Weekly 5: Florida considers new anchoring restrictions
The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.
1. Florida considers new anchoring restrictions
A bill under consideration in the Florida State Senate would restrict overnight anchoring within 200 feet of waterfront homes, as well as banning anchoring or mooring a vessel that is incapable of traveling under its own power, the Miami Herald reported.
2. Hawaii threatens to seize boats in storage dispute
The state of Hawaii is threatening to seize several private boats that it says are being illegally stored on state land, Hawaii News Now reports.
Investigators with the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources say the Mala Boat Yard, which leases the land from the state, is illegally storing the vessels there.
3. Great Lakes water levels in good shape for boat season
Just two years removed from near-record lows, water levels in the Great Lakes are near their historic averages this year, the Detroit News reports.
Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron are all well above last year’s levels and their historic averages, while Lake Erie is roughly at the same level as last year, but down from its historic average. Lake Ontario’s water levels are down, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
4. Virginia using boat simulator for safety training
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is working with local agencies to encourage safe boating by using a simulator, WDBJ reports.
The simulator helps to go over different scenarios for safe boating and lets people get hands on experience without actually being on the water.
5. More workers are quitting … and that’s good news
Nearly 2.8 million employees voluntarily quit their jobs in January, up 17 percent from 2014, according to government statistics.
That’s good news for the economy, experts say, as it means workers are feeling more confident and we may finally start to see relief from the less-than-robust wage growth of the last several years.
