As invasive golden mussels spread through California waterways, RBOC is pleased to provide this BoatUS update on how our national advocacy partner and recreational boating advocates are pushing for effective, consistent prevention measures that protect both the environment and boating access.
RBOC joins BoatUS in Urging Action to Protect GPS and SATCOM operations
Five years after the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision, BoatUS, RBOC, and 91 organizations have signed onto a letter asking President Trump & Congress to urge the FCC to reverse the order and protect GPS and SATCOM operations.
More from the April 24 statement of the Satellite Safety Alliance that is leading the efforts to protect critical satellite communications services whose operations are under threat from harmful interference by a misguided proposal from Ligado Networks (Ligado) to insert a terrestrial-only service in the middle of a satellite spectrum band:
The Satellite Safety Alliance (SSA) and 93 major companies and organizations, today marked the five-year anniversary of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) woeful Ligado Order, by sending letters stating the need for it to be overturned to President Trump and Congressional leadership. The letter urges the President and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate armed services and commerce committees to work with the FCC on granting petitions for reconsideration that will help prevent the building of Ligado’s harmful terrestrial wireless network. The proposed network is designed to inappropriately use spectrum reserved for satellite communications, causing significant interference to other services.
Ligado’s network would threaten a wide range of critical government and commercial services, including military communications, private satellite communication, GPS, agriculture, aviation, weather forecasting, and more. Satellite Safety Alliance offered the following comment on the letter and fifth anniversary:
For over two decades, Ligado and its predecessors have tried and failed to build a terrestrial network that wouldn’t harm GPS, national security, and other critical interests. The FCC’s Ligado Order has faced unprecedented opposition, including from 14 federal agencies and over 90 organizations representing huge swaths of the economy—from aviation and agriculture to science and manufacturing. Rarely does any issue garner agreement from such a wide and divergent group of constituencies.
Congress spoke clearly and decisively, finding through independent analysis that the Ligado Order poses unacceptable risks of interference to GPS, satellite communications, weather forecasting, and other services. Countless federal staff hours and resources have gone to reviewing, debating, and litigating this issue. It is past time the FCC put the issue to rest by granting the pending petitions for reconsideration.
The SSA trusts the federal government, inclusive of the President, Congress and related agencies will now take the appropriate actions to safeguard the national and public interest by calling for reconsideration of the Ligado Order.
Read the letter to Congressional leadership here and the letter to President Trump here.
BoatUS Registers Concern Over NOAA Staff and Budget Cuts
Springfield, Va., April 1, 2025 – In a recent letter sent to Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations to the U.S. House of Representatives, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) expressed concern over the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) workforce and implement other budget reductions. BoatUS is the largest advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters with more than 725,000 dues paying members.
Boaters rely on a number of services provided by NOAA agencies such as the National Weather Service (NWS), National Ocean Services (NOS) and the National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS).
The BoatUS letter says, in part:
“On behalf of our members nationwide, we are concerned that indiscriminate reductions of NOAA agency staff and funding would undermine the safety of boaters on the water and reduce opportunities for enjoyment of marine environments for all. Accurate weather forecasts, updated charts and well managed resources are vital for the safety and well-being of recreational boating activities across the nation.”
“The NWS is responsible for monitoring and predicting severe weather events, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. These natural disasters can cause significant loss of life and property, and the timely warnings and forecasts provided by the NWS are instrumental in mitigating their impact on boaters. For example, an accurate 5-day forecast of a hurricane’s landfall will give boat owners crucial time to prepare for the storm. Reductions in the NWS’s ability to make such forecasts will likely lead to greater vessel losses, more marine debris and costly clean-up operations.”
“The Service gathers crucial data that supports a wide range of public and private stakeholders, including military, public safety and maritime operations. Budget cuts to the NWS would not only hinder its ability to gather this critical information but will also negatively impact its interpretation and delivery to all the end-users. We are concerned that broad cuts to NWS staff and funding could weaken the Service’s ability to sustain and enhance its forecasting capabilities, endangering boaters’ lives and increasing the risk of economic losses.”
“We have similar concerns with reductions in force and budget cuts for the National Ocean Services and Office of Coast Survey. NOS and OCS gather and interpret accurate underwater surveys and tidal predictions, creating the baseline data on which boaters rely for their charts. Accurate charts and tide information are fundamental to boating safety. We also note that this information is relied upon for many other maritime stakeholders including the U.S. Coast Guard, commercial vessels and the military. Gathering and distributing accurate coastal information is a fundamental governmental function and must be sustained.”
“Regarding the National Marine Sanctuary programs, we note that boaters spend countless hours enjoying these marine “parks” and benefit from the conservation work performed by its staff. Recreational uses are well established and managed in many sanctuaries. For example, mooring buoys in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary allow boaters to access these iconic reefs while protecting them from damage from anchors. Open and accessible sanctuaries are a vital part of the $230 billion recreational boating and fishing industry, the single largest component of the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy.”
