United States Coast Guard News

The United States Coast Guard News released its 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics Report Tuesday. The report records the fewest boating fatalities since the Service began collecting statistics more than 50 years ago.

The fatality rate was 4.8 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. That is a 2% decrease from last year’s rate of 4.9 deaths per 100,000. In 1971, when the Safe Boating Act was first passed, the rate was 20.6 deaths per 100,000. Property damage totaled $88 million. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, machinery failure and navigation rules ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.