Sea Tow Tampa Bay is launching new life jacket loaner stands in St. Petersburg.

  • Boaters can borrow life jackets
  • Stands will be popping up throughout Tampa Bay
  • First stand opens at Maximo Park on June 4

The company was a recipient of a grant from the Sea Tow Foundation and used the money to buy about 100 life jackets and the stands. The first stand will open at the Maximo Park Boat Ramp on June 4.

“If someone goes out boating, they forget a life jacket, have more people, whatever, they can borrow the jacket,” Sea Tow Tampa Bay Owner Cile Moreno said. “All we ask is that they bring it back and put it back on the stand for the next person."

The stand can hold 20 life jackets and has different sizes that will fit children and adults.

According U.S. Coast Guard boating statistics, drowning is the cause of death in 75 percent of fatal boating accidents and many of the victims weren’t wearing life jackets.

Sea Tow said with the stands there’s no reason anyone should be without a life jacket on the water.

“There is no excuse,” Moreno said. “If you need more all you have to do is call our office and we will put more jackets on the stand, absolutely."

Sea Tow hopes to place stands at other boat ramps soon, including Demens Landing and Fort Desoto.