Best of Boating

BoatUS Showcases The "Boatiest" Colleges in America

ALEXANDRA, VA - For young scholars with a passion for the water, heading off to college often means a four-year hiatus from boating.  But not anymore with a new online resource, the BoatU.S. Guide to the Boatiest Colleges in America, which helps students find the top marine programs and extracurricular boating activities offered by four-year schools. 

The one-of-a-kind Guide premieres in the July 2009 issue of BoatUS Magazine, along with a list of “The 25 Boatiest Schools in America” — those that offer at least three different accredited marine-related programs, both academic and extracurricular.  Students can search the database by state or by program, such as Fisheries, Marine Engineering, Oceanography, Marine Biology, Sailing or Waterskiing.

National Boating Day on July 1

CHICAGO, IL - With the official start of summer last week, the U.S. Senate passed S. Res. 199, declaring July 1, 2009 National Boating Day.  The resolution recognizes the important role recreational boating and the boating industry play in the lives of the nation’s 70 million boaters and the U.S. economy.

“I am very pleased that the Senate passed this resolution recognizing July 1 as National Boating Day. The boating industry is very important to the economy of North Carolina and provides families with the opportunity to enjoy our state’s scenic treasures, from our mountain lakes to the Outer Banks,” said Senator Richard Burr.

USA Water Ski Picks 2009 Elite Water Ski Team

USA Water Ski announced the selection of the 2009 U.S. Elite Water Ski Team following the conclusion of the 2009 U.S. Water Ski Team Trials, June 19-21, in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. The six-member team will compete in the 31st Water Ski World Championships, Aug. 4-9, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The United States has won four consecutive world team titles at the biennial world championships.

Athletes selected to the 2009 U.S. Elite Water Ski Team were (alphabetical order): Rhoni Barton-Bischoff (Orlando, Fla.), April Coble-Eller (Lillington, N.C.), Regina Jaquess (Suwanee, Ga.), Freddy Krueger (Winter Garden, Fla.), Alex Lauretano (Winter Garden, Fla.) and Jimmy Siemers (Round Rock, Texas). The American Water Ski Association's International Activities Committee selected the team based on performances at the team trials.

Michigan's Clean Marina Program Adds Six Certified Marinas

LIVONIA, MI - The Michigan Clean Marina Program added six more facilities to its growing ranks.
The newly-certified marinas are: Algonac Harbour Club in Algonac; Lac La Belle State Harbor in Lac La Belle; Copper Harbor State Dock in Copper Harbor; Eagle Harbor State Dock in Eagle Harbor; Cedar River State Harbor in Cedar River; and Torresen Marine in Muskegon.  With the additions of these six marinas, a total of 30 Michigan marinas have been certified.

The clean marina certification begins with a pledge to participate in the program, followed by workshops
where the marina management and staff receive a handbook, overview of the designation process and a
review of best management practices.  The facilities then conduct self-evaluations of their environmental
practices to determine their strengths and weaknesses.  After implementing improvements and reaching a
level of competencies, the marina requests a visitation by a CMP consultant to evaluate the facility’s
environmental stewardship.  When the facility reaches established goals, they receive their designation.

Coast Guard uses Facebook to locate boater; saves thousands in tax dollars

EASTPORT, ME - Coast Guard Sector Northern New England was searching early Sunday morning for a possible overdue fisherman out of Cobscook Park in Eastport until a search on Facebook helped locate information which ultimately closed the case and as a result saved up to $30,000 for the taxpayers.

A park ranger at Cobscook Park reported to the Coast Guard a lone vehicle and trailer with no boat sitting in a parking lot.  Using the license plate, the Coast Guard was able to locate a name, address, and phone number of the vehicle owner but there was no response at the location.

Boaters that purchase "taxed fuel" may be eligible for refund

Recreational boaters who purchase taxed fuel for use in their boats may be able to get a refund of all or part of that ‘highway use tax’ depending on the state in which the fuel was purchased, according to American Boating Association.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, almost 4 million gallons of gasoline were used for non-highway purposes in 2001. Of this, almost 25% (993,837 gallons) was used in marine activities. The cost of this fuel generally includes a highway use tax of anywhere from 7.5¢/gallon to close to 30¢/gallon depending on the state.

London Bridge Approaches Its 40th Year At Lake Havasu City

Crews used material dredged to make the Bridgewater Channel as supports for the bridge's arches.

LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ - For boaters and personal watercraft enthusiasts in California and the southwest, Lake Havasu is a boating mecca with a bit of an adult reputation, and that's a good thing.  Lake Havasu also has a stately reputation as home of the iconic London Bridge that was relocated to Lake Havasu City nearly 40 years ago.

Known the world over through reputation and song, the London Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. While many know of its current location, the story of how this famous structure came to reside in Lake Havasu City is an interesting one.

The London Bridge moved to this desert community in 1968, after being purchased by town founder Robert P. McCulloch. He was looking for something to put his fledgling community on the map, and when his partner C.V. Wood, known for designing Disneyland, heard about the bridge going up for sale, they knew this was the hook they were looking for.

“They really wanted something that was going to make Lake Havasu City famous,” said Ruth Brydon, curator of the Lake Havasu Museum of History. “They knew having the London Bridge in their new city would attract a lot of attention, and new residents.”

Life Jacket Loaners A Hit With Ohio Boaters

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft says response to its Wear It Ohio! life jacket safety campaign is strong and Ohio boaters continue to sign up at special events being held at four Ohio state parks to participate in a life jacket loaner program that began in May.

"We have loaned almost two-thirds of our available inflatable life jackets during special events the past three weekends at Portage Lakes, Buckeye Lake, Buck Creek and Caesar Creek Lake state parks," said Pamela Dillon, chief of the ODNR Division of Watercraft.

Tech Entrepreneur Rides WaveRunner 500 Miles Offshore, Raises $35,000 For Crohn's Disease Research

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Technology entrepreneur Richard Wolpert today completed a 500 mile, eight day solo personal watercraft adventure benefiting Crohn’s disease research.  The trip began and ended in Florida, with two open ocean crossings of the often treacherous gulf stream and a stop on every major island in the Abacos, Bahamas.  The ride raised more than $35,000 to battle Crohn’s Disease.

Boat Grills: Magma Newport Grill Cooks As Good As It Looks

Grilling on your boat while anchored in your favorite cove is an experience that is hard to beat.  The key is having a grill that is designed for onboard use.  In our opinion, the Magma Newport Gourmet Gas Grill is one of the best grills on the market today, offering boaters several convenient mounting options in a clean, easy-to-store package.

The Magma Newport Gourmet Gas Grill is made from 18-9 stainless steel with a high-quality mirror finish. The construction of this boat grill is top-of-the-line featuring a double-lined body which makes it safer for the cook and adds durability.