Native organizations, companies inspired to use to broaden entry to important boating security gear of their communities
SPRINGFIELD, Va. – February 17, 2026 – The BoatUS Basis for Boating Security and Clear Water introduced that it’s now accepting purposes for brand spanking new pilot program for his or her Life Jacket Loaner Program. The pilot will introduce digital try expertise to make borrowing life jackets for a day or weekend simpler and extra accessible for boaters. Organizations equivalent to parks, marinas, campgrounds, hearth departments, gasoline docks, and waterfront companies are inspired to use earlier than March 27, 2026. This system removes price and entry limitations, serving to extra households, particularly youngsters, keep secure on the water.
Organizations can apply to take part in a number of of the three pilot choices:
Unstaffed places equivalent to loaner boards and dock containers the place life jackets can be found 24/7
Staffed places like marinas and boat outlets the place workers hand out the life jackets
Digital locker that use a safe, automated storage system geared up with digital locks to retailer life jackets “These pilot fashions characterize the following evolution of our long-standing Life Jacket Loaner Program”, stated Tiffany Gonzalez, BoatUS Basis Program Supervisor. “They permit us to attach with websites and debtors in smarter methods, serving to us higher perceive neighborhood wants, finest practices, and program affect.”
Insights collected throughout these pilots will assist inform the trade with information pushed finest practices for rising entry to life jackets and enhancing correct put on. “BoatUS Basis is dedicated to discovering progressive methods to broaden entry whereas decreasing potential loss to make sure applications like this have the best affect,” stated Gonzalez.
This undertaking is supported by a $375,000 grant by way of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Belief Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Initially piloted in 1996, BoatUS Basis’s Life Jacket Loaner Program turned the primary nationwide effort targeted on preserving boaters, particularly youngsters, secure by offering correctly fitted life jackets. On common, BoatUS Basis loans 140,000 life jackets every year and has greater than 600 loaner websites presently.
In case you are desirous about internet hosting a BoatUS Basis Life Jacket Loaner Program pilot website, go to BoatUS.org/Life-Jacket-Loaner/Apply to use. The deadline to use is March 27, 2026.
About BoatUS Basis:
The BoatUS Basis for Boating Security and Clear Water is a nationwide chief selling secure, clear and accountable boating. Funded primarily by donations from the greater than 740,000 members of Boat House owners Affiliation of The US (BoatUS), the nonprofit gives progressive academic outreach on to boaters and anglers with the goal of decreasing accidents and fatalities, rising stewardship of America’s waterways, and preserving boating secure for all. A variety of secure and clear boating programs – together with the nation’s solely free on-line boating security course – could be discovered at BoatUS.org.
