Sea Tow Foundation’s DIY Craft Time: Nautical Picture Frame

Everyone knows that the best boating memories are the ones made out on the water. However, being out on the water isn’t always possible because of the weather, work and school schedules, or millions of other things going on in our lives.

With that in mind, the Sea Tow Foundation has created a monthly nautical craft to help bring those boating memories home. These crafts are easy for anyone to make and require limited tools and materials. In fact, all of the tools and materials are available at online retailers, or at a local craft store if you don’t already have the items lying around your house. Younger children may need the help of an adult for some portions of the craft project, but they can help with most of the personalization of the crafts. And many of these crafts make great homemade gifts!

In this month’s craft project, capture your treasured memories spent on the boat with these easy to make nautical picture frames.

Materials to Make a Nautical Picture Frame:

• Foam Board
• Box cutter or sharp craft knife
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Hot Glue
• Alphabet stickers
• Washi Tape
• Sisal rope
• Scissors
• Photo for the frame
• Newspaper or something to cover your table
• Decorative items of your choice (seashells, stickers, twigs, colored string, etc.)

Directions for How to Make a Nautical Picture Frame:

1. Determine what size frame you want based on the size of your photograph. You want the frame to be wide enough to allow for decorations.
   Some suggested dimensions are listed below as a guide using standard size photos and frames:
   4 x 6 photo – 8 x 10 frame
   5 x 7 photo – 11 x 14 frame
   8 x 10 photo – 16 x 20 frame
   
   
2. Measure the foam board using the ruler and pencil and cut it out using the knife. Children can help with the measuring, but an adult should handle the cutting as some pressure must be applied to the knife to get through the thick foam. After the outside rectangle is cut, measure the inside area for the photo ¼” shorter than the sides of the photo that you are using and cut that out as well.  The cut edges will be rough, but these will be covered up in the next step.
   
   

    

3. To cover the rough edges on the inside, use some decorative washi tape along the edge. You can find washi tape that coordinates with the colors in your photo. This is a great step for the kids to help!

    

4. Along the outside edge of the frame, attach the sisal rope with the hot glue. Warning: the glue gets very hot and can burn fingers easily, so adults should help with this step. Also, this is a good time to have the newspaper down to protect the table.
   
   
   
   
5. While the glue is still hot, use this time to add decorations to the frame including seashells or anything else that would need to be glued down. The children can help decorate using alphabet stickers, twigs, or they can even color the frame with markers.
   
   

    

6. Once all of the decorations have dried, turn the frame over. Place the photo in the opening and ensure it is lined up properly. Then, secure the photo to the back of the foam board using washi tape.
   
   

Congratulations on making a Nautical Picture Frame! Share your creations with us on Facebook and Instagram by tagging @SeaTowFoundation and using the #DIYNauticalCraftTime

If you found this article helpful or entertaining, please consider a donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.

Boating Safety Courses are Important

Today is a great day to take a Boating Safety Course and get your boating license or boating certificate. The Sea Tow Foundation has included the following 5 reasons why any day is the right day to sign up for a boating safety course and become a safer boater:

1. It’s the Law: Most states require a boat operator to take and complete a boating safety course before operating any boat with a motor. This includes personal watercraft, small fishing boats, pontoons, sailboats that utilize their engine, and various sizes of powerboats. And, you should also check the requirements for any other states where you might boat as their requirements might be different.

    

2. Boating Safety Courses Save Lives: According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety,70% of the deaths that occurred on boats across the country last year were operated by a person who had not taken any boating safety course.

    

3. You Can Save Money: Taking a boating safety course will often result in a discount on your boat’s insurance policy which can save you money.

    

4. Learn Something New: Even the most experienced boaters can learn something new or be reminded about something they may have forgotten. Laws and regulations are constantly changing, so a boating safety class will ensure that you are up to date on all your state’s requirements.

    

5. Help the Sea Tow Foundation at the Same Time: Completing an interactive, online class from our friends at iLearntoBoat.com results in the Sea Tow Foundation getting a donation from every course graduate to help us promote boating safety in more locations in the U.S.

If you have any other questions about how to get your boating license or boating certificate, check out our article here for many frequently asked questions about taking a boating safety course.

If you found this article helpful or entertaining, please consider a donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.

