Interview with FELL Marine – Winner of the 2020 National Boating Industry Safety Awards

Video Blog

FELL Marine won the 2020 National Boating Industry Safety Awards in the Gear and Equipment Manufacturing Category. Given that the presentation of the award was done virtually at the MRAA’s Dealers Week, we decided to sit down to talk with Paul Petani to find out a little more about their award-winning entry and plans for 2021.

FELL Marine developed a wireless engine cut-off device to replace the standard lanyard found on boats. Fell Marine worked on education initiatives to explain to boaters why an engine cut-off device is needed and why it should be used. Video content was developed along with many user manuals and guides, and they also worked with partners and ambassadors to help get the safety message out.

You can find out more about FELL Marine and their products at www.fellmarine.com

Check out their video interview below.

FELL Marine CTO Frederik Erickson and CEO Christian Frost Show off the award at their Norwegian offices.

PRESS RELEASE

Sea Tow Foundation Announces Official Call for Entry for National Boating Industry Safety Awards

North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council Expands Recognition Program; Announces New Title Sponsorship from KICKER® Marine Audio

Southold, NY, September 3, 2020 – The Sea Tow Foundation in cooperation with its North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council, announced the official call for entry for its “National Boating Industry Safety Awards.”

The 2020 contest features an enhanced series of categories which recognize top boating safety programs and campaigns within the for-profit segment of the recreational marine industry. This year’s event includes 11 categories of entry, up from four the previous year.

“Due to the positive response from our inaugural contest in 2019, coupled with recommendations from our advisory council, we have nearly tripled the categories of entry in hopes of recognizing the outstanding work of many more boating safety advocates throughout all segments of the recreational marine industry,” said Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director Gail R. Kulp.

The 2020 National Boating Industry Safety Awards include the following categories for submission: Powerboat Manufacturer; Sailboat Manufacturer; Engine Manufacturer; Gear/Equipment Manufacturer; Human Powered (Canoe, Kayak, SUP) Manufacturer; Marine Retailer with up to 3 Locations; Marine Retailer with more than 3 Locations; Marine Media Outlets; Marine Marketing and Outreach; Marine Distributor; and a Multi-Year Campaign will also be available for any category.

Also new for 2020 is the title sponsorship from KICKER® Marine Audio, based in Stillwater, OK.

“KICKER Marine Audio is very pleased to contribute to this important effort that promotes boating safety within the recreational marine space,” said KICKER Marine Audio’s National Brand Manager Jeremy Bale. “The good work of leading marine organizations in educating and advancing boating safety messages benefits the entire industry, as well as boaters throughout the nation. KICKER is very proud to lend our support to this worthwhile and very important cause.”

“We appreciate the generous financial support of KICKER Marine Audio in helping to support our national awards program,” added Kulp. “We hope to continually build this program and involve many in the industry who share our passion and focus on boating safety.”

Entries may be submitted from September 3 through midnight, October 15, 2020 for any boating safety campaigns conducted between August 15, 2019 and August 15, 2020. A new multi-year category is also available to recognize ongoing boating safety programs and promotions.

Contest information and applications are available for download at www.boatingsafety.com/awards along with information and samples from the 2019 winners.

Winners for the 2020 awards contest will be announced live during the MRAA’s Dealer Week scheduled for December 8 – 11, 2020 in Austin, TX.

“We highly encourage all those organizations throughout the marine industry involved in promoting boating safety to apply in this year’s awards competition,” said Kulp. “The Sea Tow Foundation and our North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council, coupled with the title sponsor KICKER Marine Audio, are very pleased to shine the spotlight on the best boating safety efforts by companies in the for-profit segment of the recreational marine industry.” 

The Sea Tow Foundation announced the winners of its inaugural National Boating Industry Safety Awards at the Elevate Summit in Orlando. The awards were sponsored and judged by the newly established North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council and funded through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The awards were established to recognize the best boating safety work in the for-profit sector of the recreational marine marketplace occurring within the United States.

The National Sober Skipper Advisory Council and the Sea Tow Foundation were very pleased by the caliber of candidates and the submissions received for our first awards recognition. We are all delighted to see the great work being done by recreational boating industry organizations and look forward to continuing to support and bring well deserved recognition to outstanding achievers and safe boating champions throughout the recreational marine industry.

Top Marine Manufacturer Award for Boating Safety – Sea Ray Boats

Top Marine Retailer Award for Boating Safety – MarineMax

Top Marine Media Award for Boating Safety – Bonnier Corporation

Top Marine Marketing and Boating Safety Outreach Award – Yamaha Outboards with their spokesperson, Hunter Bland

Newly established Sober Skipper Award presented to Freedom Boat Club in recognition of its outstanding adoption and promotion of the Sober Skipper program.

For more information about the North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council and the National Boating Industry Safety Awards, please visit https://www.boatingsafety.com/page/STFBSAC

A copy of the press release is available here.