The Sea Tow Foundation™ is showcasing the winners of the 2024 National Boating Safety Awards via individualized blog posts that answer specific questions posted to each winning company.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) won the 2024 National Boating Safety Award in the category of Top Trade Association.

Photo provided courtesy of NMMA.

     1. Please briefly describe your winning entry and tell us about the process of creating/launching it.

The NMMA was honored with a National Boating Safety Award for our 2024 Top Safe Boating Tips video series. Created in partnership with Progressive® Insurance, the video series included five episodes offering essential safety advice on boating with pets, refueling, trailering, safe seating and swimming near boats, and proper navigation light usage.

Filmed during the summer of 2023, the videos were strategically rolled out between March and July, leading up to and during peak boating months when safety is a top priority. After launching on the Discover Boating YouTube channel, the videos were promoted extensively across social media, our website, and email campaigns. Additionally, footage from the series was incorporated into our public service announcement (PSA) campaign to further amplify the message.

     2. What inspired your company to promote boating safety?

This marks Discover Boating’s third boating safety video campaign, reinforcing the NMMA’s commitment to making safe boating practices a top priority. These videos aim to educate both new and experienced boaters on essential safety knowledge. Previous campaigns have covered key topics such as safety tips for boat captains, watersport safety, and celebrating responsibly on the water.

     3. What was a key takeaway you received because of working on this project or campaign?

One of the videos in this safety series focused on boating with pets and it became our highest-performing safety video ever on YouTube. Our second most-viewed video, from last year’s campaign, highlights tips for celebrating safely on the water. The strong engagement with these videos underscores the desire of boaters to safely and confidently enjoy the water with their loved ones, including their furry first mates—while prioritizing safety. Providing approachable, helpful safety content is clearly a valued resource, and we’re committed to continue creating content that resonates with all boating audiences.

     4. Is your company working on a new boating safety project or campaign to debut in 2025? If so, can you share any of the details?

NMMA is excited to debut a new boating safety video series in 2025. We look forward to continuing our mission of educating both new and seasoned boaters on essential safety tips. As with previous series, these videos will be shared across our YouTube channel, website, social media, and other platforms to reach and engage a wide audience.

© 2025, Sea Tow Services International, Inc. (“STSI”). Subject to Sea Tow Foundation’s licensed use of STSI’s trademarks. All rights reserved. 5-018-25

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^TM, 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 Posse 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 Fun Squad

Responsible for keeping the mood light and enjoyable, the Fun Squad organizes onboard entertainment and activities, especially for the children. They carefully store fishing equipment and other gear, ensuring it remains both secure and easily accessible without posing any hazards. Through their proactive preparation and attention to detail, they create an environment where everyone can relax, have fun, and feel safe.

The Anchor Team

Whether led by the captain or a designated crew member, the Anchor Team is responsible for managing the anchor. This includes calculating the correct scope, ensuring the appropriate amount of line is deployed, and hauling the anchor at the end of the day. Their attention to detail guarantees that the boat is securely anchored and remains in a safe position.

The Lookout

The Lookout plays 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 Docking Mates

This team takes charge as the boat approaches and leaves the dock. Their Docking Mates 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 Gang 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.

All Roles Matter

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.

The new year brings new boating safety laws to many locations. Whether you’re an experienced captain or a newcomer to the water, it’s important to stay updated on state laws and requirements. The Sea Tow Foundation™ has captured all of the details here. 

New York Boaters: 2025 Boating Safety Requirement

Starting January 1, 2025, all motorboat operators in New York, regardless of age, must hold a boating safety certificate. This mandate is part of Brianna’s Law, named in memory of Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old Long Island girl who tragically lost her life in a boating accident in 2005.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, boating fatalities significantly decrease when operators complete a certified boating safety course. While the law was phased in over five years, it now requires all motorboat operators to complete a safety course—available both online and in person—to ensure safer waterways for everyone. New York boaters can fulfill this requirement by taking a NASBLA-approved course, such as the interactive online one available at iLearnToBoat.com. 

Massachusetts Hanson-Milone Act: A New Era in Boating Safety

Massachusetts passed the Hanson-Milone Act mandating that all boat operators in the Commonwealth pass a boater safety test and obtain a boater safety certificate.

The timeline for implementation includes:

• Guidance published by October 1, 2025.

• Certificates required by April 1, 2026, for those born after January 1, 1989.

• Full compliance for all operators by April 1, 2028.

This law was named in honor of David Hanson, who tragically lost his life in a boating accident in 2010, and Paul Milone, a dedicated harbormaster and boating safety advocate. 

California Boating Safety Law: 2025 Boater Card Requirement

Starting January 1, 2025, all boaters operating motorized vessels on California waterways, regardless of age, will be required to carry a California Boater Card. This card serves as proof of completing a NASBLA-approved boating safety course.

For more information on obtaining your California Boater Card, visit California’s Division of Boating and Waterways or CaliforniaBoaterCard.com.

New Mexico Boating Safety Law: Life Jacket Requirements

Beginning January 1, 2025, New Mexico implemented new boating safety rules to improve safety on the water. Any individual using a human-powered watercraft or participating in a boat race must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

Stay Current on the Boating Laws in Your State

Laws and requirements vary by state and frequently change. You can regularly check your state’s boating regulations and use resources at NASBLA.org to stay informed.

Make 2025 a year of safer boating experiences. 

© 2025, Sea Tow Services International, Inc. (“STSI”). Subject to Sea Tow Foundation’s licensed use of STSI’s trademarks. All rights reserved.6-023-25

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.

The Marine Industrires Association of Southewest Florida (MIASF) earned an Honorable Mention for their "Know Before You Go" campaign.

Social Media Influencer Award: BoatClass

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, visit https://www.boatingsafety.com/page/Awards

©2024, Sea Tow Services International, Inc. (“STSI”). Subject to Sea Tow Foundation’s licensed use of STSI’s trademarks. All rights reserved. 5-031-24

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.

1. Please briefly describe 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.