The safety story this data tells
Ranked by what actually goes wrong here
These are ordered by St. Johns 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
Give docks, bridges, and pilings room
39% of the reports here (89 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
Respect airboat speed and blind spots
11% of the reports here (25 accidents, 5.3x the statewide rate) involve airboats, which are fast, loud, and slow to stop with wide blind spots. Keep clear of airboat trails, and if you run one, ease into blind curves in the marsh and rim canals.
From the incident reports
Hold to the manatee slow zones
3% of the reports here (8 accidents, 3.0x 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
Give tournament mornings extra room
2% of the reports here (5 accidents, 2.5x the statewide rate) mention fishing tournaments. Launch and weigh-in runs pack the ramps and channels with fast boats at first light. Expect converging traffic and keep your speed sane in the low sun.
From the incident reports
Wear the life jacket
Drowning accounts for 16 of the deaths recorded here, and 94% 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.
