garages. It's not a place to tune up your outboard, organize your fishing tackle or take inventory of your water skies and inflatables.

It's not a playground either, so rein in the zoo monkeys. I love taking my kids to the lake. It's an important part of our lives. But I don't let the little crumb snatchers run rampant on the launch ramp. It's dangerous, and it's irresponsible.

Think of boat ramps as a tollbooth. Get in. Get out. And getting out doesn't mean pulling up five-feet from the water's edge and stopping. Get way out of the way before you stop to re-adjust all your equipment for the ride home.

You guys that are reading this probably don't need a lecture. Most of you are proficient bass boat owners. But "the guy" that is "that guy" probably doesn't even realize that he is "that guy." So help him out, dudes. If you have one of those guys in your life - help him get prepared - Memorial Day is not the time to be a jackknife on the boat ramp.

And by all means, speaking of being prepared, no matter how proficient you are on the ramp - make sure you call BoatUS Angler to sign-up for a membership www.BoatUS.com/angler/. You just never know when you're gonna need assistance on the road to the lake, or once you're on the water. And certainly let's hope none of us have issues on the boat ramp this coming weekend.

The Life of a Middle-Aged Boat

And What to Do About It

 With people, middle age begins at around 40. With boats, it's about the 10-year mark. And for both, it signals a time when age begins to show. But that doesn't mean life is slowing down - only that more effort is needed to stay in shape. With decade-old boats, that means taking a hard look at things that haven't been checked out over the years. BoatUS has these nine "middle age" maintenance tips on boats: 

Bilge pumps: Like a Louisiana oil field roughneck, a ten-year old bilge pump has likely lead a tough life. Switches are often the first to go, so make sure yours works fine by pouring water in the bilge to activate the pump, making sure nothing interferes with the switch. Take a close look at wire connections as they often are near or in standing water at the bottom of the boat. 

Gas hose: When it was new, the fuel hose did a great job of delivering gas to the engine. Over time, however, gas can permeate the hose wall causing damage. Take a rag around the hose, wipe it down and then smell the rag. If you smell gas, replace hose immediately. If you do have to replace, always install new hose clamps, too. 

Steering and control cable: Like an arthritic knee, bend the cable in your hands and listen for "crunching," a telltale sign that all is not well. Swelling and rust are also bad signs and indicate it's time to replace. 

Caulked fittings: The boatyard rule of thumb is that after 10 years, the bedding compound owes you nothing. Begin a schedule to periodically remove and rebed fittings, doing a few each year so the job isn't overwhelming. This will keep the leaks out that could lead to more expensive repairs. 

Prop: Eventually all props get dinged, and you may not see the damage clearly with your eye. If it's never been to a shop, now is a good time to take it to a prop shop for reconditioning, and you'll also likely save some money on fuel with a tuned prop. 

Other drive gear: If you have an inboard, the cutlass bearing might be due for replacement, especially if there's more than just a smidgen of play in the drive shaft. It's also time to take a hard look at the stuffing box. If you've had to re-tighten the stuffing box nut often, it's time to replace the packing. 

Exhaust manifolds: If you boat in salt or brackish waters and you still have the original manifolds, thank your lucky stars they haven't failed yet. Now is the time to do some proactive maintenance to replace them. "Leaking manifolds can destroy an engine," said BoatUS Seaworthy Magazine Associate Editor Chuck Fort. 

Seacocks/Through Hulls: If it's been years since one has been fully opened and closed, it could be frozen, and that's useless. Make it a point to work seacocks a few times each season and while you're there, check the hose clamps. 

Standing rigging: When was the last time you had a close look at all of the fittings and mast attachments (even the ones up high)? Ten years is a long time for rigging on boats that are raced, but even those used for day sails can suffer from the cyclical loads that cause stress cracks, and saltwater can cause corrosion in swaged fittings not easily seen by the naked eye.

For more information on inspecting middle-aged boats from BoatUS' Seaworthy Magazine, the publication for BoatUS insureds, go to BoatUS.com/middleagedboats.
About BoatUS Seaworthy Magazine: 

Published four times a year by BoatUS Marine Insurance, Seaworthy's pages are filled with case studies that provide insight into how to avoid accidents, breakdowns, injuries and the "unexpected" circumstances that can jeopardize the safety of your boat and guests. Annual subscriptions are available for $10 at www.BoatUS.com/seaworthy. For a free online insurance quote, go to www.BoatUS.com/insurance or call 800-283-2883 .