National Boating Safety Week 2026: 11 Tips for Staying Safe on the Water
National Boating Safety Week, from May 16-22, 2026, in the U.S. and in Canada, is designed to promote awareness of boating safety measures to reduce accidents on the water.
| Approximately 100 recreational boaters die yearly in Canadian waters, with 80% of those fatalities coming from not wearing life jackets. Another common cause of boating deaths is alcohol, with it being a factor in nearly 40% of fatal accidents. |
| In the U.S., in 2024, there were 556 boat-related deaths, with 69% of those deaths happening with a boat operator who had no boating safety education. |
We don't share these statistics to scare you but rather to make you aware of the dangers of boating. However, you can help reduce boating fatalities and other accidents by carrying the proper safety equipment and taking safety seriously throughout the season.
Here are eleven tips for staying safe on the water during National Boating Safety Week (and beyond) to reduce the risk to yourself and others.
On This Page
- Wear a Life Jacket
- Complete a Boating Safety Course
- Check Your Boat's Safety Equipment
- Plan Your Trip in Advance
- Avoid Alcohol While Boating
- Understand Your Boat's Capacity
- Practice Proper Navigation and Communication
- Be Prepared for Emergencies
- Inspect Your Boat
- Stay Updated on Local and Federal Regulations
- Use Technology Wisely
- Start National Boating Safety Week with a Boater Safety Course
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Always Wear a Life Jacket
Wearing a life jacket is the best way to reduce boating accidents and fatalities. Every person on your boat should have a Transport Canada-approved or U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD).
Life jackets should fit correctly and be appropriate for the kind of boat you have and the activities you do. If you take infants and children with you, ensure they have the right size life jackets and always wear them.
2. Complete a Boating Safety Course for National Boating Safety Week
Education is an essential key to safe boating. With both online and in-person courses, it's easy to take a boating safety course at a convenient time.
Boaters who take safety courses have fewer accidents and are better prepared to handle emergencies on their vessel. BOATERexam makes it easy (and fun) to take a course that meets the requirements for your state or Transport Canada.
3. Check Your Boat's Safety Equipment
A safety equipment checklist helps ensure you don't forget the essentials and helps prepare you for an emergency.
Your checklist should include:
- Life jackets
- A fire extinguisher
- Navigation lights
- A first-aid kit
- Sound-producing devices
- Visual distress signals.
Ensure that you regularly inspect and maintain safety gear.
4. Plan Your Trip in Advance
A float pan is used to help rescuers find you in an emergency. Before you leave the dock, file a float plan with someone you trust.
Also, take the time to check weather forecasts before heading out, and ensure you know the local navigation rules. Your vessel should have maps and/or GPS for added safety, especially in unfamiliar waters.
5. Avoid Alcohol While Boating (and Not Just During National Safe Boating Week)
Boating under the influence (BUI) is extremely dangerous and also illegal.
Alcohol impairs judgment and reaction times and increases accident risks, all of which can put you and others at risk. You should designate a sober captain or avoid having any alcohol on your boating adventure.
6. Understand Your Boat's Capacity
Boats have weight and passenger limits, and you don't want to exceed them.
Overloading your vessel can affect its stability and increase the risk of capsizing. You also risk damaging your boat if you overload it with too much weight, too many people, or both.
7. Practice Proper Navigation and Communication
Navigation basics and right-of-way rules are crucial when boating. You don't want to accidentally end up in the path of another boat with the potential to cause a collision.
Additionally, you must be sure you can communicate with others, especially in an emergency. Using VHF radios or other communication devices can help increase safety.
8. Be Prepared for Emergencies
Being prepared for an emergency can help you get through it as well as possible.
To be ready, practice emergency drills for man-overboard situations, fire, and capsizing, as these are the three most likely emergencies you'll face when boating. Have a waterproof emergency contact list onboard your vessel, and be knowledgeable of local emergency numbers.
9. Inspect Your Boat Regularly
Routine maintenance is critical to boating safety and helps ensure that engines, bilges, and electrical systems are in good condition. Along with a maintenance schedule, boating safety advocates suggest you always conduct a pre-departure safety check to reduce risk and catch problems quickly.
10. Stay Updated on Local and Federal Regulations
You should always review and follow federal and state boating regulations or province-specific rules for your local area. Following the law helps keep you safe and reduces your risk of fines or other issues.
11. Use Technology Wisely
Technology like GPS, depth finders, and boating safety apps provide a safer experience for new and more experienced boaters. Still, technology can fail, so it's essential to have backup options such as paper charts and a compass.
Start National Boating Safety Week with a Boater Safety Course
Safe boating isn't just a personal responsibility. It also helps ensure the safety of others on the water. When you practice boating safety and share tips with fellow boaters, you help spread awareness during National Boating Safety Week and throughout the boating season.
Get started on boating safety by taking a boater education course with BOATERexam! You'll learn about water safety, navigation rules, emergency procedures, and more.
Content most recently reviewed and updated May 14, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about Boating Safety (FAQs)
Q: What are some safety tips for boating?
A: Always wear a properly fitted life jacket, as it is your most important piece of safety equipment on the water. Check the weather forecast before heading out and turn back if conditions deteriorate. Make sure someone on shore knows your float plan, including where you're going and when you expect to return. Keep a working fire extinguisher, flares, and a whistle or horn on board at all times.
Q: What are the three R's in boating?
A: The three R's in boating stand for Recognize, Respond, and Recover. Recognize refers to identifying a dangerous or emergency situation as early as possible. Respond means taking immediate and appropriate action to address the hazard, and Recover involves getting everyone to safety and reporting the incident to the proper authorities.
Q: What is the leading cause of death in boating?
A: Drowning is the leading cause of death in boating accidents, accounting for the vast majority of fatalities. Most drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. Alcohol use is a major contributing factor, as it impairs judgment, balance, and reaction time. Capsizing and falling overboard are the most common events that lead to drowning.
Q: What is the golden rule of boating?
A: The golden rule of boating is to treat other boaters the way you would want to be treated, with courtesy, respect, and consideration. This means following the rules of navigation, keeping wakes to a minimum near docks and swimmers, and giving other vessels plenty of space. Operating at safe speeds and being aware of your surroundings at all times is central to this principle.
Q: What state has the most boating accidents?
A: Florida consistently reports the highest number of recreational boating accidents of any state in the U.S. This is largely due to its warm climate, extensive coastline, and the sheer number of registered boats in the state. Florida regularly accounts for a significant portion of all boating accidents reported each year nationally.
Q: What is the number one reason people fall out of boats?
A: Standing up or moving around in a small, unstable boat is the number one reason people fall overboard. Sudden movements can shift a vessel's center of gravity and cause it to rock unexpectedly. Rough water conditions and traveling at high speeds also increase the risk of falling out. Always staying seated and keeping your weight centered and low greatly reduces the chance of going overboard.
Q: What is boating etiquette?
A: Boating etiquette refers to the unwritten rules and courteous behaviors that responsible boaters follow to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience on the water. This includes slowing down near docks, marinas, and swim areas to minimize your wake, and giving right-of-way to vessels as required by the navigation rules. It also means keeping noise levels reasonable, properly disposing of waste, and being respectful of wildlife and the environment.
