2007 Accident Statistics
CG stats point to need for boater education
USPS boating course graduates have fewer accidents and fatalities than other boaters, according to the latest U.S. Coast Guard boating accident statistics 
.
Pointing to the importance of boating safety courses, the 2007 statistics also show that about 70 percent of all reported fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not received any boating safety instruction.
Operator education |
Fatalities |
Informal |
21 |
None |
282 |
Other |
34 |
State courses | 24 |
USCG Auxiliary | 12 |
U.S. Power Squadrons | 1 |
Unknown | 309 |
In 1974, there were 1,754 boating fatalities and only 6 million registered recreational boats. As states began mandating boating safety education, the number of fatalities began decreasing. And by 2005, even though the number of registered boats had more than doubled to 12.9 million, the number of fatalities had decreased to 697.
The Coast Guard’s 45-page report breaks accidents down into operator age, boat type, contributing factors, weather and many other categories. View the full report .