Captain's Corner

A Dive Into the 2020 U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Statistics Reveal How the Pandemic Affected Boating in Ways Just Beginning to be Understood. ANNAPOLIS, Md., July 16, 2021 – The  U.S. Coast Guard recently released the 2020 Recreational Boating Statistics , and reports of accidents, fatalities and injuries were significantly up over the prior year. While still under review, the Coast Guard believes that the primary driving factor for the significant increase in deaths was the significant increase in boating activity. The nonprofit  BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water  looks at some select data points in the report and offers some lessons for the future, long after America has put the pandemic in the rearview mirror. A change in the top five reasons for accidents:  In 2020, the top five reported contributing factors in accidents were 1. operator inattention, 2. operator inexperience, 3. improper lookout, 4. excessive speed and 5. machinery failure. “Machinery failure

If you just bought a new boat or you’re thinking about buying one for the first time, or if you're renting a boat for the day or tagging along on a friend's boat, we have some good news for you: on top of being flat-out fun,  research has proven that boating is good for your health and mind . But like any new experience, someone who’s not an experienced boater may have a bit of anxiety over casting off the lines for the first time. Never fear, dear new-to-boating boater—we’re here to help. Here's some tips that will help ensure your first-time out on a boat is a fun, safe, and rewarding experience. 1. Keep It Safe You knew that was coming, didn’t you? Boating is actually an incredibly low-risk activity, but like anything, the fun stops abruptly if someone gets hurt. Pay attention as you take your  boating safety course , and spend some time perusing our  Boating Safety Guide  before you shove off the dock. Take A boating Education Class .  Learn the Navigations Rules.  Be c