Stay Safe on the Water

Be Committed to Safety

Get serious about safety and take the “Wear It” pledge from the National Safe Boating Council. Make it official and log your commitment at safeboatingcampaign.com.

“I will always wear my life jacket while boating or fishing, and encourage others to do the same. I’ll regularly inspect my life jacket and keep it in good condition. I pledge to boat safely and responsibly — and to have fun!”

On any given weekend, thousands of North Carolinians are taking to our picturesque waterways to fish, sail, water ski, tube, kayak or canoe — whether along thousands of miles of shorelines and tidal inlets, in rivers or in lakes. Chances are, wherever you are in North Carolina, you’re not far from a spot to put a boat in the water.

Unfortunately, all that water access comes with its share of risk and inevitable boating accidents, some of which can prove fatal.

North Carolina ranked No. 5 in reported boating incidents last year (with 155 incidents), according to recreational boating data from the U.S. Coast Guard, and No. 9 in boating deaths (with 20 reported deaths).

“The most frequent event in fatal incidents involved events where people ended up in the water,” explains Capt. Amy Beach, inspections and compliance director with the U.S. Coast Guard, which serves as the nation’s recreational boating safety coordinator. “A fall overboard, capsizing and cases where a person voluntarily departed a vessel accounted for over half of fatal incidents.”

Drowning accounted for 75 percent of deaths, and 87 percent of those victims were not wearing life jackets. The data make no secret of the simplest life-saving strategy for recreational boaters: wear a life jacket.

“Wearing a life jacket is the best choice you can make when recreating on the water,” says Peg Phillips, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council. She likens wearing a life jacket to wearing a seat belt in a car, ensuring safety in any unforeseen accident. “Nobody plans to end up in the water unexpectedly.”

Boaters should ensure everyone on board has a life jacket, and North Carolina law requires children younger than 13 years of age to wear a life vest when aboard an operating recreational vessel. Ensure additional safety by following the National Safe Boating Council’s Boating Safety Seven:

1 Wear your life jacket. The best life jacket is the one you wear (see below for more on choosing the right style and fit).

2 Take a boating safety class. In North Carolina, any person born in or after 1988 must complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating education course before operating any vessel propelled by a motor of 10 horsepower or greater. Visit ncwildlife.org for a list of in-person and online boating courses.

3 Carry all required safety gear, including a float plan, boater education certificate, a marine fire extinguisher, and a horn, whistle or bell. Visit ncwildlife.org for a full list.

4 Use your engine cut-off switch. A 2021 federal law requires the operator of a boat with an installed engine cut-off switch to use its link, a coiled bungee cord or lanyard clipped onto the boat operator. This ensures the engine is switched off should the operator fall or go overboard.

5 File a float plan, which details your plans for the trip and who will be onboard, and leave it with a reliable person on shore or back at home. A printable plan is available at bit.ly/floatplan-pdf from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

6 Be aware of weather and water conditions Check weather.gov or local news sources for the latest forecasts.

7 Boat sober and be considerate of others. Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating-related deaths, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A BUI in North Carolina can result in $250 to $1,000 in fines and up to 60 days in jail.

Choose the Right Jacket for the Job

Early life jackets were made of blocks of wood or cork, used by fishermen and seamen on the North Atlantic, and one of the first modern lifejackets was a cork vest designed in 1854.

Obviously, design has improved dramatically since those early days, and life jackets continue to evolve. Here are a few things to know before choosing a life jacket that’s right for your plans on the water, courtesy of the National Safe Boating Council.

All life jackets that are U.S. Coast Guard-approved have an approval number. Look for it to ensure your life jacket meets the law requirements and is safe.

You may see a label on the inside of new life jackets with a performance level icon, with numbers measured in newtons. (You can continue to use older life jackets without this label as long as they are in good condition and appropriate for the activity.) Lower-level numbers offer more mobility and comfort, for near-shore or calm water activities. Higher-level numbers, which offer greater flotation and stability in the water, are designed for offshore activities and allow a longer time in the water before rescue.

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Suspender Inflatable
Life jackets that use inflatable technologies are lightweight, cool and comfortable. These are not for children, and not recommended for weak swimmers or high-impact activities like water skiing. When the suspender-style is inflated, it’s in place and ready to keep the wearer afloat.

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Belt-Pack Inflatable
Belt-style inflatable life jackets must be worn in front of the user (where a belt buckle would be). Once inflated, it needs to be manually placed over the head. Both styles of inflatable can be inflated either manually or automatically (when immersed in water).

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Inherently Buoyant
Inherently buoyant, lighter-weight life jackets come in a variety of colors and styles. Multiple buckles and clasps keep them secure after impact with the water.

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Child Jackets
A variety of child-approved life jacket styles are available — some with cartoon characters or other high-visibility schemes — and many include safety features such as straps for pulling children from the water and head support. Never buy a life jacket for a child to “grow into.”

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Pet Jackets
Don’t forget your four-legged friends! Pet life jackets are available with a handle on top to easily pull your pet out of the water, if needed.

For additional safety tips and information on boat registration, boating access areas and laws and safety, visit the NC Wildlife Resource Commission’s boating safety page. For more on federal and state safety requirements, download the U.S. Coast Guard’s boating safety app — search for “United States Coast Guard” in the App Store or on Google Play.