BoatUS Update - New Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes into Effect April 1
New Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1
Applies to boats less than 26 feet operating on plane or above displacement speed
SPRINGFIELD, Va., March 15, 2021 – There are new engine cutoff device wear requirements for recreational boat operators as part of the January 1, 2021, passage of National Defense Authorization Act that included a U.S. Coast Guard Reauthorization. These devices, commonly referred to as engine cutoff switches (ECOS), are designed to prevent a boat-strike injury if an operator is accidentally ejected overboard while underway.
Engine cutoff devices can be located at the helm of the boat or on the tiller or body of an outboard engine and typically connect a boat’s operator to the cutoff switch with a lanyard. Some ECOS devices eliminate the lanyard and rely on wireless proximity devices to shut down an engine if the operator goes overboard.
Effective April 1, 2021, the new law requires a vessel operator to use either a helm or outboard lanyard or wireless ECOS on certain vessels less than 26 feet when traveling on plane or above displacement speed. These vessels include (1) boats that have a functioning engine cutoff device installed at the helm or on an outboard engine or have wireless ECOS, or (2) boats manufactured beginning January 2020. The Coast Guard increased the number of boats required to have ECOS installed after this date in an effort to reduce boating accidents and fatalities.
Exceptions to the ECOS requirement include if the main helm of the vessel is in an enclosed cabin or the vessel is not operating on plane or at displacement speed. Low-speed activities such as fishing or docking do not require use of an ECOS. The vessel operator is also exempt if the boat’s motor produces less than 115 lbs. of static thrust – or about the size of a 2-hp engine.
The new law applies to all federally navigable waterways. As this is a federal law, states do not have the ability to enforce the new ECOS regulation — though seven states (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey and Texas) currently have their own ECOS laws. BoatUS expects most states to amend their regulations to match federal law over the coming years. While boat operators who fail to follow the new requirement could face a $100 civil penalty for the first offense, BoatUS expects the U.S. Coast Guard’s initial focus will be education.
Boaters are encouraged to check the U.S. Coast Guard website for additional information on this new use requirement and other safety regulations and recommendations.
“BoatUS supports responsible use of cutoff devices and wants to get the word out to boaters to be aware of this new requirement so they can prepare,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “We believe the new requirement allows recreational boaters to operate their vessels in a practical manner while increasing boating safety.”
Kennedy suggests that boat operators double check to see that their engine cutoff switch is working and begin the season by getting into a good habit of wearing it.
For the BoatUS update: click here
Credit - National Safe Boating Council
A new U.S. Coast Guard study will help develop future boating safety policy
Credit: US Coast Guard
BoatUS - Data from Newly Released USCG National Boating Safety Survey to Help Shape Local and National Boating Safety Policies
An update from RBOC’s national advocacy partner BoatUS
SPRINGFIELD, Va., Dec. 14, 2020 – An all-encompassing report on recreational boating activity in the U.S. is giving the U.S. Coast Guard, policymakers and the boating community the ability to shape smart boating safety policy into the future. Issued last week by the Coast Guard, The National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS) looks at boating participation demographics, trends, boat use, at-risk boating populations, boating safety and more. The survey data, captured in 2018, includes all types of on-water activity from canoes, kayaks, rafts and rowboats to sailboats, skulls, airboats, motorized boats and personal watercraft.
“While a number of factors have made recreational boating safer over the years, such as stronger laws, regulations, boating safety education, better enforcement, and improved manufacturing standards, it all relies on having the best data possible,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “This information is going to help guide and develop policies that matter to boaters.”
Some notable findings:
Ownership: It is estimated that approximately 25.2 million boats were owned by 14.5 million households in 2018. Evidence suggests that joint/shared ownership is an increasingly popular way to secure access to boats. While the vast majority (94.5% or 23.83 million) of boats in the country were owned exclusively by someone residing in the household, nearly 1.4 million boats were in some manner of joint/shared ownership.
Registered/nonregistered boats: There were 11.82 million boats registered in the 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2018. Almost 13.4 million boats were owned in 2018 in the United States that were not required to be registered by the state where they were kept and operated. Open powerboats continue to be owned by more households than any other types of boat, while approximately 4.24 million households owned one or more kayaks and about 2.14 million households were owners of canoes.
The survey summary notes: “The proportion of all boats that are unregistered is creating a number of financial and management issues and difficulties for boating safety and law enforcement agencies as well as agencies that provide and manage boat access and infrastructure facilities. Foremost, owners of unregistered boats do not pay registration fees, and because most are human-powered boats, they do not purchase fuel for these boats and therefore do not pay fuel taxes, which support the development and maintenance of boating access and infrastructure as well as boating safety education and enforcement.” A number of states are currently considering expanding registration requirements to include various types and sizes of human-powered craft.Boat use: Boats that were operated in 2018 were taken out on the water a total of 471.8 million days. Across all owned boats, the average number of days a vessel is used is 19 days — 29 days for motorized boats and 12 days for human-powered boats. Outings, meaning different occasions that boats were operated out on the water, lasted an average of 3.8 hours. On average, boats that went out on the water in 2018 had 2.3 persons aboard.
