Pennsylvania Mandatory Life Jacket Requirement Starts November 1

When sunny days and fall foliage tempt the boater in you, don’t forget about your life jacket, especially if you are planning to use a canoe, kayak or similar small boat.

 

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is reminding boaters that beginning November 1 and lasting through April 30, they are required to wear a life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any canoe or kayak. The requirement applies to all Pennsylvania waters.

 

“Life jackets are the most important piece of safety equipment on a boat,” says Ryan Walt, PFBC Boating and Watercraft Safety Manager. “According to Pennsylvania’s boating accident reports, almost 80 percent of all boating fatalities happen to boaters not wearing a life jacket. A disproportionate number of the fatalities occur during the months of November through April. During these cold weather months, boaters are especially at risk due to the water temperature and the risk of sudden cold water immersion.” 

 

Link to video message.

 

When a person is unexpectedly plunged into cold water below 70ºF, the body’s first response is usually an involuntary gasp. Without a life jacket, a victim may inhale while under water and drown without coming back to the surface. If an individual does make it back to the surface, his ability to swim is usually restricted because of a shortness of breath or hyperventilation.

 

Individuals who plan to fish, boat or hunt from a boat this fall or winter are encouraged to follow these cold water survival safety tips:

• Always wear a life jacket, even when not required. Many models also offer insulation from cold air. Read the life jacket’s approval label to be sure it’s appropriate for your boating activity.
• Never boat alone.
• Leave a float plan with family or friends and know the waters you plan to boat.
• Bring a fully charged cell phone with you in case of emergency.
• Wear clothing that still insulates when wet, such as fleece, polypropylene or other synthetics.
• If you are about to fall into cold water, cover your mouth and nose with your hands. This will reduce the likelihood of inhaling water.
• If possible, stay with the boat. Get back into or climb on top of the boat.
• While in cold water, do not remove your clothing.
• If you can’t get out of the water, get into the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP). In this position, individuals bring their knees to their chest and hug them with their arms.
• Once out of the water, remove wet clothes and warm up as soon as possible.
• Seek medical attention when necessary. Some effects of exposure to cold temperatures can be delayed.

To learn more about life jacket wear and cold water survival, visit the Water Safety page and the “Wear It Pennsylvania” page.

New York Alerts Boaters to Low Water Levels at Many Boat Launches

 

Due to the ongoing drought conditions in New York State, many waters are significantly below average water levels for this time of year. While many DEC boat launches are still useable by shallow draft boats, boaters desiring to launch larger, deeper draft waters may have difficulties on many waters. Of particular concern are DEC boat launches on Oneida Lake, Lake Champlain, Great Sacandaga Lake and Chautauqua Lake. On Great Sacandaga Lake, boaters desiring to launch larger vessels should use the Northville ramp which currently provides 4 ft. of water depth at the end of the ramp. On Lake Champlain, which is a foot below normal water level elevations for this time of year, most launches currently provide 3.0 ft of water depth. Exceptions are the Ticonderoga Launch which is currently below this level at 2 ft. Water levels at the Lake Ronkonkoma Boat Launch in Suffolk County, the Redfield Island Boat Launch on the Salmon River Reservoir in Oneida County and many Susquehanna River launches in DEC Region 7 are currently below the concrete launch ramp. Boaters, particularly those desiring to launch larger, deeper draft boats, are encouraged to contact the DEC regional office covering the water they desire to launch their boat onto for updated information.

2016’s Top Ten Boat Names

What’s in a Boat Name?

BoatUS Releases 2016’s Top Ten Boat Names

ALEXANDRIA. Va., May 18, 2016 -- A boat name can reveal much about the personality of a boat owner. Are they into fishing? Reel Therapy on the boat’s transom certainly shows it. Do they have kids in school? What College Fund? says it best. Like to sing? In Harmony is a popular choice. Work in the finance industry? Liquid Assets is suitable. 

Regardless of lifestyles, families or careers, choosing a name can be difficult. To help boaters with this task, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers a list of over 9,000 boat names given by boaters across the country over the last 20 years, and today officially releases it’s 2016 list of Top Ten Boat Names. They are:

1. Happy Ours

2. Freedom

3. Grace

4. Serendipity

5. Island Time

6. No Regrets

7. Liberty

8. At Last

9. Blue Moon

10. Aqua holic

“Happy Ours may be the most popular boat on a Friday night at the marina,” said BoatUS Boat Graphics Manager Greg Edge. “Names like Freedom and Liberty show boaters’ patriotic side, but they also like their boat names to remind themselves to slow down and relax, such as the ever-popular Island Time.”

For a look at all of the boat names, go to BoatUS.com/boatnames. The BoatUS Graphics service offers an online design tool to easily create custom boat graphics with fast turnaround times. All graphics come with a 30-day “Oops Assurance Guarantee” that allow a buyer to receive replacement decals free of charge if the graphic was damaged during installation. Simple video instructions show how to remove or add graphics.

For more, go to BoatUS.com/boatnames

Four Myths About Boat Fire Extinguishers

Every spring, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water receives questions from boaters about fire extinguishers. To help set the record straight here are four fire extinguisher myths debunked:

Myth #1: Tapping or striking the extinguisher keeps the contents “fresh”.
Reality: Leave the mallet at home. Unlike days of old, today’s modern fire extinguishers don’t use chemicals that cake, get hard, or need to be broken up. Whacking it with a mallet or hammer could compromise the extinguisher’s ability to put out a fire.

Myth #2: All extinguishers must be mounted with a bracket.

 Is this fire extinguisher ready to put out a fire.

