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.

Top 10 Times When You Should Absolutely, Positively Wear a Life Jacket

Statistically speaking, boating is one of the safest outdoor activities, but because the participants are surrounded by water, there is always the possibility someone can end up in it. The Sea Tow Foundation and U.S. Coast Guard recommend boaters wear life jackets at all times, because you can never predict when you’ll need them. If you don’t have enough for everyone on board, the Sea Tow Foundation has established a nationwide Life Jacket Loaner Program with over 750 loaner stations where life jackets are available to be borrowed and returned at no charge to help keep boaters safe.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s most recent Recreational Boating Statistics report, where the cause of death was known, 79% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 86% were not wearing a life jacket.  This means that your odds are nearly 9 out of 10 that a life jacket will save your life, so it is important to know when it should be worn.And we have the top 10 times when it should definitely be worn.

1. When it is the Law

Each state and territory within the U.S. determines the age requirements for wearing life jackets, therefore it is important to so check resources like the Sea Tow Foundation’s blog post on the topic that lists each state’s regulations. When operating in federal waters, the Coast Guard requires children under 13 to wear a properly fitting life jacket whenever a boat is underway unless the children are in a cabin.

2. When the Boat is Moving

According to recent statistics, 78 percent of boats involved in accidents are moving, a good starting point would be to ask guests to wear life jackets whenever the boat is at cruising speed. Accidents can cause the boat’s occupants to fall into the water and those not wearing jackets are at a much greater risk of drowning.  

3. When on a Small Boat

Most drownings occurred on boats that were less than 16 feet long, according to U.S. Coast Guard statistics. These boats are typically less stable and are more affected by wind, waves and other boat’s wakes. Many state regulations mandate the use of life jackets when operating small vessels like personal watercraft and canoes, but even if it’s not required, it makes good sense to wear them.     

4. When Boating in Rough Water

Experienced boaters know the wind and waves can kick up suddenly, especially if a storm is on the way. During these times, it’s especially important to wear life jackets. Though rare, if a boat becomes swamped or capsizes, those who are wearing jackets are far safer. This also holds true whenever boating in whitewater conditions.

5. When Boating in Cold Water

Boaters who end up in cold water are subject to greater danger than when in warm water. First, cold water shock immediately takes effect which causes a person to hyperventilate and, in some cases, panic. This goes away within the first few minutes, but motor function can quickly be lost making putting on a life jacket nearly impossible, causing a victim to drown long before hypothermia sets in. Wearing a life jacket is a good idea and is the law in many states during cold weather months. Just remember that the water can be cold even if the air temperature is warm, so be sure to dress for the water temperature in case you fall in.

6. When the Driver of a Boat is New to the Sport

When a new boater is learning how to operate the boat, they may perform maneuvers that are not as smooth as someone who has had a lot of practice. This isn’t much different than when a new driver learns how to drive a car, but the biggest different is that boats don’t have brakes or turn signals. The jerky movements of the boat could cause someone in the boat to be thrown overboard unexpectedly and it is better to have the life jacket on while they are learning.

7. When the Person Can’t Swim or is a Weak Swimmer

If a person onboard a boat can’t swim or is a poor swimmer, they should definitely wear a life jacket at all times. There is no guarantee that someone will see them fall overboard and be able to throw something to them or be able to go after them in an emergency.

8. When Participating in Watersports

In most states, the law requires the use of life jackets when engaged in watersports like skiing, tubing and wake surfing. Just make sure that the life jackets are designed for impact and supposed to be used in these types of activities. This means that inflatable life jackets are not approved for these activities.

9. When Moving Fast

You’ll never see a professional boat racer hurtling down a waterway at 70 mph+ without wearing a life jacket. High speeds make a vessel less stable and more prone to adversely reacting to waves which increases the chance of the boat flipping. Physical injury during a mishap at high speed could render the boater unconscious or unable to swim. Be like the pros and always wear a life jacket when going fast.

10. When Boating Alone or At Night
    
    Operating a boat along presents its own set of challenges. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, many mishaps that send a person overboard occur while the person is performing a task like setting an anchor, throwing a net or catching a fish. And if the person is the only one on board, there's no one else there to provide reboarding assistance. This is especially hazardous if the boat is moving like when trolling for fish. And nighttime operation has another set of challenges in being unable to see submerged objects or other hazards in the water. A good idea for solo boaters and/or nighttime boaters is to employ a wireless engine cut-off switch that will comply with the newly enacted federal law while allowing the wearer to still move freely around the boat. And to always have a life jacket on at all times.
    
    

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Remember, life jackets save lives, but only if you are wearing them. Can you think of any other time that a boater should definitely be wearing a life jacket? Tell us in the comments.

If you found this article helpful or entertaining, 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.

PRESS RELEASE

Finally, a Way to Dispose of Expired Flares

The Sea Tow Foundation – a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the education and awareness of safe boating practices – was recently awarded a new grant from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund starting this month to conduct a Flare Disposal Program.

A flare is a pyrotechnic type of Visual Distress Signal (VDS), and all boaters are required by the USCG to carry both day and night VDS any time they are operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, or on the waters connecting to these areas. This means that there are millions of boaters carrying flares while on their boats at any moment.

Flares expire after 42 months and must be replaced to meet the USCG’s carriage requirements. Simply throwing expired flares in the trash would be an environmental and health hazard as they contain highly toxic chemicals such as perchlorate. Unfortunately, there is no single agency or organization handling the disposal of unwanted/expired flares in the U.S. There is also unclear requirements at the state level  about how flares should be disposed of properly.

In answer to the problem of what to do with millions of expired flares, the Sea Tow Foundation proposed working with the USCG to develop a flare disposal pilot program for boaters in Florida. This pilot program would utilize a mobile incineration unit that would traverse Florida over the 2021 year to safely dispose of flares collected at events around the state.

