What is National Safe Boating Week? 9 Safety Tips for Boaters in 2026
National Safe Boating Week 2026 is May 16–22, marking the annual, official kickoff of the Safe Boating Campaign just before Memorial Day weekend. The campaign promotes safe, responsible boating, emphasizing the importance of wearing life jackets, checking safety gear, and taking a boater education course.
Here's what you need to know about how this campaign can increase boater safety and help you have more fun on the water.
On this Page:
Updated May 14, 2026
What is National Boating Safety Week?
The National Safe Boating Council and other agencies organize this annual awareness event to encourage boaters to adopt safer practices and follow regulations. The event includes educational programs, community outreach activities, and other experiences that teach people about safe boating.
If you've never participated in a boating week event before, now could be a great time to start getting involved. Whether you participate every year to encourage others or you're just getting started on your boating adventure, you can be a part of helping other vessel owners stay safe on the water.
What's the Message for Boaters During National Safe Boating Week?
Several valuable messages are widely promoted during the week, including the "Wear It!" campaign, which emphasizes the importance of life jackets.
| Additional National Safe Boating Week safety messages include: |
|
Throughout the year, the Safe Boating Campaign spreads awareness about operating under the influence (OUI) regulations and the value of knowledge gained through boating safety courses during Safe Boating Week.
9 Tips for Boaters to Stay Safe
During National Safe Boating Week and throughout the year, there are great ways to protect yourself while boating. Not only can you help keep yourself and your passengers safe, but you'll also be setting an excellent example for other boaters.
Here are nine tips for staying safe this week (and any time you experience the waterways by boat)!
1. Always Wear a Life Jacket
Life jackets truly do save lives.
To keep yourself and others safe, choose U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. These are designed to provide support and flotation, and you can be sure they meet essential quality standards.
You should also inspect your life jackets regularly and replace any that are damaged.
2. Take a Boating Safety Course
A boating safety course (like the ones we offer here through Boat-Ed) will teach you about navigation rules, emergency procedures, and equipment handling, among other things. Many states also require boaters to pass a course to boat on their waters legally.
Even if you've taken a course in the past, it's always good to refresh your skills and stay up-to-date with changing requirements.
3. Check Your Boat Before You Go
A pre-departure checklist, including engine inspection and safety equipment, is a good idea every time you take your boat to the dock. It's much better to catch an issue before leaving the dock or boat ramp, in case you need to make a repair or adjustment.
Failing to maintain your boat or not having the proper safety equipment on board could put you and your passengers at risk.
4. Know the Local Weather Conditions
Checking the weather forecast before you head out for a day of boating is critical. Along with that, though, you want to ensure you're prepared for sudden weather changes.
Staying alert and aware during your boating adventure is the best choice, even on a clear, sunny day.
5. Avoid Alcohol While Boating
Alcohol is a leading cause of boating accidents.
It can impair your judgment, and many states don't allow drinking while boating. So, if you want to consume alcohol on your boat, make sure you designate a sober captain and understand the laws regarding when you can and can't drink onboard.
6. Use Proper Navigation Lights
Boat navigation lights are a requirement, and they need to work correctly.
Before hitting the water, make sure they're functioning, especially when boating at night or in low visibility, to ensure that other boaters can see you. If you don't have proper lighting, you could be at fault in an accident that could have been easily avoided.
7. Have a Float Plan
A float plan is a crucial aspect of safe boating.
Before you leave the dock, share your trip details, such as your destination, planned route, and expected return time, with a trusted person on land. This makes it easier for rescuers to find you if something goes wrong.
8. Don't Overload the Boat
It can be tempting to invite too many people onto your boat. The more the merrier, right?
Unfortunately, packing the boat with too many people or supplies can put you at risk of overloading and even capsizing. It's essential to know your boat's capacity and stay within it to stay afloat and keep everyone safe.
9. Equip Your Boat with Essential Safety Gear
Include items like fire extinguishers, signaling devices, and a first aid kit on your boat — not just during National Boating Safety Week. You should always have critical safety items on your boat because you never know when you might need them in an emergency.
Start Boater Safety Week with a Boater Safety Course
Participation in Boater Safety Week events and programs is an excellent way to protect yourself and encourage other boaters to do the same. It's also vital to remember that safety isn't just a week-long focus. It's a year-round responsibility all boaters should take seriously.
Get started on boating safety best practices by taking a boater education course. Taking an online course through Boat-Ed will help you understand navigation rules, boating etiquette, the importance of maintenance, and other aspects of using and enjoying your boat to protect yourself and others on the water.
Plus, Boat-Ed courses meet your state's requirements for boater education. Our course for Canadians also meets Transport Canada's boater safety requirements for boating in Canada.
Before you hit the water this season, take the course for your state or our course for Canadian boaters!
Content most recently reviewed and updated May 14, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boater Safety (FAQs)
Q: What are essential safety tips for boaters?
A: Always wear a properly fitted life jacket, as it is your most critical piece of safety equipment on the water. Check weather conditions before departure and file a float plan with someone onshore so your route and expected return time are known. Keep a functioning fire extinguisher, flares, and a horn or whistle on board as required by law. Never operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and always maintain a proper lookout for other vessels and hazards.
Q: What is the 5 knot rule?
A: The 5 knot rule requires boats to travel at no more than 5 knots when within 200 meters of a shore, jetty, pier, or other vessel. This rule exists to reduce the risk of accidents, minimize wake damage to other boats and waterfront property, and protect swimmers and other water users. It is a widely adopted regulation in many countries and is strictly enforced in populated or busy waterways.
Q: What is the hardest part of driving a boat?
A: Most boaters agree that docking is the most challenging aspect of operating a boat, as it requires precise throttle and steering control in often tight spaces. Unlike a car, a boat has no brakes and is influenced by wind, current, and its own momentum, making maneuvering unpredictable. Learning to compensate for these external forces while approaching a dock slowly and at the correct angle takes considerable practice and experience.
Q: What is the leading cause of death in kayaks?
A: Drowning is the leading cause of death among kayakers, and the majority of victims were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident. Capsizing is the most common event that leads to drowning, often occurring in cold water where the sudden shock can impair a paddler's ability to swim or self-rescue. Paddling in conditions beyond one's skill level, such as fast-moving rivers or rough open water, significantly increases the risk of a fatal accident.
Q: Can you drink while being on a boat?
A: In many places, passengers on a boat may legally consume alcohol, but the operator of the vessel is subject to strict laws similar to drunk driving regulations on land. In the United States, operating a boat with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher is a federal offense known as Boating Under the Influence. Penalties can include fines, license suspension, and even imprisonment, and alcohol is a leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents.
Q: Do you give way to port or starboard?
A: Under the international rules of the road, when two vessels are on a collision course meeting head-on, both vessels should alter course to starboard so they pass port-to-port, similar to road traffic passing on the right. When two power-driven vessels are crossing, the vessel that has the other on its starboard side must give way. The vessel on the right effectively has the right of way, and the give-way vessel should slow down, stop, or alter course to avoid a collision.
