Posted By Kim Perry,
Friday, May 19, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
If you’ve been to the store lately to purchase a life jacket or have borrowed a life jacket from one of our 1,000+ nationwide life jacket loaner stations, you may have noticed a change in how the inside of the life jackets look. This is because a new labeling system has been implemented and we thought we’d answer some questions we’ve seen boaters like you ask related to this.
Why did the life jacket label need to change? The new labels have harmonized the standards for use in the U.S., Canada and Europe. This means that the new labels have taken the requirements for many countries and combined them into a simple way of understanding how the life jackets are approved for use so that the same life jacket can be used when boating in multiple countries.
Are the new life jackets still approved by the U.S. Coast Guard? Yes, they are still approved, but the location of this information has been moved to a new area on the life jacket label. This new section also shows that it meets the requirements of Transport Canada. (Graphic)
What is different about the new life jacket labels? The new life jacket labels feature less wording and more icons or pictures to explain their use. In addition, the 5 “types” of life jackets (Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, and Type V) are no longer used and instead there are just 2 categories – wearable or throwable. Wearable life jackets come in sizes as they did before, but the chest size and user weight are now shown in both Metric measurements (centimeters or kilograms) and Imperial measurements (inches and pounds). The wearable life jackets are also divided into 5 different numerical buoyancy categories: 50, 70, 100, 150 and 275 Newtons. A Newton is unit of measurement being used for buoyancy with the higher numbers providing the most flotation.
How do I read the new life jacket labels? The Newton numerical graphic shows the level of flotation with the higher numbers providing the most flotation for high waves or offshore activity where rescuers would take more time to get to you. The lower Newton numbers offer the wearer more movement and comfort and should be used in calm waters or near shore activities where a rescue can take place quickly. (Add graphic)
The turning graphics feature a circular arrow that indicates it will turn most wearers face-up. The slash through the graphic indicates the life jacket doesn’t have this feature.
There are 4 graphics indicating the type of water activity that is approved or not approved for the life jacket to be worn while doing: personal watercraft, towed water sports, tubing or whitewater paddling.
The last graphics explain how to wash and care for the life jackets. These labels are found in clothing as well.
Are the life jackets still classified by size?
Yes, there is still an infant, child, youth, adult and adult XL size for life jackets although these words are now printed in English as well as French and Spanish.
Can I still use life jackets that have the old labels? Yes. As long as these life jackets meet the requirements to be “in serviceable condition” according to the U.S. Coast Guard. This means that the straps, zippers and buckles all work and there are no rips or tears in the fabric. For more details on this topic, check out our other blog post on How to Inspect Your Life Jacket.
Are there any other changes to know about regarding life jackets? The U.S. Coast Guard has not changed the carriage requirements for life jackets in that every boat must have a properly fitting life jacket for each person on board with children under 13 years of age required to wear a life jacket at all times while the boat is underway. The laws requiring when someone should wear a life jacket in terms of the age of the boater, the type of boat being used, or the need to wear a life jacket during specific cold weather months on state waters varies from state to state and you can find the most up-to-date state boating law information on the NASBLA website.
National Safe Boating Week is a week-long, focused event that brings awareness to safe boating before the Memorial Day weekend and the kick-off to the summer boating season. This year, National Safe Boating Week is celebrated from May 20-26, 2023. The Sea Tow Foundation connected with some of the nationwide Sea Tow captains to share 7 boating safety tips that boaters may not think about, but should consider before enjoying a day on the water.
Make a float plan. A float plan explains where a boater is headed and when he or she plans to return, and it should be given to a trusted friend or family member staying on land. This is important in case an emergency happens, or the boater does not arrive back on time, because authorities will know where to focus their search efforts.
– Capt. Christian Orfanello, Sea Tow New Orleans (LA)
Carry communications devices. A cell phone won’t work in many places out on the water, even when you can still see land. That’s why it is important to carry a VHF radio that you can use to call for help. A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or a larger Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) can also be used in an emergency to help rescuers find you.
– Capt. Mike DeGenero, Sea Tow Charlotte Harbor (FL)
Rule of thirds. Always make sure you have enough fuel for the ride home by following the rule of thirds. Use 1/3 of your gas to head out to your destination and 1/3 to come back, but then you have another 1/3 for any unplanned events.
– Capt. Ann Merritt, Sea Tow Southern Maryland (MD)
Use navigation lights. Even if you don’t think you’ll be out after dark, it is important to have the proper navigation lights for your boat and ensure that they are working before you leave the boat ramp or dock. Lights let other boats see you in the dark and can also help you find your way back.
