Posted By Gail Kulp,
Friday, November 15, 2024
Updated: Thursday, November 14, 2024
Last month, the spotlight was on boating safety at the International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) in Florida as we announced the winners of the 2024 National Boating Safety Awards. The Sea Tow Foundation™, alongside our Boating Safety Advisory Council, recognized companies for their exceptional efforts in promoting safe practices on the water. These organizations, from manufacturers to media outlets, have shown a commitment to spreading life-saving messages and encouraging responsible boating behavior.
Now in its sixth year, the National Boating Safety Awards continue to honor innovative campaigns across the marine industry. This year’s winners stood out for their ability to engage diverse audiences through creative and impactful campaigns.
Let’s take a closer look at the standout efforts that earned these industry leaders their well-deserved recognition:
Marine Manufacturer Award: Bayliner Boats
Bayliner Boats earned the Marine Manufacturer Award for their National Safe Boating Week Daily Safety Tips campaign. Through a combination of engaging videos and social media posts, Bayliner illustrated their dedication to promoting safe boating practices. Their partnership with Freedom Boat Club during National Safe Boating Week helped amplify their safety message.
Yamaha received an Honorable Mention for their National Safe Boating Week Campaign featuring safety ambassador Hunter Bland.
Gear & Equipment Manufacturer Award: Garmin
Garmin earned the Gear & Equipment Manufacturer Award for their 2024 Safe Boating Campaign. They partnered with The Qualified Captain during National Safe Boating Week to extend their year-round efforts of promoting safe boating practices, ensuring that both new and experienced boaters are better equipped to stay safe on the water.
Marine Trade Assocaition Award: National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) won the Marine Trade Association Award for their Discover Boating Top Safe Boating Tips video series in partnership with Progressive. By utilizing platforms such as YouTube, social media and email, NMMA successfullly reached millions of boaters across the country. Their freely available materials allowed other organization to share these critical safety messages, furter extending the campaign's reach.
BoatClass won the Social Media Influencer Award for their Organic Social Media Boating Safety & Instruction Campaign. Using short-form reels, BoatClass created engaging, safety-focused content and built effective partnerships with other marine industry companies. Their strategy sparked high viewer engagement, with audiences actively participating in discussions around alternative safety practices.
Marine Business - General Award: Freedom Boat Club
The Marine Business - General Award was given to Freedom Boat Club for their New Member Safety Orientation and Comprehensive Training Program. Combining face-to-face orientations, dock briefings and digital tools, Freedom Boat Club provided essential safety instruction to boaters, emphasizing the importance of proper training and safe boat operation.
Community Boating Education Award: BoatClass & Whitman Marine Training
This year’s Community Boating Education Award resulted in a tie. BoatClass was recognized for their on-water training program, which offered comprehensive instruction to new and experienced boaters through partnerships with key industry players such as NASBLA and Freedom Boat Club.
Whitman Marine Training stood out for their extensive community outreach and training programs, combining classroom instruction, on-water training modules and partnerships with local marinas to effectively teach boating safety to their community.
The 2024 National Boating Safety Award winners have made an incredible impact in advancing safety on the water. By encouraging responsible boating and raising awareness through creative campaigns, these companies continue to make a difference in the industry and within their communities.
Thank you to everyone who participated – we are already looking forward to next year’s awards! For more information on this year’s winners and next year’s application, visithttps://www.boatingsafety.com/page/Awards
Posted By Kim Perry,
Monday, September 30, 2024
Updated: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
A well-planned day on the water is about more than just sunshine and good company; it involves clear roles and responsibilities to ensure safety and fun for everyone on board. Whether you’re heading out for fishing, leisure or sports, knowing and performing your role effectively can make all the difference. Here’s a guide to the essential roles each member can play to contribute to a smooth and enjoyable boating experience.
The Captain
The Captain holds the ultimate responsibility for the operation and safety of the vessel and passengers. This role includes conducting pre-departure safety checks, ensuring the use of the engine cut-off switch, and checking batteries and other essential equipment before venturing out. The Captain also agrees to be the Sober Skipper, ensuring that everyone on board understands and follows safety protocols such as maintaining three points of contact or staying seated while underway, and positioning children in the safest spots on the boat.
