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.

Royalty-free image - A person drives an orange and black speedboat quickly across calm water, creating a blurred wake; large white text above reads, "Confidence is Contagious," promoting boater education and safety tips.

The Confidence Game

Boater Education and Product Demos Give Dealers an Edge Boats these days are so feature-rich it seems they should sell themselves. But veteran dealers will tell you the key to closing the deal isn’t only just horsepower and electronics packages. A salesperson’s ability to show a prospective buyer how to safely operate and enjoy a […]

Royalty-free image - A speeding motorboat moves through the water with large text above: "YOU'RE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK." At the bottom, small text warns about distractions while boating and promotes wearing life jackets and staying vigilant.

WSF Debuts New Boating Safety Campaign

For the first time in its 15 years managing life-saving boating safety campaigns, the Water Sports Foundation (WSF) has contracted a top-tier creative design agency. The WSF selected Black Oak Creative of Winter Haven, Florida, for its years of marine industry experience and forward-leaning creative designs. The WSF has so far debuted seven new advertisements […]

Royalty-free image - A bearded man wearing a baseball cap and a yellow life jacket is on the ocean with waves and blue sky behind him. The text "LOVE Y'ALL" is written across the center of the image.

Fisherman Opens Up About the Beacon That Saved His Life

Thanks to a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Easton Barrett and his friends survived after their boat sank in the Gulf of Mexico. By Jeff Moag The video that made Easton Barrett famous was only the beginning. His boat had just gone down in the Gulf of Mexico, leaving Easton and four friends treading water and […]

Royalty-free image - A smiling young child wearing an orange life jacket is outdoors near water. Text on the image reads “2024 Recreational Boating Statistics,” published by the U.S. Coast Guard in July 2025.

Recreational Boating Statistics 2024

An annual compilation of recreational boating statistics in the United States, compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard using data supplied by the U.S. states and territories.

A person in an orange life jacket looks surprised while adjusting their goggles. They are holding a red object in their left hand against a plain white background.

Un Paseo En Bote

¿Por qué el papá siempre es el tonto en estos videos? En este video titulado “Un paseo en bote”, el canal de YouTube WSF Boating & Paddling Safety presenta una historia educativa sobre la seguridad en actividades acuáticas. A través de una narrativa centrada en una familia que se embarca en un paseo en bote, […]

¡Porque Los Niños No Saben Nadar!

El video titulado “¡Porque los niños no saben nadar!” del canal de YouTube WSF Boating & Paddling Safety aborda la importancia de la seguridad infantil en actividades acuáticas. A través de situaciones cotidianas, el video destaca cómo la supervisión constante y el uso de chalecos salvavidas son esenciales para prevenir accidentes en el agua. Se […]

Two children wearing life jackets joyfully raise their arms while standing on a wooden dock. The boy on the left wears an orange life jacket, and the girl on the right wears a yellow one. Boats are visible in the background.

La Nieta Sabia

Este video titulado “La Nieta Sabia” del canal de YouTube WSF Boating & Paddling Safety presenta una narrativa educativa centrada en la seguridad en actividades acuáticas. A través de la historia de una nieta y su abuelo, se destacan prácticas seguras al navegar y remar. El video enfatiza la importancia del uso de chalecos salvavidas, […]

No Intentes Esto En Casa

Este video, titulado “No intentes esto en casa”, es publicado en el canal de YouTube WSF Boating & Paddling Safety, y presenta una serie de situaciones que ilustran prácticas peligrosas en actividades acuáticas. A través de ejemplos reales y recreaciones, el video destaca la importancia de seguir las normas de seguridad al navegar o practicar […]

Recreational Boating Statistics 2023

An annual compilation of recreational boating statistics in the United States, compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard using data supplied by the U.S. states and territories.

Recreational Boating Statistics 2022

An annual compilation of recreational boating statistics in the United States, compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard using data supplied by the U.S. states and territories.

Stay Safe On Your Next Paddling Adventure

Paddling is a fun and safe activity, especially if you pay attention to these common-sense rules — always wear a life jacket, don’t paddle alone, dress for water temperature and don’t mix alcohol and paddling.

Bargain Kayak (Remember a Life Jacket!)

If you go to the box store for paper towels and end up with a kayak, make sure you also pick up a life jacket. Because nobody wants to pull a Brad.

Learn to Get Back On Your Kayak BEFORE You Flip

Getting back on your sit-on-top kayak isn’t that hard – if you know how. That’s why it’s a great idea to take a paddling safety class BEFORE you flip.

Don’t Forget the Leash and Lifejacket

You can pick up a new SUP anywhere these days, but you can’t buy common sense. Always remember to wear your life jacket and leash when you paddle your standup paddleboard. And if your honey asked you to get TP at the Big Box, don’t forget that either.

Royalty-free image - A man in a cap smiles and shows a peace sign while sitting on a boat at sea during sunset, with calm water and an orange sky in the background.

The Pocket-Sized Beacon That Could Save Your Life

Aaron Carotta’s dramatic rescue from the mid-Pacific is the best argument to carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). By Jeff Moag In my years as an adventure journalist I’ve written about plenty of amazing journeys. There was Aleksandr “Olek” Doba, who paddled a kayak across the Atlantic three […]

Scott Szczepaniak

Recreational Boating Safety Specialist, US Coast Guard District 7, Miami, FL Cell: 843-327-9655 Office: 206-815-0598 Email: Scott.J.Szczepaniak@uscg.mil Scott Szczepaniak is the Recreational Boating Safety Specialist for the Seventh Coast Guard District, which includes South Carolina, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Scott has been involved in aquatic and maritime safety his entire […]

Lifeline

Adrift on a capsized boat 16 miles offshore, a palm-sized personal locator beacon was their best last chance. By Jeff Moag The situation went bad in a hurry. Tan Boriboune joined a group of five friends for a day of spearfishing off Virginia Beach on August 16, 2020. A heavy swell was running that Sunday […]

The USNWSAP Has Officially Launched

We are very excited to announce the launch of the inaugural U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan! The USNWSAP provides a national roadmap for collective action to reduce drowning in the United States and aims to unite the water safety community to help put an end to preventable drowning tragedies nationwide. The launch of the […]