– Capt. Greg Dreischmeyer, Sea Tow San Diego (CA)
Always have an anchor ready. When things go wrong on a boat, it can happen quickly and being able to anchor your boat is an important way to stay safe. But your anchor is no good to you if it is tangled up at the bottom of a storage compartment: always have the anchor ready to drop swiftly. Keep the end of the anchor line secured to your boat, so you don’t lose the whole length. Anchor from the bow of your boat, as opposed to the stern, to help keep any waves from swamping the boat.
– Capt. Ethan Maass, Sea Tow South Shore (MA)
Slow down. You don’t need to race to get out to the water. It is always there, and the fish will be there, too. Take your time, slow down and enjoy the boating experience. Plus, you’re less likely to hit something submerged in the water, run aground or have other issues if you are proceeding at a slower pace.
– Capt. Jim Pulley, Sea Tow Table Rock Lake (MO)
7. Wear a Life Jacket. The Sea Tow Foundation recently launched the Life Jacket Challenge to raise awareness about the critical need to wear a life jacket at all times while on the water. By simulating the rapid onset of on-water emergencies, the challenge encourages boaters of all ages to try and don a life jacket in under 30 seconds. You wouldn’t think of trying to put on a seatbelt in the middle of a car accident, so why should you think you have the time to put on a life jacket in a boating emergency? Try the challenge and post your video whether you succeed or not for a chance to win prizes all summer long!
-Gail R. Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director
Can you find and put on a life jacket in 30 seconds? Try the Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Challenge and be eligible for prizes all summer long. Find out more at: https://www.boatingsafety.com/lifejacketchallenge
This year marks the 15th anniversary that the Sea Tow Foundation has received grant funding from the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, as administered by the US Coast Guard to support their Life Jacket Loaner Program which is now the largest of its kind in the world. This year, that funding allowed the Sea Tow Foundation to purchase more than 5,600 life jackets in sizes ranging from infant to adult extra-large for establishing new life jacket loaner stations around the country and replenishing existing stations.
Every year, the Sea Tow Foundation opens a new grant application cycle, allowing marine businesses, communities, and organizations to request Life Jacket Loaner Station building kits and/or life jackets. In the 2023 application cycle, a record-breaking 258 applications were submitted requesting a total of 20,852 life jackets. The quantity of life jackets that the Sea Tow Foundation can award through donations and grant funding was a quarter of that, and the Sea Tow Foundation purchases the life jackets from Onyx/Absolute Outdoor nearly a year in advance of their use so that there is time to have them manufactured, custom-printed, and shipped. After reviewing the applications, 140 groups were selected to receive life jackets from the Sea Tow Foundation. Additionally, 50 grant-funded Life Jacket Loaner Stand building kits will be sent out.
Due to the immense volume of applications for their nationwide Life Jacket Loaner Program, the Sea Tow Foundation knew that not every group that applied would be able to receive life jackets and that the decision-making process would be difficult. Because of this, the Sea Tow Foundation asked the boating industry to donate new or gently-used life jackets to meet the demands and safeguard the lives of boaters. In response, Onyx/Absolute Outdoorgraciously donated 447 brand-new life jackets that will ensure that 15 additional groups will be able to host Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Stations across 13 states.
Are you interested in donating new or gently used life jackets? Learn more here.
Traditional marine flares expire 42 months after the manufacture date. As a result, boaters need to find a way to dispose of their flares every 3 years and they can’t be thrown into the trash because they contain chemicals which are hazardous. Because of this, please consider purchasing an E-Flare instead of pyrotechnic flares the next time you are shopping for boating supplies. They are approved for use as a visual distress signal and the light is much brighter than a traditional flare and lasts much longer, pus they never expire!
The Sea Tow Foundation has provided a list of 4 options to help find a flare disposal facility near you.
Contact the household hazardous waste management facility near you and ask if they accept marine flares for disposal.
Contact your local fire department's non-emergency number and ask if they accept marine flares for disposal.
Contact your state boating law enforcement agency and ask them if they know of any flare disposal options in your state.
If you know of an existing flare disposal location or a one-time flare disposal event not listed on our website, please let the Sea Tow Foundation know!
After receiving an overwhelming number of applications for our nationwide Life Jacket Loaner Program, we called on the boating industry to donate life jackets to help fulfill all of the requests and save boaters’ lives across the country. Brunswick Corporation, a global leader in the marine industry, answered the call and has generously donated 868 life jackets to be repurposed in the Sea Tow Foundation’sLife Jacket Loaner Program.
