FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Kathleen Burns
Executive Director, CMTA
kathleen@ctmarinetrades.org
Phone: 860-767-2645
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT TOP EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE HARTFORD BOAT SHOW
Boat Licensing Class, Passport to Safety Scavenger Hunt, Clean Marina Program and Invasive Aquatic Species Seminar are Highlights January 16-19, 2020 at Mohegan Sun
ESSEX, CT — JANUARY 7, 2020 – Produced by the Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA), the Hartford Boat Show, open January 16-19, 2020, will feature a focus on boating safety and environmental initiatives within recreational boating. Returning to Mohegan Sun’s Earth Expo Center for the second year, the Hartford Boat Show leads the prominent Northeast winter boat show schedule.
Powered by Evinrude/BRP, additional sponsors include Helly Hanson/Landfall, Renewal by Andersen, and KinderCare. The Hartford Boat Show will feature over 125 exhibitors – with over 400 water craft from 35 dealers on display. Covering every aspect of recreational boating, visitors will find boats, jet skis, personal watercraft, paddle sports, kayaks, marinas, motors, slip rentals, servicing, fishing gear, educational programs and materials, insurance, trailers, electronics, sanitation, air conditioning, attire, nautical home décor, decking, dock building, winter storage, financing, and shore side activities such as destinations and attractions.
Family fun activities and educational sessions will focus on boating safety and marine environmental programs. Throughout the Show, safety fun facts will be scattered around the exhibits promoting safe boating as part of the new Passport to Safety Scavenger Hunt which is sponsored by The Seatow Foundation. In addition loaner life jackets will be available for children to wear around the Show to help them learn about the importance of wearing a life jacket on any boat.
In conjunction with the Annapolis School of Seamanship, the Hartford Boat Show is offering a rotating schedule of free educational sessions focused on safe boating and best practices. Topics include “Dock & Line Handling,” “Anchoring,” “Night Navigation,” “Modern Navigation,” “Diesel Basics,” “Get Your Captains License,” and more. Visit www.hartfordboatshow.com for program details.
Hartford Boat Show visitors will have the opportunity to get certified for their boating license at the Show. A boat safety and licensing session presented by Boat Safe Connecticut, and its Captain Mark Vining, will be conducted on Saturday, January 18 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Advance registration is required for the class at a discounted rate of $75 per person, which includes admission to the show, and a license certificate issued upon completion. For further information and reservations, contact the CMTA at 860-767-2645 or email admin@ctmarinetrades.com.
More safety information may be found at The Norwich Power Squadron’s booth which will feature a training simulator where visitors will be able to learn about safe operations of a boat, and at the Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environment’s ( CT DEEP) booth, which will offer fishing, regulatory and boat ramp location information.
The Connecticut recreational boating industry is environmentally astute, and the CMTA is the managing organization of Connecticut’s Clean Marina Program as an initiative emphasizing the association members’ commitment to maintaining a clean and healthy environment on the state’s precious waterways for all to enjoy. Developed in conjunction with CT DEEP, Connecticut’s Clean Marina Program is a voluntary program that encourages both inland and coastal marina operators to minimize pollution. Those marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs that go beyond regulatory compliance and pass a checklist of best management practice activities are designated as “Certified Clean Marina.”
“Since being established over 15 years ago, facilities across the state have been certified under the Clean Marina Program, and many of the CMTA members have initiated their own programs that go above and beyond the compliance,” according to Kathleen Burns, Executive Director, CMTA. Clean Marina Exhibitor’s will be highlighted at the Boat Show with special designation.
On Friday, January 17 at 5:00pm, a free workshop will be offered in the Summer Salon area of the Show to help boaters learn more about the “Survey and Impacts of Aquatic Invasive Plants on Marine Recreation in CT Rivers and Lakes.” Presented in conjunction with the Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development and the Lower CT River Valley Council of Governments, this presentation will highlight the latest work of the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station (CAES), the CT River Gateway Commission, the Lower CT River Valley Council of Governments, Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development and other stakeholders to survey and map of the ongoing threat of invasive aquatic species, such as hydrilla, and water chestnut to the Connecticut River, its tributaries, as well as other Connecticut rivers, lakes and ponds. These plants have the potential to severely impact access to waterways and marine recreation. There are several ways for paddlers and boaters to become involved in the surveillance and management of these species, which will be discussed by Greg Bugbee, Associate Agricultural Scientist and Summer Stebbins, Agricultural Research Technician of the CAES Invasive Aquatic Plant Program.
Also with an eye to educating boaters about how they can continue to maintain clean waterways and reduce the use of plastics, water bottle refilling stations manned by MudRatz GreenFlash, partnering with Atlantic Marketing will be available. The group will also provide information about how boaters and sailors can adopt sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices such as ridding boats of single-use plastic bottles, using reusables for water and coffee, and recycling food packaging. MudRatz cites that plastic creates $13 billion of damage to marine ecosystems annually, and its mission is to promote ocean health and environmentally sustainable practices through organized action and education.
Tickets for the Hartford Boat Show may be purchased at www.hartfordboatshow.com. Pre-show online tickets are $13. During The Boat Show, general admission is $15, with children under 12 accompanied by an adult admitted free. A Senior/Military one-day pass is $10. A Two Day Pass allowing access to the show any two days is available at $20. Group sales for groups over 15 people may be arranged by contacting CMTA Show Staff at 860-767-2645.
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About The Hartford Boat Show: Now in its 51th year, the Hartford Boat Show (HBS20) features the newest boats on the market including center consoles, fishing boats, cruisers, sport and ski boats, sailboats, personal watercraft, paddle boats and boards in addition to fishing gear, marinas and boatyards, other marine services and boating accessories. Produced by the Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA) the show is open to the public January 16-19, 2020 at the Earth Expo Center at Mohegan Sun, and will feature over 125 exhibitors, 400 boats and watercraft, as well as educational seminars, boating personality appearances, and demonstration areas. www.hartfordboatshow.com
About Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA): The CMTA is a not-for-profit trade association representing boating and related marine industries throughout Connecticut, from the Long Island Sound to the state’s rivers and lakes. Founded in 1954, the CMTA has over 330 member businesses and is dedicated to the well-being of the industry by promoting the interests of recreational boating, improving industry condition, monitoring legislative and regulatory issues, and advancing boating education throughout the state. www.ctmarinetrades.org
