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.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Monday, August 8, 2022
Updated: Wednesday, August 3, 2022
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Updated: Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Video Blog
Garminwon the 2021 National Boating Industry Safety Awards in the Top Marine Gear and Equipment Manufacturer 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 Dave Dunn and Riley Swikard to find out a little more about their award-winning entry.
Garmin is a large company that produces aviation, automotive, marine, and personal navigation equipment and they take safety very seriously. In 2021, they launched a social media campaign to help educate customers on how to properly use their products as well as learn about general boating safety topics to help the influx of new boaters feel welcome and safe.
Learn more about Garmin and what other plans they have for new boating safety gear and boating safety education at the video linked below.
Photo Caption: Jarrod Seymour Vice President of Garmin's Marine Segment with their National Boating Industry Safety Award
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Updated: Sunday, July 10, 2022
Video Blog
Emerald Coast Marine Groupwon 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.
Sea Tow Foundation Announces Call for Entries for the 2022 National Boating Industry Safety Awards
The application form for the 2022 National Boating Industry Safety Awards is now open!
The awards recognize efforts to promote safety on the water within the for-profit sector of the boating industry in the following categories:
Marine Manufacturer
Gear/Equipment Manufacturer
Marine Media Firms or Companies
Public Relations, Advertising, or Marketing Effort
Small Marine Retailer/Dealership (up to 3 locations)
Large Marine Retailer/Dealership (4 or more locations)
This year there is no cost to enter and participants may submit multiple applications for different efforts. The application process has also been simplified this year to make it quick and easy to enter.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Updated: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
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.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Updated: Friday, June 10, 2022
VIDEO BLOG
Kenton Smith Marketingwon the 2021 National Boating Industry Safety Awards in the Top Marine Marketing & Outreach 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 Wanda Kenton Smith to find out a little more about their award-winning entry involving work with the Water Sports Foundation.
The Kenton Smith Marketing team worked with the Water Sports Foundation to launch a brand new National Boating Safety Media Center on the Water Sports Foundation website. The media center hosts content including data, statistics, reports, still imagery, video, graphics, as well as a list of boating safety experts by topic who are available for interviews.
Learn more about Kenton Smith Marketing and why they were able to win this award as well as more details on their work at the video below.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Updated: Monday, May 23, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyNZoX_qfJk
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.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Updated: Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Before every boating trip, it is crucial that the operator files a float plan to let someone back home know where you’ll be heading and when you plan to be back. This can be as simple as writing the information on a dry-erase board in the kitchen, leaving a hand-written form with a fishing buddy, or using the U.S. Coast Guard’s mobile app and sending an email copy to 4 friends staying on shore.
A float plan should include the following information:
The date(s) of the boating trip
The type, size, and color of your boat
The location where you are starting your boating trip and the time
How many people are going with you and their names and ages
Whether you plan to do any activities during your trip (i.e. fishing, hunting, wakeboarding, tubing, etc.)
Where you plan to end your boating trip and the time you expect to return
If you do not return when you said you would, your friend or family member back on land can contact the appropriate authorities and provide details on your float plan so that a search can be initiated. Using the information in your float plan will help rescuers locate you much faster and get you and your boating friends the help that you need.
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.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Updated: Tuesday, April 19, 2022
There are lots of reasons why a boater should use their engine cut-off switch or install a wireless option on their boat:
The red coiled lanyard can save the life of the boat operator in the event that she falls overboard unexpectedly.
A wireless system with FOBs for all passengers lets the operator know if a passenger winds up in the water.
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.
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