Three Holiday Gift Ideas for Three Different Kinds of Boaters

Three Holiday Gift Ideas for Three Different Kinds of Boaters
ALEXANDRIA Va. - Not all boat owners are the same, so when it comes time to pick out a holiday gift for your favorite boater or angler, not just any present will do. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has three gift-giving options that can all be purchased online at www.BoatUS.com/gift.

1. The "affordable" $24 gift: BoatUS membership is just $24 and is a perfect gift if you are on a budget. A BoatUS membership makes anyone's boating better and comes in two "flavors" - one for boaters and sailors (BoatUS membership) and one for anglers (BoatUS Angler membership). For each, the $24 annual membership fee includes a subscription to BoatUS Magazine or to BoatUS Angler Magazine (respectively), and includes 24/7 dispatch with $50 of on-the-water boat towing assistance and $50 of on-the-road assistance for a disabled boat trailer and tow vehicle. Exclusive fuel, transient slip and repair discounts, savings on boating gear, fun online learning opportunities (such as navigation video games), and access to lots of "how-to" information is also included. Being a member also means a bigger voice for your boater on Capitol Hill when government unfairly targets boaters with anti-boating legislation.

2. The gift for "trailerboaters": There is nothing worse than having a boat trailer breakdown on the road, which often results in having to leave the rig unattended while the owner looks for help. Adding BoatUS "Trailer Assist" for an additional $14 to any BoatUS or BoatUS Angler membership means this will never happen to your favorite boater. Included is 24/7 dispatch and 100 miles of free towing for both the boat trailer and its tow vehicle to a safe location or repair facility, as well as a lock-out, flat tire, battery jump and fuel drop-off service. We'll even winch the boat trailer up a slippery boat ramp if you get stuck. Also included is a subscription to BoatUS Trailering Magazine.

3. The "Unlimited" gift: Having an on-the-water towing plan from the nation's largest towing fleet means your boater will always have the security of knowing help is just a call away. Freshwater boaters can add "Unlimited" on-the-water towing to their membership for just $34 while saltwater boaters can add it for $125 annually. 24/7 dispatch, soft ungroundings, jump starts, fuel delivery and tows back to a marina, home dock or launch ramp are included for any boat that is owned, rented, chartered or borrowed. To see the various service levels offered, go to www.BoatUS.com/join/servicelevels.asp.

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About BoatUS:

BoatUS - Boat Owners Association of The United States - is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing over half a million members with government representation, programs and money-saving services. For membership information visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.

Media Contact
D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

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Summer Safety Tips for Boaters Looking for a Good Swim

ALEXANDRIA, Va.- "Boating and swimming often go hand-in-hand," says BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance, "but adding alcohol to that mix can lead to some unintended outcomes." Charged with combing through the BoatUS Marine Insurance Claims files to identify unsafe boating behaviors and help boaters avoid injury or accidents, Adriance knows what he's talking about. "People know not to drink and drive a boat, but they don't always know that it's not a good idea to drink and swim," he added.

Buried deep in the claims files, Adriance comes across a story about a group of friends having drinks at a Florida resort that decided to go for a moonlit tour of the harbor. At midnight, despite choppy seas and 20-knot winds, their boat is allowed to drift while several jump in. Unfortunately, winds quickly sweep the boat away, so the captain "backs down" on the swimmers in the water to get everyone back aboard. Amazingly, no one is hurt except for a 40-year old woman - later identified as a good swimmer - who is simply never found.

It's no secret that alcohol often causes people to take unwise risks while at the same time inhibiting their ability to think quickly in critical situations. With up to about 50% of all adult drownings involving alcohol, BoatUS has the following information that all boaters should know:

Medical researchers have found that combining alcohol and swimming without taking in sufficient carbohydrates can be dangerous. In the Florida case, it is believed that the woman had only a salad and two glasses of white wine for dinner, but when adding the exercise of a midnight swim, she may have developed hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which causes weakness and confusion.

US Coast Guard tests have shown that environmental stressors - sun, wind, wave motion, vibration and glare - can slow a boat operator's reaction time and make them prone to more errors. This fatigue reduces an operator's reaction time as much as drinking alcohol alone. However, when you combine the two, it can lead to boaters missing ten times as many "cues" as those who are only exposed to the environmental stressors alone.

Alcohol also inhibits the body's signaling system so that swimmers may not realize how quickly hypothermia has set in. In one case from New England, a man who was drinking beer on a sunny day fell overboard, but the cold waters quickly prevented him from climbing back aboard. He tried to swim to shore but never made it.

Sudden cooling of the skin can also cause caloric labyrinthitis and/or hyperventilation. An inner ear disturbance, caloric labyrinthitis causes disorientation leading some swimmers to become confused on which way is up. Hyperventilation can also cause a swimmer to "breathe in" water.

