It’s the beginning of boating season, and as the weather warms up in the Pacific Northwest, many of us will take to the water for aquatic fun. Now is a great time to make sure you are doing everything you can to protect yourself, your passengers and other boaters, floaters, kayakers and paddle-boarders while sailing or cruising Northwest waters this spring and summer. That includes knowing boating safety as well as having the right insurance.

According to the Coast Guard, boating activity increased significantly across the nation during the pandemic, which resulted in an increase in accidents. In 2020, the Coast Guard reported 5,265 recreational boating accidents in the U.S. – a 26 percent increase from 2019 – that involved 767 deaths (a 25 percent increase), 3,191 injuries (a 24.6 percent increase) and approximately $62.5 million dollars of damage to property (a 14 percent increase).

The Coast Guard reports that Washington had 114 boating accidents in 2020 resulting in 28 deaths and 52 injuries. Property damage from those accidents totaled $1.9 million.