35 Vol. 83, No. 1 | Proceedings reduced. When properly registered with a Maritime Mobile Service Identity number, the radio can commu- nicate key information to the Coast Guard, including the name and description of the boat, its exact location, and the person to contact in case of emergency. The sys- tem is automatic, meaning once initiated it will continue to transmit information even if a boater is unable to operate the radio. The Future Survey The Coast Guard has entered into a cooperative agreement with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago to conduct the next NRBSS. Several enhancements have been made to the 2026 NRBSS Exposure Survey methodology. First, the number of interviews will increase by 50% over previous years to allow for more in-depth analysis. Additional sample sources will be introduced, including partnerships with stakeholder organizations to better represent paddlers and boat renters, as well as the inclusion of non-probability samples to cost-effectively boost interview counts. Respondents will be able to complete the survey over the phone in addition to online, making the survey more appealing to people less inclined to complete an online survey. Finally, a subset of respondents will be invited to complete a brief follow-up survey to determine whether those who indicated future boating intentions— operating or renting—followed through. This will support more accurate, year-round estimates of boating behavior and improve measurement of boating hours. Changes have also been made to the 2026 NRBSS Participation Survey methodology. Most notably, the survey will transition to NORC’s AmeriSpeak® panel—a probability-based panel representative of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This shift will improve coverage of traditionally hard-to-reach populations, including individuals without college degrees and those living in rural areas. It will also help mitigate interest bias, which occurs when individuals who do not participate in boating are less likely to respond to boating surveys. Because AmeriSpeak panelists participate in surveys on a wide range of topics, this approach supports a more balanced and representative sample. The panel approach also allows for surveying the same people multiple times throughout the year allowing for a greater understanding of boating seasonality. Additionally, the number of interviews will increase by 300% compared to previous years, significantly boosting the reliability and precision of the estimates, particularly across age and income groups. Outreach The NRBSS provides states with critical data to strengthen boating programs and inform laws that promote a safer and more enjoyable boating experience. Ensuring the continued success of the survey is essential. To support the 2026 NRBSS, the Coast Guard and NORC are actively engaging with stakeholders and state partners. Organizations can help make the survey more representative—particularly of hard-to-reach groups—by collaborating with NORC to share survey information through membership lists or listservs targeting renters and paddlers. Individuals can also assist by encouraging states that have not yet provided boat registration lists to do so. These efforts will help ensure comprehensive representation across all 50 states. About the authors: Jonathan Hsieh is the senior data analyst for the Boating Safety Division of the Coast Guard’s Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety. He holds a master’s in government analytics from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s in public administration from Virginia Tech. He is a commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and a Merchant Mariner by training. Lindsey Witt-Swanson is a senior research director at the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center and the project manager for the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey. She holds a master’s in survey research and methodology from the University of Nebraska– Lincoln. David Sterrett is a principal research scientist at the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center, where he serves as the project director for the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey. He earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Reference: Duffy, T., Kilpatrick, G., Krotki, K., Lewis, T., McMichael, J., Palmer, D.,Ridenhour, J., Ryder-Burge, A., Thomas, I., Willis, S., & Mahoney, E. (2020). National Recreational Boating Safety Survey: Participation Survey Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Coast Guard. The Survey determined that about 13.9%, or about 1,272,000 boats, had a VHF-DSC radio. Where to get data Scan the QR code for National Recreational Boating Safety Survey data, including full reports, methodology details, and an interactive StoryMap with state-level estimates. bit.ly/4abSVY5
