In 1966, the nation’s largest recreational boating group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.), got its start thanks to the late founder Richard Schwartz, who saw a need to make recreational boaters’ lives better.
His vision of offering representation, improving safety, providing quality services at competitive prices and saving boaters money was all rolled up into the “service, savings and representation” motto that remains at the core of the more than half a million member organizations today. Fifty years later, the organization has a significant number of accomplishments under its belt, including: fighting for legislation on behalf of boaters; drafting the watershed Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971; securing the Recreational Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Act of 1979; creating the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance program in 1967; and creating TowBoatU.S. in 1994.
“BoatU.S. has always been there for boaters and always will be,” says BoatU.S. president Margaret Podlich. “Whether it’s helping boaters have a safe day on the water, ensuring that boating taxes go to boating programs, offering competitive boat insurance coverage, or having the largest on-water towing fleet in the nation, BoatU.S. is proudly the single source of exceptional service and savings. We’re steadfast in our commitment to protect boaters and their rights, making boating safer, more affordable and accessible.”
For more information on BoatU.S., visit boatus.com.
