1998 - 2001 US Recreational Boating Statistics

This comparative analysis by Gateway Multimedia uses only USCG accident statistics as published each year by the National Safe Boating Council for the North American Safe Boating Campaigns.

Incidents Related to Navigation Safety Causes

Vessels Involved                                                  1998           1999     % Chge              2000       % Chge    2001     %Chge

Grounding                                                               495          526         +  6.3                  517           -   1.7         412         - 20.3

Collision with Another Vessel                         5,641      5,511         -   3.3           5,437              -   1.3       4,617        - 15.1

Collision with Fixed Object                                 943       1,017         +  7.8                  969           -   4.7         644      - 33.5

Collision with Floating Object                            216           211         -   2.3                  187           - 11.4         109      - 41.7

Struck by Boat                                                       220           193         - 12.3             235           +21.8         166      - 29.4

Struck by Motor/Propeller                                 123           123             0.0                  100           - 18.7         100          0.0

Struck Submerged Object                               169             164         -   2.9               201             +22.6         128      - 36.3

SubTotal                                                            7,807          7,745         -   0.8%      7,646               -  1.3%    6,176     - 19.2%

Incidents Related to All Other Causes

Vessels Involved                                                   1998          1999      % Chge             2000       % Chge     2001    % Chge

Capsizing                                                                591           567         -   4.1                  519           -   8.5         466      - 10.3

Flooding/Swamping                                              459           480         +  4.6                  440           -   8.3         339      - 22.9

Sinking                                                                   250           226         -   9.6                  194           - 14.2         150      - 22.7

Fire/Explosion (Fuel)                                            212           225         +  6.1                  188           - 16.4         153      - 18.4

Fire/Explosion (Other)                                         121           156        + 28.9                  144           -  7.7          112      - 22.2

Carbon Monoxide                                                  n/a            n/a             n/a                      8                 n/a           14     + 75.0

Falls Overboard                                                     686           653         -   4.8                  643           -  1.5          514      - 20.1

Falls In Boat                                                           364           375         +  3.0                  343           -  8.5          284      - 17.2

Skier Mishap                                                         535           471         - 12.0                  480           + 1.9          439      -   8.5

Other Cause                                                           259           249         -   3.9                  304           +22.1         291      -   4.3

Unknown                                                        84                       43         - 48.8                    75           +74.4           36      - 52.0

Sub Total                                                           3,561          3,445         -   3.3%        3,338             -  3.1%    2,798     - 16.2%

Totals                                                         11,368         11,190       -  1.6%             10,984          - 1.8%     8,974    - 18.3%

Summary                                     1998                       1999                    2000                       2001    

                                          Nav Safety   Other                 Nav Safety  Other           Nav Safety  Other              Nav Safety  Other

% Vessels Involved   68.7%      31.3%            69.2%       30.8%                  69.6%       30.4%            68.8%      31.2%

Other Statistical Trends    1998         1999    % Chge           2000     % Chge           2001     % Chge

# of Injuries                               4,612 4,315         -  6.4                    4,355      +  0.9                      4,274      - 1.9

# of Drownings                            574   517          -  9.9                       519      +  0.4                         498      - 4.1

# of Other Deaths                        241   217          -10.0                       182      - 16.1                         183      +0.06

$ Property Damage    $31,027,432   $28,890,185        -  6.9          $34,699,950      +20.1        $31,307,488       - 9.8

‘The vast majority of boating accidents are caused by operator controllable factors and not by the boat, equipment or environmental factors.’ Statement by NASBLA.

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