COPYRIGHT 2001 American Camping Association

Of recreational boaters, canoeists and kayakers have the highest fatality rate, a recent analysis of a U.S. Coast Guard survey finds. The fatality rate for canoes and kayaks is almost twice that of those on personal watercraft and almost four times higher than open motor boats.

The survey analysis, completed by Boat/U.S. Magazine, found an inverse relationship between boating experience and boating fatality rates: People with the least experiences had a higher fatality rate. Boaters with less that 100 hours of operating experience had a fatality rate three times higher than boaters with 100-500 hours of experience. Boaters with more than 500 hours of operating experience had a barely measurable fatality rate.

Of the nearly 30,000 boat owners, operators, and renters who responded to the survey, almost two-thirds had never taken a boating class, while 19 percent reported taking a class more than ten years ago. Just 2 percent had taken a boating safety class within the last year.

Furthermore, 89 percent believe children under twelve should be required to wear life jackets, but only 33 percent think life jackets should be mandatory for adults. (ACA standard PA-23 states that PFDs be worn by all persons in watercraft activities.) Of those surveyed, 96 percent support laws penalizing drunk boaters, and 93 percent support enforcing reckless boating laws.

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