Brunswick’s donated life jackets came specifically from Land ‘N’ Sea warehouses located in Pompano Beach, Florida; Houston, Texas; Detroit, Michigan and Eagan, Minnesota. Land ‘N’ Sea is one of over 60 of Brunswick’s brands and is a full-service, wholesale distributor servicing the boating and recreational vehicle industry. All 868 of the life jackets are from their brand,Seachoice, which is a private label exclusive to Land ‘N’ Sea.
“Safety is our number one priority both on and off the water,” said Mike Conners, Land ‘N’ Sea President. “We are thrilled to participate in the Sea Tow Foundation’s mission to make the water safer for everyone and the donation of Seachoice life jackets to aid in their mission was a perfect way for us to continue to support our great friends at the Sea Tow Foundation.”
The 868 Land ‘N’ Sea life jackets are being distributed for immediate use in Florida and Texas and will be ready to use during the upcoming boating season in Michigan and Minnesota.
If you have brand new or gently used life jackets that you would like to donate to a life jacket loaner station near you, use the Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Drive online formand we’ll be in touch about a local life jacket loaner station that is in need of more life jackets. You can also find out more in this video blog about how to inspect your gently used life jacket to know if it is in good shape to donate.
Photo Captions:
Top left: Bart Shanks from Hub’s Yacht Club and Marina in Minnesota with donated SeaChoice life jackets.
Top right: Willard Franklin III form Four W's Fishing Team in Houston, TX with a LandNSea employee.
Bottom left: Four W's participants wearing the donated life jackets in Houston, TX
Bottom right: The City of Algonac, MI showing their donated life jackets.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Spring Boating Safety Tips
Spring is here which means it is time for warmer weather, sunny skies, and fun with friends or family members on the boat! Before you pack those bags and head out on your spring boating trip, the Sea Tow Foundation has 6 tips to help you have a safe AND fun time on the water.
1.Take a Boating Safety Class Now. Many states require taking a passing a boating safety course and getting a boating license or boating certificate. Whether you’re renting a boat, recently bought a boat, or have years of boating experience, you’ll pick up some pointers and boost your marine confidence as well as satisfy requirements for boaters in Florida. And you could be eligible for a discount on your boat-owners insurance for passing a course, too. Boating safety courses are offered both online and in person through our friends with the America’s Boating Club (formerly known as the U.S. Power Squadrons) or take an interactive, online course through our friends at iLearntoBoat. You can also find other courses available through your state boating agency.
2.Ask for Advice.Spring boating trips may involve traveling to new and exciting destinations. If you are unfamiliar with the bay, lake, river or ocean you’re headed to, it’s smart to talk to the local Sea Tow captains in the area who will happily share water conditions, current patterns, routes and (bonus!) wildlife watching tips.
3.Pack the sunscreen. If you’re not used to the sun and warmer temperatures or with being outdoors for a good portion of the day, you will soon by surprised by a nasty sunburn. Put on some sunscreen and don’t forget a hat and polarized sunglasses, too.
4.Reserve now.If you are planning to rent a boat during the
spring season, make sure you’ve got the rental confirmed well in advance of
your trip and reach out to the company ahead of time to see if you need to
bring anything for the boat with you. They should provide you with an
orientation to your rental boat as well as all of the safety equipment
required. If you are taking your own boat out, make sure your boat trailer is
ready for the road with good tires, straps and chains. Plus, check that the
boat ramp is still open and that you find out where you can park your vehicle
and trailer while you’re out on the water.
5.Once you get to your trip, follow the ABCD rule.
a.Always Wear Life Jackets. Every passenger should wear a properly fitted U.S Coast Guard (USCG)-approved life jacket. And remember that adult-size life jackets aren’t meant for children. If you’ve forgotten to pack your own or need extras, you can always stop by a Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Station to borrow them for the day.
b.Bring along safety gear. Emergency preparation = peace of mind. No matter the size of your boat, these are the absolute essentials to keep on board:
Marine VHF radio
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Tool kit
Flashlight and extra batteries
Duct tape
Bucket
Waterproof whistle or horn
Lines
Emergency signaling equipment
c.Check—and Recheck—the Weather. Choppy waters can’t always be predicted. If conditions aren’t favorable, don’t chance it. There are many apps and websites that help you know the conditions before you go and to continue to check on the weather while you are out on the water.
d.Designate a Sober Skipper. Never, ever operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.The wind, sun and boat vibration all contribute to increased impairment, even after a single beer. Responsible boaters carry plenty of water, non-alcoholic drinks and food on board. To learn more and Take the Pledge, check out our Sober Skipper Campaign.
