BoatUS Membership eLine is produced by the BoatUS Membership Department and is an update on seasonal issues, helpful suggestions and friendly reminders. This has been sent to you because you are an active Member of BoatUS.

As a fellow boater, you know that when you breakdown on the water, you can't just walk to your nearest gas station or call your neighbor for help. That's why our towing fleet of TowBoatUS and VESSEL ASSIST Pacific offers Members 24-hour service with the largest network of over 290 towboat ports. We're also the fastest growing network and we've recently added 8 more ports:

• VESSEL ASSIST Oahu, HI
• VESSEL ASSIST Lake Pleasant, AZ
• TowBoatUS Sturgeon Bay, WI
• TowBoatUS Lake Murray, SC
• TowBoatUS Yonkers, NY
• TowBoatUS Lake Wylie, NC
• TowBoatUS Decatur, AL
• TowBoatUS Chickamauga Lake, GA

We've grown from one 24/7 dispatch center to four (Costa Mesa, CA, Alexandria and Woodbridge, VA and Jacksonville, FL) so when the unexpected happens on the water there is always a live voice at the other end of the phone - any time, day or night.

So far this year, the average tow bill for non-Members has been over $600 and the average ungrounding is running over $800. That's why most Members "Go Unlimited" for total peace of mind.

But don't take my word for it; as one Member said, "I was completely satisfied with the service provided. The captain put my boat into a slip between two $4 million dollar vessels without a bump, ding or scary moment. I felt like I was being chauffeured in a limo. No fuss, no muss and NO WORRY!"

Another Member wrote: "Polite, professional service. Even if I never have to use this service again, a BoatUS Membership is well worth the price just for the peace of mind that you are never 'out there' alone. I would recommend this to anyone who owns a boat."

To find the closest BoatUS towing provider in your area, go to the Member Services locator at BoatUS.com/msl. And check to make sure you have the towing level that is right for you.

Happy Boating!
Nancy S. Michelman
President@BoatUS.com

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Members can now go to BoatUS.com/marinas to find locations where ValvTect Marine fuels are sold at BoatUS Cooperating Marinas. Just look for the ValvTect marina logo on the marinas webpage.

ValvTect selects only the best marinas to sell its specially formulated marine fuels, including ValvTect Marine Gasoline that is designed to help reduce ethanol-related problems and ValvTect Marine Diesel with BioGuard. All ValvTect marinas must meet stringent cleanliness, safety and environmental guidelines for boat fueling facilities, as well as have their fuel storage tanks tested for water, bacteria and other contamination up to twice a year.

The BoatUS Cooperating Marina program offers Members up to ten cents off a gallon of ValvTect fuel at selected locations - make sure you check BoatUS.com/marinas before you go.

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You asked the questions! BoatUS Insurance is here with the answers to what you wanted to know about our Policies, our Superior Service and how we can save you money on insurance for your boat.

Get the answers to your Top 10 most pressing questions:

Am I required by law to have insurance on my boat?

How much does a BoatUS Insurance Policy cost?

What is the minimum amount of liability protection I should buy with my policy?

What type of losses do your policies cover?

What other benefits are included with a BoatUS Insurance Policy?

How can BoatUS save me money on my insurance?

Are there premium discounts offered?

Is there an extended premium payment plan?

How do you handle claims?

How does your insurance program help me in the event of an emergency, such as a sinking, grounding or accidental fuel spill?

With Low rates, Broad coverage, and first-class service from boating experts, it's no wonder that boaters flock to BoatUS for quality insurance protection. A policy with us ensures great savings and ultimate security for you, your boat and your guests while on the water.

Not currently insured with BoatUS? Click Here for a Fast, Free Rate Quote. Or call an underwriter today at 800- 283-2883.

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BoatUS ANGLER brings you five easy ways to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week and inspire your families and friends to head out for some fun fishing and safe boating:

1. Brush up on your fishing skills: From learning about fishing tactics, equipment and safety to advice and stories from pro anglers, BoatUSAngler.com has expert advice to help beginners start out right and keep experienced anglers at their peak. Click on "Fishing How-To's" where you'll also find information that will help you teach your kids about catch and release fishing and how to measure a fish.

2. Go fishing for free: In honor of this special week, many states offer one or more days where anglers won't need a license to fish. Go to TakeMeFishing.org website where you'll find free fishing days and events in your area.

3. Make a fishing trip memorable for a child: Take a photo of your child with their catch and send it to the BoatUS ANGLER Catch of the Month Contest. Photos will be displayed online, and will also be entered into a monthly prize drawing.