Tips for Cooking and Eating on Your Boat

Cooking at sea can be quite an adventure in and of itself. Galley kitchens are incredibly small if your boat is lucky enough to be equipped with one. Many boats have much smaller areas to prepare food and some boaters bring a grill on board. There are many safety concerns when it comes to cooking including boiling water, propane leaks, burns or a fire. All of these are dangerous in any home kitchen, but they could quickly become deadly on a boat. The Sea Tow Foundation has put together this list of 10 tips and tricks to make the most out of your cooking space on the boat and give you some food ideas, so that you can have a safe and fun time on the water!

1. Use the space wisely. Now is not the time for a 7-piece cookware set. Only bring the kitchen tools you absolutely need. You most likely will not need more than: 1 skillet, 1 pot, plus only enough cups, plates, bowls, and silverware for each person on board to have a set.
2. Multifunction is key. Not all galleys have a refrigerator or freezer. By bringing a hard top cooler, you can have a place to store foods and drinks. You also can use the cooler as an extra seat, a table, or even a food prep area! Think about all the ways you can use the items you bring on the boat to maximize your experience.
3. Saving space. If your boat has a galley kitchen, there won’t be a lot of counter space to spread out on a boat. Use the wall space and maximize what you have. Pockets can be attached to a wall to hold silverware or tools. Hanging nets can be set up to hold produce as well.Get creative with storage solutions.
4. Conserve water. Remember that fresh water is hard to come by while on the boat. Saltwater can be used for cleaning purposes to save fresh water to drink and cook with. Make sure not to dump the dirty water back into the ocean. Wait until you get to land and pour it into a pump-out drain.
5. There is always movement. Even while docked, there will always be movement on the boat. Safety latches, railings, and strategically placed handles can help to keep you and your equipment safe and in place while on the water. Remember to only cook when the boat is docked or anchored (this includes grilling) for your safety.
6. Emergency supplies. Before heading out on the water, make sure you have a well-stocked first aid kit and that your fire extinguisher is in working order. These are especially important if any cooking is being planned on the boat. Also, make sure that everyone on board knows what to do in an emergency and how to use the VHF radio to call for help.
7. Meal planning. By planning your meals ahead of time, you can minimize the amount of work and excess food you will have to worry about on the boat. Do the chopping, dicing and slicing of vegetables and fruits at home and pack everything in storage containers. Simple dishes with minimal chopping will work best in smaller galleys.
8. Cook ahead of time. It is important to make sure that you are thinking ahead to how much food you and your passengers will need to consume. Pre--cooking basic foods at home such as pasta, chicken, potato salad, taco meat, and other items can make the time on the water much more enjoyable. This way you won’t be stuck in the kitchen trying to cook while everyone else is fishing or swimming!
9. Schedule boat trips between meals. If it is possible schedule your outing for the time between lunch and dinner so that you can avoid packing meals and just pack some snacks. Whole fruit, granola bars and individual packs of cookies or chips can make for easy packing without worrying about cooking or refrigeration. Don’t forget to pack plenty of water, too!
10. Don’t rely on fishing. Fishing is a great way to enjoy the water and minimize the packing needed before the trip. However, there is no guarantee that you will get a bite. It is important to not rely solely on fishing for food while on the boat. Consider fish a bonus meal!

Do you have some favorite meals or snacks for a day out on the boat? Share your recipes here!

PRESS RELEASE

Finally, a Way to Dispose of Expired Flares

The Sea Tow Foundation – a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the education and awareness of safe boating practices – was recently awarded a new grant from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund starting this month to conduct a Flare Disposal Program.

A flare is a pyrotechnic type of Visual Distress Signal (VDS), and all boaters are required by the USCG to carry both day and night VDS any time they are operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, or on the waters connecting to these areas. This means that there are millions of boaters carrying flares while on their boats at any moment.

Flares expire after 42 months and must be replaced to meet the USCG’s carriage requirements. Simply throwing expired flares in the trash would be an environmental and health hazard as they contain highly toxic chemicals such as perchlorate. Unfortunately, there is no single agency or organization handling the disposal of unwanted/expired flares in the U.S. There is also unclear requirements at the state level  about how flares should be disposed of properly.

