Archie H. Schmidt, FSO-PA

An analysis of the first national U.S. Coast Guard survey of recreational boaters in 10 years found that canoeists and kayakers have the highest fatality rate.  In fact, reports BOAT/U.S. Magazine, the fatality rate of 42 deaths per million hours on canoes and kayaks is almost twice that of those on personal watercraft and almost four times higher than open motorboats. On average, boaters spent 20 days per year on the water; the average trip was four hours. Nearly half of those hours were spent in open motorboats. In 1998, there were over 12.5 million registered boats in the U.S. and several million more that were not registered.

The analysis found an inverse relationship between boating experience and boating fatality rates: people with the least experience had a higher fatality rate. Boaters with less than 100 hours of operating experience had a fatality rate three times higher than the rate for boaters with 100-500 hours of operating experience. Boaters with more than 500 hours of operating experience had a barely measurable fatality rate.

Almost two-thirds of the boaters surveyed (66 percent) had never taken a boating class, while 19 percent reported taking a class more than 10 years ago. Just two percent had taken a boating safety class in the last year.

The survey asked boaters what equipment they use on board; 38 percent said they carried a cell phone on board, while just 19 percent said they carried a VHF radio on board.

Other findings include: only 28 percent carry navigational charts on board and just 8 percent said they used them all or most of the time. In comparison, 50 percent report having a depth finder on their boats and 38 percent say they use it all or most of the time.

As for safety equipment, 91 percent of the boaters have life jackets on board, and 74 percent say they use them all or most of the time. 77 percent say they carry anchors and line; 68 percent carry fire extinguishers; 61 percent carry a first aid kit; and 35 percent carry flares.

Almost all boaters support laws penalizing drunk boaters and enforcing current reckless boating laws. Similarly, the majority of boaters believe children under 12 should be required to wear life jackets, one-third think life jackets should be mandatory for adults, too. Personal watercraft riders, canoeists and kayakers are the most likely to have fallen overboard.

SAFE BOATING IS NO ACCIDENT!  TAKE A SAFE BOATING CLASS!

Links to non-Coast Guard entities are not under the control of the United States Coast Guard or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and are provided for the convenience of our customers. They do not, in any way, constitute an endorsement of the linked pages or any commercial or private issues or products presented there. We cannot make any warranty or representation concerning the content of these sites, or secondary sites from the pages to which they link.