A new and dangerous TikTok trend is spreading across the nation and boaters are being seriously injured or killed as a result. Known as the “boat jump challenge,” videos online show boaters jumping or purposely falling from moving boats. Hitting the water while a boat is moving is equivalent to hitting concrete after jumping from a multiple story building. As a result, this challenge is likely to cause broken bones, head injuries, or a broken neck. In addition, it seriously increases the chances of being hit with your own boat’s propeller or being run over by another boat in the water. Drowning is also a definite risk – trying to swim after any of these types of injuries would be very difficult or impossible.

Conclusion: No one is invincible, and the Boat Jump Challenge should not be tried by anyone.

As an alternative, the Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Challenge is an excellent way to have fun on a boat while being safe at the same time. Plus, it gives everyone a chance to win prizes valued up to $800! To participate in the Life Jacket Challenge, simply record yourself and your friends finding and putting on a life jacket in 30 seconds or less and then post it to the social media platform of your choice with the #STFLifeJacketChallenge to be entered to win. Everyone from lacrosse players to moms have taken the challenge! You can find their videos and more details here: www.boatingsafety.com/lifejacketchallenge

Let’s all have a safe and enjoyable boating season! See you on the water!

Many towns and cities around the country will be firing off spectacular community fireworks displays over the water on holidays like July 4th and New Year's Eve. One of the best places to watch these spectacular shows is from a boat. But these festive holiday evening displays can cause crowded, disorienting and smoky conditions on the water. If you are thinking of taking your boat out to watch the fireworks, follow these 10 tips from the Sea Tow Foundation to make sure the holiday celebration is safe for everyone.

1. Don’t Drink and Boat. Boating Under the Influence is the leading cause of all boating accidents, incidents and deaths. Always be or designate a Sober Skipper before leaving the dock. This individual will be responsible for returning the boat and its passengers safely to shore after the fireworks are over. Take the Sober Skipper Pledge.

2. Wear Your Life Jacket. Make sure everyone on board the boat is wearing a life jacket that fits them properly. Navigating at night in a crowd of other boats amid smoke from a fireworks display can be just as dangerous as boating in inclement weather or fog. Ensure the life jacket is worn over the top of any sweatshirts or jackets. If you need to borrow a life jacket, find one of our nationwide life jacket loaner stations.

3. Watch Your Weight. Don’t overload the boat with passengers. The number of seats available on board is not always the best indicator of capacity. Look for the weight capacity plate on the transom or by the helm; you can also look up the passenger capacity in the builder’s manual.

4. Navigate With Caution. Remember that visual navigation marks that you rely on during the day may be invisible at night. Chart your route to the on-water fireworks viewing zone in advance and use GPS-enabled electronics to help you find it Also, ensure your running and anchor lights are working properly.

5. Rules For Rafting-Up. If you are rafting up to other vessels to watch the fireworks, have fenders and lines ready as you approach the raft-up, and tell your passengers to keep their entire body inside the boat at all times.

6. Leave It To The Experts. Keep all store-bought fireworks at home and off the boat. Fireworks should only be lit on a flat and level surface; a boat is not stable enough because it will rock and move in the water. In addition, fiberglass is flammable, and the boat’s engine and fuel can pose a serious fire risk when sparks and open flames are present.

7. Flares Are For Emergencies Only. Never fire emergency flares in place of fireworks. They are not intended for this use and often burn hotter and faster than fireworks. It is also unlawful to make a false call for help; you could face severe fines and/or jail time.

8. Stifle The Sparks. Keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water handy to put out any sparks that might drift over to your boat from the fireworks display.

9. Sit Back and Relax. Don’t rush to get home; let some of the boat traffic clear out before you raise anchor.

10. Listen Up! Obey U.S. Coast Guard-designated fireworks safety zones and follow their orders or the orders of other local marine authorities – they are only out there to protect you! Details concerning the nature of the fireworks event will be published in Local Notices to Mariners and via Broadcast Notice to Mariners over VHF-FM band radio.