6.Share Your Trip to Social.Did your spring boating trip really happen if you didn’t document it? Be sure to tag us in all your photos and adventures on all of our social media platforms: Instagram (@seatowfoundation), Facebook (@SeaTowFoundation), Twitter (@SeaTowFdn) and LinkedIn (@seatowfoundation).
Have a fantastically fun and super safe spring break!
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Monday, March 20, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, March 14, 2023
This year, we are showcasing each winner of the National Boating Industry Safety Awards via an individualized blog that answers questions posed to each winner. This will allow our readers to get to know each of the winners and see some of their winning materials, too.
The next Q&A blog in our winner series comes to us from Chubb Personal Risk Services and we talked with James Berthelon who is the Assistant Vice President and National Catastrophic Communications Manager. Our conversation is covered below.
Congratulations on winning the National Boating Industry Safety Award! Can you please describe your winning entry for our audience?
Thank you for the opportunity to share our story! We are proud to have received this award, showcasing our marine marketing, PR, and advertising efforts. Each spring, I work with our team of watercraft specialists to develop new content such as articles, blog posts, and videos that we share with our clients, agents, and boaters in general through a variety of marketing channels like email, social media, and web. We always cover a variety of topics and safe boating recommendations, and in 2022, our core emphasis was on marina fires, safe docking tips, and case studies involving major boating accidents.
How does winning this award help your company? What partnerships, media coverage or opportunities have you gotten because of it?
Receiving this award is one of those rare win-wins, where what we create helps protect individuals and their families while doing the thing many of us enjoy the most —spending time on the water with friends and family.Practicing proper boating safety obviously reduces the chance of an accident which also helps us as an insurance company. Our communications are designed to be purely educational for our clients, and when they’re done genuinely and with sophistication, they also help us build engagement, brand awareness, and loyalty. The feedback from winning this award has been nothing short of awesome. It has created an exciting buzz within our company and among our agents! Chubb championed this award not only across our personal lines division, but across all of our businesses. We are also proudly displaying this award in our upcoming spring mini-campaign for 2023!
What inspired you to promote boating safety?
While I am an inner-city kid from Brooklyn, NY, I’ve been around water my entire life as I grew up in a commercial fishing family out of Sheepshead Bay, NY. To this day, I spend many days on the water as an avid fisherman. I attribute much of my happiness in life to time spent on the water, but I am also keenly aware of just how powerful and unforgiving that same water can be, and how quickly accidents can happen, regardless of experience. Therefore, it’s crucial for me to promote boating safety, so others can enjoy being on the water as much as I do.
What it was like creating your award-winning project or campaign? How much time did it take? How many people were involved?
I love working with the recreational marine team here at Chubb — it’s always an exciting time, and they’re boating enthusiasts as well! Our campaign takes weeks to cultivate, from storyboarding concepts to developing assets. Then, we use omni-channel marketing tactics to promote those assets over a period of weeks and months. There are between three and five Chubb team members, including myself, who have a role in these campaigns in various capacities. We are all boating enthusiasts with a trove of knowledge who come from all across the country, each bringing a different perspective on boating on different bodies of water.
What did you learn from working on this project or campaign?
I’ve learned that boating accidents can happen at any time, under any conditions. For example, over 70% of boating accidents happen on clear, sunny days, and that over half of boating accidents happen on calm days when waves are less than 6”.
Are you working on any future boating safety projects or campaigns? If so, is there anything you can share about what you’re planning to do?
Yes! In 2023, we’ll likely focus on pre-storm preparedness through a variety of mediums and channels. If you’re not a Chubb client and want to keep up with our spring campaign, visit www.chubb.com/watercraft.
Congratulations again to Chubb on winning the 2022 National Boating Industry Safety Award as the 1st place Marine Public Relations, Advertising or Marketing Effort! You can watch Chubb accepting their award from October 2022 in the video linked below.
This year, we are showcasing each winner of the National Boating Industry Safety Awards via an individualized blog that answers questions posed to each winner. This will allow our readers to get to know each of the winners and see some of their winning materials, too.
The next Q&A blog in our winner series comes to us from Garmin International's Dave Dunn, who is the Senior Director of Marine and RV Sales at Garmin. We spoke with Dave recently and wanted to share our conversation.
Congratulations on winning the National Boating Industry Safety Award! Can you please describe your winning entry for our audience?
