BRADENTON BEACH – It’s an all-too-common problem for boaters to have a passenger load that exceeds the number of life vests onboard their craft, according to the Bradenton Beach Police Department (BBPD), which does regular checks of boats in waters around the city
Not only is this a serious safety hazard, it’s not legal. Florida law requires a life vest for every passenger on the craft regardless of age. Insufficient vests can result in a fine and even end the boater’s day on the water.
Thanks to a generous donation from Sea Tow of Cortez, this doesn’t have to be a problem anymore.
“Sea Tow, our corporation, has a nonprofit that’s called the Sea Tow Foundation,” Sea Tow’s Cortez franchise owner, Sam Joseph, said. “Through each franchise, we all pitch in to the foundation. We have life vest stands we set up at boat ramps and marinas, and we also supply those stands with life jackets.”
Joseph said a life vest company that went out of business last year donated about 15,000 life vests to the foundation, and his franchise was able to obtain about 200 of those vests.
“I was talking to Officer Eric Hill from BBPD, and he said instead of giving out tickets to boaters who were lacking in vests, it would be nice to be able to loan them one so they’re in compliance,” Joseph said.
Joseph said they have donated about 70 life vests to BBPD so far, which will keep some onboard their department’s boat to loan to boaters, leaving them to enjoy their day on the water safely and avoid costly fines from the department. There is also a rack of vests on the Bradenton Beach Pier dock for boaters to borrow and return based on the simple honor system, making it easy for boaters to solve a common problem hassle free.
Sea Tow has boats in Cortez, Bradenton Beach and most surrounding areas. They assist stranded boaters by towing them to shore when there are mechanical issues with their personal watercraft. They can be reached at 941-756-3422 or at www.seatow.com. Anyone wishing to donate can use the social media link @seatowfoundation on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms.