Posted By Kim Perry,
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Updated: Tuesday, November 8, 2022
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.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Updated: Friday, October 28, 2022
The Sea Tow Foundation's Life Jacket Loaner Program Grant Application is now open and receiving applications requesting life jackets and loaner stand building kits for the 2023 summer boating season.
The Life Jacket Loaner Program is funded through the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Sea Tow Foundation has provided over 90,000 life jackets that boaters can borrow and return at no charge since the program started in 2008. There are now life jacket loaner stations in all 50 states as well as in Washington, DC, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands.
Anyone who is passionate about boating safety and would like to host a life jacket loaner station in their local community is welcome to apply. We have a limited number of loaner stand building kits available, but life jackets are available to host a new life jacket loaner station or replenish an existing one.
If you filled out the online waiting list application, that does not replace the new application. The purpose of that was merely to be contacted if life jackets had become available during the off season. Please fill out the new application to be considered for new life jackets for next summer.
For more details or to apply, please visit the application page.
Posted By Kim Perry,
Monday, October 24, 2022
Updated: Monday, October 24, 2022
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.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Updated: Tuesday, October 18, 2022
The Sea Tow Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting boating safety, along with the Sea Tow Foundation’s Boating Safety Advisory Councilhave announced the winners of their fourth annual National Boating Industry Safety Awards. The awards recognize efforts to promote safety on the water within the for-profit sector of the boating industry.
The awards were presented online to each of the winners on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 following the cancellation of IBEX due to Hurricane Ian.
THE WINNERS OF THE 2022 NATIONAL BOATING INDUSTRY SAFETY AWARDS:
Posted By Kim Perry,
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Updated: Wednesday, October 5, 2022
WHAT IS AN E-FLARE AND SHOULD I GET ONE?
An E-Flare is a non-pyrotechnic electronic visual distress signal with a very bright light that operates off of batteries. Multiple manufacturers produce Coast Guard certified E-Flares including ACR and Sirius Signal. An E-Flare serves as your nighttime distress signal. Each E-Flare will come with an orange distress flag that will be used as your day signal. E-Flares are easy to operate and only require that you check the batteries on a regular basis. When used, the E-Flare will flash the S-O-S signal for at least 2 hours, much longer than a traditional flare. Even if you still choose to carry traditional flares, adding an E-Flare to your boat's safety kit is a smart idea.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Friday, September 23, 2022
Updated: Friday, September 16, 2022
The Sea Tow Foundation, with support from MarineMax
and Sea Tow International, held a ribbon cutting
ceremony for the opening of its 1,000th Life Jacket Loaner
Stand at the Seminole Street Boat Ramp in Clearwater, FL.
The Sea Tow
Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner
Program started
in 2008 with a single location where boaters could borrow and return life
jackets for a safe day on the water. Thanks to grant funding from the Sport
Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund as administered by the U.S. Coast
Guard as well as corporate sponsors and individual donors, the program has
since grown to be the largest life jacket loaner program in the world, with
loaner stations in all 50 states,
plus Washington, D.C., American Samoa and the Virgin Islands.
To celebrate this milestone and demonstrate their ongoing commitment to boating safety, MarineMax is matching donations made to the Sea Tow Foundation up to $5,000 from September 23-30. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Sea Tow Foundation and have MarineMax match it during this time frame, please visit www.boatingsafety.com/MarineMaxDonationMatch
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Friday, September 9, 2022
Updated: Wednesday, September 7, 2022
VIDEO BLOG
MarineMax won the 2021 National Boating Industry Safety Awards in the Large Marine Retailer Category.
The presentation of the awards took place at MRAA’s Dealer Week in December 2021, but Gail Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director, recently sat down with Capt. Keith Lake to find out a little more about their award-winning entry as well as their secret to success since MarineMax had won the award for a 3rd year in a row.
MarineMax is the world's largest recreational boat and yacht retail company and they have been a proven champion of boating safety offering classes, educational tips, a video series on boating safety tips, and much more.
Learn more about MarineMax and what other plans they have for new boating safety initiatives at the video linked below.
The US Coast Guard requires that children under the age of 13 wear a life jacket whenever they are on an underway boat. Yet there are as many types of life jackets as there are types of boats. This can make finding the right life jacket for your child seem overwhelming. The Sea Tow Foundation has simplified the procedure to just 4 steps to make sure you choose the life jacket that is right for your child.
