By Bob Currie, Recreational Boating Safety Specialist
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Station Galveston Flotilla
In this article we look at the top 10 known primary contributing factors of recreational boating accidents from 2023, the last full year for which we have data, with 2022 thrown in for comparison. Here are the tables (click on table for larger view):

#1: Operator Inattention
Operator inattention is still at the top of the list of contributing factors of accidents, and it was at the top of the list in 2021, 2019, and 2018. New boaters don’t understand the implications of having a vessel with no brakes. If you have two boats approaching each other at 30 mph, the closing speed is 88 feet per second. Two boats that are a quarter mile away from each other running 30 mph are 15 seconds from collision. If you think that 500 feet is enough distance to keep behind a boat traveling in the same direction as your boat, you are 11 seconds from ramming that boat if you are moving 30 mph and the boat ahead suddenly stops. Try this experiment with a stopwatch: 1) Start the stopwatch; 2) turn around in your chair; 3) say “Rebecca, get back in your seat and leave your brother alone!”; 4) turn back around in your seat; 5) stop your stopwatch. So, how fast were you going when you rammed the boat ahead of you?

#2: Operator Inexperience
Operator inexperience is ranked second, the same as last year. There is evidence that boating activity rose significantly during the pandemic, and that boat purchases by new (inexperienced) boaters significantly rose. Many of those boaters failed to take the required (by their age) boater safety course. I would like to see in how many cases the operator was also the boat owner. While it is a good idea to train a passenger to operate the boat in case the owner is incapacitated, you need to train them correctly and not just turn them loose at the throttle. Experience only works if you have the proper training; in this case we are talking about a boater safety course. Without that boater safety training any experience you get will always be less than adequate. So, when we talk about experience, we mean experience with a good training foundation. We have all seen old idiots out there on the water. They don’t have 20 years’ experience; they have one year of experience 20 times.

#3: Improper Lookout
Improper lookout was #3 this year and the last two years. Even if you have the “right of way” under the Rules of the Road, you are still responsible for avoiding a collision. Having a proper lookout (all directions covered) is required at all times. Here is the wording of the regulation:

Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.

If a lookout sees something that could endanger their vessel, they need to point toward the danger and loudly inform the boat operator, and continue to do so until acknowledged. The all available means clause of the Look-Out Rule (Rule 5) applies to electronic means such as your GPS, AIS (Automatic Identification System, found in commercial vessels mostly, but becoming popular for ocean-going vessels), infrared and radar systems. The rule is simply if the system is working you must use it to aid in avoiding a collision at sea.

#4: Excessive Speed
Excessive speed was #5 last year. Going fast on a boat is just so much fun. To borrow from Jack Nicholson’s character in “A Few Good Men”: “The Speed? You can’t handle the speed!” There are recreational boats out there with 1,000 hp worth of engines on them. I belong to a large boating club whose members all have boats made by the same manufacturer and three fourths of the posts on the group website are questions asking how to make their boat go faster. When you are running WOT (wide open throttle) and trimmed up all the way you just think you have control of your boat.

#5: Machinery Failure
Machinery failure is often caused by lack of maintenance or by overtaxing the system. When was the last time you lubricated your steering arm?

Machinery Failure is a defect and/or failure in the machinery or material, design, or construction, or components installed by the manufacturer involved in the mechanical propulsion of the boat (e.g., engine, transmission, fuel system, electrical system, and steering system).

One of the most important things you can do to help prevent machinery failure is to take your boat to a shop authorized and trained to work on your boat; in most cases, that is going to be the boat dealership. They are the ones trained to inspect and maintain your boat engine, transmission (lower unit), and fuel, electrical and steering systems.

#6: Navigation Rules Violations
Where data was known, navigation rules violations were a contributing factor in 53% of accidents, 34% of deaths, and 60% of injuries. The best way to learn the Rules of the Road is in a boater safety class. Although the law requires boat owners born after August 31, 1993, to have completed a certified bater safety course and to carry that certification with them, every boater should take a course. I am a certified boater safety course instructor for Texas. The best way for me to review the rules is to teach them.

Navigation rules violation means failing to follow the Rules of the Road. Whenever I do a Vessel Safety Check, I ask the owner if they know the Rules of the Road. My most common response is “Yeah, I think so.” No, they don’t. In our area we have all sorts of vessels from tiny skiffs all the way up to super tankers and container vessels. There is a pecking order that tells which type of vessel must keep out of the way of other types of vessels. Shame on you if you don’t know it. No, sailing vessels do NOT always have the “right of way.” In fact, a sailing vessel underway shall keep out of the way of (1) a vessel not under command, (2) a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver, and (3) a vessel engaged in fishing.

#7: Alcohol
Alcohol has always been a top 10 contributing factor in recreational boating accidents. It ranked #7 in 2022 also, but was #6 in 2021. Here is a little comparison table:

So, a little reduction in accidents and deaths over the past three years gives us hope, but there is still no cause to celebrate. Remember: BUI (Boating Under the Influence) carries similar penalties as a DUI (Driving Under the Influence).

#8: Weather and Water Conditions
We combine Weather and Water Conditions because weather conditions create water conditions. With that in mind, here are the numbers:

The weather started getting rough; the tiny ship was tossed; if not for the courage of the fearless crew the “Minnow” would be lost; the “Minnow” would be lost.

If you look at the table, it is easy to see that the most dangerous place to be is on a lake on a calm day with a light wind. How can that be? It’s called complacency. Here is the dictionary definition: Complacency is self-satisfaction when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. Another way to put is lack of situational awareness. You are more likely to let your guard down on calm days with no wind or light wind on your favorite lake. You don’t move about the boat as safely as you would in heavy seas. You might not hold onto anything. You took your hot life jacket off because you weren’t moving. That’s what complacency is. Look at the Very Rough (waves larger than 6 feet) category: it has the least number of deaths and the least number of injuries. Some part of that is because people just don’t get out there in rough seas, but part of that is the extra precautions people take when the situation turns bad. Everyone puts their life jackets on and they don’t move about the boat, but use three point connection when they do move about. Complacency is about thinking you do not have to take as many precautions as you would in more severe weather. You loosen up; you relax; you take that life jacket off. One little slip and over the side you go, hitting your head on the gunwale as you go over. You come to the surface 48 hours later. That’s how it happens.

#9: Hazardous Waters
Hazardous waters- they are located on your GPS and fishing maps. Why do boat operators think they have to anchor five feet off the jetty? Sometimes the weather creates hazardous waters. A super low tide can create hazards just below the water’s surface. Look for shoaling in areas not noted on charts whenever there is a super low tide. Shoaling is the effect by which surface waves entering shallower water change in wave height. In shallow water non-breaking waves will increase in wave height as the wave packet enters shallower water. Shoaling is a visual effect, so if you decide to run your boat at night you will lose this effect as a warning. Below is a picture I took of shoaling above an oyster reef. Hitting that at speed will eject all passengers and destroy the bottom of your boat.

#10: Force of Wake or Wave
Force of Wake/Wave applies to the track though the water of a moving boat. The wave created by a wake has flipped many a boat. You are responsible for all accidents and damages that are caused by your wake. Observe all No Wake zones.

Summary
It’s hard to put a positive spin on a year’s worth of statistics that show an improvement over the last year because the statistics still chronicle a great deal of death, injury, and property damage. Even so, we did improve considerably over last year, although there is a vast amount of improvement yet to go to make recreational boating as safe as we want it to be. Please share these statistics with your boating family, friends, and neighbors. It will take a collective effort to continue to improve recreational boating safety, but every life saved counts.

[BC: Jul-2-2024]