Boating is a beloved pastime, but safety should always be a priority. The U.S. Coast Guard released its annual report on recreational boating incidents for the 2023 calendar year, which provides crucial insights into boating safety trends, highlights areas for improvement and shows that boating safety efforts are making an impact.

The 2023 report reveals both progress and ongoing challenges. Boating fatalities decreased by 11.3%, from 636 in 2022 to 564 in 2023, while the total number of incidents dropped by 4.9%, from 4,040 to 3,844. Non-fatal injuries also decreased 4.3%, from 2,222 to 2,126. Despite these positive trends, alcohol remains the leading known factor in fatal accidents, accounting for 79 deaths or 17% of total fatalities, but the number of deaths had decreased from 88 the previous year.

The top five contributing factors to accidents included operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and machinery failure. The fatality rate improved, falling to 4.9 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels (a 9.3% decrease from the previous year). However, the data showed that 3 out of every 4 boaters who died in a boating accident drowned and of those deaths, 87% were not wearing a life jacket, emphasizing the importance of this critical safety measure.

The Sea Tow Foundation’s mission is to eliminate preventable boating accidents and fatalities by providing access to education, tools and resources. We want to encourage boaters to always wear life jackets, and learn and adhere to safe boating practices. Our Life Jacket Loaner Program is a crucial part of this effort, providing boaters with free access to properly fitting life jackets to borrow at over 1,300 locations. These Life Jacket Loaner Stations are stocked with sizes from infant to adult extra-large and are available across all 56 states and territories. This program ensures that every boater, regardless of their experience or resources, has the life-saving equipment they need for a safe day out on the water. Check out our Life Jacket Loaner Station map to find the one closest to you.

Another one of our pivotal initiatives in promoting boating safety is the Sober Skipper Campaign. We believe that achieving zero Boating Under the Influence (BUI) incidents is within reach, as these accidents are entirely preventable. And the Sober Skipper campaign is working as evidenced by the continual decrease in the numbers of accidents and deaths attributed to BUI. By taking the Sober Skipper Pledge, boaters commit to having a sober, responsible person at the helm, ensuring a safer experience for everyone on the water. We encourage all boaters to join us in taking this pledge, making our waters safer and more enjoyable for all.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2023 statistics serve as a reminder that safety on the water should always be a priority. By following recommended safety practices and taking advantage of resources from the Sea Tow Foundation, boaters can enjoy their time on the water while significantly reducing the risk of accidents.

When John and his 15-year-old grandson Beau left their home in Texas to travel to Louisiana to go fishing, they expected to land some redfish. Unfortunately, they ended up with a ticket and fine from the local marine patrol officer who explained to John that the free, online boater education class he took in Texas was not valid in Louisiana because the certificate wasn’t state-issued. Plus, Beau was too young to not have a life jacket on when the boat was in motion.  The fishing trip turned out to be a lot more expensive and a lot less fun than John and Beau had planned because they didn’t know that boating laws are different in each state.

Next time, before John and Beau think about traveling out of state to boat, they will need to know and understand the laws that apply to the state they’ll be boating in. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) website has everything a boater would need to know about state-specific boating laws for every state and territory in the U.S.

On the NASBLA website, an informative portal can be used to quickly find state boating laws by clicking on the Boating Safety Dashboards. Each dashboard breaks down the information into categories such as Boating Education, BUI Enforcement, and Life Jackets, just to name a few. Clicking on a category will direct you to a series of interactive maps.

After clicking on “Boating Education” that will take you to a new page where you can see individual sets of data about boating education requirements for each state and territory. Using the Education Requirements – State map, clicking on your home state can tell you the following pieces of information:

• Who is required to have a Boating Education Card in that state.
• Whether the law applies to powerboats and what size motor or boat.
• What is required for an adult visiting from another state (most states require a NASBLA-approved course)
• If there is a minimum age for operating boats in the state
• Whether taking a challenge exam is allowed instead of taking an approved course
• And a link to the State’s Education Website is provided for additional information as well as contact information if other questions come up

Going back to the main dashboard, you can also click on the BUI Enforcement icon and, just like the Boating Education section, individual sets of data are available on the topic of Boating Under the Influence (BUI). While the penalties and punishments differ from state to state for BUI, you should know that boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in all U.S. states and territories. And, drinking any amount of alcohol while driving a boat makes it less safe for everyone on board because of the additional stressors involved with boating such as the wind, waves, and sun. In an attempt to eliminate boating under the influence accidents and fatalities, the Sea Tow Foundation developed the Sober Skipper Campaign, which urges boat drivers to make the right choice and take the pledge to abstain from drinking alcohol and taking drugs while driving a boat to keep you and any passengers on board safe on the water. 

The NASBLA Life Jackets tab provides state-specific requirements for mandated life jacket wear by age and type of boat as well as whether season wear is required. While it’s important to stay in compliance with the law, to practice safe boating, smart boaters should go beyond the legal minimums to help keep everyone aboard safer. To learn more, check out the Sea Tow Foundation’s article Top 10 Times When You Should Absolutely, Positively Wear a Life Jacket. To borrow a life jacket at one of the 933 loaner stations nationwide, visit the Sea Tow Foundation’s online Life Jacket Loaner Station map nationwide. Understanding (and complying) with state boating laws will go a long way to ensure you’re boating lawfully and can enjoy a safe, fun, and memorable boating experience – wherever your boating destination takes you!

To continue providing blogs, please consider a donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.