The Life Jacket Posse
Critical to ensuring the safety of all passengers, the Life Jacket Crew is in charge of distributing and fitting life jackets for everyone on board before departure. They make sure that each person’s life jacket fits properly and is worn correctly throughout the trip, ready to provide instructions and assistance as needed.
The Beverage Crew
Tasked with hydration and refreshments, the Beverage Crew plays a pivotal role in promoting responsible drinking by helping to designate a sober skipper and ensuring that the Captain remains alcohol-free throughout the voyage. Their role is crucial in managing the beverage supply and making sure that alcohol consumption does not compromise the safety of the excursion.
The Lookouts
The Lookouts play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of watersports activities like wakeboarding and tubing. Tasked with keeping a vigilant eye on the surroundings, they watch for other watercrafts, swimmers and potential hazards in the water. Their primary responsibility is to alert the Captain of any impending dangers or obstacles that could interfere with safe towing activities.
The Fun Squad
Responsible for keeping the mood light and enjoyable, the Fun Squad organizes onboard entertainment and activities, especially for kids. They ensure that fishing equipment and other entertainment gear are stored securely when not in use and are easily accessible without creating hazards. Their preparation and vigilance allow everyone to relax and have fun while maintaining a safe environment.
The Anchor Team
Whether this is the Captain or someone else, this role involves managing the anchor while maintaining a presence at the helm to monitor the boat’s path. When heading to a sandbar, anchoring to swim or to fish, this responsibility becomes especially critical during an emergency that requires the boat to stop. The Anchor Team ensures that the boat is securely anchored and remains in a safe position.
The Docking Mates
This team takes charge as the boat approaches and leaves the dock. Their responsibilities include preparing docking lines and fenders, securing the lines to the dock cleats and pilings or removing them upon leaving, ensuring that docking maneuvers are carried out safely and communicating with the Captain to assist in smooth docking operations.
The Clean-Up Gang
After a day of fun on the water, the Clean-Up Crew helps to ensure that the boat is left in good condition. This includes organizing and storing gear, disposing of any trash, and tidying up the vessel to keep it clean and ready for the next adventure.
Each role on a boat is vital to the safety and enjoyment of your water excursion. By understanding and embracing these responsibilities, every crew member contributes to a safer, smoother sailing experience. Remember, a successful day at sea is a team effort, and knowing your role is the first step toward ensuring everyone has a great time on the water.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Updated: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
The Sea Tow Foundation is showcasing the winners of the 2023 National Boating Safety Awards via individualized blog posts that answer specific questions posted to each winning company.
Yamaha won the 2023 National Boating Safety Award in the category of Top Marine Manufacturer.
Please brieflydescribe your winning entry and tell us about the process of creating/launching it.
Yamaha worked with Yamaha Professional Angler and Safety Ambassador, Hunter Bland, to create a 12-month safety campaign. The team worked on the project throughout the year and collaborated to create monthly blog posts and/or videos to advocate for safe boating practices.
What inspired your company to promote boating safety?
As a leader in the marine industry, Yamaha takes boating safety very seriously. We believe it is in the best interest of all boaters to be aware of and to practice safe boating at all times. This campaign allowed for the opportunity to help educate boaters on how to keep themselves, their family, their friends and fellow boaters safe.
What partnerships, media coverage and/or opportunities have you received as a result of winning the award?
Yamaha Safety Ambassador, Hunter Bland, continues to grow as a leading voice in boating safety. The Yamaha safety campaign, along with his unique story and passion for other boaters to be safe on the water has resulted in Hunter speaking at numerous events and his continued work with other boating safety organizations.
What was a key takeaway you received as a result of working on this project or campaign?
The key takeaway is that there is still a lot of work to be done but it’s refreshing to see how receptive boaters are to the message.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Updated: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
The Sea Tow Foundation is showcasing the winners of the 2023 National Boating Safety Awards via individualized blog posts that answer specific questions posted to each winning company.
The Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) won the 2023 National Boating Safety Award in the category of Top Marine Trades Association.
Please brieflydescribe your winning entry and tell us about the process of creating/launching it.
Our entry was about our Wake Responsibly campaign that has long been an effective way to educate homeowners and boaters alike on courteous behavior on the water. The campaign recently underwent a rebrand to reflect our new legislative push featuring events in communities having waterway access issues. These community events are incredibly unique to the industry. The campaign is expansive and is comprised of a variety of resources including hang tags, metal boat ramp signs, downloadable graphics, print and digital ads, its own website, a compliance exam and more. There has been considerable effort in building this campaign to be one of the most respected educational campaigns in the industry.
What inspired your company to promote boating safety? Was this the first time doing so or has there been previous boating safety promotions?
Promoting boating safety is key to promoting and protecting our industry. Not only does boating safety support growth within the industry by cultivating a culture of responsibility and trust, but it can also lead to increased participation in our activities. We are enthusiastic about sharing our love of towed watersports and believe the best way to share that passion is by fostering a sense of confidence in recreational boaters. For the sustainability and success of our industry, we all must do our part to encourage safe and responsible boating practices on all waterways.
What partnerships, media coverage and/or opportunities have you received as a result of winning the award?
Since earning the Sea Tow Foundation’s award, we have seen an uptick in interest in our Wake Responsibly materials and events. The award reinvigorated communities to continue empowering excellence in towed water sports with advocacy, education, safety, and community. It is endearing to see just how impactful this campaign has become, and we are committed to continuing this level of excellence into the future.
What was a key takeaway you received as a result of working on this project or campaign?
Our key takeaway from the Wake Responsibly campaign is that collaboration is key. We are much more effective when we come together to foster peaceful environments on all our waterways. Our campaign relies on community connection and when we all do our part, we know we can protect the watersports we know and love. The watersports community is extraordinarily passionate, and we have loved seeing Wake Responsibly be a vehicle for which that passion thrives.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Updated: Tuesday, August 6, 2024
The Sea Tow Foundation is showcasing the winners of the 2023 National Boating Safety Awards via individualized blog posts that answer specific questions posted to each winning company.
Boating Magazine, which is owned by Firecrown Media, won the 2023 National Boating Safety Award in the category of Top Marine Media Outlet.
Please brieflydescribe your winning entry and tell us about the process of creating/launching it. Did it take a lot of planning or was it something that came together fairly quickly?
The video “Penny Wise, Lifetime Foolish” was an effort to dramatize a very real shortcoming among new boaters in terms of boating safety. It springs naturally from parents’ understanding that kids grow quickly and buying clothes that are much too large is a common practice to optimize the expenditure. But, in boating, a life jacket that doesn’t fit, doesn’t do the job it was designed for and the money is wasted. As a result, children’s lives can be in danger.
What inspired your company to promote boating safety? Was this the first time doing so or has there been previous boating safety promotions?
Boating Magazine and its sister publications, Yachting, Cruising World, Sailing World and Saltwater Sportsman have been engaged with the U.S. Coast Guard and Water Sports Industry Association for over a decade to produce content that promotes best practices in boating safety. Since we began our work, the USCG has congratulated us for doing our part to decrease boating deaths.
What does winning this award mean for your company?
The recognition associated with this award raises the esteem and importance of our project’s efforts and encourages all stakeholders to continue in our work to make boaters safer.
What was a key takeaway you received as a result of working on this project or campaign?
Some of our audience commented that the ill-fitting, cheap life jackets on the kids in the video were just not realistic and this was actually reassuring to our team’s effort. But, our goal was to highlight that behavior and offer a dramatic lesson on the importance of correcting it to reach the boaters we’ve seen and know who have fallen prey to the misconception that “kids will grow into their life jackets,” they have to fit NOW.
Posted By Kim Perry,
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Updated: Thursday, August 15, 2024
The dog days of summer are here. The days are hot and so are the nights, so getting out on a boat is a great way to cool down. And lots of boaters bring their dogs along, so we wanted to provide you with 5 essential tips to help you get your furry friend ready for the water.
