WSF News

Choosing Life Jackets for Kids

Five things to look for in life jackets for kids. By now, most boaters should be familiar with the statistics. Life jackets save lives, but only if you wear them. Fortunately, today’s offerings are more comfortable than ever. While most adults can easily find a life jacket that does the job, selecting a kid’s jacket […]

Kayakers Fight for Survival On Lake Superior

One by one, the three kayakers capsized in the cold, angry water. Then they became separated. It was meant to be another boys’ trip, the latest in a tradition that stretched back more than two decades. Every other year, the old friends—Jim Farrington, 49, an electrical lineman in Alden, Michigan; Sean Royston, 47, an electrical grid systems manager […]

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

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

Men’s Journal Covers Paddling Safety

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 […]

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.

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. […]

Water Sports Foundation Honored With IBWSS Communication Award

March 21, 2022, ORLANDO, Fla – The Water Sports Foundation (WSF) announced today it has won the International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS) Communication Award presented by the National Safe Boating Council this week for its Spanish language recreational boating safety outreach radio campaign. The promotion included a series of three 60-second safe boating […]

Water Sports Foundation Reports Pandemic Spike in Online Boater Education

-National Boating Safety Experts Say the Pandemic Likely Created a Surge in Boater Education and an Unprecedented Shift to Virtual Training- ORLANDO, Fla. – March 16, 2022 – The Water Sports Foundation reports a major surge in boater education enrollment across the nation, marked by new online delivery trends. As the non-profit educational arm of […]

BoatUS: New U.S. Coast Guard Fire Extinguisher Regulation Effective April 20

12 year expiration for disposables and different carriage requirements for older, newer model year vessels. ANNAPOLIS, Md., February 15, 2022 — A rite of passage for every boater is the annual spring commissioning. Newly added to the boat owners to-do list this spring will be to check all disposable (non-rechargeable) fire extinguisher dates of manufacture, as […]

Water Sports Foundation Campaign Wins National Boating Industry Safety Award

Southold, NY, December 8, 2021 – The Sea Tow Foundation and its Boating Safety Advisory Council announced six winners today of their National Boating Industry Safety Awards which recognizes the best boating safety work in the for-profit section of the recreational boating industry. Sponsored for the second year by KICKER Marine Audio, the six top […]

Water Sports Foundation’s Tips for a Fun and Safe Holiday Boat Parade

ORLANDO, Fla. — December 2, 2021 — Whether you’re a spectator or a participant, nighttime boat parades featuring festive lights and creative boat and yacht displays can be one of the most fun and memorable traditions of the entire holiday season. From San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf Holiday Lights & Sights Boat Parade to the […]

Coast Guard Announces Appointments to National Boating Safety Advisory Committee

The U.S. Coast Guard today announced the appointment of twenty individuals to serve as members of the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (NBSAC).

Profiles in Leadership: Jim Emmons Interview in BoatingIndustry Magazine

Recognizing Top Industry Achievers and Their Strategies for Success. WSF’s Jim Emmons is interviewed by BoatingIndustry Magazine

South Carolina Newspaper Shares WSF’s Top Tips for Safer Boating just in time for Independence Day Weekend

The Fourth tends to be one of the worst days of the year for boating accidents. The heat of summer, alcohol and a rush to get home after fireworks shows often combine to create a perfect storm that results in numerous accidents and deaths, boating experts say.

WSF Executive Director Jim Emmons Statement Regarding New 2020 USCG Statistics Report

WSF Executive Director Jim Emmons believes that the new 2020 report and statistics are sobering and uphold the long-standing message that the Water Sports Foundation has proffered for years: “Get skills training before you take a boat or paddle craft out on the water.”

Great Lakes Scuttlebutt Magazine Shares Fourth of July Boating Safety Tips

Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine shares our top boating tips for a safe and fun independence day.

Men’s Journal Covers Paddling Safety

Memorial Day marks the launch of the boating and paddling season across the U.S. This year, however, waterways will look a little out of the ordinary—likely more crowded than ever.