Participate in National Safe Boating Week
We’re approaching National Safe Boating Week, slated for May 18-24, and dealers can use this event to “touch” their customers by doing more than just throwing up a safety poster somewhere in the showroom.
Boating safety advocates across the United States and Canada are again teamed up to promote responsible boating. But if you think that’s just the role of groups like the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, BoatUS and others, you’re shortsighted. Moreover, if you think boating safety is a subject you only address during Safe Boating Week, you’re wrong again. It can actually be a good promotional tool.
Safety is something good dealers and boating organizations keep front and center all year because it’s good for business. After all, customers who feel confident they can boat safely will boat more and become prime candidates for a next boat. Also, alert dealers also recognize that Safe Boating Week provides a timely handle to reach their customer base.
Participating may be one of the easiest things a dealer can do. It doesn’t take big bucks and can be a fun time for staff and customers. Here are some ideas to consider.
1. Make videos: You have a cellphone, so use it to make videos of your team members presenting short (60 seconds or so) messages on a safety topic. For example, checking fire extinguisher dates, inspecting life jackets after winter storage, asking if the kids have grown and need updated sizes, checking flare expiration dates, inspecting lines and fenders, and dozens of similar tips.
2. Host a Safe Boating Day event at the dealership or marina, with safety demos featuring a speaker from a local marine patrol unit or boating education group. Better yet, make it a family event with a food truck, music, raffle prizes and kids activities.
3. Central Marine in St. Petersburg, Fla., one year offered free spring boat safety inspections for all customers, including bilge pumps, blowers, navigation lights, horns, flares, life jackets and throwable items.
4. Another idea came from the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. It has used its email lists and social media to promote Safe Boating Week, focusing on three tips:
• selecting a life jacket you will actually wear and highlighting the benefits of inflatables
• taking a free online boating safety course
• filing a float plan, which today is as easy as sending a text message saying where you’re going, who’s aboard and when you expect to return
5. Invite members of the local marine patrol to provide a variety of demonstrations, such as basic boat inspections, proper PFD use, life raft deployment, emergency signaling devices, basic knot tying, trailer safety or a; a “Gumby” suit demo.
6. Promote reduced pricing during National Safe Boating week on all essential safety gear, including life jackets, fire extinguishers, flares, throwables, whistles, dock lines and radios. Use your email list to hold a drawing for a safety items.
7. Participate in “Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day,” which is set for May 17, the day before Safe Boating Week begins. Everyone in the dealership should put on a PFD for the day. Take a picture of the team and send it to the customer list.
With more boaters than ever on the water, dealers should recognize that participation in Safe Boating Week has never been easier, thanks to the partnership of the National Safe Boating Council and the National Weather Service. All dealers, marinas and clubs can easily put the focus on safe boating via email, social media, launch point reminders, outreach events, vessel safety checks, and much more.
And there are great resources available free of charge: talking points, suggested daily social media posts, template press announcements, fact sheets, videos and images, and much more. And it represents a bonus time for special communications and the chance to contact and see customers, a win-win.
The Safe Boating Campaign is produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is administered by the Coast Guard.
