To promote responsible boating practices, the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) presents National Safe Boating Week. The U.S. Coast Guard reported 2,887 boating incidents resulting in 556 deaths, 2,170 injuries and about $88 million in property damage in 2024. While fatalities dropped 2% compared to 2023, incident and injury reports increased by a respective 1.1% and 2.1%.
Garmin marine electronics can help increase peace of mind while on the water, and there's no time like the present for advanced and beginner mariners to freshen up on boating best practices.
Here are six tips for captains and passengers to promote smooth sailing this boating season.
1. Prepare your vessel and passengers.
Increase your peace of mind on the water by outfitting your boat with Garmin marine electronics such as man overboard (MOB) tags, AIS devices and chartplotters.
Protecting the crew is of utmost importance. With the Garmin OnBoard™ System, tag up to 8 passengers. Both captain and passenger tags mark waypoints on your chartplotter and sound an alarm from the MFD and hub when triggered. Captain tags will trigger engine cutoff, stopping the vessel from moving.
To help avoid potential collisions while on the water, equip your boat with a Garmin AIS device. When you have a Garmin VHF marine radio, you can see ID, position, course and speed information from other AIS-equipped vessels. To receive and transmit additional data, including alerts, dragging anchors and man overboard, equip your boat with the Garmin Cortex® V1 hub. Coupled with a compatible chartplotter, see real-time alerts and information directly on your display.
If you're looking to add more Garmin marine electronics to your situational awareness toolkit, check out our GPS satellite communicators and accessories (such as our adjustable mount and spine mount adapter), autopilots, radars, camera systems, satellite compasses, marine smartwatches and more.
2. Know your waters.
Being prepared is essential in executing any plan. It's no different when navigating your route on the water. With the #1 marine mapping1, get daily chart updates, suggested routes with Auto Guidance+™ technology2 and downloadable charts for your chartplotter. Get additional map features such as high-resolution relief shading, satellite imagery and more with Navionics Vision+™.
Plus, with the free all-in-one ActiveCaptain® app, download and manage all your favorite charts and maps on your mobile device. When you join the ActiveCaptain Community, read user reviews, comments and ratings about marinas, boat ramps and other points of interest. Track, control and monitor your boat with the Garmin OnDeck™ system directly from your phone.
3. Buckle up. (Your life jacket, that is.)
According to a 2024 recreational boating report by the U.S. Coast Guard, 87% of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. Whether you're navigating remote coastal waters or calm inland waves, you must have the proper life jackets on board. Having various sizes of jackets ensures that both adults and children are snuggly buckled up. If you're curious what type of jacket you should have on board, check out the Coast Guard Foundations boating safety guide.
4. Have a safety plan.
In the event of bad weather or high-risk boating practices from nearby vessels, it's important to have a plan in place to protect your boat and those on board. Ensure life jackets are accessible, and your crew is knowledgeable on how to protect themselves in case of an emergency. For best safety practices during a crisis, check out tips from the Coast Guard Foundation. Plus, don't forget to share a rough itinerary of your trip with someone on land.
In case of bad weather, always check the local forecast for the day. See water and developing weather conditions on your compatible chartplotter when you have a Garmin radar.
Once you have the desired electronics and safety supplies, it's important to verify your boat is in line with state and federal safety regulations. To ensure your boat is compliant, have a volunteer Vessel Safety Check examiner inspect the vessel.
5. Boat sober.
Alcohol is the leading contributing factor to recreational boating fatalities, according to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Operating a water vessel while under the influence is illegal in many jurisdiction because it can weaken boater awareness and reaction time.
6. Take a boating safety course.
According to NSBC, most boat operators have never taken a boating safety course. To educate yourself before heading onto the water, take free on-the-water and online training courses offered by NSBC. The free videos and quizzes give insight into basic navigational rules of boating.
Being prepared on the water ensures a smooth trip for both boat operators and passengers. Enjoy the water this boating season when you complete these simple best practices. For more resources and education opportunities, visit the NSBC's National Safe Boating Week website.
1Based on 2025 sales