Operator use: A total of 10.2 billion person hours of boating took place in 2018, with person hours aboard motorized boats representing 84.1% (8.6 billion) of the total. Over 1.3 billion hours were spent boating on human-powered boats. Five states − Florida, Michigan, Texas, South Carolina, and New York − represented about 31% of all person boat hours that year. The state of Florida represented about 10.7% (1.089 billion hours) of all person hours nationwide, followed by Michigan (603.7 million) and Texas (522.3 million).
Regional boat use: Contrary to what has sometimes been assumed, boats in southern states are not, in general, operated more days, on average, than boats in northern states. In fact, motorized boats in the Midwest (56 days) and Northeast (55 days) census regions were operated more days, on average, than in the South (52 days) and West (52 days) census regions. About 647,000 boats in coastal and Great Lakes states were operated at least once more than 3 miles from shore in 2018.
Safety: About one-third (33.7% or 220,000) of all boats and 32.8% of motorized boats that operated over 3 nautical miles from shore were equipped with EPIRBs while 83.2% of the motorized boats that were operated at least once were equipped with an emergency engine cutoff switch. Just 13.9% had VHF-DSC radios. About two-thirds (65.6%) of the persons that operated a boat in 2018 had not taken a boating safety course.
Trailered boats: About 6 million boats that were operated in 2018 were either trailered or transported (i.e., on top of a car, in a truck) at least once for the purpose of launching them on the water, representing almost two-thirds (65.3%) of the boats that were operated during 2018. Boats were trailered/transported for the purpose of launching them 167.3 million times in 2018.
Boater socioeconomics: In 2018, an estimated 84.54 million recreational boaters of different ages, races, and ethnicities in the United States participated in boating, or 26.5% of the U.S. population. Boat-owning households were predominately all-white households. All Black/African American households represented less than 1% of boat-owning households. The survey summary notes, “This may be a significant factor in limiting participation of more minority persons in boating given that the NRBSS Participation Survey found that not knowing anyone who owns a boat was a significant reason why more persons did not boat in 2018.” Other and mixed-race households constituted 16.3% of all boat-owning households.
Survey findings showed that the greatest percentage of boating participants do not, as is sometimes assumed, have high household incomes. Almost a quarter (23.1%) of boat-owning households in 2018 had household incomes of less than $50,000, and 41.8% earned less than $75,000. Households with household incomes between $75,000 and $149,999 represents 37.5% of boat-owning households.Fatalities/accidents: The risk of boating fatalities is six per 100 million person hours for all types of boats nationwide and five per 100 million person hours for motorized boating. This low rate is attributable to practicing safer boating behaviors due to boater education, regulations and inspections as well as safer boats and safe-boating technologies. However, the risk for fatalities nationwide was twice as high on human-powered boats: 13 per 100 million person hours.
The survey was funded by two grants from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. It was completed by the nonprofit research institute RTI International and the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University.
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BoatUS, Stakeholders Ask FCC to Reconsider Approval of Ligado L-Band Wireless Plan
Wireless network threatens to interfere with nation’s GPS system
SPRINGFIELD, Va., Oct. 28, 2020 – A coalition of groups whose users rely on the Global Positioning System (GPS) wants the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change its mind about an April 20 decision to permit Ligado Networks to begin construction of a land-based industrial 5G (fifth generation) “L-Band” wireless network. The group is concerned that once operable, the network will negatively impact the reliability of the nation’s Global Positioning System (GPS).
In a letter sent yesterday signed by 78 GPS stakeholder groups including the Keep GPS Working Coalition and Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) to US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chair Robert Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), legislators were urged to reverse the Ligado Order. It requests the legislator’s “direct involvement to protect the satellite communications and GPS services that we provide and are relied on by tens of millions of Americans every day.” The Commerce Committee's extensive responsibilities include science, technology and communications policy.
Ligado’s slice of licensed “L-Band” spectrum, designated for space-based navigation and communications, is located near lower frequency bands used by hundreds of millions of GPS units in public safety, health, government, transportation, military, commerce, agriculture and more. BoatUS and other coalition members believe that, as the Ligado network is rolled out, instances of signal interference will increase.
“This is about boaters – and many others’ – continued ability to safely navigate and get reliable weather forecasts so we know when to go out or head home, and safety-of-life issues especially when on-the-water help is needed,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs, David Kennedy. “The FCC’s decision threatens GPS reliability for countless consumers, farmers, ranchers, pilots, boat owners, surveyors, construction companies and other private GPS users who will be forced to suffer the network’s interference with their GPS devices or require them to pay to replace them.”
The coalition believes that the Ligado Order disregarded mountains of evidence highlighting the interference issue, ignored established technical standards, relied only on limited studies with vague and impractical criteria to assess interference, and was made during the COVID-19 pandemic while stakeholders were dealing with the health crisis. They claim FCC also ignored serious concerns from the federal government as well as agencies including the departments of Defense, Transportation, Commerce, Interior, Justice and Homeland Security, in addition to NASA, the National Science Foundation, Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Coast Guard.
