National Safe Boating Week: What Every Boat Owner Needs to Know Before Memorial Day
Every year I say the same thing around this time: boating safety isn't optional, it's what keeps everyone on the water and coming home. And every year the timing of National Safe Boating Week — running May 16 through 22 in 2026 — is a perfect reminder that Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner, and the lakes, bays, and coastal waterways are about to get very busy.
The NMMA-backed Safe Boating Campaign launched the full 2026 digital toolkit this week, and if you're a boat owner, a first-time buyer researching boat dealers near you, or someone who's been on the water for decades, there's something in here worth paying attention to.
The Core Message Has Never Changed — Because It Still Matters
The fundamentals of safe boating remain constant: wear your life jacket, know your local boating regulations, check the weather before you launch, and never operate a boat under the influence. These aren't suggestions — they're the baseline habits that prevent boating accidents, which remain one of the leading causes of preventable outdoor fatalities each year.
If you're planning to use a boat ramp near you this Memorial Day weekend, expect it to be crowded. Launch etiquette matters. Have your boat prepped before you pull to the ramp. Know the launch procedure cold so you're not the one holding up a line of trailers on the busiest boating weekend of the year.
First Time on the Water? Here's Where to Start
If you've recently purchased a boat — or you've been using a boat finance calculator and are about to make that jump — take a boating safety course before your first launch. The NMMA's Safe Boating Campaign lists accredited courses that will give you the foundational knowledge to keep yourself and your passengers safe. Many states require certification for operators under a certain age anyway — even if yours doesn't, get certified.
Enjoy the water this Memorial Day weekend. Wear the life jacket. Check the weather. Come home safe.