Know what drowning looks like: someone who is drowning lacks lung capacity to call for help. Drowning victims move their arms as though climbing a ladder, taking quick gulps of air before slipping back under. In an adult, this can last up to a minute before the victim never resurfaces - a child may only do this for 20 seconds.

Never jump overboard before ensuring the depth of the water and knowing that it's free of underwater hazards such as rocks, shoals, stumps, or other structures. Also pick swimming areas away from boating traffic and strong currents. It's always best to anchor, shut down the motor, and deploy the boarding ladder before going in.

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About BoatUS:

BoatUS - Boat Owners Association of The United States - is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing over half a million members with government representation, programs and money-saving services such as boat insurance. For membership information visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628. For a free online insurance quote, go to www.BoatUS.com/insurance or call 800-283-2883. For more information on boating safety, go to www.BoatUS.com/Foundation.

Media Contact
D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

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NRP Urges Boaters to Plan for Increasing Storm Activity

Annapolis, Md. - The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) are asking mariners to plan for hurricanes and tropical storms and to safeguard their boats, given the recent activity in the Atlantic Ocean.

"Planning is the key to minimizing injury and loss of life," said Col. George Johnson IV. "Boaters need to make plans well in advance of a storm so that definite boat docking, mooring or hauling arrangements can be performed quickly and without delay."

When deciding on storm preparation plans, mariners need to consider size, type of boat and location. Current boat locations may not offer protection from high winds or tides. Boaters should consider the following when making arrangement for their vessels:

Remove valuable equipment from a boat to protect it from damage.
Consider removing a boat from the water to reduce damage from storm surge. Boats on land should be properly stored or tied down to prevent being damaged by winds. Small open boats can be filled with water to lessen the effect of the wind.
Boats remaining in the water should be moored in safe areas or berths. Lines should be doubled and high on pilings. Remember storm surges can cause tides over the pilings.
Install fenders to protect boats from pilings, piers or other vessels.
Ensure bilge pumps work properly and batteries that run the pumps are fully charged.
Seal all openings to make the vessel watertight.
Collect all documents, including insurance policies. Take photographs of boats and equipment for insurance
Do not stay aboard boats during storms. Safeguard human life.

Boaters should take these actions at least 48-72 hours prior to the event to accommodate unforeseen problems. During the storm, occupants should be off the water and in safe shelters. NRP reminds boaters that storm conditions can delay or prevent response from emergency personnel.

Additional information on hurricane preparedness may be found at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm and http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/prepared_week.shtml

Media Contact
Sgt. A.A. Windemuth
410-260-8003 office | 410-713-8449 cell
awindemuth@dnr.state.md.us

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BOATERS! REPORT ENTANGLED MARINE ANIMALS AT SEA

Massachusetts coastal waters are home to endangered marine animals including sea turtles and whales. Entanglement in marine debris and fishing gear such as rope, netting, and hooks are leading causes of serious injury and mortality for these animals. The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS) ask all boaters to immediately report sightings of entangled marine animals, alive or dead, by calling the Marine Animal Entanglement Hotline at 1-800-900-3622 or 866-755-NOAA or by hailing the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16. An entanglement response team at PCCS is on-call and committed to providing safe and effective disentanglement of marine animals in the waters off Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

What else can a boat operator do? Though your first instinct may be to try and free the animal, entanglement experts strongly urge you to resist the understandably natural impulse to assist the animal. Safety is a serious concern as disentanglement attempts by untrained people can be detrimental to the animal and result in serious injury to those involved. Cutting ropes or gear on your own may also cause problems for the entangled animal or create future entanglement issues for marine animals swimming through drifting lines or gear. Finally, boaters do not have the legal authority to perform disentanglements or touch another person’s fishing gear. Sea turtles and most large whales are protected endangered species and it is illegal to handle them without a permit.

The following tips are offered by the partnering agencies for anyone encountering an entangled marine animal:
• Report the entanglement sighting immediately. Don’t wait until you get back to land.
• Do NOT touch the animal or the entangled gear.
• Maintain a safe distance from the animal in trouble.
• Record the time and coordinates of the animal’s location.
• Be alert for trailing lines which may foul props.
• Be prepared to stand by until responders arrive.
• Note the appearance of the animal and type of entangling gear.
• If at all possible, photograph or video the sighting from a safe distance.

In addition, operators of all vessels at sea are reminded to secure trash, gear, and other items that may be mistaken for food by marine animals or cause entanglements. Harbormasters, marinas, sporting groups, and marine supply stores are encouraged to share the above information and hotline number with others in order to make the boating public aware of the safest and most effective way to assist entangled marine animals. For further information, contact Scott Landry of the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies at sclandry@coastalstudies.org or call him at (508) 487-3623 x102.

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