The Water Sports Foundation is proud to reveal the first ad in its new The Moment That Matters boating safety campaign. The full-page print ad will debut in the April 2026 issue of Boating magazine. Design agency Black Oak Creative crafted a range of similar advertisements aimed at different boating and paddling audiences. The campaign is built around powerful images reminding boaters that The Moment That Matters comes on the dock, when boaters and their families choose to wear life jackets.
“This powerful image captures all the things we love about boating,” said Jeff Moag, Water Sports Foundation Content Director. “It reminds us to protect the things we hold most dear – our families and the time we spend with them.”
Since 2011, the Water Sports Foundation has been a primary outreach partner for recreational boating safety through non-profit federal grants administered by the U.S. Coast Guard and funded by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The new ads promote life jacket wear while evoking an emotional connection using the tagline, “The moment that matters is before you leave the dock.”
Failure to wear a life jacket is the primary contributing factor to boating fatalities. The U.S. Coast Guard reports that in 2024, where the cause of death was known, 76% of fatal boating (and paddling) incident victims drowned, and where Personal Flotation Device usage was known, 87% were notwearing a Personal Flotation Device.
In December, the Water Sports Foundation contracted Black Oak Creative of Winter Haven, Florida, to develop new recreational boating and paddling safety advertisements. Black Oak Creative has a lengthy list of marine clients, primarily because its staff has a rich boating history, which made it a perfect match for the Water Sports Foundation’s needs. For more information, email info@watersportsfoundation.com.
