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.

1. 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)

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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

Check out some of the #STFLifeJacketChallenge Examples:
Capt Jim Pulley and Gail Kulp

Capt. Greg Dreischmeyer and Capt. Robert Park

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

Thousands Learn Life Jacket Safety Lessons at Miami Boat Show

The Sea Tow Foundation has announced that more than 86,000 individuals visited this year’s Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show to see the new boats and boating gear and the Sea Tow Foundation made sure that the attendees received a quick course in the importance of wearing life jackets when on or around the water.

As a result of the show’s captive audience, tens of thousands of boating enthusiasts interacted with staff and volunteers from the Sea Tow Foundation, and nearly 500 of those decided to spend extra time learning more about life jackets. Additionally, 365 children borrowed life jackets for the day while they perused the docks and took part in the sea trials that were available.

For the 5th straight year, the Sea Tow Foundation hosted Life Jacket Loaner Stations at the show, which became the organization’s epicenter for education. All of the Foundation’s life jackets were made available from a generous donation from Onyx and the space for the life jacket loaner stations was provided by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Volunteers from local schools, businesses and other organizations staffed the Life Jacket Loaner Stations and assisted the Sea Tow Foundation staff in fitting children with life jackets before they ventured onto the docks with their families.

In order to further promote the importance of life jacket use, the Sea Tow Foundation launched its first-ever Life Jacket Selfie Giveaway Contest at this year’s show. Through partnerships with NMMA, Onyx, FELL Marine, FishGillz, Navionics, Source4 and Formula Boats, the Sea Tow Foundation gave away five prize packs valued at $3,600 to  participants who took a selfie while wearing one of the Sea Tow Foundation life jackets at the boat show and posting that photo to social media using the hashtag #LifeJackets4theWin and tagging the Sea Tow Foundation. The contest saw more than 100 people participate in the five days that the contest was open and winners of the prize packs were randomly selected from the social media posts.

“Overall, this year’s Miami International Boat Show was our most successful yet,” said Gail R. Kulp, the Sea Tow Foundation’s executive director. “Not only were we able to interact with 100,000 attendees and teach nearly 500 individuals about life jacket use, we also engaged with countless numbers of boaters, both at the show and watching at home, through our inaugural life jacket selfie contest. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the way things turned out.”

The  Life Jacket Loaner Stations at this year’s boat show are part of the Sea Tow Foundation’s nationwide Life Jacket Loaner Program, which hosts more than 600 loaner stations across 43 states. The Sea Tow Foundation also offers other pop-up life jacket loaner stations at the Tampa, FL Boat Show and the Norwalk, CT Boat Show in addition to the stations featured at the Miami International Boat Show.