Reality: Mounting a fire extinguisher on a bracket keeps the unit in a handy place and may protect it from being banged around the boat, but it is not a legal requirement. You do, however, need to ensure the extinguisher is readily accessible, so leaving it at the bottom of locker or compartment is a big no-no.

Myth #3: Fire extinguishers get old and go “bad” every year.
Reality: Unlike flares, fire extinguishers have no expiration date. To meet US Coast Guard carriage requirements however, the extinguisher must be Coast Guard approved and in “good and serviceable” condition. The charge indicator needs to be in the green zone, the nozzle free of obstruction and the cylinder not rusted.

Myth #4: The law says you only need to carry one extinguisher.
Reality: US Coast Guard minimum equipment requirements dictate that larger vessels require more than one fire extinguisher. While a full list of all minimum safety gear requirements for all boat sizes can be found at BoatUS.org/equipment, don’t let that stop you from adding additional extinguishers. Having back-ups may help save your boat and won’t break your budget.

New Powerboat Registrations Up

Over 8% increase in third quarter 2015

The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports in the third quarter of 2015, new registrations of traditional powerboats and personal watercraft were up 8.5% (YOY) and up 8.8% (R12M YOY).

Jet drive boats, personal watercraft, wake sport boats, and outboard boats led growth, up 22.3%, 14.3%, 10.6% and 8.2% (R12M YOY) respectively. There’s continued softness in sterndrive boats, down -7.5% (R12M YOY), while inboard cruisers were relatively flat, up 0.1% R12M YOY.

Among high-volume regions, growth was led by the Pacific region, which spans the Pacific coast from Washington to California including Hawaii (up 11.3% R12M YOY). The South Atlantic region, which spans the Atlantic Coast from Delaware south to Florida was up 10.8% R12M YOY and the East North region, which includes Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, was up 8.8% R12M YOY. Together, these regions represent 47.4% of all new boat sales.

America’s Boating Safety and Angling Conservation Reauthorized

In a victory for boaters and anglers, Friday’s passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act also includes reauthorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through the year 2020. After significant lobbying by Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) along with other boating and angling organizations, in 1984 Congress passed legislation establishing what was then called the Wallop/Breaux Trust Fund. Now called the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, it continues to serve as the backbone of boating safety, infrastructure, clean water and fisheries conservation funding in the United States.

The practical “user pay, everyone benefits” program uses federal boat fuel and fishing tackle taxes to protect natural aquatic resources, enhance boating safety and provide more recreational fishing and boating opportunities. Since its inception, more than $7.5 billion has been collected and allocated to the states. More recently since 2004, over 3.8 billion fish have been stocked, 11,000+ boat ramps and access sites have been created or renovated and over 1,100+ transient boating facilities built, 4.7 million students taught aquatic education, over 63,000 acres of fish habitat protected, and over half a million boaters, sailors and anglers have completed an approved state boating safety education course.

BoatUS, as a longtime champion of the Trust Fund along with other members of the Angling and Boating Alliance (ABA), has worked tirelessly to make certain it continues to be used for key boating and fishing programs. Said BoatUS President Margaret Podlich, “Some in Washington might have viewed these boater and angler tax dollars as a way to solve their own budget problems. BoatUS along with the ABA made certain this reauthorization ensures that the money boaters and anglers pay stays intact for the intended use: saving lives, keeping our fish stocks healthy and making it easier to enjoy the water.”

Podlich went on to state, “We appreciate the leadership of the multiple House and Senate Committees that included the Trust Fund in the FAST Act. Congressman Bill Shuster, Senator James Inhofe, Congressman Peter DeFazio, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator John Thune and Senator Bill Nelson are all to be commended for their continuing support of America’s boaters and anglers.”

Four Tips for Buying a Used Boat Trailer

As the boating season ends in the northern climates, some boaters may be looking to find a trailer to store the boat for the winter. If you’re looking to buy a used boat trailer now or planning on buying a boat that comes with a used trailer, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has four buying tips:

Bring a measuring tape: With older trailers, the capacity plate or sticker may be long gone or too hard to read after being outside in the weather for years. But if you’d like to know a rough idea of a spring-axle trailer’s capacity, simply measure the diameter of the axle. An outer diameter (OD) axle tube size of 1.75” is typically rated for about one ton; 2.375” for 3,500 lbs.; and 3” for 5,200-7,000 lbs. – remember to subtract the weight of the trailer from the gross capacity.

Buying out of state: Trailers aren’t built the same because states’ trailering regulations aren’t the same. While most states require brakes for trailers rated to carry than more than 3,000 lbs., some states require brakes on trailers as light as 1,500 lbs., while a few others let you coast up to 4,500 pounds – although that’s not recommended. It can be expensive to retrofit brakes, and some states such as Florida require brakes on each axle. State-specific trailer registration information can be found at drivinglaws.aaa.com.

Why tire diameter matters: After an hour at highway speeds, a 13-inch tire will have spun 10,000 revolutions more than a 15-inch tire, which means more heat, bearing wear and increased chance of problems. Having a fully serviced spare tire ready to go – and the tools to install it – will solve many of the most common reasons for a trailer breakdown. If all else fails, having an annual BoatUS membership with Unlimited Trailer Assist roadside assistance to safely tow both your boat trailer and tow vehicle up to a 100 miles will make a bad roadside breakdown suddenly get much better.

Watch out for paperwork snafus: Not having ownership documents can sink a sale faster than you can say, “Did you put the plug in?” If the trailer is missing the vehicle identification number (VIN), it cannot be legibly read or doesn’t match ownership paperwork, you may run into an issue with the DMV and have to apply for a replacement. It’s better to have the seller handle this before the sale.

For a full look at this topic, see “Buying a Used Trailer?” at BoatUS.com/buyusedtrailer