Recreational Boating Facts

The 11,674,073 recreational vessels registered by the states in 2024 represent a 1.1% increase from last year when 11,546,512 recreational vessels were registered.

The 2024 fatality rate was 4.8 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. This rate represents a 2% decrease from the 2023 fatality rate of 4.9 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels.

In 2024, the Coast Guard counted:

• 3,887 incidents that involved 556 deaths
• 2,170 injuries
• $88 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating incidents.

According to recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics, where cause of death was known 87% of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket in 2024.

Where instruction was known, 69% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction.

Where instruction was known, only 19% of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received nationally-approved boating safety instruction.

Drowning is the reported cause of death in 76% of all boating fatalities.

4 out of every 5 boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length.

The top five primary contributing factors in incidents are operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, machinery failure, and navigation rules.

Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Where the primary cause was known, alcohol was listed as the leading factor in 20% of deaths.

There were 169 accidents in which at least one person was struck by a propeller. Collectively, these accidents resulted in 30 deaths and 158 injuries.

Where data was known, the most common vessel types involved in reported incidents were open motorboats (47%), personal watercraft (19%) and cabin motorboats (14%).

Where data was known, the vessel types with the highest percentage of deaths were open motorboats (46%), paddlecraft (26%), and pontoons (8%).

Paddlecraft deaths include canoes (4.5%), kayaks (16%), and standup paddleboards (5%) or SUPs.

1. Florida (75 deaths; 370 injuries)
2. California (45 deaths; 203 injuries)
3. Michigan (28 deaths; 63 injuries)
4. Texas (27 deaths; 128 injuries)
5. Colorado (21 deaths; 18 injuries)
6. Alaska (20 deaths; 13 injuries)
7. Oregon (19 deaths; 29 injuries)
8. Ohio (16 deaths; 47 injuries)
9. Virginia (16 deaths; 44 injuries)
10. Illinois (15 deaths; 31 injuries)

1. Florida (632 accidents; 70 deaths)
2. California (377 accidents; 38 deaths)
3. Texas (174 accidents; 23 deaths)
4. South Carolina (154 accidents; 10 deaths)
5. North Carolina (142 accidents; 13 deaths)
6. Tennessee (129 accidents; 15 deaths)
7. Michigan (120 accidents; 27 deaths)
8. New Jersey (113 accidents; 4 deaths)
9. Maryland (112 accidents; 6 deaths)
10. New York (110 accidents; 8 deaths)