News

New boats are everywhere on the Chesapeake Bay these days as families seek activities they can do together while keeping socially distant. With new boats come more first-time boat buyers who may not have critical at-the-helm boat handling skills. Two organizations that specialize in teaching mariners have taken notice: The Annapolis School of Seamanship (ASOS) has teamed up with the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to host a variety of affordable on-water powerboat training classes throughout the summer for beginning, advanced and women boaters.

Our understanding of the risks of the COVID-19 virus being transmitted from the surface of a life jacket continues to evolve. Always refer to the CDC website for up-to-date guidance.

Mustang Survival®, the North American brand known for innovative solutions for the most demanding marine environments, is excited to announce the acquisition of the Ocean Rodeo Dry Wear business. The innovative dry wear solutions for action watersports and commercial marine will be merged into the already impressive Mustang Survival Recreation and Professional dry wear assortment.

Sponsored by Walsh Marine! News and updates about NSBC programs, industry happenings, member spotlights and more from the National Safe Boating Council. In this issue: Watch 2021 IBWSS Sessions, Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day Highlights, 50th Anniversary of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, New Admiral Club Member: Athletic Brewing Company, 15% off NSBC Store, NSBC Training, and more.

“Do I know how to be found in an emergency?” That’s a question every boater should ask at the beginning of the boating season. The answer, however, is likely to go far beyond simply having a cellphone aboard. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers five tips that can potentially speed a rescuer’s response to a boater in need of emergency help.

Each year during National Safe Boating Week, the Coast Guard and an array of Federal, State, and local partners help save lives and guard against accidents by highlighting safe boating practices.

Sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), National Safe Boating Week is a global effort dedicated to promoting safe boating practices. In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,168 boating accidents that resulted in 2,559 injuries, 613 fatalities and $55 million in property damage.

The US Sailing Reach Initiative has released its 2020 Impact Report. Launched in 2012, Reach is US Sailing’s STEM education initiative. Since its inception, Reach has had an immeasurable impact on youth across the country who are learning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) concepts using sailing as an educational platform.

For the annual celebration of National Safe Boating Week, held May 22-28, 2021, the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Weather Service encourage boaters to follow health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local officials while boating responsibly.

Recreational boating experienced a boom in the mid-20th century as Americans turned to the water in droves in the postwar years. The number of US-registered boats skyrocketed from less than half a million to five and a half-million during the 1950s and ’60s. But this newfound popularity came at a price: More than 1,580 deaths a year resulted from boating accidents by 1971.

For the annual celebration of National Safe Boating Week, held May 22 – 28, 2021, the National Safe Boating Council provides the recipe for keeping your adventure a safe one.

US Sailing today announced Alan Ostfield (Pittsburgh, Pa.), an accomplished sports and entertainment industry leader, as the Association’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Ostfield will take the helm of US Sailing, the sport’s National Governing Body (NGB), following an extensive national executive search.

Sponsored by Walsh Marine! News and updates about NSBC programs, industry happenings, member spotlights and more from the National Safe Boating Council. In this issue: Free IBWSS Registration, Annual Boating Awareness Survey, Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day (May 21, 2021), U.S. Coast Guard New Law, Partner Profile: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 15% off NSBC Store, NSBC Training, and more.

The International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS), a global networking and education opportunity for anyone involved in boating and water safety, will be held virtually from May 17-19, 2021 with free registration. IBWSS will explore “Partnerships for Progress” – a close look at how recreational boating and water safety communities collaborate to save lives around the world.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, more Americans have turned to the outdoors, some for the first time and others for the first time in many years. These new outdoor participants represent an unprecedented opportunity to grow and diversify the outdoor community. But to capitalize on this opportunity, we need to better understand these participants.

This morning, the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) made a much-anticipated decision on the revival of the Tennessee Pass Rail Line – a 160-mile rail line that follows the Eagle and Arkansas Rivers between Sage and Parkdale, Colorado

Engine cut-off technology stops the boat’s engine should the operator unexpectedly fall. Please complete a survey to share your feedback on the development of public outreach materials.

Sponsored by Walsh Marine! News and updates about NSBC programs, industry happenings, member spotlights and more from the National Safe Boating Council. In this issue: Free IBWSS Registration, Feedback Needed on Engine Cut-Off Technology, Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day (May 21, 2021), U.S. Coast Guard New Law, Partner Profile: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 15% off NSBC Store, NSBC Training, and more.

In recreational boating, cellphones are just fine for routine communications. So why do you need a VHF radio – either a handheld or fixed mount – on your boat? Because in an emergency it’s the only thing that can directly connect you to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Rescue 21 system, giving you access to high-tech emergency response and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities that can hasten your rescue.

You don’t want to miss this issue of Anchorline, the National Safe Boating Council’s quarterly newsletter sponsored by Rolyan® Buoys! IN THIS ISSUE: New Law Requiring Use of Engine Cut-Off Switches, Keep Your Waterways Safe All Year, Free Registration for IBWSS, Captain Johnson to Retire from U.S. Coast Guard, NSBC New Board Members, Celebrating the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, National Safe Boating Week is May 22-28, Q&A with NSBC Program Coordinator Carrie Schlemmer, and more!