In answer to the problem of what to do with millions of expired flares, the Sea Tow Foundation proposed working with the USCG to develop a flare disposal pilot program for boaters in Florida. This pilot program would utilize a mobile incineration unit that would traverse Florida over the 2021 year to safely dispose of flares collected at events around the state.

“While flare disposal is not part of a boater’s legal responsibility, it does affect the environment when not disposed of properly,” stated Gail R. Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation’s Executive Director. She added, “Not disposing of flares properly can also impact the safety of boaters if expired flares are stored on board boats.”

Plans for the flare disposal program are still in the early stages, as this grant project just started July 1^st, but www.flaredisposal.com has been created and will have more information as it becomes available.

In addition to this grant program, the Sea Tow Foundation has received continued funding for  their successful Life Jacket Loaner Program grant for the 13^th year ensuring that boaters all around the country can have access to properly fitting life jackets that can be borrowed and returned from a local stand. Life jacket applications for the 2021 boating season will be opening on November 1, 2020 via www.boatingsafety.com.

UPDATE:

The Sea Tow Foundation regrettably has had to put the Flare Disposal Program on hold due to complications that were found during the planning process. We hope to be able to overcome these hurdles and provide this important service to boaters sometime in the future, but are unsure when that will be.

In the meantime, the Sea Tow Foundation is committed to helping to educate boaters on the safe use of flares as well as encouraging boaters to purchase electronic flares instead of pyrotechnic flares to avoid the need to dispose of them.

by Erin Hollinshead, Executive Director, Safe Electricity

Safe Electricity and the Sea Tow Foundation have overarching missions: to save lives and reduce accidents.

Much like Sea Tow  Foundation’s job is to increase awareness about safe boating practices, our job at Safe Electricity is to educate about dangers associated with electricity, including electrical sources near water.

Most electrical dangers cannot be seen or heard, and Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) is no exception.  ESD happens when electrical current leaks into water from a nearby electrical source, such as a yacht, boat or marina dock.

Just as you wouldn't use a blow dryer with one hand submerged in a sink full of water, you would not knowingly jump into a body of water that has electricity running through it. Once someone jumps into the tainted water, an unsuspecting person can become paralyzed and drown due to the electrical current invading his or her body.

Boating enthusiasts and marina employees can play a huge part in preventing ESD, since outdated wiring and a lack of proper safety equipment on boats and docks can cause electricity to leak or spread into the water.

Safe Electricity offers these ESD safety tips:

While Swimming or Boating

·         Do not swim within 100 yards of any freshwater marina or boatyard or around private or public docks with electrical service.

·         If you are swimming and feel tingling or shock, swim away from the dock or any other electrical source. “If you feel a shock, swim away from the dock”  is a good way to remember this. Yell to someone on shore to cut the power source.

·         If you think you are swimming in water that could be electrified, try to stay upright, tuck your legs up so that you are more compact, and swim away from anything you think could be energizing the water.

·         Do not jump in to help if you suspect someone is in electrified water; instead, cut the power, throw a float, and call 9-1-1.

·         Never dive into water or work on underwater components when your boat is plugged into shore power.

Prevention and Maintenance

·         Make sure your boat’s electrical system is always in good working order and have it inspected annually by a qualified electrician who is trained to American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) specifications. Consider purchasing your own clamp meter to test for stray electricity.

·         Have your qualified electrician install an ELCI (equipment leakage circuit interrupter) on your boat or use a power cord that has an ELCI.

·         Do not use a common household extension cord to provide shore power to your boat. Use, and encourage others, to use shore power cords that meet UL standards.

·         Talk to marina owners and operators about the dangers of ESD.

·         All docks should have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) on the circuits that feed electricity to the docks. GFCIs should be checked often to make sure they are in working order.

 For more information about safety around electricity, visit SafeElectricity.org.

Safe Electricity is the award-winning, public awareness program of the Energy Education Council, a 501(c) 3 (not-for-profit organization) established in 1952 on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With offices located in Springfield, Ill., Safe Electricity operates under the University of Illinois Extension and is led by the EEC Board of Directors. Since the Safe Electricity program was created in 2001, it has provided thousands safety-minded resources to its more than 500 utility members from across the country to help save lives and reduce injuries.

If you found this article helpful or entertaining, please consider a donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.