• There are 11.96 million registered recreational boating vessels in the U.S., with 11.1 million mechanically propelled in the U.S.
• Florida is the U.S. state with the highest number of registered recreational boating vessels.
• Other watercraft users include 18.6 million kayakers, 9.6 million U.S. canoers, and 3.46 million sailing participants.
• All states require a specific education requirement to operate a boat, including basics such as operator laws, safe operation practices, and regulations.

U.S. Boating Accidents

• In 2020, the Coast Guard counted 5,265 incidents involving 767 deaths, 3,191 injuries, and around $62.5 million of damage to property caused by recreational boating accidents.
• Alcohol was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in 2021, accounting for 86 deaths, or 16% of total fatalities. Operator inattention, inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure, and excessive speed ranked as the primary contributing factors in accidents.
• Where instruction was known, 77% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not have boating safety instruction. Only 12% occurred on vessels where the operator had received a nationally approved boating safety education certificate.
• Where the cause of death was known, 75% of fatal boating accident victims drowned; 86% of drowning victims weren’t wearing a life jacket.
• Where length was known, eight out of every 10 boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length.

Sources: Marsh McLennan Agency “2025 Yacht Risk & Resiliency Report,” Business Research Insights Boat Insurance Market Report, American Boating Association, Safe Boating Council, U.S. Coast Guard, Global Market Insights “Boat & Yacht Insurance Market Size – By Insurance, By Policy, By Sales Channel, By End Use, Analysis, Share, Growth Forecast, 2024 to 2032”

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