U.S. Coast Guard reports fewest boating fatalities in more than 50 years

U.S. Coast Guard recently released its 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics Report, reporting a fatality rate of 4.8 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels in the nation.

That was a 2% decrease from the 4.9 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reported in 2023 and the fewest boating fatalities reported since the U.S. Coast Guard began collecting statistics more than 50 years ago.

The nationwide fatality rate was 20.6 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vehicles in 1971 when the Safe Boating Act was passed.

A verified 3,887 incidents that involved 556 deaths, 2,170 injuries and about $88 million of property damage as a result of recreational boating incidents were reported in 2024.

Fatalities decreased 1.4% to 556 from 564 in 2023 — based on a total of 11,674,073 registered recreational vessels in 2024 vs. 11,546,512 registered in 2023 — while overall incidents increased by 1.1% from 3,844 to 3.887.

Non-fatal injuries increased 2.1% from 2,126 to 2,170.

Alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2024 nationwide, accounting for 92 deaths, or 20%, of total fatalities.

“Boating under the influence is not only illegal but it is also dangerous,” said U.S. Coast Guard Inspections and Compliance Director Capt. Robert Compher said in the report announcement. “The effects of alcohol can be magnified when boating in the sun and on a moving vessel. Staying sober protects you and those around you.”

The U.S. Coast Guard reported there were a total of 11 recreational boating incidents in 2024 in Hawai‘i waters, 1 including a fatality — off the east cost of O‘ahu — and 3 resulting in non-fatal injuries.

Hawai’i 5-year breakdown

Hawai‘i recreational boating fatal incident stats

• 2020: 10 total incidents, 1 fatal, 1 death.
• 2021: 15 total incidents, 5 fatal, 5 deaths.
• 2022: 11 total incidents, 4 fatal, 4 deaths.
• 2023: 14 total incidents, 3 fatal, 3 deaths.
• 2024: 11 total incidents, 1 fatal, 1 death.

Seven Hawai‘i boating incidents caused property damage in 2024, with a total of $507,500 reported last year in the islands.

Recreational boating deaths in 2024 nationwide occurred predominantly on vessels operated by people who had not received boating safety instruction, accounting for roughly 70% of fatalities. 

There was an increase in deaths on standup paddleboards. Drowning accounted for three-quarters of deaths, with 87% of victims not wearing life jackets.

Nationwide incident breakdown

Top 5 primary incident types

1. Collision with fixed object: 929 total incidents; 69 deaths; 333 injuries.
2. Collision with vessel: 747 total incidents; 43 deaths; 570 injuries.
3. Grounding: 394 total incidents; 13 deaths; 223 injures.
4. Swamping: 262 total incidents; 57 deaths; 72 injuries.
5. Person falls overboard: 239 total incidents; 138 deaths; 104 injuries.

Top 10 known primary contributing factors of incidents

1. Operator inattention: 551 total incidents; 42 deaths; 294 injuries.
2. Improper lookout: 464 total incidents; 24 deaths; 348 injuries.
3. Operator inexperience: 436 total incidents; 42 deaths; 213 injuries.
4. Machinery failure: 289 total incidents; 13 deaths; 94 injuries.
5. Navigation rules violation: 288 total incidents; 17 deaths; 163 injuries.
6. Excessive speed: 279 total incidents; 26 deaths; 245 injuries.
7. Alcohol use: 244 total incidents; 92 deaths; 192 injuries.
8. Weather: 188 total incidents; 55 deaths; 53 injuries.
9. Hazardous waters: 172 total incidents; 53 deaths; 69 injuries.
10. Force of wave/wake: 122 total incidents; 5 deaths; 80 injuries.

Open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats were the vessel types most involved in reported incidents.

U.S. Coast Guard reminds boaters to wear serviceable, properly sized and correctly fastened life jackets, and encourages boaters to check the weather and water conditions before getting underway.

Data in the report is based on incidents that resulted in at least one of the following:

• Death.
• Disappearance.
• Injury that required medical treatment beyond first aid.
• Damage to the vessel(s) or other property equal to or greater than $2,000.
• Loss of vessel.

“We thank our federal, state and nonprofit partners who strive to make the nation’s waterways safer. We also thank recreational boaters who follow safe boating,” Compher said.

U.S. Coast Guard officials recommend all boaters attach the engine cutoff switch, get a free vessel safety check and boat sober in addition to wearing a life jacket and taking a boating safety course.

The full 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics Report is available online.