I’m an experienced boater, why make
resolutions you ask?
Just remembering all of those rules is
really quite a task.
And so to set the record straight and
clear up the confusion,
Let me explain the reason for my New
Years resolutions.
I will turn on my blower, when I’m
running rather slow
'Cause CO is odorless and deadly, as you
know.
I’ll check flares and extinguishers,
especially the date.
Because in an emergency, there’s little
time to wait.
I wear a lightweight life jacket when
voyaging around,
Because in most fatalities, you’ll find
the victim drowned.
I’ll Vow to take a first aid class:
learn CPR and more
When the emergency’s on board, help’s
always on the shore
When pumping fuel into my boat I promise
to take care
Flying may be fun, but not when blown
into the air.
When setting my boat’s anchor, the
rode’ll be 7 to 1
‘Cause drifting on some muddy shoal is
really not much fun.
I’ll monitor my fuel, remembering the
rule of thirds
Endangering on empty, is much more than
absurd.
I’ll check the weather forecast and
always watch the sky
With rain you’re wet and soggy, but with
lightning you can die.
I’ll go into new waters with GPS ‘n
chart in hand
What looks like tawny water, Mate, could
actually be land.
There’s navigational hazards, pilings
and shoals you know.
And using local charts could save you an
expensive Tow.
When a person is in the water, my
engines I will stop
I wouldn't want to injure them with my
razor sharp prop.
And I will never use alcohol when I am
the skipper
For a Captain under the influence is as
dangerous as Jack the Ripper
I truly love cruising my boat and don’t
want one mistake.
But there are times when I forget about
my vessel’s wake.
In the spirit of the New Year I will
take time to pause.
Remembering the injuries and harm my
wake could cause
These are my resolutions with
appropriate explanations
To be a safer boater is high in my
expectations.
I’ll do things right and I’ll forget
past misdeeds and remorses.
Every boater needs United States Power
Squadron courses.
Happy and Safe New Year
Lt. Bill Hempel, P
Peace River Sail and Power Squadron
William Hempel is a featured writer
for the Sun Newspapers in Southern
Florida. He was the first recipient of
the United States Power Squadron’s
Ship’s Bell Award for significant public
relations and is a member of the
National Marketing and Public Relations
Committee.
Monday, December 20, 2010
United States Power Squadrons hires new National Programs Director
The United States Power Squadrons is the nation’s largest nonprofit recreational boating organization with a presence in all 50 states plus the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as well as Japan. There are more than 40,000 members in 400 squadrons and 33 districts worldwide. Tsuneyoshi will search for opportunities that help the USPS live up to its motto: Boating is fun … we’ll show you how.®
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Friday, November 05, 2010
USPS Members Receive Discounts on C-MAP by Jeppesen Electronic Charts and Accessories
Available products include MAX electronic charts, a popular electronic charting platform whose features include Guardian Alarm anti-grounding technology, Flashing NavAids, Dynamic Currents, detailed C-Marina charts and more. Jeppesen’s full catalog of updated NT+ electronic charts are also available for boaters with chart plotters predating the introduction of MAX charts. Fishing contour charts are also available, as well as Jeppesen’s popular PC-Planner home planning software. This useful tool allows boaters to plan safe and efficient voyages on their home PC or laptop, saving time, fuel and money. When used with the C-MAP memory card, PC-Planner also makes it easy for boaters to back up important waypoints, clean up and organize waypoint data in their onboard chart plotters. Jeppesen provides boaters with the most current electronic charts available, updating its entire C-MAP by Jeppesen chart library at least twice a year. A typical title receives thousands of changes from one edition to the next, including Coast Guard Notice-to-Mariner corrections, moved or changed aids to navigation, new hazards and obstacles, and more.
Club Jeppese
For more information, contact C-Map by Jeppesen at 800-424-2627 or visit the USPS Ship’s Store.
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Monday, October 18, 2010
Brunswick Boat Group Partners with United States Power Squadrons to Promote Boater Education and Safety
“As industry leaders, we seized this opportunity to positively impact boating enjoyment,” said Brunswick Boat Group President Andy Graves. “By giving our customers easy access to education by seasoned boaters, we hope to improve the ownership experience and potentially enhance boating safety.”
Classes and seminars range from beginner to expert levels covering a wide variety of topics including navigation, “Rules of the Road,” knot tying, electronics, trailering, and more. Qualified Power Squadrons personnel conduct the courses using facilities provided by participating Brunswick dealers.
“We are delighted that the Brunswick Boat Group embraces the importance of educating boaters before they take to the water,” said Frank A. Dvorak, USPS’s chief commander. “This will improve the boating experience by helping boaters be safer on the water as well as avoid costly tickets or embarrassing mistakes. The more competent the boater, the better time they will have on the water. Brunswick understands that.”
