NOTES AND TALKING POINTS

From the Helm, Boating Broadcast is brought to you by MarineMax, the nation’s largest boat retailer.

HEADLINES: 

First up, boat owners are being targeted with letters from third-party companies posing as the Coast Guard and offering to renew certificates of documentation at a higher-than-typical cost, according to BoatUS. The Coast Guard does send official renewal notices by U.S. mail. Still, BoatUS members have said that letters from third-party entities direct them to websites that show a significant increase in the annual fee to renew documentations. "The Coast Guard doesn't endorse these companies, and they don't operate on behalf of the Coast Guard in any way," the agency said in a bulletin.

Next, the Ocean Alexander 36L is equipped for long-range cruising, weighing in at just under 159 tons, with a maximum draft of 6'3" (1.91 m) and a 24'6" (7.47 m) beam. She's powered by twin 1,925-hp MTU 12V2000 M94 inboards with props turning in tunnel drives. To improve lateral control in tight quarters, she has a 55-hp bow thruster and a 40-hp unit at the stern. Vector fin stabilizers receive power take-offs from both engines to smooth out the ride. Additional equipment includes two Kohler 65 kW generators and a Sea Recovery 900-gallon-per-day (3,407-LPD) water maker. See the full review on BoatTEST.com. 

Third, check out two new designs from Benetti Yachts, the 121-foot Motopanfilo and the 220-foot FB284, a six-deck superyacht with exteriors by Giorgio M. Cassetta.

Then, things are looking up for saltwater fishing! Over 50 million people participated in saltwater fishing in 2020, which is the highest in 12 years. Moreover, 70% of those tallied used boats as a primary method for fishing. Will Rogers, the actor, coined the statement, "I only work so I can afford the amount of fishing required to forget about work." Read more at BoatingIndustry.com.

Finally, MarineMax.com has a new look and feel designed for a better user experience. There are more ways to access boats and boating information. Take a peek at the home page.

SOCIAL: 

Boaters are uniquely positioned at the forefront of the fight against waterborne trash and debris. Take the #CleanWake challenge in 2021 and pledge to protect our waterways. When boaters pick up trash, whether on the beach or in the water, Boat Trader challenges them to tag @BoatTraderUSA and #CleanWake in a Social Meida post and share it, helping generate awareness and action among others who can all pitch in to keep America’s waterways clean and trash-free.

NEED MORE BOATING NEWS?

You can see or hear more episodes of Boating Broadcast and our sister podcast, Boating Tips LIVE, on The MarineMax Blog, accessible on the website or via mobile phone through the MarineMax App. or you can also access more episodes on Amazon, Spotify, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast news. We hope you enjoyed today's Boating Broadcast, as always, Stay healthy, boat happy!