Sea Tow Foundation announces record year for Life Jacket Loaner Program

Sea Tow Foundation announces record year for Life Jacket Loaner Program © Sea Tow Foundation

Ahead of National Safe Boating Week (May 16-22), the Sea Tow Foundation™, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing boating-related accidents and fatalities, has announced a record-breaking year for its Life Jacket Loaner Program, with 9,990 life jackets awarded to communities around the country marking the highest number ever distributed in a single year.

The announcement comes as boaters prepare for the busy summer season and national attention turns to water safety.

This year, the program received its highest number of applicants on record. Of those, roughly half are existing Life Jacket Loaner Program hosts and the rest are groups looking to set up new life jacket loaner stations in other areas of the country. The high interest in the Life Jacket Loaner Program reflects sustained engagement and a growing nationwide demand for life jacket access.

"Each year, we see firsthand how important it is to make life jackets easy to borrow," said Gail R. Kulp, Executive Director of the Sea Tow Foundation. "As we head into National Safe Boating Week, this record level of interest reinforces that communities across the country are looking for real, tangible ways to ensure boaters are prepared before they head out with the proper size and number of life jackets for everyone on board."

Expanding access where it matters most

The 2026 awardees represent a wide range of organizations working to improve boating safety. The 224 groups include U.S. Army Corps of Engineers locations, state and local parks, community and civic organizations, municipalities, first responders, schools, scouting groups, waterfront businesses, healthcare organizations, America's Boating Club (formerly U.S. Power Squadrons) and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas.

In addition to life jackets, demand for loaner station building kits continues to grow, with a record number requested despite funding that provides only 50 kits. This further demonstrates the need for expanded safety access points in communities nationwide. To help execute, the Sea Tow Foundation has developed a set of Life Jacket Loaner Station Building Plans and Designs that allows groups to build their own loaner stations

A growing national safety network

With the distribution of this year's awards, the Sea Tow Foundation will have provided more than 122,000 life jackets since the Life Jacket Loaner Program's launch in 2008..

Funded through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Sea Tow Foundation purchased this year's 9,990 life jackets from ThrowRaft(R), which produces U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets in a full range of sizes - from infant to adult XL.

From awareness to action during National Safe Boating Week

National Safe Boating Week serves as an annual reminder of the importance of safety on the water, but for the Sea Tow Foundation, it is also an opportunity to turn awareness into action.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 3 out of 4 fatal boating incident victims drowned, and 87% victims were not wearing a life jacket. By expanding access to free, properly fitting life jackets in communities across the country, the Life Jacket Loaner Program helps remove one of the most common barriers to safety.

"Life jackets save lives, but only if they're worn," added Kulp. "By increasing access in the places where people are already boating, we're making it easier for families and boaters to make safe choices before an emergency happens."

Boaters are encouraged to take advantage of the Sea Tow Foundation's nationwide network of Life Jacket Loaner Stations during National Safe Boating Week and throughout the boating season.

For more information or to find a loaner station near you, visit here.