“Wear It” Campaign Having Positive Impact

The yearlong campaign promotes safe and responsible boating and the value of voluntary life jacket wear by recreational boaters through the national theme, Wear It!

WASHINGTON, DC – A survey of recreational boaters found the North American Safe Boating Campaign continues to have a positive impact on boater behavior.

The annual Wear It! Awareness Survey conducted by Paul Werth Associates on behalf of the National Safe Boating Council, sought to determine the campaign’s effectiveness, specifically the impact on life jacket wear, attitudes and safety behavior of boaters.

“It is crucial to get an accurate view of how boaters are behaving when preparing or getting on the water and how they feel about wearing life jackets,” said Rachel Johnson, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council.

Leveraging a team of trained volunteers, 605 on-site surveys were collected at 19 different bodies of water in seven states. Based on the locations’ level of Wear It! campaign activity, the bodies of water were classified as no, medium or high activity. To read the Wear It! Awareness Survey full report, visit http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/newsrelease.htm.

“The survey reinforces the importance of the Wear It! campaign’s educational efforts on new, comfortable styles of life jackets, including inflatable life jackets,” said Johnson.

Key survey findings:

• Participants aware of the campaign are significantly more likely to wear life jackets always or most of the time versus those unaware of the campaign.
• Boaters at high campaign activity locations are also significantly more likely to agree that “it is important for me as a boater to encourage others to wear life jackets at all times when boating or fishing.”
• Boaters at high campaign activity locations are significantly more likely than other boaters to wear their life jackets “always or most of the time” versus boaters at no campaign activity locations.

“This survey helps demonstrate the impact of the Wear It! message, especially in no campaign activity locations, to prevent future fatalities by increasing the number of people wearing life jackets,” concluded Johnson.

 

Source of article: http://www.boatingindustry.com

Safety Education for Boaters

Marinas International has always advocated for water quality, boaters’safety and preservation of natural resources. Each of these goes hand-in-hand with making our lakes and waterways better for the next generation of boaters. BoatUS offers free online safety training. We encourage everyone, from the novice to the expert, to get a boater safety certificate.

Get your state’s free course HERE.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is an innovative leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. The Foundation provides educational outreach directly to boaters and supports partner organizations nationwide.

Can E15 Gasoline Really Damage Your Boat Engine?

The case specifically challenged the EPA’s plans to prevent misfueling including the use of what NMMA believes is a highly inadequate pump warning label amongst other insufficient means.

Whether you know it or not most of the fuel sold today is gasohol-or a mixture of gas and ethanol. This is not a problem if ethanol-based fuels are dispensed and stored properly; but perhaps more importantly- used in equipment that is designed to cope with it. Alcohol (by nature) absorbs and holds water. When a vented fuel system allows air into the fuel tank based on temperature changes and the expansion of the fuel, the H2O in the fuel reaches a saturation point, causing the alcohol and water to separate and settle to the bottom. This is known as phase separation. Gummed-up fuel systems are a common issue for today’s marine mechanic as are damaged fuel tanks from phase separation. It is important, now more than ever, to know and understand the fuel needs of your boats and other small engines. The “Look Before You Pump” campaign is designed to bring awareness to consumers on the hazards of mis-fueling small engines and boats. To learn more about a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to dismiss the recreational boating industry’s challenge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule regarding mis-fueling mitigation plans surrounding the sale of E15…click here.

 

Marinas International Celebrates Marina Association of Texas Inductees

The 42nd Annual Marina Association of Texas Conference & Trade Show was recently held at the South Shore Harbour Resort on Clear Lake in League City, Texas.

Nine representatives from Marinas International were in attendance at the conference which included the 5^th Annual Nyle Mann Memorial Golf Tournament, a variety of industry, motivational and educational speakers and a tour of area marina facilities and docks, as well as an assortment of industry vendors and professionals. The 2015 Installation Banquet was held on September 30, 2014 at 7 PM. Three members of the Marinas International delegation were inducted as part of that ceremony; Jay Teitelbaum, holding the office of President; Angie Lamb, holding the office of Vice-President; and newly appointed member on the M.A.T. Board of Directors, Caroline Jackson.

Pictured, left to right: Angie Lamb, Jay Teitelbaum, Caroline Jackson

The Marina Association of Texas (MAT), a non-profit, volunteer organization composed of marinas on the inland and coastal waters of Texas, as well as associate members whose firms supply products and services to marinas, was organized in January of 1973 with a mission to improve, protect and advance the interest of the marina industry in Texas. It was initiated through the Sea Grant Program of Texas A&M University. The Marina Association of Texas was the first association of its kind in the nation. Members come together annually to share ideas, knowledge and experiences for the mutual benefit of all within the industry. It is directed by a member-elected Board of Directors and officers.

Each will serve a one year term in their respective position and are dedicated to furthering the growth and development of the association. To learn more about the association and membership, see their website at http://www.marinaassociationoftexas.com/membership .