Additional Resources

Included below are resources curated for Challenge entrants. Use of the resources is optional, but encouraged.

Note: All links are provided for informational purposes only.

Recreational Boating Information and Statistics

The following resources provide basic information about recreational boating and statistics regarding recreational boating accidents and life jacket wear rates.

  • Boating Knowledge Base. BOATsmart! An overview of boating information including, but not limited to, boating basics, rules and regulations, safety equipment and gear, safe boat operation, and navigation rules.
  • 2017 Recreational Boating Statistics. U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. Annual study of recreational boating accidents in the United States. Includes data including type of accident, deaths, injuries, boats involved, and operator/passenger information.
  • 2017 Life Jacket Wear Rate Observational Study. U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. Annual study of PFD usage, including wear rate data broken down by boat type, personal floatation device (PFD) type, and risk factors.

Boating Safety Requirements

The following resources provide an outline of boating safety requirements. Understanding the current requirements for recreational boaters and how potential solutions may impact or be impacted by these requirements may be useful for entrants.

  • Federal Boating Regulations. U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. List of federal regulations which impact recreational boating.
  • State Boating Laws. U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. Database of boating laws organized by topic and by state.
  • A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats.U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. Detailed overview of lawful and safe recreational boating procedure, including equipment, operating procedure, survival tips, and more.
  • Boating Safety Education. U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. List of Coast Guard lead classes for recreational boaters, covering topics including safety, operation basics, navigating, and emergency management.

Life Jackets and PFD Information

While solutions are not required to be integrated into or attachable to life jackets or PFDs, the U.S. Coast Guard recommends that all recreational boaters wear life jackets or PFDs and that any solution be in addition to or complementary to a life jacket. The following resources provide information about life jackets and PFDs.  

  • PFD Basics. Nautical Know How, Inc. PFD guide describing the advantages, disadvantages, and appropriate use cases for different types of PFDs.
  • Life Jacket Wear/Wearing your Life Jacket. U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. More detailed primer on PFDs, including information about regulation, PFD sizing, correct usage, and more.
  • How to Choose the Right Life Jacket. U.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety. PFD primer covering a wide variety of different PFD types and their appropriate use cases.

U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Equipment, Assets, and Detection Methods

The following resources provide information on the systems, vehicles, and equipment the U.S. Coast Guard may employ when performing search and rescue missions.

U.S. Coast Guard Equipment Approval

The Coast Guard maintains a list of approved boating equipment. This helps keep recreational boaters safe by preventing the use of low quality or ineffective safety equipment. The following provides information about approved equipment and details on the equipment approval process.