Donate Your Boat To Science

NASBLA Accident Investigation Program To Stage Boat Collisions

If you’re a boater with a passion for forensic science — and you have a trailerable boat or PWC that you might consider using as a tax write-off — a new program funded by a grant from the U.S. Coast Guard could help the nation’s waterway accident investigators improve training and better understand boat collision dynamics.

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is using the grant to glean information from a series of staged, two-vessel collisions starting this September in Virginia.

A variety of powered, trailerable watercraft from bass boats, open runabouts and pontoon craft to small cabin cruisers and personal watercraft will be involved. After the staged collisions are performed, NASBLA intends to relocate the subject vessels to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Training Academy in Ashburn, Va., where they will be used in future NASBLA boating-accident investigation training.

The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is assisting NASBLA in its quest to secure donated boats for testing. Officers from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will help conduct the tests and TowBoatU.S. Potomac Marine is assisting with the on-scene logistics of the staged collisions.

Watercraft owners who wish to donate their boat will receive verification of the IRS 501c3 donation for the fair market value. Boats need to be in operating condition — including propulsion — and include a trailer.

Boat, motor and trailer certification of legal ownership and assignment to NASBLA is also required (either Certificate of Title, Certificate of Number or a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin).

To donate your boat or if you have questions about the types of boats NASBLA is requesting, call (859) 225-9487 or e-mail info@nasbla.org.