Safety & Prevention

Boating can be fun and relaxing for the whole family … provided you keep boating safety in mind for yourself, your passengers, and your boat. From in-depth articles on hurricane preparation and boat insurance to rules of the road, avoiding navigational hazards, and calling for a boat tow through TowBoatUS, you’ll find it here.

Catamaran sailboats anchored in a calm British Virgin Islands harbor at sunset, with golden light reflecting across the water and dramatic clouds overhead.

BVI Flotilla: Boats, Beaches, Buddies & Beyond

Join Boat.U.S. members on an unforgettable British Virgin Islands flotilla adventure featuring island hopping, stunning beaches, vibrant beach bars, new friendships, and memorable cruising experiences with Captain Glenn Shephard.

Small motorboat anchored on a calm lake framed by vibrant red autumn foliage, with distant shoreline and cloudy sky reflected on the water.

Top Boating Towns 2026

Discover BoatU.S. Magazine's Top Boating Towns of 2026, from coastal cruising destinations to inland lake communities, chosen for exceptional boating access, marinas, waterfront living, and quality of life.

Angler seated in a small boat holding up a freshly caught panfish on a fishing line. The boat is floating on a calm river bordered by forested shoreline, with fishing gear visible in the background.

Panfish: Easy Pickins

Looking for nonstop fishing action and great table fare? Discover the best panfish species across the U.S., including sunfish, crappie, perch, spot, croaker, and northern puffer, with expert tips on where to find them and how to catch more fish.

Small black Maglite Solitaire LED Spectrum Red flashlight projecting a focused red beam of light against a dark background, designed to preserve night vision for boating and outdoor use.

After-Dark Boating Gadgets

Stay safe after sunset with affordable, install-free boating gear. From a handheld AIS/VHF transceiver and backup radio to safety strobes, night-vision-friendly lighting, and navigation aids, these compact tools can help you navigate and communicate after dark.

Person wearing sunglasses stands on a marina dock in front of a blue-and-white sailboat moored at a boatyard. The sailboat is docked beside a large covered storage building, with additional boats and dark storm clouds visible in the background.

Istvan Kopar: The Introspective Circumnavigator

Follow BoatU.S. member Istvan Kopar as he attempts one of sailing’s toughest feats: a solo, nonstop westbound circumnavigation of the globe. Aboard his Valiant 42 Surprise, Kopar faces months at sea, sailing against prevailing winds and currents in a historic quest few sailors have ever completed.

Cartoon illustration of a boater at the helm looking at a dark radar display after an apparent electronics failure, with the boat's windshield and navigation equipment visible in the background.

Thick Fog, No Radar, Now What?

A relaxing evening cruise in Maine's Penobscot Bay takes an unexpected turn when a powerboat's radar fails in dense fog. Read this firsthand story of seamanship, navigation, and keeping calm when electronics let you down at the worst possible moment.

Child wearing blue rain boots standing in a shallow rocky stream next to a small red and yellow toy boat floating in clear water.

It's All About Boating Access

Boating access is about more than getting on the water. Learn how BoatU.S. advocates for marina and boat ramp infrastructure, navigation channel maintenance, fisheries access, and federal funding that keeps America’s waterways open, safe, and accessible for recreational boaters.

Abstract underwater scene with several translucent jellyfish drifting through blue water, tentacles trailing, with faint fish silhouettes and swirling light patterns in the background.

In Deep Water

A routine fishing trip turns catastrophic when a boat sinks 15 miles offshore, leaving three friends fighting waves, exhaustion, sharks, and 28 hours in open water to survive.

Adult fastening a properly fitted child life jacket on a young boater near a dock before heading out on the water

Zip, Clip, Go!

A real-life boating emergency on the Hudson River shows how properly fitted life jackets—and the BoatU.S. Foundation’s free loaner program—helped keep eight people safe and is expanding access nationwide.