At Garmin, our mission revolves around creating products that fuel people’s passions within each of our core five business segments. In all those segments, it is also important for us to consider not only how our products can bring the customer more joy to their sport, but also how they can enhance situational awareness so they can continue pursuing those passions for many years to come. In the marine industry, it is especially important to consider how we can bring new innovative products to the market with exciting features and technology that also can serve a secondary purpose of promoting safety on the water. From Auto Guidance that helps keep you on the right path and avoid obstacles in our cartography solution, to live sonar helping you avoid obstacles underneath the water, and GPS handheld devices with inReach satellite communication technology to help you in case of distress and much more, all our product categories in marine help promote being a safer boater.
How does winning this award help your company? What partnerships, media coverage or opportunities have you gotten because of it?
It’s always an honor to be recognized for bringing innovation to different markets and winning this award is no different. It shows our commitment to not only developing high-quality products and services, but also thinking beyond a feature set and putting the customer and their needs first. This award has allowed us to work with different industry media outlets to continue promoting the message of boater safety by showcasing how our products can support greater situational awareness and peace of mind on the water. We also had the opportunity to attend IBWSS and speak with attendees about marine tech and the importance of safety innovations on and off the water.
What inspired you to promote boating safety?
As a company, we really pride ourselves in how our employees are already passionate about the industries we serve and use our products themselves every day. We cannot really get away from the “work” even when we are away from the office because it shows up in our free time as we are pursuing our own adventures. Many employees serving our marine segment around the globe have their own fishing gear, cruising and sail boats and spend their weekends out on the water. They see firsthand situations which may have been avoided using the right equipment and electronics on your boat and understand how they can help our customers. When the pandemic hit and recreational boating participation soared, many were hitting the water for the first time. We are excited about the marine industry growth the past few years, but understand it is our duty to do more than just sell our products to customers; we must also provide education about how to safety spend time on the water so that they, and everyone around them, can enjoy the sport we all love so much.
What it was like creating your award-winning project or campaign? How much time did it take? How many people were involved? Garmin is a vertically integrated company, which means all aspects of the campaign we did were created in house. This is something we pride ourselves on since those who worked on this are also passionate about the boating industry and work in it every day. Multiple marketing and sales teams were involved in creating and executing our boating safety efforts throughout the year, from how we position Garmin and our products to the market, to how that fits into our overall strategy and what tactics would appeal most to the marine industry. We launch so many new products each year that it can be easy to lose sight of creating campaigns outside of that. Each year we take a step back and think about what could set us a part in the industry outside of product launches and what new campaigns and ideas support our company objectives while keeping our customers and their needs as the hallmark of everything we do.
What was your biggest takeaway from working on this project or campaign?
The biggest takeaway from this campaign is the constant reminder of the importance of situational awareness in boating. Garmin is passionate about the marine industry and pushing the boundaries of new technology, but we also must consistently consider how that technology affects customers on the water and their future endeavors. For us, it is even a reminder outside of marine with the other industries we serve to think about how new technology not only makes a sport more fun or easier for new customers to get access to, but also how it can give them peace of mind to adventure safely. From our inReach satellite communicators with global two-way messaging, to our kids Bounce smartwatch that gives parents the ability to communicate with their kids from their wrist, to our award-winning Autoland, the world’s first certified autonomous system designed to activate during an emergency to safety fly and land an aircraft without human intervention, and so much more, we are committed to creating new products and technologies so our customers can make the most of the time they spend pursuing their passions.
Congratulations again to Garmin on winning the 2022 National Boating Industry Safety Award as the top Gear & Equipment Manufacturer! You can watch Garmin accepting their award from October 2022 in the video linked below.
Posted By Gail Kulp,
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2023
This year, we are showcasing each winner of the National Boating Industry Safety Awards via an individualized blog that answers questions posed to each winner. This will allow our readers to get to know each of the winners and see some of their winning materials, too.
The next Q&A blog in our winner series comes to us from MarineMax who is the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer with over 100 locations worldwide including 79 retail dealership locations. We spoke with Captain Nick Pavlakis, one of the hosts of MarineMax’s weekly “Boating Tips Live” podcast and he also serves as a sales consultant at MarineMax St. Petersburg.
Congratulations on winning the National Boating Industry Safety Award! Can you please describe your winning entry for our audience?
Yes, we are honored to have been chosen out of your record number of applications. Our winning award was our “Back to (Boating) School” campaign focused on the back-to-school timeframe to remind even the most seasoned boaters about the importance of ongoing boater education and safety.
