Florida lawmakers Sen. Joe Negron (R-Stuart) and Rep. MaryLynn Magar (R-Tequesta) are introducing bills that would reduce annual boat registration fees for vessels with EPIRBs or PLBs installed. They were joined by Blu Stephanos, the father of one of the teens lost last summer has made boater safety a personal mission.

The boys  left Jupiter Inlet on July 24th in their 19-foot fishing boat under calm weather. However, a large storm erupted and their capsized boat was found two days later about 70 miles off of Daytona Beach. The USCG searched for about a week and a private search went weeks further but tragically the boys were never found.

For Mr. Stephanos, promoting boater safety has become a personal mission. It’s also a legacy for his 14-year-old son, Austin, and his friend Perry Cohen, also 14 and from Tequesta.

“You have to realize at this point, you know, I’m never going to have closure,” said Mr. Stephanos, “I’m not going to have my son back. How do you deal with that? You’ve got to do something.”

Source: PalmBeachPost.com, www.MySunCoast.com