A Q&A Session with Anheuser-Busch on the Sober Skipper Campaign

Sponsored Blog Post

The Sea Tow Foundation recently sat down with Nolan Sportelli who manages the Southeast Region for Anheuser-Busch to talk about their work with the Sea Tow Foundation, in particular the Sober Skipper Campaign this year.

1. Thank you for your support of the Sober Skipper Campaign! What outreach efforts have you recently done?
   
   We launched our Michelob ULTRA boating campaign throughout the Southeast (AL, MS, GA, TN, NC, SC, FL) in March and this will continue to run until the end of the summer of 2022. With this campaign, we will be promoting safe boating & designating a Sober Skipper when enjoying yourself on the water. Our wholesaler partners have all the tools to be able to take this campaign out to market where we can really make an impact with consumers.

    

2. What is Anheuser-Busch’s philosophy on boating safety?

   
   We always want to encourage and promote safe drinking when consumers are enjoying our products. This extends to the boating community. We know consumers are enjoying our products on the water, which is great, but with that it becomes our responsibility to educate those consumers on how to enjoy safely. And always designating a Sober Skipper is a key to making sure that they can be safe and have fun at the same time.

    

3. What resources do you currently have available for people to learn about boating safety?
   
   We have developed a suite of assets for our wholesaler partners to be able to leverage out in market. These include the ‘Designate a Sober Skipper’ message with a QR Code that takes people to the website to Take the Pledge and have included it alongside our Michelob ULTRA branding. We’ve included this on signage, posters, banners, print & digital media, and a whole lot more!

    

4. What are your top boating safety tips for people who are looking to enjoy time on the water this summer?
   
   

• If anyone in your group is consuming alcoholic beverages while boating or spending time on the water, make sure to designate a Sober Skipper who can be responsible for the boat and all of the people’s safety.

• Be Prepared! Ensure you have all the proper equipment & safety gear for the type of boating activity that you’ll be enjoying. This includes life jackets.

Thank you for your time and your support of the Sober Skipper Campaign. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Thank you for making the Sober Skipper Campaign so easy to share with our customers. The logo and QR code are very easy to add to our signage and we know it is making a difference.

As a sponsor of the Sea Tow Foundation, Anheuser-Busch has been invited to share this content with our boating safety audience. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for your business, please contact info@boatingsafety.com.

Video Blog

Emerald Coast Marine Group won the 2021 National Boating Industry Safety Awards in the Top Small Marine Retailer Category. 

The presentation of the awards took place at MRAA’s Dealer Week last December, but Gail Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director, recently sat down with Shawn Talpey to find out a little more about their award-winning entry.

Emerald Coast Marine Group took an integrated approach to boating safety as they felt that this is a critical component to boat ownership, especially for first-time boaters or those with less experience so that all customers can build their confidence and allow them to enjoy the  boating lifestyle for years to come.

Learn more about Emerald Coast Marine Group at the video below.

Sponsored Blog Post

Before leaving on that epic trailer-boating adventure you've been planning all winter, take the time to inspect your boat trailer. Towing your boat is a great way to enjoy your summer vacation and explore new waters. Having the proper trailer, and keeping it in top shape, will help ensure that you and your boat reach your destination and return safely.

You can bet that some part of the boat trailer requires maintenance, especially one used in saltwater. Before your vacation, take these 6 steps suggested by Yamaha to make sure your trailer is ready to roll:

1. Inspect the tires. Make sure they are properly inflated. If the tires are five or more years old, replace them, no matter how the tread or sidewalls appear, as trailer tires rot from the inside. And don’t forget the spare tires.

2. Wheels and Seals are next. Trailer wheel bearing and seals are trouble-prone, so have these completely serviced, packed with fresh lube, and capped with a bearing protector before a long trip.

3. Put on the brakes. Malfunctioning trailer brakes can also be problematic. Having the trailer brakes and surge-brake actuator inspected and serviced before a long trip is always a good idea.

4. Light it up. Trailer lights are a constant source of maintenance. Make sure your trailer running, brake, clearance, and turn signal lights are operating correctly, regardless of whether you plan to drive at night or not.

5. Jacks, no jumping needed. In addition, look at your vehicle's factory jack to ensure it will work for the boat trailer, too. If it won't fit under or sufficiently raise the trailer in case of a flat, you'll need a separate jack. Make sure you have a lug wrench that will fit the lug nuts on the trailer wheels in case you need to fix a flat.

6. Check out the rest of the trailer. Inspect and, if necessary, adjust the trailer coupler, trailer safety chains, trailer-lights plug, bow-winch strap, bow safety chain, and transom straps. Stop every few hours on a long haul to re-check these items.

Yamaha is one of the largest manufacturers of trailer boats in the United States, and all Yamaha 19-foot to 25-foot boats come standard with a premium trailer, numbering in the thousands each year.

If you own a Yamaha boat and have questions about your boat trailer, there are hundreds of Yamaha Boat dealerships across the United States to assist you when you are away from home. Find one near you at https://www.yamahaboats.com/.

As a sponsor of the Sea Tow Foundation, Yamaha Boats has been invited to share this content with our boating safety audience. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for your business, please contact info@boatingsafety.com.

VIDEO BLOG

Sea Ray Boats won the 2021 National Boating Industry Safety Awards in the Top Marine Manufacturer Category for the third year in a row.

The presentation of the awards took place at MRAA’s Dealer Week last December, but Gail Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director, recently sat down with Caroline English to find out a little more about their most recent award-winning entry and plans for 2022.

The summer boating safety tips from Sea Ray were launched last summer and included a newsletter, social media posts, and a giveaway. In addition, Sea Ray also featured content from influencer Capt. Sandy Yawn from the Bravo Channel’s “Below Deck Mediterranean” show.

Learn more about Sea Ray Boats and why they’ve been able to win this award for three years in a row at the video below.

There are lots of reasons why a boater should use their engine cut-off switch or install a wireless option on their boat:

1. The red coiled lanyard can save the life of the boat operator in the event that she falls overboard unexpectedly.
2. A wireless system with FOBs for all passengers lets the operator know if a passenger winds up in the water.
3. It is required by law as of April 1, 2021.

Unexpected falls overboard can result in being struck by the propeller or the boat and victims could also drown if they aren’t wearing a life jacket and aren’t able to be found and brought back on board quickly.

Before every boating trip, make sure that the boat operator is using the red coiled lanyard attached to the engine cut-off switch. These Sea Tow Foundation also offers special wristbands, designed to attach to the lanyard, which are available as a thank you for a small donation by visiting https://www.boatingsafety.com/page/ECOS-Wristband. Or, better yet, make the investment in your family’s safety and get a wireless man overboard system with a FOB for all on board from our friends at FELL Marine.

Did you enjoy this blog? To help us continue providing these boating safety tips, 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.