Memorial Day Weekend Could Spell Trouble for Some Boaters
Holiday marks traditional "kick-off" to boating season

Posted Sunday, May 27, 2007

 
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BoatU.S. Has Safety “Tools” and On-the-Water Towing Services Ready for Boating Season’s “Kick-Off”

The “kickoff” has begun. With the Memorial Day weekend marking the traditional start of the recreational boating season, Boat Owners Association of The United States is urging boaters now awakening from their winter hibernation to brush up on their safety knowledge, rules of the road, and ensure that their boat is ship-shape before they head out this holiday weekend.

“Boaters can get rusty during the off-season and with the additional on-the-water traffic expected, everyone should brush up on the rules of the road,” says Ruth Wood, president of the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water.

The Foundation offers both a free online safety course and “Boater’s Toolbox,” with an animated rules of the road section, as well as information on life jackets, carbon monoxide poisoning prevention, safe and clean fueling, required safety equipment and more. “The water is still cold in many northern states and the Toolbox has great information on hypothermia as well,” added Wood. For more info go to http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation

In addition, TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist, the on-the-water towing services from BoatU.S., predict as many as 2,800 or more requests for assistance from boaters across the country this weekend. Many will need a jump start, fuel drop off or a tow back to port. “We expect the switchboards at our 24-hour Atlantic and Pacific call centers will start to light up on Friday the 25th and stay busy through the holiday weekend,” said Jerry Cardarelli, Vice President of BoatU.S. Towing Services.

“Many of the calls our towers get this time of year can be attributed to incomplete spring commissioning,” added Cardarelli. Stale fuel is a concern. He suggests that boaters check to make sure that their VHF radio is operable and its antenna is in good shape, as well as ensuring that a vessel’s battery and charging system is working properly.

Like an auto club, BoatU.S. offers on-the-water assistance plans starting at around $37 a year. Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident. The TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist towing fleets combined offer North American boaters the largest network of U.S., Canadian and Bahamian towing ports with over 270 locations and nearly 500 towing assistance vessels - twice that of any other service provider. For more information on BoatU.S. Towing Services call 800-888-4869