The Sea Tow Foundation completed a two-year study on the Navigation Rules through two separate grant-funded projects. The first of these projects (2008-2009) determined which navigation rules regulations are written into law or code for the individual states and territories and whether these differ from the International and Inland Navigation Rules. The second project (2009-2010) resulted in a nationwide survey to determine the number and types of citations related to Navigation Rules violations in each of the 56 states and territories. Both grants were funded by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund which is administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Results of the studies show a need to streamline and consolidate the reporting forms starting with a clearly defined set of terminology which explains the situations and violations for each of the data points being collected as well as the reasoning behind why it is being collected in the first place. Gail Kulp, executive director of the Sea Tow Foundation added that "it is our hope that the U.S. Coast Guard will use the information that is gathered in this survey to improve the boating accident and incident reporting forms and procedures currently in use."

2010 Final Navigation Rules Survey Grant Report

2009 Final Navigation Rules Study Grant Report

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