October 2012 - Association of Marina Industries

Welcome to the October issue
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AMI and ABYC Form Partnership
The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) and the
American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) have partnered
to recognize and help advance the safety of both the boating
and marine industries.
The organizations will work together to support their programs
which impact safety standards on boats and at marinas,
and to promote the importance of safety among the
marine industry overall.
The value of this partnership became clear during July
2012’s electric shock drowning tragedies. Preventing future
deaths and injuries takes a combination of safe boats
and safe facilities, and AMI and ABYC have been working
together to spread this message. The first step was the joint
webinar Electric Shock Drowning - The Invisible Killer
Part II - Marina Electrical Safety held in the same month.
new and creative ways,” said BoatUS Foundation Outreach
Manager Alanna Keating. “Over the past two decades many
groups have come to us for funding traditional outreach
tools such as signs and brochures. Today, there are so many
exciting interactive and innovative ways to educate, including
social media, the web and hands-on activities.”
Groups interested in applying for one or more Grassroots
Grants may go to www.BoatUS.com/Grants to view the
grant guidelines and begin their application. Applications
must be submitted by midnight on December 17, 2012. In
the spring of 2013, the strongest grant applications will be
posted online for the public to vote. The groups with the
most votes will receive funding and will have one year to
complete the grant project.
To be the first to learn when voting for grant projects begins,
“like” the BoatUS Foundation on Facebook at www.
Facebook.com/BoatUSFoundation.
“A safely constructed and managed marina is a crucial part
in creating a safe boating environment, but a marina can
only be as safe as the boats that dock there. With this in
mind, it made perfect sense to develop a better working
relationship with ABYC,” said Jim Frye, President of AMI.
John Adey, President of ABYC commented, “ABYC Standards
stop at the end of the shore power cord; a close relationship
with AMI ensures that interests on both the boat
and the dock are considered when discussing matters of
safety on the water.”
BoatUS Foundation Increases Grants
Size; Unique Ideas Sought
Funds Available for Safe and Clean Boating Projects
After funding over $1 million in local boating safety and
clean water projects for the past 21 years, the BoatUS Foundation’s
Grassroots Grants Program is more than doubling
its maximum grant size to $10,000 for 2013. The Foundation
is looking to fund projects that utilize innovative approaches
to educate boaters on safe and clean boating topics.
“We hope that with the larger grant size of $10,000, organizations
will have the means to reach more boaters through
BoatUS Offers Updated Florida
Anchoring Information Tip Sheet
Great to Carry Aboard
Since it was first made available at no cost two years ago,
some boaters have called it one of the most helpful documents
to have aboard when anchoring in waters across
the Sunshine State. Others are saying it’s a great educational
tool when they are confused about local and state
anchoring regulations. Now, Boat Owners Association of
The United States (BoatUS) offers an updated “2013 Florida
Anchoring Information” sheet to clarify for everyone,
from the boating public to government agencies, the current
status of the 2009 passage of Florida House Bill 1423
and the five pilot mooring field projects. Most importantly,
the 2009 law gave relief to many boaters and meant they no
longer had to fear their boat “overstayed its welcome” and
needed to move on.
“Every boat owner wants to follow the law, but in Florida,
some boaters, anglers and sailors may still fear a visit from
law enforcement that will force them to move on from an
anchorage,” said BoatUS President Margaret Podlich.
Industry News Continued on Page 3