4. Go window shopping: Boating is more affordable than you may think. Start dreaming and sign up for your free online copy of the BoatUS Classified Ads. There are four separate weekly Classified Ad E-Newsletters each for fishing boats, powerboats, trailerable boats and sailboats.

5. Go boating with the kids wearing the right life jackets: Don't worry if you want to take a bunch of kids boating and don't have enough life jackets. The BoatUS Foundation's free Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids offers free child and youth life jackets for the day or weekend at over 500 waterfront sites, boat clubs, businesses and fire houses.

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Have you played DockIt! The boating game of skill?

By playing you can be entered to win weekly prizes, monthly prizes and even earn extra entries for our grand prize of $25,000 from the BoatUS Wave of Fortune Sweepstakes! By joining, renewing, or sponsoring a new BoatUS Member, you are automatically entered into the sweepstakes. But, when you play DockIt! you can earn up to 10 additional entries per day!

Visit BoatUS.com/games to start playing now! This month's weekly prize is a Black BoatUS hat and our monthly prize is a SPOT unit with one free year of service.

Congratulations to May's monthly winner Gary B. of Winston, MA, who won a 2 year BoatUS Membership complete with Unlimited Towing and Trailering.

Remember to login to My.BoatUS.com once a day and click on "Enter Contest" (left side of screen under "Manage Your Content") to increase your chances of winning a SPOT Unit plus one year of service. Registration is simple and easy - just fill in your Member number, email address and zip code, create a password and you're all set! Congratulations to May's winner, Ronald D. of Long Beach, CA who won a SPOT Unit with one year of service!

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If you're interested in becoming a better mariner, the most interesting claims aren't the ones that involve recklessness, excessive amounts of alcohol, or gross negligence; the lessons from these claims tend to be obvious. The more interesting claims are the ones that happened to otherwise competent skippers who suddenly found themselves in trouble. For example, on the ICW near Norfolk, skippers traveling north will occasionally wind up in St Juliens Creek thinking they're still in the ICW. The terrain looks the same and the entrance to the creek is about the same width. There is, however, one notable exception: a short distance into St Juliens there are overhead power lines with 45'clearance.

Click here to read about the troubles St Juliens Creek caused.

Click here for a fast, free insurance quote.

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The price tag for one hour of operation of a U.S. Coast Guard 25 foot rigid inflatable is $1,617 - the least expensive rescue equipment used in a search and rescue. The average SAR case is around $30,000. To help take the search out of search and rescue, the BoatUS Foundation has EPIRB and GPIRB units available to rent for short, coastal boating trips. If you are going outside of VHF range (about 20 miles) a rental beacon is a must-have for emergency communications. Starting at $40 a week for EPIRBs and $65 a week for GPIRBs, the Foundation will ship the equipment to your point of departure anywhere within the continental US.

Since 1997, Foundation rental beacons have played a role in saving 62 people in 25 incidents. Boaters involved in open water trips to the Bahamas for fishing or sailors in the Chicago to Mackinac race have benefited from having our rental beacons being aboard.

Renting an EPIRB or GPIRB is a very simple process. Last minute plans? Place your order online before 2pm and, if need be, we can overnight it to you.

To place an order, call 888-663-7472 or for expedited service, click here.

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E-mail: Membership@BoatUS.com

Website: BoatUS.com/Membership

Members-Only website: my.BoatUS.com

Call: 800-395-2628

· Renew Your Membership
· Change E-mail Address
· BoatUS Logo Items
· BoatUS Credit Card
· Marine Insurance
· Towing Services

BoatUS and Marinalife have partnered to bring you services designed to help save you time and money. As a Member of BoatUS, you receive a 30-day free trial or 20% discount on all Marinalife memberships. With a free 30-day trial membership, BoatUS Members are able to create a boater profile, receive marina recommendations, read/write marina reviews and easily reserve dockage at thousands of marinas through a simple online reservations system. Begin taking advantage of all the Marinalife services!

Click here to register, or call 800-736-8275.

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Support your Association by opening up a BoatUS checking account today! Members receive special checks as well as a debit/check card to show your passion for boating. And if you enroll in the Keep the Change program, Bank of America will match 10% of your Keep the Change savings after the first three months (normally just 5%) as a bonus for being a BoatUS Member!

If you enroll your BoatUS checking account in Keep the Change, each time you buy something with your BoatUS check card, Bank of America rounds your purchase to the nearest dollar amount and transfers the difference from your checking account to your savings account. You get to keep the change and grow your savings. Bank of America will then match your Keep the Change savings at 100% for the first three months, and 10% thereafter, up to a maximum total match of $250 per year. This reward will be paid annually to your savings account. Learn more or enroll today by clicking here.

