News

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News and updates about our programs, industry happenings, member spotlights and more from the National Safe Boating Council. In this issue: NSBC General Membership Meeting is September 25, New Life Jacket Label, Walsh Marine Products, Fiscal Year End Sale, and more.

The National Safe Boating Council’s fall General Membership Meeting will be a virtual meeting via Zoom on Friday, September 25, 2020 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm EDT.

With vacations, summer camps, and youth sports canceled by the pandemic, more people have bought boats for some summer fun that allows physical distancing from strangers while staying close to home. About a third of those buyers have never owned a boat, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

Have you ever wondered how old, discarded fishing line is recycled and reused? You may be surprised to learn that turning fishing line into new products is labor intensive, requiring a series of workers to comb through, sort, clean, remove hooks and weights, and separate out miles of encrusted debris in entangled fishing line. There also aren’t any recycling programs for fishing related materials like soft baits. There just has to be a better way.

Blackmore and team are based in Nelson, in the Selkirk Mountains. They call themselves the Kootenay Pedalwheelers, and were one of the 32 teams originally slated to compete in the 2020 Race to Alaska (R2AK); a 750-mile, non-motorized, self-supported race from Port Townsend, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska.

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.

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.

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.