“While flare disposal is not part of a boater’s legal responsibility, it does affect the environment when not disposed of properly,” stated Gail R. Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation’s Executive Director. She added, “Not disposing of flares properly can also impact the safety of boaters if expired flares are stored on board boats.”

Plans for the flare disposal program are still in the early stages, as this grant project just started July 1^st, but www.flaredisposal.com has been created and will have more information as it becomes available.

In addition to this grant program, the Sea Tow Foundation has received continued funding for  their successful Life Jacket Loaner Program grant for the 13^th year ensuring that boaters all around the country can have access to properly fitting life jackets that can be borrowed and returned from a local stand. Life jacket applications for the 2021 boating season will be opening on November 1, 2020 via www.boatingsafety.com.

UPDATE:

The Sea Tow Foundation regrettably has had to put the Flare Disposal Program on hold due to complications that were found during the planning process. We hope to be able to overcome these hurdles and provide this important service to boaters sometime in the future, but are unsure when that will be.

In the meantime, the Sea Tow Foundation is committed to helping to educate boaters on the safe use of flares as well as encouraging boaters to purchase electronic flares instead of pyrotechnic flares to avoid the need to dispose of them.

Sea Tow Foundation’s Sober Skipper Program is Saving Lives

The Sea Tow Foundation has announced the 2017-2018 grant findings for its Sober Skipper program. First launched in 2015 and now in more than 180 cities across 51 states and territories, the program encourages boaters to be or to designate a Sober Skipper before every boating trip. The Sober Skipper campaign is funded through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

In the United States, Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) thresholds differ from state to state regarding who is permitted to operate a boat. Likewise, the penalties for Boating Under the Influence (BUI) vary, even though BUI has consistently been the top contributing factor of fatal boating accidents. Yet not a single state has a law in place that prohibits boaters from possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages while their boat is being used for recreational purposes, as long as the operator stays below the state’s BAC threshold.

The Sea Tow Foundation is trying to change that, and for the first time in the history of the Sober Skipper Program, it is able to prove that the campaign is having a positive effect on the number of BUI deaths, injuries and accidents, according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Boating Accident Statistics.

Among the 51 states and territories that have boating communities who have embraced the Sober Skipper Program, 94 percent have seen a reduction of BUI-related deaths, accidents or injuries, and a total of seven states saw a reduction in BUI across all three categories. Gail R. Kulp, the Sea Tow Foundation’s executive director, said this is definitive proof that the Foundation’s Sober Skipper Campaign is working and that the grassroots efforts used to promote the message have been successful.

“We have seen over 8.4 million people be reached by the Sober Skipper Program this year,” Kulp said. “This is an 800 percent increase and, based on the grant funding provided, this means that it cost less than one cent per person to make a difference and save lives.”

The media generated by the Sober Skipper Program this year was valued at over $215,000 which is more than double the amount of grant funding that the project was awarded. There was also an increase in the number of organizations, agencies and private citizens who requested a set of Sober Skipper wristbands to host a “Take the Pledge” event.

“These results are a big win, not only for the Sea Tow Foundation, but for the boating public at large,” Kulp added. “They illustrate that when the boating community comes together, great things can be achieved. We can’t wait to carry this momentum into the future and hopefully cut BUI deaths to zero.”

To Take the Pledge to be a Sober Skipper or request materials to host an event, visit www.soberskipper.com.

A Visit to Sea Tow Southcentral Alaska

In early October, Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director, Gail Kulp, had the opportunity to visit Alaska for the first time to attend a conference. While there, Gail stopped in to see Captain Trey Hill, owner of Sea Tow Southcentral Alaska. Trey owns three Sea Tow locations in Southcentral Alaska: Homer, Seward and Whittier.

Homer is the southernmost location for Capt. Trey. Located roughly 4 hours south of Anchorage, Homer is  home to many shops and restaurants as well as a bustling port for container ships, commercial fishing vessels and thousands of recreational boaters. Sea Tow’s Southcentral Alaskan office is located in town, with a boat docked in port providing boaters peace-of-mind 24/7/365. The Sea Tow Foundation’s life jacket loaner station is also available 24/7/365 for anyone who needs to borrow a life jacket to help ensure a safe day on the water.

Whittier is the easternmost location for Capt. Trey, a glacier-viewing paradise on Prince William Sound, about an hour southeast of Anchorage. Access to Whittier is controlled by the longest combined-use tunnel in North America. The tunnel is one lane and controlled on a tight schedule in 15 minute increments. This allows for vehicle traffic to flow in both directions as well as allow for a train to pass through the tunnel. There is always a full-time captain on Trey’s staff in Whittier to ensure prompt service for boaters; and eliminating any wait for tunnel traffic before Sea Tow help arrives.

Seward, one of the oldest communities in Alaska, is located on Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula about 2 ½ hours south of Anchorage. As a popular cruise port, Seward offers many activities to entertain cruise passengers including kayaking, fishing, whale watching cruises, shopping, or taking a ride on the Alaska Railroad (which begins in Seward). Seward is also very popular among recreational boaters. Gail was lucky enough to get a personal tour from Capt. Trey on a Sea Tow boat. They took in the amazing views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains and were lucky enough to see a few otters playing around in the crystal blue waters, which was a highlight for Makena, the dog, who wanted to join in on their fun.

Note from Gail: I fell in love with Alaska and, knowing that the state is 2 ½ times the size of Texas and that I’d only managed to see a small segment of it during my visit, I know that another trip will be in my future and I'm going to bring my family along! Who knows, maybe I’ll be one of the cruise ship passengers coming into port on my next trip! Why don't you plan a trip of your own?