BoatUS Applauds Legislators for Helping to Ensure Taxes Paid by Boaters Will Fund Boating Programs
Reps. Cunningham, Graves introduce bipartisan Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2019
SPRINGFIELD, Va., Oct. 29, 2019 – The explosive growth of paddlesports including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing has local, state and federal governments working to ensure there’s plenty of paddler access, including paddlecraft-only launches that make it easy to launch a kayak, increasing efforts to ensure paddler safety, and minimizing user conflicts with traditional boaters.
The question is, who pays for it?
Under a nearly seven-decade-old federal funding mechanism, the answer is recreational power, sail, and fishing boat owners. A newly introduced bipartisan bill, the Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2019, aims to give the Government Accountability Office an opportunity to examine and report on the increasing use of non-motorized vessels and their impacts on recreational boat launches, and look at user conflicts and how funds are used to support non-motorized boating safety programs. It will also look at boat recycling, a concern for some waterfront communities.
The nation’s advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boat owners, BoatUS, applauds bill authors Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-SC) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) for their sponsorship.
“Any way you can get on the water is a good thing,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “However, we can’t ignore the continued, successful growth of paddling participation in America and the need to have equitable funding for access and safety programs. Our thanks to Reps. Cunningham and Graves for looking to better understand today’s waterway user and ensure everyone is investing in their future.”
Created in 1950, the Sport Fish Restoration Program follows a “user pays – public benefit” model of funding that uses excise taxes paid on boat motors, motorboat fuel and fishing equipment to fund boating access sites, fishery and conservation programs, as well as state and local boating safety and clean water programs. The newly-introduced bill will also extend the authorization of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund to 2024
RBOC Joins BoatUS in Urging Recreational Boaters to Send Message to EPA to Stop Summertime Sale of E15 Fuel
BoatUS: “E15 is the wrong fuel for boaters, consumers and the environment”
SPRINGFIELD, Va., April 16, 2019 – In an action that many are seeing as anti-environment, anti-consumer and a big nod to the ethanol lobby, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving toward permitting the sale of E15 (15% ethanol) fuels during the summer ozone season (June 1 to September 15). Currently available only in the colder months, E15’s summertime ban was implemented years ago to address concerns over its contribution to ground level ozone (smog) on hot days.
The nation’s largest boating advocacy, services, and safety group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), wants EPA to immediately halt any expansion of the fuel’s availability and is asking recreational boaters to speak up now to stop the summertime sale of E15 and offers an easy way contact the EPA by going to http://bit.ly/2UyyMFV.
Boaters have no love for ethanol in their gas because its proven to damage boat engines and fuel systems. If they had their choice of fuel, more than four out of five boat owners (83%) would choose E0 (ethanol-free) fuel – if it was available. Because of the harm it causes, E15 is prohibited by federal law for use in recreational boat engines and voids many marine engine warranties.
BoatUS has long had concerns over potential consumer misfueling with E15. Most recreational boaters refuel their vessels at roadside gas stations where pump-labeling requirements are minimal. Just one small E15 orange warning label is the only protection currently in place for marine and other off-road engines. Without additional consumer education to raise awareness that there may be more E15 fuel on market, BoatUS believes the risk of misfueling will increase and, with it, instances of expensive repairs to boat engines and fuel systems.
“E15 is the wrong fuel for the boaters, consumers and the environment,” said BoatUS manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “As recently as 2011, EPA determined it did not have authority to waive Reid Vapor Pressure rules for E15 fuel. We believe this was the correct decision and that any changes should be made by Congress, not the EPA.”
The push for the summertime sale of E15 and adding more ethanol into the nation’s fuel supply is a result of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). When it was passed in 2005, RFS assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to grow. Since then, however, gasoline usage has not increased as forecast, which now forces more ethanol into each gallon of gas.
To keep up with the RFS mandate and avoid hitting a “blend wall” in which the volume of ethanol production exceeds consumption and infrastructure constraints, in 2010 EPA granted a waiver to allow E15 into the marketplace but limited its sales to colder months to protect air quality.
BoatUS is a member of Smarter Fuel Future, a coalition that aims to reform RFS.
RBOC President Ray Durazo and Half Moon Bay Yacht Club Urge Support of Coast Guard & BoatUS Efforts
As reported in Soundings Trade Only Today, RBOC President Ray Durazo speaks as a member of Half Moon Bay Yacht Club in support of BoatUS advocacy efforts on bipartisan legislation that would restore pay to more than 40,000 active duty Coast Guard service members during the government shutdown..
RBOC urges boaters to take action as requested by BoatUS:
“While the current debate over funding of the Department of Homeland Security is primarily about issues not directly related to the U.S. Coast Guard, BoatU.S. is concerned over the potential deterioration of its ability to fulfill its wide range of missions including search and rescue, boating safety regulation and support for aids-to-navigation.
