WATERSPORTS – Boaters can find out where to launch their boats or tie up for a weekend on the water with Washington Water Cruiser, a new FREE app launched by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO).

The app maps all state-owned boat launches and moorage sites open to the public, along with amenities for boaters at each site.

• Get the app for Apple devices  and for Android devices.
• Details area available at watercruiser.smartmine.com.

“This app brings together information from three state agencies,” said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office. “It has information on boat launches, moorage slips and pumpout locations, in both eastern and western Washington, from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Recreation and Conservation Office.”

The map-based app was created by SmartMine, the technology development team at GeoEngineers, using a grant RCO received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It provides aerial, street map and nautical chart views for boaters throughout the state.

“This app will be really helpful to a lot of boaters,” said George Harris, president of the Northwest Marine Trade Association, the nation’s largest regional marine association. “In the past, you’d have to carry a couple of cruising manuals or visit several Web sites to plan an outing. Now, you can see the information you need on your smart phone or tablet while you’re on the water.”