Yamaha Donates 800 Life Jackets to Loaner Stations Across the Country

US Army Corps of Engineers – Allatoona Lake volunteers pictured with Jon Gridley from Sea Tow Lake Oconee/Lake Sinclair/Lake Allatoona/Clarks Hill Lake and James Mills from Yamaha Motors Kennesaw, GA.

The Sea Tow Foundation is facilitating the distribution of nearly 800 new adult-sized life jackets donated by Yamaha Motor Corporation to over 40 Life Jacket Loaner Stations in California, Georgia and Wisconsin. As the largest life jacket loaner program in the world, the Sea Tow Foundation helps ensure access to life jackets so boaters can borrow and return, and stay safe on the water.

“We are so grateful for Yamaha’s incredibly generous donation of life jackets,” says Gail R. Kulp, executive director of the Sea Tow Foundation. “The impact 800 life jackets will have on our loaner stands is massive, ultimately meaning more people can make safe, fun and lasting memories on the water for years to come.”

Life jackets will be put to immediate use, and in California, roughly 225 jackets will be used in four loaner stations hosted by Sea Tow Newport Beach, Sea Tow LA, the City of Oceanside Harbor Division and the LifeSail Organization. From Kennesaw, Georgia, 320 life jackets are headed to Sea Tow franchises in Lake Sinclair, Lake Allatoona, Lake Oconee and Clarks Hill Lake, and to local state parks through a partnership with Georgia’s DNR Law Enforcement Division. They will also go to the US Army Corps of Engineers in Lake Allatoona who manage 22 loaner stations in the region. 

Lastly, nearly 250 life jackets will go to the Milwaukee Sail & Power Squadron who manage two loaner stands as well as to other Sail & Power Squadrons in the region, and they also plan to use these life jackets at upcoming boat shows.

“Yamaha is deeply committed to making boating welcoming and inclusive for everyone, and having access to a life jacket every time you go boating is essential,” says Leslie Zlotnick, marketing division manager, Yamaha WaterCraft Group.

“Partnering with the Sea Tow Foundation to distribute these life jackets to loaner stands where they can have an immediate impact was a no-brainer. Boating safety and the success of our industry go hand-in-hand, and the Sea Tow Foundation has been instrumental in boating safety education from its Life Jacket Loaner Program to the Sober Skipper Campaign and more.”

To learn more, visit boatingsafety.com.