9 Vol. 83, No. 1 | Proceedings according to the number of state-registered vessels, and the remaining third is divided according to state boat- ing safety expenditures.3 After administrative expenses, 95% of the money received from the fund goes to the states for their boating safety programs. The remaining 5% goes to national nonprofit organizations. The National Nonprofit Organization Grant Program is administered by the Coast Guard through a competi- tive process by which the service annually awards fund- ing to nonprofits for national boating safety activities. Nonprofits assist with standards development, outreach campaigns, standardization of state statutes and regu- lations, training, efforts to detect and reduce boating under the influence, an outreach and awareness sym- posium, and other elements critical to protecting the American boating public. Safer Boats and Equipment Recreational vessels and associated equipment have sig- nificantly improved since FBSA’s inception. Those offered for sale in the United States must meet statutory and regulatory require- ments, and manufacturers must self-certify that their recreational vessels meet requirements includ- ing obtaining a manufacturer’s identification code and issuing each vessel a unique hull identi- fication number. To help ensure vessels meet requirements, the Coast Guard has a Boat Testing and Inspection Program that includes factory visits based on several risk factors, testing indi- vidual recreational boat models for compliance, and casualty report investigation. Another critical element regarding recreational vessel safety is that most manufac- turers comply with voluntary standards. Regulations for rec- reational vessels, found mostly in 33 CFR, Subchapter S, have remained largely unchanged since their cre- ation, meaning they have not kept pace with technol- ogy. However, manufacturers belonging to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, an industry trade group representing manufacturers that produce 90% of the recreational vessels offered for sale each year, must, as a condition of membership, agree to comply with voluntary standards. These standards have been devel- oped by the American Boat and Yacht Council using the American National Standards Institute processes. Equipment Requirements The FBSA allowed for the creation of equipment require- ments for recreational vessels including personal flota- tion devices, visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, and engine cut-off switches. Voluntary equipment that can help ensure the safety of the boater, including elec- tronic locator beacons and digital selective calling (DSC) radios, also exists. National Boating Safety Advisory Committee and the Strategic Plan The National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (NBSAC) was created by the FBSA for the purpose of consultation on matters relating to boating safety. The 21-person committee includes equal representation from three different segments of the RBS community—the state officials responsible for state boating safety pro- grams; the boat and associated equipment manufactur- ers; and the boating organizations and members of the public.4 It also has three standing subcommittees: • Prevention Through People • Strategic Planning • Boats and Associated Equipment Meeting two to three times a year, the committee makes rec- ommendations to, and accepts task statements from, the Coast Guard. Every five years, the National RBS Program also produces a strategic plan developed with input from the RBS community, including NBSAC, which plays a significant role in its development and provides program direction. The current plan runs through this year and includes three ini- tiatives—Positively Influence Recreational Boater Behavior, Positively Influence Recreational Boat and Accessory Manufacturers, and Leverage Recreational Boating Data. There are 13 courses of action and 36 activities under these initiatives. Annual Statistics Report and the Boating Safety Survey The National RBS Program produces an Annual Recreational Boating Statistics Report each calendar year. The report for calendar year 2024 summarizes the deaths, injuries, and accidents associated with boating. It also includes sections on incident causes and conditions, In 2024, the program achieved an historic low with the three-year average of annual boating deaths dropping from 641 to 585, or an 8.7% decrease.
