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

The easiest way to ensure a child's safety on the water is to make sure they wear a properly-fitting life jacket. But children's growth spurts or last minute changes to the roster of invited guests don't always make wearing a life jacket easy. Your marina, bait shop, fuel dock or boat club may be able to help next season as the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is looking for new locations to become lending sites for its free Life Jacket Loaner Program.

Since the program was launched in 1997, at least three children's lives have been saved as a result of wearing a BoatUS Foundation life jacket. More than 90,000 life jackets are loaned out each year through the program, with demand up 22% in the last two years. The program was recently honored by the Partnership for a Safer Maryland as one of six leading injury prevention programs in the state.

There is no cost to become a loaner site and presently over 350 clubs and businesses participate as Life Jacket Loaner Program sites. The loaner life jacket kit consists of 12 life jackets in a protective container, signage and easy-to-use sign-out sheets to track usage. Various sizes of jackets are included.

To download an application to become a Life Jacket Loaner Program site or for more information on the program and the life jacket laws in your state, click here Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2008.

If hosting a loaner site isn't for you, a tax-deductible donation can help. "The need for this program continues to grow each year and your donation will help parents keep their kids safe," said BoatU.S. Foundation President Ruth Wood. Ten dollars will buy one vest-style life jacket and $250 will create a completely new, fully stocked loaner site. Make a donation online or mail your donation to: Kids Jackets, BoatUS Foundation, 880 South Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304.

Applications are now available for the BoatU.S. Foundation’s Boating Safety Grants Program. A total of $50,000 is available to small, nonprofit organizations and groups around the country to fund projects that promote safe boating practices. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2008.

For 20 years, the Foundation has been awarding boating safety grants to fund projects that promote safe boating on local waterways. Grantees can receive up to $4000 each to fund innovative projects addressing boating safety issues specific to their local waterways. Past projects have included traditional methods such as boating safety literature and signage as well as less common projects including life jacket exchanges, blimps containing safety messages and radio, TV and movie theater PSAs.

The Focus topic for 2009 is educating boaters on the dangers of alcohol and boating. According to The Coast Guard’s 2007 Accident Statistics, alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in 21% of fatal boating accidents. The Foundation is looking for grant proposals that use new and innovative ways of educating boaters. The emphasis for this focus topic is the use of positive messaging to reach boaters. Projects on any topic will be accepted but projects based on the focus topic will be given additional consideration.

Grant guidelines, information, and applications are available here. The grants will be awarded in late January 2009.

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 BoatUS 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 BoatUS 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 BoatUS 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.