BoatUS

Article issues
cleanup = September 2008
advert = September 2008
peacock = September 2008
context = September 2008
importance = September 2008Infobox company
name = BoatU.S.

type = Association
foundation = 1966
location_city = Alexandria, VA
location_country = United States
homepage = www.boatus.com

The Boat Owners Association of The United States, better known as BoatU.S., is described as a sort of AAA for boats [http://www.bassclubdigest.org/postspawn07/beyond/Letter_reader.htm] due to its membership-based recreational boat and trailer towing activities. However, this American association also offers boat insurance and boat loans, provides its members with discounts on boating-related products and services, provides mediation services with manufacture’s and dealers, maintains a recall alert registry, and acts as a lobbying organization on behalf of boat owners [http://www.boatus.com/mybenefits] . BoatU.S., based in Alexandria, Virginia, calls itself “the nation’s largest recreational boating association,” with over 650,000 members [http://www.boatus.com/membership/whatis.asp] . BoatU.S. also gave rise to the organization that would be eventually called the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that promotes safe boating and environmentally responsible boating practices.There is also BoatU.S. ANGLER, a version of BoatU.S. with benefits tailored for fishermen.

Key Milestones

*1964: BoatU.S. founder (and current Chairman) Richard Schwartz registers the “BoatU.S.” and “Boat Owners Association of The United States” names in Washington, D.C. http://www.boatus.com/history/default.asp?WT.mc_id=400106]

*1966: BoatU.S. officially begins accepting members. Membership totals 1,000 .

*1967: Schwarz testifies before Congress in an attempt to make manufacturers of recreational boats more responsible for boat safety . This set the stage for the passage of The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, which “ [gave] the Coast Guard authority to set uniform safety standards for recreational boats.” [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/u.s.+boat+safety+act+doesn%27t+preempt+tort+suits%2c+high+court+says-a097591900]

*1970: The BoatU.S. Consumer Protection Bureau, a dispute resolution arm of BoatU.S. was begun to help members settle individual disputes with retailers and/or manufacturers .

*1977: First BoatU.S. retail store opens in Alexandria, Virginia. Membership reaches 30,000 .

*1979: Schwartz appointed to the National Boating Safety Advisory Council by the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant .

*1980: BoatU.S. hires its first Director of Government and Public Affairs to lobby Congress on behalf of recreational boaters .

*1981: BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety forms.

*1982: Membership reaches 100,000 .

*1983: BoatU.S. Travel established to provide travel and boat charter services. BoatU.S.

*1983: First BoatU.S. Catastrophe Team established to “assist Members in [insurance-related] post-hurricane recovery efforts.”

*1983: Seaworthy newsletter created to help boat owners avoid boat accidents, boat damage, and boat-related personal injury .

*1983: BoatU.S. Foundation Courseline established to provide “a single, toll-free source for the public to learn about boating safety courses.”

*1986: Membership reaches 200,000 .

*1988: BoatU.S. Foundation begins its Grassroots Grants program, which gives funds to local boating safety organizations .

*1989: Membership reaches 300,000 .

*1991: Membership reaches 400,000 .

*1991: Trademarks the BoatU.S. Towing Division as TowBoatUS .

*1992: BoatU.S. Foundation completes a 2 1⁄2 year study of inflatable life jackets, leading to the U.S. Coast Guard approving their use [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_2_8/ai_98901298] .

*1994: BoatU.S. Towing institutes the country’s first 24-hour toll-free service. The service instituted unique technology that located the nearest towboat and teleconferencing boater and towboat .

*1994: BoatU.S. Clean Water Trust established to educate boaters on how to prevent marine pollution [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_2_8/ai_98901298] .

*1994: BoatU.S. Foundation conducts a study on the causes of nighttime boating fatalities .

*1995: Membership reaches 500,000 .

*1995: BoatU.S. Foundation establishes a safety program that rents Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) to boaters going offshore [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_2_8/ai_98901298] .

*1996: The full-color BoatU.S. Magazine replaces the BoatU.S. Reports newsletter, becoming the country’s highest-circulation boating periodical .

*1996: BoatU.S. Foundation develops a free online boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_2_8/ai_98901298] .