“Ask your members of Congress to support S. 21 and H.R. 367 that will ensure that U.S. Coast Guard personnel will receive compensation notwithstanding the final passage of the DHS 2019 appropriation legislation. This will allow USCG members to focus on their missions and help ensure the safety of recreational boaters.”
To take action, go to the BoatUS website: click here
For the complete Soundings article: click here
BoatUS Gathers Group of Advisers for Annual Debate on Boating Issues
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Dec. 3, 2018 — A panel of distinguished boating leaders who serve as a sounding board for Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) gathered last week along with esteemed guests and BoatUS staff in Newport Beach to discuss key issues impacting recreational boating, including the changing boat-ownership model and shifting boater demographics. BoatUS is the nation’s largest recreational boat owners group in the U.S. with more than a half-million dues-paying members.
The group also discussed legislative issues that help keep the association’s focus on the evolving needs of recreational boaters, including some who now get on the water without having to own a boat via boat-sharing clubs. The National Marine Manufacturers Association, U.S. Power Squadrons, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary all provided updates on activities.
The volunteer members of the BoatUS National Advisory Council included Robert Baldridge, past chief commander, United States Power Squadrons; Ellen Bradley, senior vice president & chief communications officer, National Marine Manufacturers Association; Lenora S. Clark, former California Boating and Waterways commissioner and former Recreational Boaters of California president; Dean Travis Clarke, former executive editor, Bonnier Marine Group; Ray Durazo, incoming president, Recreational Boaters of California; Jim Ellis, National Advisory Council chairman and former president, BoatUS; John Flynn, principal, Squire Patton Boggs; Mark Brown, president, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators; and Bob Adriance, former editor, Seaworthy.
Joining the council’s members were a distinguished roster of special guests, including Beth Newburger Schwartz, president, Epoch Communications and wife of late BoatUS founder Richard Schwartz; Vern Gifford, chief, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety; and Jerry Desmond, principal, Desmond & Desmond and RBOC Legislative Counsel.
BoatUS leadership and staff included Kirk La, chief executive officer; Chris Edmonston, vice president, Government Affairs, and president, BoatUS Foundation; Heather Lougheed, vice president, Membership; David Kennedy, manager, Government Affairs; Morgan Neuhoff, senior program coordinator, Government Affairs;
Attending from BoatUS’s parent GEICO were Chris Nowack, counsel; and Steve Parsons, vice president, assistant controller.
America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 Passes Senate - Boaters stand to gain with president’s signing
A timely update from our national boater advocacy partner BoatUS:
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 11, 2018 -- With passage yesterday of infrastructure legislation by the U.S. Senate, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill is on its way to the president’s desk. The nation’s advocacy group for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), commends Congress for taking action to support this crucial infrastructure legislation that will improve the waterways for boaters.
BoatUS particularly notes the leadership of Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Peter DeFazio, ranking member, along with John Barrasso, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Tom Carper, ranking member, for their work on developing and passing the WRDA legislation.
“While not the most high profile of issues coming from Washington these days, the WRDA legislation is ‘must-pass’ legislation for America’s boaters” said David Kennedy, BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs. “Getting this bill done will make a difference for everyone who enjoys spending time on the water.”
The 2018 WRDA bill contains funding authorizations and policy changes for a wide range of water projects including funding of environmental-restoration programs and dredging of smaller harbors.
BoatUS: America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 Poised for Passage: Boaters Stand to Gain
Bill includes focus on water-quality improvements
WASHINGTON, October 1, 2018 – A safe place to hide from a storm. Better navigation. Cleaner waters. Ensuring that boaters matter when it comes to getting their fair share of federal funding. These are all things that boaters stand to gain with the passage of a bipartisan bill, S. 3021, America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018, which will provide critical funds and policy improvements for the nation’s waterways, reservoirs, levees, locks and dams. A Senate vote is expected soon.
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nation’s advocate for boat owners, urges the Senate to say “yes” to the legislation, which also encompasses the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018. “The bill authorizes the needed investment in waterways where millions of Americans recreate,” said BoatUS Government Affairs Manager David Kennedy. “It also promotes policies to address water-quality concerns such as the harmful algal blooms recently seen in Florida and the Great Lakes.”
BoatUS says recreational boaters will like the bill as it supports waterway-access projects, navigation and water-quality improvements, and provides maintenance funds for harbors of refuge. It also includes innovative policy changes such as a provision directing the economic benefit of recreational boating be considered for locks on the Allegheny River system. As the primary federal legislation that addresses waterways, AWIA/WRDA serves to keep this crucial part of the nation’s infrastructure working for everyone.
“Regular passage of WRDA bills is good news for American boaters,” added Kennedy. “Keeping up with water-infrastructure maintenance and updating the laws that deal with our waterways will help keep boating one of our nation’s favorite recreational activities.”
For the bill’s full text, go to https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s3021/BILLS-115s3021eah.pdf.
