Is there someone in your town who has helped boaters be more environmentally responsible and made their local waterways cleaner? With Earth Day's arrival April 22, the BoatU.S. Foundation plans to honor those who have made a significant contribution towards improving waterway ecology and educating boaters on how to minimize their environmental impact. Any group, organization, company, marina or individual who has worked hard to make a difference is eligible for the BoatU.S. Foundation Environmental Leadership Award. A $1,000 prize is provided to help the winner continue their environmental efforts. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2008. Applications and more information about the award are available here.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety has made it a little easier for Spanish-speaking boaters to check the “rules of the road” with a new Boat Handling Guide decal in Spanish that can be affixed on the helm. The decal is free to boat clubs, marinas or other groups in quantities up to 200. Click here to place an order online or download the PDF. The weatherproof decal gives examples of the most common types of navigational markers, rules of the road and right of way illustrations, and an explanation of horn signals.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water sponsors the Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids which makes children’s life jackets available to boaters who are unprepared for visiting children or whose kids have outgrown their old life jackets. Over 350 locations nationwide loan kid-sized life jackets on a daily basis, free of charge.

Each year the need for life jackets outgrows the number that the BoatUS Foundation has available to loan. Our program goal is to raise $50,000 by this spring to meet this need – we’re counting on you!

For as little as $10, your tax-deductible contribution will fund the purchase of a child’s life jacket – or for $250, your gift will buy enough supplies to establish a new life jacket loaner location. We need your help to make boating safer for children.

Your contribution of any amount will make a difference to some small child. Consider making a fully tax-deductible donation today to keep our program afloat.

Photo above: courtesy HRM

Are you a PWC Rider? Take our online survey and register to win a PWC Deceleration Light from PWC Industries, Inc. We want to know what you think about safety education for PWC users. Your feedback will be used to help develop future education messages in formats that are fun and interesting for PWC enthusiasts that are new to the sport. Click here to take our brief survey and register to win.

The non-profit National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) with assistance of the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety needs donated trailer boats to better understand “collision dynamics”- what happens when a certain kind of boat collides with another and how hulls can be better constructed for safety.

Using a grant from the United States Coast Guard, this two year study will be used by waterway accident investigators to learn more about collisions involving bass boats, pontoon boats, PWCs and small cabin cruisers. In the fall of 2007, the first round of staged collisions was completed and forensic photos are now available. Click here to view the gallery.

Watercraft owners who wish to donate their boat for further study will receive verification of the IRS 501(c)3 donation for fair market value. Boats need to be in operating condition – including propulsion – and include a trailer. Boat, motor and trailer certification of legal ownership and assignment to NASBLA is also required (either Certificate of Title, Certificate of Number or a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin).

To donate your boat or if you have questions, contact NASBLA at (859) 225-9487 or email info@nasbla.org. To see what kinds of boats are needed, click here.

Recycle your fishing line with the BoatU.S. Foundation! Did you know that it takes over 500 years for monofilament fishing line to decompose? Meanwhile, that discarded line can tangle itself around your boat prop or worse yet, marine life. To help keep line out of the environment, the BoatU.S. Foundation would like to partner with you and your local fishing or boating group to install a monofilament recycling bin at your favorite fishing spot, launch ramp or marina.

We will provide you with a FREE pre-made PVC monofilament bin and signage suitable for mounting outdoors. All we ask in return is that you monitor the bin, empty it when full, send the collected line to Berkley for recycling and let us know how much line you collected and returned. How easy is that? For more information, click here. Don’t delay we have a limited number of bins, and bin locations will be determined by geographic area and demonstrated demand for monofilament recycling.