*1997: BoatU.S. Foundation institutes the Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids, a program that loans child-sized life jackets to children [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_2_8/ai_98901298] .

*1998: The Trailer Assist & Towing program provides roadside assistance to boaters trailering their boats .

*1999: BoatU.S. Foundation institutes the Sportsmen’s Forum, an initiative to promote safe boating practices among hunters and anglers who use boats as part of their sport [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_2_8/ai_98901298] .

*1999: The BoatUS.com online store goes live .

*2000: Association becomes the second-largest employer in Alexandria, with over 500 employees .

*2000: BoatU.S. Clean WaterTrust joins with the BoatU.S. Foundation to become the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQK/is_2_8/ai_98901298] .

*2003: Membership reaches 638,000 .

*2003: Boating supply and fishing retailer West Marine acquires Boat U.S.’s product division [http://www.strategyletter.com/CD1006a/featured_article.php] .

*2003: BoatU.S. Foundation receives NASBLA’s Public Service Award for its Life Jacket Loaner Program for Kids program [http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org/newsletter/v4i03/page3.pdf] .

*2003: BoatU.S. purchases Vessel Assist, a boat-towing rival on the Pacific coast [http://www.nmma.org/news/news.asp?id=5495&sid=78] .

*2004: my.BoatUS.com member-only Web site personalizes local weather, tides, and buoy information .

*2004: BoatU.S. Foundation launches the National Clean Fueling Campaign to educate boaters on ways to reduce fuel spills when refueling at the dock .

*2004: BoatU.S. Foundation launches a Web-based learning tool for safety and environmental issues called “Boater’s Toolbox.”

*2005: BoatU.S. Foundation’s online tutorial on Digital Selective Calling, a new way for recreational boaters in distress to call for assistance on the water .

*2006: BoatU.S. Foundation and the Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers Association sponsor a competition to design a better lifejacket [http://www.boatus.com/Foundation/lifejacketdesign] .

*2007: An interactive benefits module is launched, enabling members to customize their online experience, thus providing benefits tailored to the type of boat they own, their preferred on-the-water activities, and their geographic region.

*2007: BoatU.S. ANGLER program launched, to provide BoatU.S. benefits geared to fishermen .

*2007: BoatU.S. Foundation wins Motor Boating magazine’s “Best of the Year Award” for the EPIRB Rental Program .

*2008: The BoatU.S. Facebook page launches.

Leadership Positions

*American Boat & Yacht Council

*American League of Anglers & Boaters

*Association for Rescue at Sea

*Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association

*Boating Writers International

*International Association of Marine Investigators

*National Association of State Boating Law Administrators

*National Fire Protection Association

*National Safe Boating Council

*National Sea Scouting Committee

*National Women’s Sailing Association

*NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel

*Recreational Boaters of California

*Society of National Association Publications

*Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council

*The Recreation Roundtable

*U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Association

*U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Advisory Council

*U.S. Coast Guard Task Force on Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
• National Safe Boating Council: Patron Member and sponsor of the Boating Safety Youth Award [http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org/awards/youth.htm]

*National Boating Safety Advisory Council: Vice President, Government Affairs Margaret Podlich is a member of this Federal Advisory Committee [http://www.uscgboating.org/nbsac/members.htm]

*U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety: Grants given to BoatU.S. Foundation [http://www.uscgboating.org/grants/archive/nonprofit_2006.htm]

*Berkshire Hathaway Inc: A minority of the BoatU.S. Board is employed by Boat America Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company that provides services to BoatU.S. [http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/me2/dirmod.asp?sid=2CD3792BB30347BFA3125A23D7B63B19&nm=Article+Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=CA3A708999A24CEBB52E940F35B995C9]

See also

*West Marine

External links

* [http://www.boatus.com BoatU.S. official web site]
* [http://www.boatus.com/foundation BoatU.S. Foundation]
* [http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org National Safe Boating Council]
* [http://uscgboating.org/nbsac/nbsac.htm National Boating Safety Advisory Council]
* [http://www.nasbla.org National Association of State Boating Law Administrators]
* [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/usc_sec_26_00009504----000-.html Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund]
* [http://www.uscgboating.org U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety]

= References =