N-B-F.org | National Boating Federation

What is NBF?

Founded in 1966, the National Boating Federation (NBF) is the largest non-profit, nationwide alliance of recreational boating organizations. The Federation is composed of boating and yacht clubs and their associations representing over 2,000,000 of America's recreational boaters.

NBF promotes safe boating through education, acts as a legislative watchdog and advocates for favorable boating legislation, regulations and best management practices.

The membership represents no commercial interests and sells no products. The Officers and Directors are all volunteers with strong backgrounds in all aspects of recreational boating. Our membership spans the continent from Canada to Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans.

You can count on YOUR National Boating Federation's continuing commitment to the wise and direct use of YOUR boat tax dollars for YOUR benefit … be it adequate access to our ocean waterways, lakes and rivers, right of passage and of anchoring, or promotion of our prudent exercise of those rights. NBF works to avoid onerous legislation and promotes good legislation

Here is What's New at NBF
(Updated: January 27, 2010)

Just a reminder:
Our Home Page continues to be full of pictures, announcements and updates.
Please scroll down the entire page to view all that is happening with the
National Boating Federation and its members.

Representative Chellie Pingree (Maine) introduces H.R. 2548 -
the Keep Americas Waterfronts Working Act

The bill creates a grants program for states that have a working waterfront plan for recreational fishing, commercial fishing, boat building and other uses. It will allow states to determine which working waterfronts are at risk and which one should have priority for protection. As we all know many waterfront facilities are at risk and public access has been reduced or eliminated by declaration of eminent domain or other means.

NBF Legislative Director Earl M. Waesche wrote to the Honorable Chellie Pingree thanking her for her introduction and support of H.R. 2548. He stated that the public awareness and gravity of this situation was evident by the large attendance at the Boating Access Forum in May 2007 in Norfolk VA. There were many presentations giving examples of how marinas and recreational and commercial fishing facilities were eliminated by declarations of eminent domain or other means. The risk to our working waterfronts continues to this day although some municipalities have enacted rules or regulations which reduce the risk.

With our nation’s many miles of coastline, the importance of public access to these areas cannot be minimized. These waterways provide restaurants, repair facilities, dockage, etc. which all provide employment and contribute significantly to our economy.

The NBF believes your bill will be a great step forward in maintaining the many assets provided on our waterfronts for the boating community and the general public.

Mark Your Calendars

	National Boating Federation 2010 Annual Meeting When: March 27 & 28, 2010 Where: Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, Daytona Beach, Florida http://www.daytonahilton.com Information: Ev Tucker 757-898-8151 pnaco98@cox.net

	International Boating & Water Safety Summit When: March 28-31, 2010 Where: Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, Daytona Beach, Florida http://www.daytonahilton.com Meeting Registration & Events Schedule: Click on the image below Additional Information: Click on the Meeting Schedule link in the blue sidebar.

The latest LOOKOUT newsletter is now available for downloading.
Click on the Newsletter-LOOKOUT link in the blue sidebar to view the newest issue
or any back issues you may have missed.

Small-Engine Makers Voice Worry As EPA Weighs New Ethanol

NEW YORK—Boaters and small-engine-industry groups are worried their concerns about engine damage will be overlooked as the Environmental Protection Agency considers allowing as much as 15% ethanol in the nation's gasoline.

Since fuel with an ethanol content of up to 10% has been introduced across the U.S. in recent years, boaters have complained of problems. Now they are lobbying the EPA to test the effects of ethanol on small engines—in addition to the testing being done on car and truck engines—as the regulator weighs increasing the ethanol content.

"We don't have the science on it," said Margaret Podlich, vice president of government affairs of the Boat Owners Association of the United States. "We don't know what this will do to marine engines."

Want to read more...

Click here to download the entire article by Mark Long

As part of ongoing advocacy on ethanol, a coalition of groups including NMMA have launched a web site to encourage policymakers to follow the science and reject the hasty introduction of mid-level fuels like E15. A joint project by thirteen organizations including NMMA and BoatUS, HYPERLINK "http://www.followthescience.org/"www.FollowTheScience.org is a one-stop resource for those who want to learn more about the negative impact mid-level fuels can have on engines, the environment and food prices.

In conjunction with yesterday’s launch of HYPERLINK "http://www.followthescience.org/"www.FollowTheScience.org, NMMA legislative director Mat Dunn joined representatives from Environmental Working Group, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and the Natural Resources Defense Council for an ethanol briefing for Senate staffers on HYPERLINK "http://www.nmma.org/lib/docs/nmma/gr/policy/E15_Collins_Bill_revised_final_072309.pdf"S. 1666, the Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Act of 2009. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) recently joined Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and James Webb (D-Va.) in sponsorship of the bill. HYPERLINK "http://capwiz.com/nmma/issues/alert/?alertid=14148276"Click here to urge your Senator to sponsor S. 1666.