The safety story this data tells
Ranked by what actually goes wrong here
These are ordered by Indian River's own events and the circumstances that recur in its incident narratives, starting with the one the data says matters most. They map to what the Recademics Florida course teaches.
The strongest signal here
Keep people in the boat
20% of the reports here (34 accidents) involve someone going overboard, being ejected, or falling inside the boat. Seat everyone below planing speed, kill the engine before anyone moves to the gunwale, and clip on the cut-off lanyard.
From the incident reports
Hold to the manatee slow zones
5% of the reports here (8 accidents, 4.0x the statewide rate) mention manatees or wildlife. Honor the posted slow-speed zones, wear polarized glasses to spot animals, and idle through the grass flats where they feed.
From the incident reports
Run the markers, especially in low light
15% of the reports here (25 accidents, 2.0x the statewide rate) mention channel markers or navigation aids. Learn the local buoyage before you launch, keep red markers to the correct side coming in from open water, and slow where the channel narrows.
From the incident reports
Give docks, bridges, and pilings room
47% of the reports here (81 accidents) involve striking a fixed object like a dock, bridge, piling, or seawall. Approach structures at idle, account for current setting you sideways, and never cut a blind turn near a bridge.
From the incident reports
Wear the life jacket
Drowning accounts for 13 of the deaths recorded here, and 77% of those victims were not wearing a life jacket. A life jacket only works worn. Florida requires every child under 6 to wear one on a vessel under 26 feet underway, and one wearable PFD for every person aboard.
