America's Boating Club, United States Power Squadrons offers free on-the-water training to members

Recently released recreational boating statistics reveal boating education is vital to preventing accidents © America's Boating Club

America's Boating Club, United States Power Squadrons, the nation's largest and oldest volunteer recreational boating safety nonprofit, announced today that as revealed in the recently released U.S. Coast Guard's Recreational Boating Statistics, 75% of on-the-water fatalities were on vessels where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction. While fatalities decreased overall in 2023, the type of on-the-water education offered by America's Boating Club, United States Power Squadrons, is shown to help prevent accidents.

"There is both good news as well as a need to continue educating the recreational boating community to further reduce the number of accidents on the water," said Chuck Wells, National Educational Officer of the America's Boating Club, United States Power Squadrons. "Our on-the-water training teaches boaters how to perform basic maneuvers that could help reduce or prevent boating accidents and deaths."

According to the report, the fatality rate was 4.9 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels, a 9.3% decrease from the 2022 rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels.

The top five contributing factors in accidents continue to be operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and machinery failure. Also unchanged, alcohol use remains the top contributing cause of fatal accidents. And it's no surprise that an overwhelming majority (87% in 2023 vs. 85% in 2022) of drowning death victims were not wearing life jackets.

One of the best educational tools United States Power Squadrons, America's Boating Club, offers is on-the-water training at a local chapter. Free to members, on-the-water training teaches boaters how to perform basic maneuvers that could help reduce or prevent boating accidents and deaths.

Additionally, consider getting a vessel safety check to uncover any gear or vessel deficiencies that could contribute to an accident. There's no penalty for failing a vessel safety check, and the benefit is knowing that your boat is prepared for an emergency.

America’s Boating Club, United States Power Squadrons is dedicated to promoting safe and fun recreational boating through education, skills training, and civic service, while offering valuable social opportunities and benefits for its members.

With July 4th just around the corner, the importance of safe boating has never been greater. Click here to enroll in a safe boating class, online or in person.

To learn more about America's Boating Club, visit www.americasboatingclub.org. Click here to find a local chapter.