Watch the video here.
STEP 1: CHECK THE LABEL FOR APPROVAL Check the label inside the life jacket to make sure it is US Coast Guard approved. Also, ensure that the life jacket is rated for the type of boating activity that your child will be participating in such as calm water canoeing or fishing from a pontoon boat vs. rougher water activities such as riding a PWC or waterskiing.
STEP 2: CHECK THE SIZE ON THE LABEL Life jackets are sized by weight and chest size, so make sure that the child’s size fits into the restrictions of the life jacket.
STEP 3: TRY IT ON Buckle and/or zip up the life jacket and make sure the straps are snug. Then, pull up on the shoulders of the life jacket from behind the child to make sure the life jacket doesn’t go above the child’s chin or ears. If it does, it’s too big and the straps should be made tighter, or the child should move to the next size down.
STEP 4: TEST THE LIFE JACKET IN THE WATER When you are near calm water, the child should try on the life jacket to see how well it floats. This will also help prevent the child from being scared if she ends up in the water unexpectedly.
REMEMBER: Life jackets aren’t like winter coats. You can’t buy a larger size and let your child eventually grow into it. If you put them in a life jacket that is too big, the child will slip out of the life jacket. Getting a life jacket that properly fits your child is critical for safety. Once your child outgrows his life jacket, you can donate it to the Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Drive so that another family can borrow it for their child to use.
To learn more about the Sea Tow Foundation visit boatingsafety.com
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Updated: Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Heading out for a day on the family boat can be great way to spend time together, but finding ways to keep the kids occupied and happy can be challenging whether they’re toddlers or teenagers. No matter the age, it is important to involve kids in some of the aspects of boating to help them learn to be good boaters themselves one day. The Sea Tow Foundation has put together some tips to help you, and your kids, have a fantastic day on the water.
Toddler Tips
Life Jackets are a must. At no time should a toddler be out of their life jacket. Toddlers can move fast and are often unsteady on their feet, so making sure that they’re wearing a Coast Guard approved life jacket that fits correctly and has a crotch strap to keep it on is important if they should end up in the water unexpectedly so that they can be easily brought back on board. You can always borrow life jackets for free from the Sea Tow Foundation’s nationwide Life Jacket Loaner Program.
Keep the trip short. Attention spans for toddlers is very minimal and good moods are also in short supply. When kids are at this age, it is a good idea to plan a short excursion that is no longer than an hour at the beginning of the boating season with the goal of working up to a couple of hours on the water at the end. Being able to get to the boat ramp quickly when the “Terrible Twos” are on full display will be a welcome relief.
Snack Decisions. A toddler can help with making the decisions of what to pack for snacks and they can even help prepare the snacks and pass them out to everyone on the boat. A plastic organizer box with divided spaces and a lid is a great boating snack container. Each divided space can hold a different snack whether that is crackers, cookies, grapes, or cheese cubes. And, these can easily fit into a cooler and then get passed out by the toddler at snack time.
Ages 4-7
Life Jackets are still important. While it may be possible to take the life jackets off briefly to change clothes or something, it is still important that kids these ages wear them while the boat is underway. Even a strong swimmer can get knocked into the water and surprised by the cold and find themselves unable to swim. However, kids these ages can help pick out their life jacket and get a favorite color or even find a life jacket with a character imprinted on it to make wearing the life jacket even more fun.
Help with counting. It is important that there are enough life jackets on board for each person and that they fit properly, so kids this age can help my counting the number of people and the number of life jackets and making sure that everyone has one that fits. A throwable ring or floating cushion should also be found and counted, too.
Fishing fun. This can be a great age to introduce your child to fishing and a make it fun. Start out by going for fish that are easier to catch and you can make it fun by helping them choose the best worm or spinner and taking a photo when they catch the big one. Practicing catch and release is important, but you should be the one releasing the fish to avoid any issues with the hook at this age. Our friends at Take Me Fishing can help you find the best fishing locations and opportunities in your area.
Ages 8-12
Pre-departure checklist. This is the perfect age to be able to start helping with getting the boat ready to leave the dock. The Sea Tow Foundation’s First Mate Checklist can be printed and on hand for each boating trip. The list includes making sure everyone has a life jacket and this includes them since the Coast Guard requires that all children under 13 years of age wear a life jacket. The checklist also includes finding the fire extinguisher, first aid kit and flares as well as checking the gas gauge, the weather forecast, and the charts for the route that you’ll be taking. Download your free copy today!