1. Adjustment Period - If you’ve never taken your pet boating or it has been an entire year since you last took them, plan a short trip on the boat so that the dog can gradually get used to the boat and the water. It may take a few trips before the dog gets comfortable and if your family helps encourage the dog with lots of attention and some treats, you’ll be able to have a boating dog in no time.
2. Life Jackets - These aren’t just required for people, but for dogs as well. Even if your dog can swim, it is important to have a properly fitted life jacket that the dog will wear at all times. You never know when the dog will accidentally fall into the water, get tired while swimming, or panic when the water is moving so the life jacket will keep it afloat.
3. Sunshine Protection - The sun can be extremely hot for pets, not just for their fur, but also for their feet on the deck of the boat. You want to make sure to provide a shady location where they can rest. And, if you have a short-haired pet or one with light coloring, you’ll want to apply dog-safe sunscreen.
4. Fresh Water - Make sure to provide plenty of clean, fresh water for your pet to drink at all times. Discourage your pet from drinking from the water you’re boating in as it can make them sick.
5. Potty Breaks - Your pet will likely need a chance to relieve themselves a number of times while out on the water. If you’re able to pull into a spot on land for the dog to use, be prepared with bags to pick up any waste. If you’re father away from land or stopping isn’t possible, bring along plenty of puppy training pads that can be put down on the boat deck for the dog to use. When soiled, they can be bagged up into a larger trash bag and fresh ones can be put down.
* One final tip - Don’t forget to take photos of your dogs on the boat. You can share them with the Sea Tow Foundation and tag us @SeaTowFoundation when you post them on social media.
By following these tips, you can enjoy a safe and memorable boating experience with your furry companion.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Updated: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
The Sea Tow Foundation is showcasing the winners of the 2023 National Boating Safety Awards via individualized blog posts that answer specific questions posted to each winning company.
Boat Safe Chicago won the 2023 National Boating Safety Award in two categories: Top Community Boating Education Program and Top Social Media Influencer.
What inspired your company to promote boating safety? Was this the first time doing so or has there been previous boating safety promotions?
Boat Safe Chicago prioritizes guest safety as charter captains, so it seemed obvious that we would start to teach responsible boating to the community. We know that anyone can go online and get a boater safety card, but we felt a call to teach on-water boating safety including close-quarters maneuvering, emergency procedures, and other responsible boating practices.
What does winning this award mean for your company?
The award was significant because it validated our team’s efforts, and the national recognition brought meaningful benefits. We used the awards as a stepping stone to grow our safety training businesses, Boat Safe Chicago and launched our new company, Boat Safe Great Lakes.
What was a key takeaway you received as a result of working on this project or campaign?
On-water training works! We started training all new and returning Carefree Boat Club members in Chicago and Wisconsin in April of 2023, and we recently found out that they went from several claims a year to having ZERO claims in 2023. The results were so impressive that several Carefree Boat Clubs in Michigan have started using our training for their members.
Is your company working on any future boating safety projects or campaigns? If so, is there anything you can share about what you’re planning to do?
The public needs on-water training! No one wakes up and says, “I am going to really destroy my boat today.” We need to continue working together to make our waterways safer for everyone!
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Updated: Tuesday, August 6, 2024
The Sea Tow Foundation is showcasing the winners of the 2023 National Boating Safety Awards via individualized blog posts that answer specific questions posted to each winning company.
Regal & Nautique of Orlando won the 2023 National Boating Safety Award in the category of Top Marine Retailer.
Please brieflydescribe your winning entry and tell us about the process of creating/launching it.
Regal & Nautique of Orlando has been a long-time advocate of boating safety, and we were very pleased by the opportunity to share our strategic retail initiatives and activities in hopes that other dealers will “see the light” and share in similar efforts. Our winning entry reflected our dealership’s holistic approach to boating safety which runs throughout all aspects of our business and operations, from active engagement among our leadership team in industry-sponsored boating safety initiatives, to our own ongoing customer education and promotion via safety training and onboarding, along with participation in multiple events and marketing communication platforms.