What inspired you to promote boating safety?
We wanted to help educate our customers so they can make lifelong memories on the water and the best way to do that is to be safe. With the recent "boating boom" from Covid, not only are there many more boats on the water but most are also new boaters. The best way to promote fun boating is to promote safe boating. This is done through continuous education and endless resources. Teach me, service me, show me how to have fun, this is how we provide our customers with the best boating experience.
What did you learn from working on this project or campaign?
The “back to boating school” campaign taught me that we can all use a refresher course here and there. Whether you are a first-time boater or a seasoned Captain, it is important to never overlook good fundamentals and preparation. That is why, at MarineMax, we provide our customers with several different classes to continue their education to keep themselves and everyone else safe on the water. I grew up on the water boating and to this day, I still learn something every time I am with my podcast co-host Captain Keith who is shown here teaching a class. These lessons that I learn from him are things that I can use in my work, and in my personal life out on the water.
Are you working on any future boating safety projects or campaigns? If so, is there anything you can share about what you’re planning to do?
Now that you mention it, we are! With the growth of our Boating Tips series, we are growing into a new segment, yachting safety. While most of our boating safety projects are tailored to new boaters on smaller boats, we wanted our series to grow with our viewers. As you become more comfortable with boating, the natural progression is to keep moving up. This is where MarineMax comes in to teach safe boating through your whole boating journey. Starting with smaller boats and being there for you as you start to make your journey to a larger vessel, we want to be there for them every step of the way and grow alongside them.
Has participating in this project or campaign changed your perspective on boating safety and why it’s so important?
Absolutely. The difference between an unforgettable day on the water, and tragedy is often one small mistake that could have been avoided. Some ways to stay safe on the water are, designating a sober skipper, preparation the day or night before, and continuous education. MarineMax truly provides all the resources you could need for education through their Captain's Orientation, Women on Water classes pictured below, boating tips video podcast and a consultant approach to the sales process that gets you and your family in the right boat.
Congratulations again to MarineMax on winning the 2022 National Boating Industry Safety Award as the top large marine retailer! You can watch MarineMax accepting their award from October 2022 in the video linked below.
New Yamaha life jackets place on a Sea Tow Foundation Loaner Stand hosted by The City of Oceanside, CA.
Yamaha Motor Corporation is generously donating 800 brand-new adult sized life jackets to be used in the Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Program. These life jackets are located at Yamaha facilities in California, Georgia and Wisconsin so the Sea Tow Foundation reached out to hosts of our nationwide Life Jacket Loaner Program in the nearby areas and they jumped at the chance to add these life jackets to their loaner stations and put them into immediate use during the current and upcoming boating season.
In California, roughly 225 jackets will be used in loaner stations hosted by Sea Tow Newport Beach, Sea Tow LA, the City of Oceanside Harbor Division and the LifeSail Organization. All of these loaner stations are located in busy areas featuring a wide variety of boaters including stand-up paddleboarders, sail boaters and powerboaters.
Additionally, 320 life jackets in Georgia are headed to Sea Tow Lake Sinclair, Sea Tow Lake Allatoona, Sea Tow Lake Oconee and Sea Tow Clarks Hill Lake to be used at their combined 12 loaner stations. Also, they will be used in local state parks through a partnership with Georgia’s DNR Law Enforcement Division. And, they will also go to the US Army Corps of Engineers in Lake Allatoona who manage 22 loaner stations in the region.
1st photo:US Army Corp of Engineers volunteers Greta and Jody Bales, Jon Gridley of Sea Tow, Jack and Linda Croach and James Mills from Yamaha Motors. 2nd photo: Chris McCarthy of Sea Tow Newport Beach/LA. 3rd photo: Matt Schulz of LifeSail in Marina del Ray, CA. 4th photo: US Army Corp of Engineers Lake Allatoona, GA Lead Ranger Chris Purvis and Linda Croach. 5th photo: Mike Weidel from the Milwaukee Sail & Power Squadron and a Yamaha representative.
Nearly 250 life jackets in Wisconsin will go to the Milwaukee Sail & Power Squadron who manage two loaner stands as well as to other Sail & Power Squadrons in the region. There are also plans to use these life jackets at upcoming boat shows in the area.
If you have brand new or gently used life jackets that you would like to donate to a life jacket loaner station near you, use the Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Drive online formand we’ll be in touch about a local life jacket loaner station that is in need of more life jackets. You can also find out more in this video blog about how to inspect your gently used life jacket to know if it is in good shape to donate.
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