• Survey to Provide Only Comprehensive, State-By-State Data on Recreational Boating Participation & Safety Across All 50 States
WASHINGTON (2026) — The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has launched the 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS), the only comprehensive source of recreational boating participation data covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey will estimate how many people go boating, the types of boats they use and how often they operate on the water.
A grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund funds the 2026 NRBSS and supports national boating safety and law enforcement programs.
Filling a Critical Data Gap in Recreational Boating
This is the first time the NRBSS has been conducted since 2020, a period during which recreational boating participation increased nationwide as Americans sought outdoor activities. The Coast Guard has conducted the survey regularly since 1973, most recently in 2018.
“The NRBSS has an extensive history of giving important insight into how people are boating in waterways across the country,” said Capt. Brent Schmadeke, Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety. “The findings are critical in guiding the Coast Guard’s security efforts to keep boating safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
NORC at the University of Chicago is conducting the survey under a cooperative agreement. It is a nonpartisan research organization with more than 80 years of experience conducting objective, high-quality research and analysis. Over the next year, NORC will interview more than 50,000 households nationwide, including individuals who own or rent boats.
What Participants Can Expect
NORC will invite selected households to participate through mailed letters and postcards, as well as emails and text messages. All respondent information, held in the strictest confidence, will be aggregated to produce statistical summaries only.
For more information about the National Recreational Boating Safety Survey, visit https://uscgboating.org/statistics/national-recreational-boating-safety-survey.php.
CONTACT:
For questions or additional assistance, contact onthewater@norc.org or SMB-COMDT-CG-BSX-Data@uscg.mil.
