Sea Tow Foundation Accepting 2026 Life Jacket Loaner Applications Through Feb. 28

The Sea Tow Foundation has opened its 2026 Life Jacket Loaner Program grant cycle, accepting applications through Saturday, February 28, 2026. Successful applicants will receive U.S. Coast Guard‑approved life jackets and, if requested, a loaner-stand building kit to establish or replenish a public loaner station that lets boaters borrow life jackets free for the day.

Local businesses, nonprofit organizations, marinas, yacht clubs, parks, agencies, and other community groups based in the United States and U.S. territories are eligible to apply. Existing loaner hosts do not need to reapply each year unless they want to replenish their supply or add an additional station. Applicants may request a new stand and life jackets, life jackets only for replenishment, or life jackets for recurring events or agency boats. Sizes offered cover infant through adult extra-large.

The program is funded through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. In its roughly 18 years of operation since launching in 2008, the Sea Tow Foundation has distributed more than 106,000 life jackets via roughly 1,300 Life Jacket Loaner Stations nationwide. All jackets distributed are U.S. Coast Guard‑approved.

Executive Director Gail R. Kulp framed the program as a national safety network: “The Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Program allows local organizations to become part of a national effort to make safe boating easy and accessible in every community,” and “We encourage any interested groups to apply so that we can continue to help make boating a safe and enjoyable pastime in 2026.”

The application is processed through the Sea Tow Foundation program page; applicants should use the foundation’s online application link. Notifications to all applicants are scheduled by April 30, 2026, and grant materials are expected to be shipped in May 2026, allowing new or restocked loaner stations to be ready for spring and summer use.

Community-level examples show the program’s practical value. Boating editor Kevin Falvey notes that his local bait and tackle shop, Haskell’s Bait and Tackle, has hosted a Loaner Station for years, helping visitors and locals who arrive without the right size or number of life jackets. For small marinas, yacht clubs, and community waterfronts, a loaner station can be a simple, high-impact safety measure that reduces friction for casual boaters, visiting families, and last-minute outings.

Sea Tow Foundation contact information for applicants or hosts includes P.O. Box 1325, Southold, NY 11971, and phone 888-276-7691. Note that an earlier seasonal newsletter listed a previous application window of November 1, 2024 through February 1, 2025; that was for an earlier cycle. For the current cycle, apply by February 28, 2026, expect decisions by April 30, and plan for life jackets and materials to arrive in May so your station can keep crews afloat and compliant for the busy season ahead.