BoatU.S. Action Alert - Urge your Senators to support the Modern Fish Act, a law that is good for anglers and good for fish
September 17, 2018
Dear BoatU.S. Member:
An important positive change to federal laws involving saltwater fishing is moving through Congress and your senators need to hear from you today. The Modern Fish Act will help improve public access to America's federal waters, promote conservation of natural marine resources, and spur economic growth by fixing key issues in the law governing marine fisheries. Please ask your senators to support this legislation that will help ensure fisheries management that works for recreational fishing.
The Modern Fish Act has passed the House and we are now counting on the Senate to vote on its companion bill S.1520. With only limited time on a busy legislative calendar the time to act on this legislation is now. Contact your senators today: Take Action
For the full text of the Modern Fish Act please visit our BoatUS Government Affairs Site.
To learn more on the topic:
Improving Fishing Regulations For Recreational Anglers - BoatU.S. Magazine June 2018
40 Years Of The Magnusen-Stevens Act - BoatU.S. Magazine June 2017
Thanks for being a BoatU.S. Member!
David B. Kennedy
BoatUS Government Affairs
GovtAffairs@BoatUS.com
703-461-2878 x8363
Advocacy.BoatUS.com
Boats and Ethanol Fuel: BoatUS Wants to Hear From You
Take a short 13-question survey
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 21, 2018 – With the start of the boating season, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) wants to hear from boaters about their experiences with ethanol fuels in an online survey at https://bit.ly/2JM4AS5. The short, 13-question survey is an effort to gain an understanding about how ethanol fuels are affecting recreational boating this summer, gauge opinion, and seek out comments related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
When it was passed in 2005, the RFS assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to grow. Since then, however, gasoline usage has not increased as forecast, which today forces more ethanol into each gallon of gas. To keep up with the RFS mandate and avoid hitting a “blend wall” in which the volume of ethanol production would exceed consumption and infrastructure constraints, in 2010 the EPA granted a waiver to allow E15 into the marketplace. Recently, President Trump also proposed the sale of E15 year-round.
Only fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol (E10) are permitted for use in recreational boats, and anything greater voids many marine engine warranties. However, 92 percent of readers of Boating Industry magazine that serves the boating trades reported in 2017 that they have seen damage caused by ethanol, which also decreases fuel economy, thus increasing fuel cost, and has questionable environmental benefits. BoatUS also has concerns over potential consumer misfueling as E15 pump labeling requirements are minimal with just a small orange warning label.
BoatUS is a member of the Smarter Fuel Future coalition which aims to reform the broken RFS. For more information, go to www.SmarterFuelFuture.org.
BoatUS: Congress Recognizes Importance of Outdoor Industry with Move to Continue Funding for Economic Impact Survey
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 20, 2018 – In government, data counts. If you can’t measure it, your chances of getting legislative support are nil. That’s why Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) applauds recent congressional action to authorize $1.5 million in funding to continue to measure the economic impact of the outdoor recreation industry in the coming fiscal year.
“Without this data, the outdoor recreation industry which includes recreational boating, won’t get the legislative support it deserves as a powerful economic engine. For recreational boaters, this can help support funding for critical recreational boating access to waterways such as constructing and maintaining launch ramps, improving navigation aids and fishing habitats, and backing other measures important to boating,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “We thank the Senate Appropriations Committee for including funding for the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account in its fiscal year 2019 markup.” The committee’s action paves the way for action at the full committee level.
In February of this year, for the first-time ever, BEA completed a study that found the outdoor recreation industry’s 2016 annual gross output was 2 percent ($373.7 billion) of the U.S. gross domestic product. Boating and fishing activities totaled $38.2 billion, an increase of 4 percent over 2015. The BEA report also noted that the outdoor recreation industry, which includes boating, fishing, RVing, hunting, camping, hiking, bicycling and supporting activities, surpassed the U.S. agriculture and petroleum industries.
Also applauding the Senate Appropriations Committee’s effort was the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), a coalition of America’s leading outdoor recreation trade associations including BoatUS that work to promote the policy and legislative reforms needed to grow the outdoor recreation economy.
BoatUS: 3 Easy, No-Cost Ways to Be Safer on the Water
National Safe Boating Week is May 19–25
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 14, 2018 – With the start of boating season and next week’s National Safe Boating Week, May 19–25, the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has three tips to get boaters thinking about safety aboard any type of boat.
1. Open up your boat for a vessel safety check: You may think getting a vessel safety check from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons can open yourself to problems. However, a no-risk, free vessel safety check does the opposite. It points out both the required and recommended items to have aboard, such as fire extinguishers, life jackets, distress signals, first-aid kits, and engine spark arrestors, and also helps provide a better understanding on the care and use of this critical equipment. Checks are done as a courtesy with no risk to the boater, so you won’t be in trouble if discrepancies are found. Go to https://bit.ly/1syhbDA to request a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary safety check or https://bit.ly/2I2uc8w for a U.S. Power Squadrons safety check.
2. Believe the numbers – take a safety course: Statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety show that only 13 percent of all boating deaths in 2016 occurred on vessels where the operator had taken a nationally approved boating safety education course. So take this number to heart – taking a boating safety course improves safety. The BoatUS Foundation offers free online boating safety courses that meet the education requirements in 36 states and also may earn you a boat insurance discount. Go to BoatUS.org/Free.