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You're miles away from shore, enjoying another unforgettable boating adventure. It would be great to let your family and friends know where you are and that you're safe but you're out of cell phone range. Not a problem using the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger™.

SPOT is an innovative and economical way to stay connected. Using dual satellite technology, you can send your location and pre-programmed messages to anyone, from virtually anywhere regardless of cellular coverage.

Receive your FREE SPOT when signing up for 2-Years of Basic & Tracking service. ($150 mail-in rebate.) Other offers available. Visit www.findmespot.com/boatus.

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With Budget where2®GPS Navigation, you can find your way anywhere with audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates, local restaurants, attractions and more - all at your fingertips.

Now BoatUS Members can receive 2 free days of where2 on a 5+ day rental when you use coupon # MUGZ015 and up to 20% off your rental with BCD # V671500. Click here for details.

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With another identity stolen every three seconds, nearly 10 million Americans fell victim to identity theft last year. (Source: Javelin Strategy & Research. "2009 Identity Fraud Survey Report." February 2009.)

That's why BoatUS has worked with LifeLock to provide Members a special discount of 10% off LifeLock's industry-leading identity theft protection.

LifeLock helps protect your identity - even if your information falls into the wrong hands. As a LifeLock member, if you become a victim of identity theft because of a failure in their service, they'll help fix it at their expense, up to $1,000,000. (Restrictions apply. See lifelock.com for details).

Enroll now by visiting lifelock.com or calling 1-800-LIFELOCK (543-3562) and using promotion code BOATUS1.

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Members now receive discounts on Sprint wireless services. Through this new exclusive partnership, you can receive discounts on most devices and a 10% discount on Sprint's monthly wireless services.

The partnership offers a variety of promotions and special offers on the portfolio of Sprint products and most offers apply to new and existing Sprint customers. Existing Sprint customers can add the BoatUS discount to their account by visiting BoatUSphones.com, calling 866-784-5154 or visiting any Sprint retailer and mentioning the BoatUS discount code: NABHW_BUS_ZMB.

New customers can learn more about Sprint services by visiting BoatUSphones.com or by calling 866-784-5154 for more information.

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As the weather starts getting warmer, most boaters are looking forward to getting out on the water. Some like to cruise, some like to fish or ski, and some boaters simply like to just raft up with their friends and socialize. Maybe you fit into one of these groups-or a completely different group altogether!

However you enjoy the water, here are some tips to keep in mind if you want to also enjoy a drink or two when you are out. Both government studies and our own on the water testing show that alcohol can affect you much more quickly when you're on the water. Wave action can amplify the loss of coordination. The sun can also cause or hasten dehydration, making a couple of beers much more potent than what you're used to at home.

The best time to enjoy alcohol on the water is when you're done for the day, and won't be driving anywhere else. Keep in mind that many states now have .08 BUI limits that match their DUI limits. As a kickoff to the boating season, boat police nationwide are participating in 'Operation Dry Water' on the weekend of June 26 through the 28, to help decrease drinking and boating. For more information on safe boating practices, go to BoatUS.com/foundation/toolbox.

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The majority of dock power troubles can be linked to two simple problems: overheating and saltwater immersion.

If you suspect a bad connection, turn off the dock power at the outlet and unplug the dock cord couplings at the outlet and boat. Inspect the male and female plug ends for signs of melting or corrosion. Inspect the outlet and the boat's inlet for heat and corrosion damage.

Click here to learn more about the complexities of identifying shore power connections, troubleshooting, and plugging in.

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Get the late breaking news about things that can make your boating safer, more fun -- or dangerous. Sign up for a free email subscription to "East Coast Alerts" to receive reports of shoaling, changes in aids to navigation, bridge restrictions, dredging operations, harbor closures and much more.

BoatUS writer Mel Neale compiles these reports from sources such as USCG Local Notices to Mariners, US Army Corps of Engineers survey reports, USCG Bridge Officers, observations from boaters, observations from TowBoatUS operators, as well as observations from the helm of "Chez Nous," the Neale's 53-foot motorsailer.

Mel and Tom Neale have been live-aboard cruisers since 1979, averaging 3,000 to 5,000 miles per year, in their own boat and various others. The reports are filed on the BoatUS website bi-weekly or more often as conditions warrant. Click here to read current and past reports. You can even sign up to receive the reports free, via email, as they come in. East Coast Alerts are also posted on the BoatUS "Boater to Boater" Message Boards, in the Blogs and on my.BoatUS.com.

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