Pompano USPS - Mariner Newsletter

What the law changes Stops and boardings: Law enforcement may no longer stop or board a vessel without probable cause or reasonable suspicion of a violation — removing routine, suspicionless safety boardings. Florida Governor's Office WJXT Protection for gas-powered boats: Local governments are restricted from banning or broadly restricting the sale/use of gas-powered vessels; the law preempts some local rules to keep statewide consistency. Florida Governor's Office Carlson Meissner Anchoring and springs protections: The law adjusts agency authority and permitting around anchoring and spring protection zones (including new permitting/anchoring rules that will affect long-term anchoring). https://www.boatus.com greatloop.org Why supporters like it Advocates argue it restores Fourth Amendment–type protections on the water, reduces intrusive stops, and provides consistency for boaters and small marine businesses. Florida Governor's Office Carl...

Summary of "Lucy's Law now in effect; stiffens penalties for careless boaters" Implementation Date & Namesake "Lucy's Law" went into effect on July 1, 2025 , after being signed by Governor DeSantis on June 27. It honors 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez , who tragically died in a 2022 boating accident near Boca Chita Key in the Florida Keys. https://www.mysuncoast.com +1 Aligned Penalties with Driving Offenses The law brings boating infractions in line with comparable vehicular offenses. This includes leaving the scene , reckless operation , Boating Under the Influence (BUI) manslaughter , and vessel homicide . A conviction for BUI manslaughter now carries a mandatory minimum of four years in prison . https://www.mysuncoast.com +1 Tightened Reporting Requirements It is now illegal to knowingly provide false information in reports following a vessel accident. https://www.mysuncoast.com +1 Expanded Boater Education Requirements An...

As of July 1, 2025 , Florida implemented Senate Bill 164 , a sweeping new law that empowers the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to crack down on derelict and "at-risk" vessels. With clearer ownership rules, stiffer penalties for repeat offenders, and new enforcement tools (like mailed citations and "public nuisance" designations), the state is stepping up to clean its waterways and protect marine environments. Read on to learn how these changes affect vessel owners—and what might lie ahead next year. Why it matters: Derelict and deteriorating vessels pose serious threats to navigation, public safety, ecosystems, and aesthetics. Recognizing this, the new law equips the FWC with enhanced tools and authority to act preemptively—changing the game for maritime regulation in Florida. Positively Osceola https://www.mysuncoast.com Key provisions (effective July 1, 2025): Clearer proof of ownership – A valid vessel title now automatically counts ...

POMPANO BEACH POWER SQUADRON NIGHT AT THE RACES P/R/C Pete TenBrink, SN-ON   Hi Folks – It’s me again just reminding you to mark your calendars for 1 November 2025 for you Squadron’s NIGHT AT THE RACES event.  This is a Saturday evening and your Squadron is planning a great evening with dinner and a fun night with your fellow PBPS members.  If you won’t be there, you’ll really be missing out on a lot of fun.    After dinner, you’ll have the opportunity to “bet” on your favorite racers . . . and maybe, win a couple of $$.  Who are the racers?  You don’t know . . .  but you may be one of them.  It’s all in the spirit of good fun!  Plan to be there.                                         ...

POMPANO BEACH POWER SQUADRON NIGHT AT THE RACES P/R/C Pete TenBrink, SN-ON   Hi folks – Just a reminder to mark your calendars for Saturday, November 1st 2025 for our Squadron's, "NIGHT AT THE RACES" event.  Please note that this is a date change from what we announced in last month's Mariner .  We hope that you'll all join us for dinner and a fun night with your fellow members and friends.  Of course, there will be races for you to wager (not a lot) on and maybe, win some $$.  We've seen that we have some pretty lucky members who, obviously know how to win.   Maybe, just maybe . . . you may even be one of the racers.    So . . . if you haven't already done so, mark your calendars and plan to be there for a FUN EVENING!  If your calendar already has the event noted, be sure to note the change of date.  Cheers, Pete

The 1940s marked a turning point in life jacket technology with the widespread adoption of kapok-filled vests. Kapok—a natural, buoyant fiber derived from the tropical kapok tree—offered a lighter and more comfortable alternative to the bulky cork and canvas life preservers previously in use. This innovation greatly improved wearability and increased the chances that mariners, soldiers, and recreational boaters would actually wear their flotation devices. However, the material came with a significant drawback: flammability. This danger was tragically underscored by the 1942 fire aboard the SS Normandie , a former French ocean liner being converted for wartime use in New York Harbor. The blaze, which was exacerbated by flammable kapok-stuffed life jackets and insulation, led to the ship capsizing at the pier—a stark reminder that technological advances often come with unintended risks. Over time, synthetic materials and new standards replaced kapok in most flotation devices. Foam-fi...