Do you have any other tips to add? Let us know in the comments.

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.

The gift-giving season is upon us and it’s always tough to find a gift for certain people in your family. But, if that family member is a boater, we’ve got 5 great ideas to help you shop. 

1. Automatic Inflatable Life Jacket – These are truly life-saving devices that are low profile and light weight. In fact, many boaters don’t even realize that they are on because they are so comfortable! However, if a boater is knocked overboard or slips and falls off the dock, the cartridge will automatically inflate the life jacket and bring the person to the surface where they can breathe and call for help. Just be aware that the U.S. Coast Guard restricts these for use only be people ages 16 and over and they must be worn to count toward carriage requirements.
   
   
   
2. E-Flare – A relatively new item on the market is the electronic flare. These devices are certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to replace traditional flares for emergency signaling by boaters. An E-Flare is 10 times brighter than a traditional flare, it doesn’t expire and need to be replaced every few years like a traditional flare, it floats and still works, and it won’t cause burns to people or equipment like a traditional flare. Plus, the light from an E-Flare lasts for hours compared to the 2-3 minutes that a traditional flare burns.
   
   
   
3. Satellite Communication Device– Getting help in an emergency is critical for boaters. Out on the water, cell phones are unreliable, but a personal locator beacon like ACR’s ResQLink is always able to get a signal if a boater has a good view of the sky. And the Garmin InReach Mini can also send a text message in a non-emergency letting loved ones know that you will be 30 minutes late for dinner.
   
   
   
4. Nautical Charts – Boating in unknown waters is challenging, but even the local waterways can change as storms or tides move navigational buoys from time to time. A subscription to the Navionics Boating App can serve as “Your Guide on the Water.” Updates are made daily and the app features charts, markers, weather and wind forecasts, tides, currents, sonar for fishing or diving, and turn-by-turn directions from one location to another on the water. Find subscription details here.
   
   
5. Sea Tow Membership – Knowing that local Sea Tow captains are standing by 24/7/365 can give boaters the peace of mind that they will be taken care of. Whether a boater needs advice on the best places to fish, has run out of gas, or is having mechanical problems with the boat, members get priority service so that you can get back to enjoying your day on the water even faster. Get a Sea Tow membership here.

*The Sea Tow Foundation may receive compensation as an affiliate of Amazon’s for purchases made with some of these links.

A flare gun is made out of plastic and is used to discharge aerial flare cartridges. To load, push the barrel away from the hammer, place a flare cartridge into the barrel, and close it. To fire the gun, push the button on the side, pull back the hammer, aim up to the sky, and pull the trigger. An aerial flare is able to be used as both a day and night visual distress signal. Be aware that the firing of an aerial flare is very loud and safety is critical.  Always be cautious where you are pointing the flare gun and of any people around you.  Once launched, the light from the flare is only visible for 5 seconds, usually on it's trajectory back down towards the water. As with all pyrotechnic flares, aerial flare cartridges expire 42 months from their manufacture date so be sure to check yours on a regular basis.

For more flare education go to www.boatingsafety.com/FlareEducation

There are multiple Coast Guard certified E-Flare options that you can use to replace traditional flares. When an E-Flare flashes the S-O-S signal, it is at least 5 times brighter than a traditional flare and an E-Flare light lasts a lot longer.

A traditional flare lasts only 2 minutes while an E-Flare is required to continue flashing for at least 2 hours with many lasting up to 20 hours. For daytime use, all E-Flares come with a distress flag.  From a cost perspective, traditional flares cost $30-50, but need to be replaced when they expire 42 months after manufacturing.  A basic E-Flare costs $65 to $100 with only batteries needing to be replaced periodically.

 Even if you still choose to carry traditional flares, adding an E-Flare to your boat's safety kit is a smart idea. 

For more flare education go to www.boatingsafety.com/FlareEducation