3. Give a safety talk before you head out: Taking out guests is half the fun of boating, but before you head out give a little talk about how to stay safe aboard your boat. Some important things to include may be how to distribute weight in a small boat, how to hold on when crossing a wake, how a tuber or water skier should safely reboard after being towed, how the VHF radio works and the location of important safety equipment. Also, give everyone a life jacket to wear or keep in his or her immediate vicinity. If you don’t have a right-sized life jacket for a youngster, borrow one for free at more than 550 locations nationwide from the BoatUS Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Program at BoatUS.org/Life-Jacket-Loaner.
The BoatUS Foundation recommends getting a free vessel safety check to start the boating season right. (Photo Courtesy of The U.S. Coast Guard)
BoatUS - Where Big Ethanol is King, Many Prefer Ethanol-Free Gas
Report: More ethanol-free fuel sold in Iowa than E15 and all flex fuels combined
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 3, 2018 – Even in Iowa, it appears many Hawkeye State residents aren’t fond of ethanol fuels mandated by the federal government’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
A report from the Iowa Department of Revenue shows that ethanol-free gas (E0) is a more popular fuel choice than E15 (15 percent ethanol) and all flex fuels (E20, E85) combined, with Iowans purchasing more than 200 million gallons of E0 fuel in 2016.
That’s more fuel that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) projects the entire US will be able to use in the near future while still satisfying growing annual biofuel obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
The nation’s largest boating advocacy group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), says citizens of the number-one ethanol-producing state in the nation choosing ethanol-free fuel for their own personal vehicles and equipment is another example of the need for RFS reform. “This is the part of the country where Big Ethanol interests dominate, but right in their backyard the citizens of Iowa have spoken with their pocketbooks and wallets,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “They know what ethanol can do to their vehicles, power equipment and boats. We support every effort to recognize an Iowan’s right to choose safe ethanol-free fuels. It’s time to fix the RFS.”
When it was passed in 2005, the RFS assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to grow. Since then, however, gasoline usage has not increased as forecast, which today forces more ethanol into each gallon of gas. To keep up with the RFS mandate and avoid hitting a “blend wall” in which the volume of ethanol production would exceed consumption and infrastructure constraints, in 2010 EPA granted a waiver to allow E15 into the marketplace. Most recently on April 12, President Trump also proposed the sale of E15 year-round that would require a waiver to the Clean Air Act.
Only fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol (E10) are permitted for use in recreational boats, and anything greater voids many marine engine warranties. However, 92 percent of readers of a prominent boating industry publication reported in 2017 that they have seen damage caused by ethanol, which also decreases fuel economy, thus increasing fuel cost, and has questionable environmental benefits. BoatUS also has concerns over potential consumer misfueling as E15 pump labeling requirements are minimal – just a small orange warning label.
BoatUS is a member of the Smarter Fuel Future coalition. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/2I56Joa.
Iowans purchased more than 200 million gallons of ethanol-free fuel in 2016.
BoatUS Update: US Interior Secretary Zinke Addresses Sport Fishing & Boating Partnership Council Meeting
WASHINGTON, April 6, 2018 – U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke addressed the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council at its recent meeting held April 4 and 5 at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C.
The secretary emphasized the importance of outdoor recreation, specifically as it relates to boating, and included a message directed squarely at America’s nearly 12 million registered boat owners: “Boats are good. A lot of boats are better,” said Zinke, as he discussed his priorities to update and modernize visitor facilities on federal lands and “Bring them into the 21st century” to improve the visitor experience. The secretary also discussed his support for increasing recreational boating access on federal lands, and addressing maintenance backlogs that have plagued the agency for decades.
Council members attending the meeting included Chris Edmonston, BoatUS; Linda Friar, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S.; David Hoskins, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Ron Regan, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Fred Harris, American Fisheries Society; Alvin Taylor, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; Barb Gigar, Aquatic Resources Education Association; Scott Kovarovic, Izaak Walton League of America; Janine Belleque, Oregon State Marine Board; John Sprague, Marine Industries Association of Florida; John Arway, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; Betty Huskins, Southeast Tourism Policy Council; Eugene “Mac” McKeever, L.L. Bean; Douglass Boyd, Coastal Conservation Association; Mike Nussman, American Sportfishing Association; Greg Sheehan, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
“BoatUS has sat on the council for several secretaries and administrations, and it is encouraging to see how well Secretary Zinke understands the importance of outdoor recreation, and that expanding recreational opportunities improves the conservation of our resources,” said Edmonston, BoatUS Vice President of Government Affairs. “The Secretary also noted that he looked to the council for help, saying ‘I need really good advice.’” Topics for the meeting included discussions regarding the backlog of maintenance at fish hatcheries and parks, permitting issues and improving access to interior lands and waters.
The Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council is funded through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act. Its purpose is to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, on aquatic conservation endeavors that benefit recreational fishery resources and recreational boating, and to encourage partnerships among industry, the public, and government.