Many states require some form of boater certification prior to operation of an engine-powered vessel. The USPS program exceeds the course requirements in every state and satisfies those obligations. Additionally, many insurance companies will discount boat insurance rates upon proof of completion of a USPS course.
“Additional programs offered include content for our more experienced boaters, including the nuances of the more complex electrical systems of cruisers and even a comprehensive course about weather,” said Graves. “For boaters who can’t make it into the dealership for the courses, participating dealers also have access to take-home guides and course material.” Graves said a pilot program already is underway with a number of Brunswick Boat Group dealerships participating.
“Because several of our brands are a popular choice for first-time boat owners, this partnership is extremely beneficial,” said Graves. “Unfortunately, one bad experience may turn people off of boating. We want to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that our customers are comfortable and competent at the helm so that they experience maximum enjoyment from their boats every time they take to the water.”
Brunswick boat brands slated to roll out the USPS program through dealerships in the U.S. include Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris FloteBote, Hatteras Yachts, Lowe, Lund, Meridian Yachts, Princecraft, Sea Ray, and Trophy.
About Brunswick
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill "Genuine Ingenuity"(TM) in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine, and Diversified Marine parts and accessories distributors; Arvor, Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris FloteBote, Hatteras, Lowe, Lund, Meridian, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Sealine, Suncruiser, Triton Aluminum, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Life Fitness and Hammer Strength fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables and foosball tables. For more information, visit http://www.brunswick.com.
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Friday, September 10, 2010
New Discounts for the Boat Operator Certification!
BELLEVUE, WA, SEPTEMBER 4,
2010: The USPS Boat
Insurance Program and
Travelers Insurance are
excited to announce
additional discounts
exclusively for USPS
members. USPS Boat
Insurance/Travelers
customers who complete the
various levels of the Boat
Operator Certification (BOC)
Program will now qualify for
the following insurance
premium discounts:
• Inland Navigator – 2.5%
• Coastal Navigator – 2.5%
• Advanced Coastal Navigator
– 5%
• Offshore Navigator – 5%
These discounts are in
addition to the 23% credit
available for completion of
USPS Safety Courses and
annual Vessel Safety Check,
bringing the total available
credit to 38%. The BOC
program certifies USPS
members in recreational
boating proficiency at a
level that meets or exceeds
the requirements of UN
Resolution 40, International
Certificate for the
Operation of Pleasure Craft.
Travelers and the USPS Boat
Insurance are happy to
recognize and reward the
exceptional knowledge and
experience of USPS members
that obtain these
certifications.
For additional information
on the USPS Boat Insurance
Program, and to advise of
BOC course completion,
please visit
www.uspsboatinsurance.com
or call 1-800-763-USPS
(8777).
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America Sign Memorandum of Mutual Support
This year marks BSA’s 100th anniversary and at the center of the celebration is the 2010 National Scout Jamboree taking place now through August 4, 2010, at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. RBFF is offering Scout leaders a chance to win fishing gear for their troop when they enter the Take Me Fishing sweepstakes at the Boys’ Life booth. The jamboree, which is held every four years, will host more than 40,000 Scouts and Scouters.
“We are thrilled to announce this agreement that will foster ways to introduce more youth to the fun and excitement of boating and fishing,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “We want to inspire newcomers to get active and develop leadership qualities to ultimately protect the legacy of the sport and the future of our nation’s waterways.”
According to the Special Report on Fishing and Boating, conducted by RBFF and the Outdoor Foundation, fishing is the most popular gateway activity that often leads to participation in other outdoor pursuits. The report also found that youth participants aged six to 12 are driven by a desire for fun (78.6 percent) and an interest in exploring the natural world (50.9 percent). Past research shows that 90 percent of adult outdoor enthusiasts were introduced to nature-based activities between the ages of five and 18.
RBFF launched a Scouting Patch Program in December 2009. Three new boating and fishing patches, available to Cub Scouts and Scouts, promote the merits of the sport and encourage scouts to plan and organize fishing trips using the resources found at TakeMeFishing.org. Since the program’s inception, more than 12,600 patch requests have been fulfilled.
“Our organization works with many groups that encourage young people to learn skills and activities that can foster a love of the outdoors,” said retired BSA Community Alliances Team Director Charles Holmes. “Through this MOU, Scouts can learn the skills needed to safely pursue their interest in fishing and boating.”
About the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 20, 1.1 million volunteers, and nearly 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org. More information about 100 Years of Scouting can be found at www.scouting.org/100years.
About RBFF
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF helps people discover, share and protect the legacy of boating and fishing through national outreach programs including the Take Me Fishing™ campaign and Anglers’ Legacy™
Monday, July 26, 2010
EPA Requests Feedback on Performance Standards on Marine Sanitation Devices
As discussed by
