The survey is the only source for recreational boating data in all 50 states and informs about safety and security on the water.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is launching the 2026 National Recreational
Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS), which will provide detailed estimates in every state of
how many people go boating, what types of boats they use, and how often they go
boating. This survey is funded under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and
Boating Trust Fund administered by the USCG.
The survey supports national safety and law enforcement programs by improving
boating safety. The 2026 NRBSS is particularly important as it is the first time the survey
has been conducted since 2020 when the industry saw a rise in boating as an outdoor
activity across the country. The Coast Guard has regularly conducted the survey since
1973, and it was last conducted in 2018.
“The NRBSS has an extensive history of giving important insight into how people are
boating in waterways across the country,” said Captain Brent Schmadeke, Coast Guard
Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety, United States Coast Guard. “The findings are
critical in guiding the Coast Guard’s security efforts to keep boating safe and enjoyable
for everyone.”
The survey is being conducted via cooperative agreement by NORC at the University of
Chicago, a nonpartisan research organization that has been conducting impactful
research and analysis for more than 80 years. Over the next year, NORC will interview
more than 50,000 households across all 50 states and the District of Columbia to gather
information from individuals who own or rent boats. The results will provide valuable
information to national, state, and local agencies through both national and state-level
estimates.
Selected households will be invited to participate in the study via invitation letters,
postcards, emails, and text messages. Those who receive an invitation are encouraged
to participate to have their voice heard. Participating will help the United States Coast
Guard keep our rivers, oceans, and other waterways safe.
Respondent information will be held in the strictest confidence and will be grouped to
produce statistical summaries.
The U.S. Coast Guard is the national coordinator for the National Recreational Boating
Safety Program, established by the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971. This foundational
act empowers the Coast Guard to enhance safety on our nation’s waterways by setting
standards for boat construction, improving accident investigations and reporting, and
providing crucial financial assistance to programs in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and six U.S. territories. Through the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and
Boating Safety, the Recreational Boating Safety Program remains a cornerstone of our
commitment to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all recreational boaters.
The National Recreational Boating Safety Program estimates 95,000 lives have been
saved since the Program’s inception. The most recent year of information recorded the
fewest deaths in the Program’s history.
For more information about the NRBSS, visit https://uscgboating.org/statistics/national-
recreational-boating-safety-survey.php.
For further assistance or questions, contact onthewater@norc.org or SMB-COMDT-CG-
BSX-Data@uscg.mil.