National Public Relations Outreach Campaign

The Water Sports Foundation’s National Public Relations Outreach Campaign produced the largest online repository of boating safety content, using materials provided by the United States Coast Guard, the Water Sports Foundation, and other boating safety nonprofits, organizations and stakeholders. The purpose of the National Boating Safety Media Center was to create a comprehensive, one-stop resource featuring relevant boating safety content and statistical data, still and video images, and expert contacts available for media interviews.

The campaign created a curated database of national and regional media that cover boating and boating safety, including television, magazines, newspapers, radio, podcasts and social media. This database was developed and used during the project’s funding period in 2020 – 2021, resulting in 641 news stories and more than 1 billion potential media impressions. The database and media center continue to be a valuable resource for journalists and recreational boating safety advocates.

Boating Is Safer Than Ever, WSF Reports

U.S. Coast Guard reports boating safety figure improvements in 2021 despite historic growth in new boat ownership. WSF credits increased safety course enrollment. ORLANDO, Fla., August 16, 2022 – The U.S. Coast Guard’s latest 2021 Recreational Boating Statistics Report revealed boating safety improved with a 15.4% drop in the fatality rate per 100,000 registered […]

WSF’s Jim Emmons Talks Boating Safety With The Weather Channel

Water Sports Foundation Executive Director Jim Emmons is interviewed by The Weather Channel

Hundreds of Thousands of New Boaters and Paddlers Expected Fourth of July Weekend

Millions of boaters are expected to head out on the water this Fourth of July weekend, including more than 830,000 first time boat buyers who purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in crowds coupled with the number of inexperienced new boaters has caught the attention of the Water Sports Foundation. “While we are […]

Video Interview: WSF Associate Wins Top National Award for Public Relations Outreach

The Water Sports Foundation launched the first-ever national public relations campaign for recreational boating safety in 2021. Supported by the U.S. Coast Guard and executed by Kenton Smith Marketing, in its inaugural year the program exceeded its outreach goal by nearly ten times. The Sea Tow Foundation honored the program with its National Boating Industry Safety Award […]

Hundreds of Thousands of New Boaters and Paddlers Expected Fourth of July Weekend

Water Sports Foundation offers seven safety tips for sharing waterways with inexperienced boaters ORLANDO, Fla., June 14, 2022 –Millions of boaters are expected to head out on the water this Fourth of July weekend, including more than 830,000 first time boat buyers who purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in crowds coupled with the […]

Sea Tow Foundation Adds Nine Industry Leaders to Serve on its Boating Safety Advisory Council

June 9, 2022 – Nine new marine industry stakeholders were recently elected to serve two-year terms beginning June 1, 2022, on the Sea Tow Foundation’s Boating Safety Advisory Council. Established in 2019, the advisory council collaborates on multiple national boating safety initiatives and also judges and selects the most outstanding efforts by marine industry companies […]

First-Time Boat Buyers Exceed 415,000 for Second Time in 15 Years

The NMMA and Info-Link, a market intelligence firm serving the recreational boating industry, reported today that 420,000 first-time boat buyers of new and pre-owned boats entered the market in 2021, on par with 2020 – levels the industry hasn’t seen since 2007. First-time boat buyers accounted for 34 percent of boat sales in 2021, driving […]

WSF’s Jim Emmons Live on The Weather Channel

Boating safety education and training has never been more important. Since 2020, more than 830,000 first-time boat owners hit the water many of whom lack safety education and training.

National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27: 3 Safety Changes You Need To Know Provided by BoatUS Foundation

ANNAPOLIS, Md., May 9, 2022 – National Safe Boating Week arrives May 21–27 with an annual reminder for boaters to champion recreational boating safety all summer long. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water suggests that boat owners need to know about three recent U.S. Coast Guard regulations that have changed, what’s needed to be […]

Sea Tow Foundation Offers Free Resource Kit for National Safe Boating Week

Southold, NY, April 25, 2022 – In an effort to maximize the potential for positive boating safety messaging prior to the busy boating season, the Sea Tow Foundation has created a National Safe Boating Week Resource Kit available free of charge to marine industry stakeholders. The kit offers instructions on how to share a wealth […]

10 Important Tips from the Water Sports Foundation to Keep Boaters Safe this Busy 2022 Boating Season

– Memorial Day is the Traditional Launch to Seasonal Boating Activity – Orlando, Fla, May 4, 2022 – With a 35% increase in new boat ownership and 415,000 new boaters taking to the waterways since 2020, boating participation will reach historic levels of participation this summer, says Water Sports Foundation Executive Director Jim Emmons. With […]

Top 10 Boating Safety Tips for the Busy 2022 Season

With a 35% increase in new boat ownership and 415,000 new boaters taking to the waterways since 2020, boating participation will reach historic levels of participation this summer, says Water Sports Foundation Executive Director Jim Emmons. With the Memorial Day holiday traditionally serving as the kick-off to summer boating activity, Emmons says the Water Sports […]

Surge in Paddlesports Accidents Likely Due to Lack of Safety Training

A record 37.9 million participants engaged in paddlesports like kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding during the pandemic according to the latest data (2020) from the Outdoor Foundation. This pandemic surge brought an estimated 2.5 million new paddlers to American waterways. However, it increased accidents to 331 and fatalities to a record high 202 – accounting […]

As Record Numbers of Paddlers Take to The Water, Accidents Surge

More than one-third of victims had less than 10 hours experience in paddlesports; experts cited lack of safety training as an important contributing factor ORLANDO, Fla. – April 12, 2022 – A record 37.9 million participants engaged in paddlesports like kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding during the pandemic according to the latest data (2020) from […]

Engine Cutoff Switch Law

Video courtesy of the United States Coast Guard

4 Reasons to Take Boating Safety Courses

Boating safety courses contain a great deal of valuable information. Requirements and content vary by state so visit your state’s boater education web pages and check what boat safety courses are needed, if any. For example, Idaho and Alaska do not require boating safety education but in other states factors such as operator age and boat […]

How to Rescue an Overboard Boater

What you should do when a crewmember falls overboard. By Boating Magazine My sister brought her boyfriend, my future brother-in-law it turned out, with her on my boat for a day of tubing and adventure. Though I had the best of intentions, when it was his turn on the tube, I might have spun the wheel […]

WSF Reports Trend Toward Greater Participation in Online Boater Education Since Pandemic

According to the Water Sports Foundation, there’s been a major surge in boater education enrollment across the nation since the Pandemic, marked by new online delivery trends. The WSF attributes the surge to record-setting growth in recreational boating activity and a 35% increase in first-time boat ownership in 2020, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]