Pictures of the trip. A tween can be put in charge of taking photos of everyone on the boat as well as all of the great scenery that can be seen from the boat. And, this includes the wildlife along the banks of the river or the dolphins swimming alongside the boat out in the ocean.
Participate in watersports activities. Going tubing or wake boarding is an excellent way to enjoy time out on the water and kids in this age range are up for a fun adventure. You could even look into taking out kayaks or stand-up paddleboards so that each member of the family has the ability to go at their own speed and be up close and personal with the water.
Ages 13-17
Music playlist. A teenager would love to be put in charge of creating a playlist of music for the day on the water and making sure that there is something on the list for everyone on board. Serving as the DJ can be a lot of fun and keep the teens on their toes so that even Grandpa can find a song that he likes.
Time to drive the boat. Most states allow teens to operate a boat after taking a boating safety class, so this is a great age to be able to hand over the helm and sit back and relax while they take you on a cruise around the lake. A great online class that is interactive is available from our friends at iLearntoBoat.com and it is approved in a number of states with more being added every day.
Set the scheduleand send the invites. A teenager can be in charge of deciding when the family will head out and whether friends can come along. They can also decide when everyone will be finished with the day on the water. This includes keeping an eye on the compass bearing and the clock and knowing when they should turn around and head back before it gets dark or they’ve run out of gas. All of these are super important lessons for when they eventually get permission to take the boat out without you.
What do you think is missing from our tips? Would you add anything to our list? Let us know in the comments.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Friday, August 12, 2022
Updated: Thursday, August 11, 2022
Summertime is a favorite time of the year for many people. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and people are able to be outside all day. They may be on vacation, playing, working, or attending sporting events or concerts. And we know that water plays a major role as lots of people like to spend their summers near or on the water. But with all of this outdoor time, it is important to be aware of how to stay safe from sun exposure, so the Sea Tow Foundation put together these 6 tips for sun safety.
Slap on a hat.A hat can protect your head and scalp from sun exposure as well. Skin cancer is fairly common on the tips of the ears and the top of the head, even for people who have a full head of hair. Finding a good hat with a large brim is important and, just like the clothing, many hats come with SPF fabric to help provide additional safety. Plus, a hat is a great way to hide that “boat hair” that comes from riding in the wind all day long.
Slide on sunglasses. The sun’s rays, especially if reflecting off the water, can be very bright. Sustained exposure to this without eye protection can result in damage to the retinas and could cause seeing spots over your vision on a permanent basis. Sunglasses should be polarized to prevent UV rays and reduce the glare and reflections. Including a sunglasses strap is an inexpensive way to make sure that your glasses don’t fall off and sink in the water when your boat hits a wake.
Slop on sunscreen.The sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UV) rays can cause harmful effects to our skin. Sunscreen reduces the risk of sunburn and, with every sunburn, the risk of developing skin cancer increases. Sunscreen can also help prevent the development of wrinkles and discolorations as you age. Even on a cloudy day, it is important to wear sunscreen. Finding sunscreen that is at least 30 SPF is good, but the higher numbers are even better and it is important to make sure to reapply every 2 hours.
Slip on a shirt. When the sun is intense and you are worried about getting burned, it is important to put on clothing that can protect your skin from the sun’s rays. Many clothing manufacturers are now selling shirts and other clothing items that contain SPF protection, so these are a good option to look for. And, even long sleeves can feel cool under the hot sun thanks to the new technology involved in making the fabric.
Seek shade. When the sun is at its highest point in the sky from 10 am to 2 pm, it is important to find shade and stay out of the direct sun as much as possible. This may mean slowing down and putting up the Bimini top on the boat, using an umbrella to provide shade, or going below deck during this time frame. Other options include planning early morning trips or late afternoon and evening trips to avoid the middle-of-the-day exposure.
Sip non-alcoholic beverages. Spending the day in the hot sun makes you more likely to become dehydrated. Alcohol will not make this situation better and can be dangerous as alcohol causes your body to remove fluids from your organs at a much quicker rate than other liquids. As a result, you can end up passing up or can even develop alcohol poisoning. The best options for a hot day in the sun is to drink water, juice, and sports drinks that replenish electrolytes.
The summer can be a lot of fun, as long as you find ways to be safe from sun exposure. Do you have any other tips that you’d recommend adding? Add your tip in the comments section below.
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