10 THINGS THAT COULD GET YOU INTO TROUBLE ON THE WATER
ON AMERICA’S BUSIEST BOATING HOLIDAY

The busiest boating time of the year is nearly here, the July 4th holiday. Harbors, bays and rivers will soon be brimming with vacationing boaters, vessels will flock to waterfront fireworks shows, and busy marinas and launch ramps will all contribute to recreational boating’s own form of waterway rush hour.

According to the largest on-the-water towing fleet in North America, TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist, over 3,800 boaters across the U.S. are expected to call for on-the-water assistance during the holiday week – more than any other time of the year.

The towing fleet and the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety have teamed up to offer ten tips on how to avoid mishaps this July 4th:

• It’s a long day: A full day in the in sun will increase alcohol’s effects on the body, so it’s better to wait until you’re safely back at the dock or home before breaking out the libations. Also bring lots of water, a VHF radio, and check the weather reports to avoid storms.

• It’s a long day, for the boat, too: As the firework shows end, like clockwork the TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist call center switchboards light up like a Christmas tree with hundreds of boaters needing jump starts. Running electronics all day such as sound systems, fans, or other appliances and failing to monitor battery usage could leave your boat dead in the water when it’s time to go home.

• Running the engine to charge the batteries: Raft-ups, or groups of boats tied together in a protected anchorage, is a great way to spend the holiday with fellow boating friends. But you should never run an engine with swimmers in the water or near exhaust ports. Even though the boat’s transmission may not be in gear, propellers can still rotate, and odorless, colorless Carbon Monoxide can quickly overcome swimmers.

• Trailer problems: The BoatU.S. Trailering Club reports that flat tires and burnt bearings are the two biggest causes for boat trailer breakdowns. What shape are yours in? If you’d like to post a question about maintaining your trailer, go to http://www.BoatUS.com/trailerchat

• Don’t overload your boat: Capsizing and falls overboard account for over half of all boating fatalities. Resist the urge to invite more friends or family to the fireworks show than what your boat was designed to carry. Heavily loaded small boats, and those with little freeboard such as bass boats, are more susceptible to swamping from weather or wake action associated with heavy July 4th boating traffic.

• Wear life jackets: 70% of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those, 87% were not wearing a life jacket. Accidents can happen very quickly, sometimes leaving no time to don a life jacket.

• Follow the rules of the road: If a boat is approaching your vessel from your starboard (right) side, do you know what to do? What happens when a light on another vessel “changes” from red to green? These answers can be found in the rules of the road section at BoatU.S. Foundation’s free online “Boater’s Toolbox,” at http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation/toolbox Brush up now before you head out.

• Patience: The lines at boat launch ramps – in the parking lot or the water – can resemble a Southern California freeway at rush hour. Be patient, ready to go when it’s your turn, and follow good boating etiquette.

• Take your time to get home: July 4th is the one time a year many fair-weather boaters – who may rarely navigate in the dark – venture out after the sun goes down. The most reported type of boating accident is a collision with another vessel so it’s a good idea to keep your speed down, post an extra lookout, and ensure all your navigation lights work. A spotlight is a must, and ensure all safety gear is readily available. Be extra vigilant about not running over anchor lines in crowded fireworks viewing areas, and don’t take shortcuts in the dark.

• Celebrate: Hey, its America’s birthday and you’re on the water! Be safe, be prepared and have fun!

NEWS From BoatU.S.
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatU.S. News Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/news/releases.asp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
Date: June 21, 2007

TOP TEN TIPS FROM BOATU.S.
FOR GETTING THE MOST FROM A TANK OF GAS

Fuel prices are reaching their summertime highs in many parts of the country, so Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) has a few tips that could help stretch your fuel dollars:

1. Leave the extra ‘junk’ home: Don’t load the boat up with weight you don’t need. Do a little spring cleaning - unused equipment that has been collecting mildew in the bottom of lockers for years should be taken home.

2. Water weight: At 8.33 pounds per gallon, why keep the water in the tank topped off if you’re only going out for the afternoon?

3. Tune her up: An engine tune-up is an excellent investment and should easily pay for itself over the summer.

4. Tune your prop: If your boat goes 30 mph with a like-new prop and only 27 mph with a prop that’s dinged and out of pitch, that’s a 10% loss in fuel economy, or, you’re wasting one out of every ten gallons you put in your tank.

5. Paint the boat’s bottom: When boating in salt or brackish waters a fouled bottom is like a dull knife. It takes a lot more fuel to push your boat through the water.

6. Keep the boat in trim: Using trim tabs or distributing weight evenly will help move your boat through the water with less effort – and less fuel.

7. Go with the flow: Consult tide tables and try to travel with the tide whenever possible.

8. Install a fuel flow meter: A fuel flow meter is like a heart monitor; when consumption starts to rise, it’s an early warning that something is amiss. A fuel flow meter also allows you to select a comfortable cruising speed that optimizes the amount of fuel being consumed. If you don’t want to spring for a fuel flow meter (about $300), you can calculate your fuel mileage by dividing distance traveled by gallons at fill-up. Using your logbook, you can then approximate fuel flow using average speeds and time underway.

9. For sailboats only: While their engines are miserly, a sailboat with a fouled bottom, prop, or poorly maintained engine can have marked effect on its fuel economy.

10. Get a discount: Many of the 870 BoatU.S. Cooperating Marinas around the country offer up to 10 cents off a gallon of gas. To get the discount all you have to do is to show your BoatU.S. membership card. If you aren’t already a member, join online now for a special rate of $19.00 by going to http://www.BoatUS.com/membership or call 800-395-2628.

BoatU.S. – Boat Owners Association of The United States – is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 650,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a group-rate marine insurance program that insures nearly a quarter million boats; the largest fleet of more than 500 towing assistance vessels; discounts on fuel, slips, and repairs at over 870 Cooperating Marinas; boat financing; and a subscription to BoatU.S. Magazine, the most widely read boating publication in the U.S. For membership information visit http://www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628