Public Service Articles in the pursuit of
Recreational Boating Safety

You, Your Marina, the Coast Guard
And the Coast Guard Auxiliary
A vital link in Recreational Boating Safety

By Wayne Spivak, ADSO -CS 1SR
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Have you ever noticed as you walked into your Marina, a small decal on the front door that says "Cooperating Marine Dealer" with a USCG Auxiliary Emblem? We would hope you do.

We, the Coast Guard Auxiliary want you to look for this decal and ask your Marina if they are a member of this program. Why and why would you care? Because boating businesses who become cooperating members of the Marine Dealer Visitor program mean they have a commitment to Recreational Boating Safety. This commitment means that they are committed to your safety. Your family's safety, and the boating publics' at-large safety.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Marine Dealer Visitor program is geared to assist your Marina in making your boating experience a safer and more enjoyable pastime. The marina, there are an estimated 25,000 of them, not including other types of marine services offered to the boating public, who may also participate in this program, are for most boaters, a one-stop source of information.

You have a problem with your boat, who do you ask? Your marina operator or your marine mechanic, that's who! You want to know the weather forecast? How are the fish biting? What's the best type of PFD to buy, and why? These and a thousand other questions are posed to marina operator's each year.

Since the marina operator, mechanic, boating supply store and other marine business owners are your source of information, the USCG Auxiliary created the Marine Dealer Program to keep these special people better informed, so they in turn can keep you, the boater better informed.

Each "Cooperating Marine Dealer" should have a complement of brochures that outline safety and other issues of great importance to the boater, especially the NEW BOATER! Here is a short list of the types of information that should always be available from the "Cooperating Marine Dealer":

• Public Education Course Schedules
• Boating Safety Pamphlets
• State and Local Boating Safety handouts
• Vessel Safety Check information and contacts
• The Hotline numbers to the Coast Guard Customer Info-line (800-368-5647) as well as Boat/US (800-245-BOAT)
• Copies of the Local Notice to Mariners
• Maps or representations of the local boating area.

Each Cooperating Marine Dealer should be visited by qualified Auxiliarists at least four times each year. During these visits, the Auxiliarists provides updates to the marine business owner about Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary programs that have changed or been added. The Auxiliarists will also make sure that the Marine Dealer knows about significant changes in the law that will affect their customer's safety.

An example of how your Marine Dealer can help you boat safer is the regular information they would receive from the Coast Guard. Such as the latest information about the Port Security (such as the new Naval Protection Zones) which are now in effect across the country. These zones include a 100 yard security zone around all USN and USCG vessels. Penalties include forfeiture of vessel, 6 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

Marina's and marine business owner's aren't the only businesses becoming co-operating members of the Marine Dealer Program. Package stores, the US Post Office, pharmacies, deli's, in fact any business can join the program. The object is to reach out to the boating community and share the information about Boating Safely!

So, make sure your Marina, or business owner is a "Cooperating Marine Dealer" with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. If they're not, have them contact the nearest Flotilla, by calling the nearest Coast Guard station or office, or by using our web site http://www.cgaux.org.

The Marine Dealer program, just another way the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary is trying to make boating safer!

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