Friday, May 20, 2016

National Safe Boating Week Means Start of Boating Season

National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27, Kicks Off this weekend with Reminder for Boaters to Always ‘Wear It!’

Wearing a life jacket is the simplest life-saving strategy for safe boating

Boating safety advocates across the U.S. and Canada have teamed up to promote safe and responsible boating, including consistent life jacket wear every time boaters are on the water, during National Safe Boating Week, held from May 21-27, 2016. The week is typically planned for the week leading up to Memorial Day in the United States, which is the unofficial start of boating season in much of the country. 

National Safe Boating Week is the launch of the 2016 North American Safe Boating Campaign. This yearlong campaign promotes safe and responsible boating and the value of voluntary, consistent life jacket wear by recreational boaters through the national theme, Wear It!

“What looks like a perfect day for boating can quickly become hazardous if you end up in the water,” said Rachel Johnson, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council, the lead organization for Wear It! “You can have a great time while choosing to always wear a life jacket and being a responsible boater.”

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities in 2014, and that 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

“Each year hundreds of people lose their lives, and they may still be alive if they had been wearing a life jacket,” said John Johnson, chief executive officer of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. “You never know when there may be a boating mishap, so it’s important that everyone onboard always wears a life jacket.”

New life jackets are much more comfortable, lightweight and stylish than the bulky orange style most boaters know. There are innovative options, such as inflatable life jackets, allowing mobility and flexibility for activities like boating, fishing, paddling or hunting, and are much cooler in the warmer weather.

Throughout the campaign, Wear It! will remind boaters of the importance of boating safely, including consistent life jacket wear, boating sober, knowing navigational rules and having a proper lookout. Partners will host local events, teach classes, offer on-water training, distribute educational materials, and perform free vessel safety checks.

Wear It! unites the efforts of a wide variety of boating safety advocates, including the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and Canadian Safe Boating Council with the National Safe Boating Council. It is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Follow Wear It! on Twitter at @boatingcampaign, like on Facebook at facebook.com/safeboatcampaign, and share your boating story at safeboatingcampaign.com.

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Thursday, May 19, 2016

The 2016 Annual Boat US Top 10 Boat Name List

Over the past few months, the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has been busy compiling their annual list of the most popular boat names of the past year, and they have finally released it today.

As we all know, a boat name can reveal much about the personality of a boat owner. But as obvious or obscure as some boat names may seem, choosing a boat name is no easy task. To help boat owners come up with ideas, BoatUS asks a few questions to help them start thinking about the process.
  • Are they into fishing? "Reel Therapy" certainly shows it.
  • Do they have kids in school? The name "What College Fund?" says it best. 
  • Like to sing? The name "In Harmony" is a popular choice. 
  • Work in the finance industry? "Liquid Assets" is suitable. 

In addition to BoatUS's annual lists, there are also resources such as the Boat Name Blog to help you pick out a name. No matter what boat name you choose, it will look great once you get it embroidered on shirts, hats, totes and towels from the professionals at BoatNameGear.com. They make any boat name look good and are the best company we know for getting nautical swag.

And now, the list you've been waiting for...

The official 2016 BoatUS list of top ten boat names

 

Thursday, May 12, 2016

CT Spring Boat Show This Friday - Sunday in Essex, CT

Connecticut Spring Boat Show Essex

There's a new boat show in Connecticut this weekend, and it aspires to be one of the region's largest nautical events.
Boat Show At A Glance
CT SPRING BOAT SHOW:  The first CT Spring Boat Show features some of the newest boats on the market including center consoles, fishing boats, luxury cruisers, sport and sail boats.

Boat Show Hours
Friday, May 13th 12PM-6PM.
Saturday/Sunday May 14-15th 10AM-5PM

Location
The new Brewer Essex Island Marina, 11 Ferry Street, Essex, CT.
Visit www.ctspringboatshow.com for specific event details, parking info and more.

With FREE admission and FREE parking for the show's inaugural weekend, CT Spring Boat Show will certainly be larger than the SailQuest boat show and Essex Spring Boat Show that combined to create this new bigger and better boat show.

ct spring boat show The first ever Connecticut Spring Boat Show will display over 70 boats varying in size from 20-75ft.  The event is set for May 13-15, 2016 at Brewer Essex Island Marina located in Essex, CT and is attracting interested boat buyers from Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and beyond.  The outdoor boat show is free for attendees, and coincides with another fun nautical event in the same seaside town: the annual ‘Burning of the Ships’ parade is scheduled to take place in the center of Essex on the same weekend.

This quote from the show’s press release sums it up quite well: “Brewer Essex Island Marina could possibly be the most intimate place in CT to have a boat show”, says Tom Pilkington of Prestige Yacht Sales. “Where else can show goers look at their favorite boats in the water, visit land exhibits, and explore the town of Essex which is filled with its own maritime heritage? With boats ranging in size from 20ft to 75ft, sail, power, new, & used, there will be a boat for every taste and budget.”
CT Spring Boat Show
Visitors attending the free show will enjoy seeing a wide range of new and brokerage, power and sail models.  Boating gear, accessories and service companies will also be on site with land exhibitors that include Sails Up 4 Cancer, Permateek, Boat Name Gear, Freedom Boat Club, and many more.

CT SPRING BOAT SHOW
Boat Show Hours:
Friday, May 13th 12PM-6PM.
Saturday/Sunday May 14-15th 10AM-5PM
Location: the new Brewer Essex Island Marina.
Visit www.ctspringboatshow.com for specific event details, parking info and more.


We encourage you to check out www.ctspringboatshow.com for more information about this brand new show.