Distributionrecreational vessels registered by states
The reported total was 1.1% higher than the 11,546,512 vessels registered in 2023.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6← Resources11,674,073 3,887 556 2,170 $88 million 4.8 76% 87% 20% 69% 47% 56% 39 289 Explore marine battery cable
U.S. recreational boating
U.S. recreational boating statistics, 2024.
A source-linked reference for vessel registrations, safety incidents and reported contributing factors. Updated September 8, 2026.
All figures below are drawn from the U.S. Coast Guard's Recreational Boating Statistics 2024 report and reflect the report's definitions and coverage.
verified recreational boating incidents
The Coast Guard recorded incidents that met its reporting requirements during calendar year 2024.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6deaths reported in verified incidents
This was a 1.4% decrease from the prior year under the report's updated 2024 reporting policy.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6injuries reported in verified incidents
The report recorded a 2.1% increase in injuries compared with 2023.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6in reported property damage
The Coast Guard described the amount as approximate and applied its 2024 reporting definitions.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6deaths per 100,000 registered vessels
The national fatality rate was down from 4.9 deaths per 100,000 registered vessels in 2023.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6What the 2024 figures show
The Coast Guard verified 3,887 reportable recreational boating incidents in 2024. Those incidents involved 556 deaths, 2,170 injuries and approximately $88 million in property damage. State registrations totaled 11,674,073 vessels.
These figures are useful as a national reference point, but they should be read in the context of the Coast Guard's reporting rules. The agency revised its policy for incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2024, including some reporting thresholds and definitions. The report explains those changes in its introduction.
Safety context
Life jackets, alcohol and operator instruction
of known-cause fatal victims drowned
Among fatal incidents where cause of death was known, drowning was the leading cause.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6were not wearing a life jacket
This figure applies where personal flotation device use was known among fatal-incident victims.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6of known-cause deaths involved alcohol use
Alcohol use was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6of deaths occurred where the operator had no safety instruction
This figure applies to deaths where boating-safety instruction was known.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6Reported conditions
Vessel types, collisions and equipment failures
of vessels in incidents were open motorboats
Open motorboats were the most common vessel type in reported incidents where type was known.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6of incidents began with a collision
Collisions with vessels, fixed objects and groundings together made up the most frequent first events.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Executive Summary, p. 6incidents listed electrical-system failure
Those incidents involved 1 death and 10 injuries in the Coast Guard's machinery and equipment breakdown.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Table 6, p. 22incidents listed machinery failure
Machinery failure was the fourth most common primary contributing factor, with 13 deaths and 94 injuries.
U.S. Coast Guard, Recreational Boating Statistics 2024, Table 5, p. 21Methodology and sources
About this reference
This page summarizes national figures from the U.S. Coast Guard's annual Recreational Boating Statistics 2024 report. The report covers calendar year 2024 and compiles information from state marine agencies, federal agencies, public accident reports and news media that met Coast Guard reporting requirements.
Each statistic links to the same report and identifies the relevant page or table. The page will be reviewed when the Coast Guard publishes a newer annual report, while these anchors remain in place for existing citations.
Cite this page
Electro-Fast Distribution. “U.S. Recreational Boating Statistics, 2024.” Updated September 8, 2026. https://electro-fast.com/recreational-boating-statistics. Data from the U.S. Coast Guard.
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