Behind the Buoy

Richard Schwartz Publisher Emeritus
Michael G. Sciulla Editor & Publisher



May 2008

Insomnia, one of the hallmarks of reaching a certain age, is not normally considered a beneficial condition. But, unlike our founder, Richard Schwartz, who has probably never gone to sleep before the clock strikes midnight, I am usually fast asleep hours before he even thinks about hitting the sack. Of course, I usually awaken at 3 a.m. and one of the few tonics that can put me back to sleep is that old reliable nocturnal palliative, C-SPAN.

I turned on the tube one recent early morning to hear a glowing introduction by the president of the National Press Club for actor Ted Danson whom nearly everyone on the planet will recall was the star of the long-running 1980s TV series, "Cheers."
Danson played the part of a bar owner and knucklehead former baseball player, Sam Malone, whose chief interest was in chasing barmaid Diane Chambers (Shelley Long).

But Danson was not invited to the National Press Club to relive old Hollywood memories. Instead, in a complete casting against type, Danson was there to speak about the health of our oceans and what can be done to protect them.

This is no trifling matter to Danson. He has been deeply involved in ocean issues for the past 20 years, having founded America's Ocean Campaign in the 1980s, the predecessor to the environmental advocacy organization, Oceana, which has over 300,000 members worldwide today.

Whether or not you agree with Oceana's policy prescriptions, the point is that as a member of the board and a spokesman for the group, Danson commands attention. Not only were his remarks broadcast to a national audience, but seated at the head table were reporters from The New York Times, The Washington Post, AP, Bloomberg News, Kiplinger's and National Geographic TV. At the moment, boating has no one who could attract such attention.

Boating could greatly benefit from having a national spokesperson. Someone who could command the media's attention and demonstrate that boating is a grand recreation that hasn't been the exclusive sport of the well-to-do for a generation or more.
Boating is, in fact, a broad-based recreation enjoyed by more than 10 million Americans from all walks of life who own nearly 20 million boats. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, boating is a $40 billion industry and over 70 million Americans go boating at least once each year.

Recreational boaters and anglers are hands-on stewards of the marine environment who don't deserve to be singled-out for ineffective regulations such as the pending federal discharge permit or statewide bans on Type I marine sanitation devices. Such restrictions have been relatively easy to foist on boaters by regulators who want to appear to be doing something about a problem rather than actually getting something done.

Boating has also been singled out by the federal government in past years for new fees and "luxury" taxes on the premise that anyone who could afford to own a boat should pay more for the privilege.

A national spokesperson embodying the best of power boating, sailing and fishing - who could set the record straight - would be a real asset.

We raise this issue now because the next U.S. president will have to deal with a host of national problems that will come with a huge price tag. Budgets will have to be cut and many worthwhile programs will face the budgetary axe. Our experience with this type of political climate over the past 40 years is not encouraging. Recreational boating will be an easy target for those looking for easy solutions.

So, with some six months to go before the elections and nine months before a new Congress and president are sworn in, we would welcome any suggestions you might have for that one well-known person who could be the new face of boating. Paid-for celebrity spokespersons need not apply. What we need is a real boat owner of sufficient stature who has a passion for the recreation. Send your suggestions to Magazine@BoatUS.com and we'll start the conversation.

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