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BoatUS: Tax Provisions for Boats Extended
Have a boat loan? Ask your lender for form 1098
WASHINGTON, March 6, 2018 – Just two short years ago, Congress extended some boat sales tax and mortgage interest deductions for recreational boat buyers. Excluding home equity loans, those deductions remain for next year’s 2018 tax season with the recently passed GOP tax overhaul plan signed into law on December 22, 2017, albeit with some new lower limits on lending amounts, according to Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS).
Before passage of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, BoatUS, the nation’s boating advocacy, services and safety group, had concerns that boat owners would be singled out for negative tax treatment. However, recreational vessels with a sleeping berth, cooking and toilet facilities will be treated equally with second homes and recreational vehicles that may qualify for some sales tax and mortgage interest deductions when filing (in 2019) a 2018 federal income tax return.
The new Tax Cut and Jobs Act reduces the previous $1 million second-home mortgage deduction limit to $750,000. “Most new boats sell for far below this new cap, so we don’t think that will have much impact on the average boat buyer,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. However, what could affect buyers of smaller vessels is the act’s removal of the deductibility on interest for a home equity loan. Historically, borrowers could deduct home equity interest on loans up to $100,000 ($50,000 for married couples filing separately). “With the new tax law, that deduction is gone,” said Kennedy.
For the current 2017 tax season, the existing deduction remains in place and is offered to new owners who paid substantial state sales taxes on a new or used boat purchased in 2017. If there is a loan taken, mortgage interest paid on the loan may also be deducted from federal income taxes. Again, the vessel must have a sleeping berth, cooking and toilet facilities to qualify. Here are the details:
2017 Sales Tax Deduction
The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 continues to offer a federal tax deduction for state sales taxes paid on a recreational vessel. Boaters must choose either the state sales tax deduction or state income tax deduction on their federal tax return — they cannot take both. In addition, to take the state sales tax deduction, the sales tax on a boat purchase must be applied at the same tax rate as the state’s general sales tax. In order to claim the sales tax deduction, tax returns must be itemized. State sales taxes are entered on IRS form Schedule A, line 5b.
2017 Boat Loan Deduction
A boat is considered a second home for federal tax purposes if it has a galley, an installed head and sleeping berth. For those owners with a secured boat loan, mortgage interest paid on the loan may be deducted from federal income taxes. Taxpayers may use the home mortgage interest deduction for one second home in addition to their primary home, and must itemize deductions on their returns.
Some boaters may be unaware of this potential tax benefit because not all lending institutions send borrowers an IRS Form 1098, which reports interest paid. Not receiving the form does not preclude taking the deduction. If a 1098 is not available, boaters should contact their lender for the amount of interest paid and should enter it on line 11 on Schedule A along with the lender’s tax ID number. If a form 1098 is sent, boaters should simply enter the amount on line 10 of Schedule A.
For more details on the mortgage deduction on boats that qualify, go to IRS.gov and download IRS Publication 936.
Looking to 2018
The new limits on deductibility of mortgage interest and state sales taxes will kick in when boat owners calculate their 2018 tax liabilities along with changes to home equity loan deductions. Boaters are urged to contact a tax preparer or financial adviser for more information.
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BoatUS Speaks for Boaters at 'State of the Industry' Capitol Hill Briefings
WASHINGTON, February 1, 2018 – Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) in partnership with the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) went to Capitol Hill yesterday to address Congressional Boating Caucus members and invited legislative staff for the annual State of the Industry briefings at the Russell Senate and Rayburn House office buildings. The caucus is an informal bipartisan group of US senators and representatives formed in 1989 to advocate for the interests of the recreational boating industry.
Speaking to the groups gathered, NMMA President Thomas J. Dammrich reported on the recreational boating industry’s financial rebound, or “long road back,” said Dammrich, since the Great Recession. With the economy doing well, sales are up and reports from winter boat shows are positive. He also shared ideas on what Congress can do to support this important sector of US manufacturing.
MRAA President Matt Gruhn spoke to the shortage of qualified marine service workers, and the need for elected leaders to continue to broaden their thinking about what education means in America. “We need more support for apprenticeship and other technical trade programs, and encourage more people to make recreational boating their career,” said Gruhn.
As the boat owner’s advocate, BoatUS Vice President of Government Affairs Chris Edmonston spoke about the need for legislator support for recreational boating access, and specifically, the Water Resources Development Act which helps maintain the navigability of waterways by providing funds for dredging.
Edmonston also spoke to the success of boating safety education in reducing accidents and fatalities, and the need to revamp US Coast Guard licensing to better address the needs of recreational boaters. “The current licensing system was never intended for recreational boaters,” said Edmonston.
About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):
Celebrating more than 50 years, BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with more than a half-million members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We are The Boat Owners Auto Club and help ensure a roadside trailer breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins. When boats break down on the water, TowBoatUS brings them safely back to the launch ramp or dock, 24/7. The BoatUS Marine Insurance Program gives boat owners affordable, specialized coverage and superior service they need. We help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.