What inspired your company to promote boating safety?
Boating safety is an integral component in our dealership DNA and has been a major mission for our dealership since Day One. We believe safe boaters are happy boaters. Educated boaters are far more confident on the water and that contributes to a more fulfilling and enjoyable experience for everyone on board. As a dealership, boating safety is a key part of our stewardship to provide the best boating experience possible for our customers.
What partnerships, media coverage and/or opportunities have you received as a result of winning the award?
We appreciated the solid national media coverage generated as a result of winning this award and we also shared the news locally, and directly with our customers through various marketing communication channels. We have long-standing boating safety partnerships in place with “Ride Dry. Drive Dry” and others, plus we have intentionally shared and promoted the good works of multiple other boating safety organizations via our social platforms, website Learning Center blog and via customer eblasts.
Is your company working on any future boating safety projects or campaigns? If so, is there anything you can share about what you’re planning to do?
Regal & Nautique of Orlando will continue to promote and participate in ongoing boating safety activities and initiatives on both the national and local level for our team members, customers, and with our dealership events and tournament series.Some big news to share is that we have launched our exciting online pro shop at www.WakeUnited.com. Here, we offer a full line-up of the latest boating safety equipment and gear that is sure to resonate with our customers and the boating community at large!
Posted By Administration,
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Updated: Tuesday, July 2, 2024
The Sea Tow Foundation is showcasing the winners of the 2023 National Boating Safety Awards via individualized blog posts that answer specific questions posted to each winning company.
Boston Whaler won the 2023 National Boating Safety Award in the category of Top Marine Public Relations and Marketing Effort.
Please brieflydescribe your winning entry and tell us about the process of creating/launching it.
Our winning entry for Boston Whaler was a comprehensive boating safety campaign that was aimed at encouraging Boston Whaler boaters to participate in safe boating. We utilized social channels, our website, and emails to drive the most awareness and make give our audience some important tips that could be useful during their own boating. And Capt. Wil Rogers helped with lots of videos on boating safety tips.
What inspired your company to promote boating safety?
For Boston Whaler, boating safety is one of our biggest priorities. We maintain the reputation of being unsinkable, and therefore upholding quality boating for all our customers. Recognizing the significance of maintaining our reputation, our company has consistently prioritized safety initiatives, ensuring that every boater feels confident and secure on the water. This campaign, building upon our unsinkable legacy, represents another milestone in our ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of safety within the boating community.
What does winning this award mean for your company?
We are so honored to win this award because it validates our efforts in promoting boating safety and it also acknowledges the impact of our initiatives within the industry. It serves as recognition of our dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of boaters and emphasizes the need for ongoing boating safety campaigns, not just during National Safe Boating Week.
Is your company working on any future boating safety projects or campaigns? If so, is there anything you can share about what you’re planning to do?
Looking ahead, Boston Whaler remains committed to promoting boating safety in future projects and campaigns. We continue to release blog articles and landing pages for our audience that contain essential safety tips. We find that providing these resources to our boaters is the best way to communicate the importance of safe boating. We continue to explore new avenues of reaching boaters and emphasizing the importance of safety. Our goal is to continue raising awareness and providing resources that empower boaters to make informed decisions and enjoy the water responsibly.
On a boat, wind, vibration, noise, and the sun can impair balance, coordination, and concentration - all of which are intensified by the use of alcohol, drugs, or even some medications.
Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents every year, but if every boat were to have a Sober Skipper at the helm, these accidents and deaths would be 100% preventable.
Our goal at the Sea Tow Foundation is to eliminate Boating Under the Influence (BUI) by encouraging all boaters to choose to be or to designate a sober skipper before leaving the dock and "Take the Pledge" to not drink any alcohol or take any drugs. Do it for your family, your friends, your passengers and everyone else on board your boat and on the water, so nothing can take you down.
What do you think is missing from our tips? Would you add anything to our list? Let us know in the comments.
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