Statistics

2023 Summary

There were 9 fatal accidents, involving 9 watercraft, resulting in 9 deaths and no additional injuries. There were no damages to watercraft or other property. There were 1.1 deaths per 100,000 registered watercraft, compared to the U.S. rate of 4.9. All 9 incidents were single watercraft accidents, classified as 5 capsizings, 3 falls overboard and 1 struck by prop (tuber). Six of the deaths involved non-motorized craft (3 canoes, 2 kayaks, 1 paddleboard), and 3 deaths involved open motorboats (19 ft. – 20 ½ ft. long). Three of the incidents occurred in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Six of the 9 watercraft had a single occupant. Eight of the 9 watercraft had life jackets on board, and life jackets were known to be worn by 4 of the 9 victims (44%). The most common victim age range was 61 years and over (3) followed by 13 – 17 years (2) and 18 – 25 years (2). The oldest victim was 71 years old and the youngest was 13 years old. Alcohol was listed as a factor in 1 of the 9 incidents (11%).

Minnesota yearly watercraft & water accident record

Year

Total boating 
fatalities & 
non-boating drownings

Deaths per 
100,000 
population

Drownings 
(non-boating)

Boating 
fatalities

Boating deaths per 
100,000 boats

Non-fatal 
boating accidents

1945

167

5.87

    

1946

159

5.48

    

1947

168

5.74

    

1948

139

4.71

    

1949

153

5.15

    

1950

125

4.19

    

1951

123

4.03

    

1952

108

3.48

    

1953

146

4.63

    

1954

111

3.50

    

1955

123

3.84

    

1956

87

2.68

    

1957

123

3.73

    

1958

130

3.88

    

1959

138

4.06

    

1960

132

3.87

    

1961

135

3.89

78

57

27.00

 

1962

106

3.01

82

24

11.00

 

1963

108

3.05

75

33

16.00

 

1964

115

3.23

73

42

20.00

 

1965

105

2.92

68

37

17.20

 

1966

126

3.49

80

46

19.40

 

1967

120

3.28

64

56

22.20

 

1968

120

3.24

84

36

13.89

 

1969

149

3.97

92

57

21.00

 

1970

116

3.05

70

46

16.00

92

1971

108

2.79

76

32

11.00

109

1972

123

3.17

81

42

10.50

100

1973

134

3.44

81

53

13.00

90

1974

121

3.08

75

46

10.30

71

1975

111

2.83

55

56

12.30

99

1976

101

2.55

59

42

8.30

103

1977

84

2.11

52

32

6.08

106

1978

86

2.15

48

38

7.02

98

1979

93

2.33

68

25

4.43

78

1980

86

2.10

51

35

6.03

92

1981

85

2.08

59

26

4.38

91

1982

92

2.23

59

33

5.41

121

1983

80

1.93

56

24

3.85

107

1984

62

1.49

38

24

3.82

118

1985

56

1.34

31

25

3.87

160

1986

72

1.83

41

31

4.73

151

1987

66

1.58

48

18

2.67

156

1988

74

1.72

51

23

3.33

164

1989

58

1.35

42

16

2.27

190

1990

48

1.14

31

17

2.38

177

1991

55

1.29

38

17

2.35

170

1992

55

1.23

33

22

3.00

139

1993

48

1.06

30

18

2.47

118

1994

50

1.11

31

19

2.57

149

1995

56

1.20

36

20

2.67

138

1996

60

1.28

48

12

1.58

127

1997

54

1.16

33

21

2.73

162

1998

60

1.27

47

13

1.67

154

1999

74

1.55

52

22

2.77

143

2000

65

1.36

45

20

2.46

127

2001

69

1.39

53

16

1.93

129

2002

72

1.44

42

30

3.95

135

2003

49

0.97

32

17

2.01

94

2004

45

.90

30

15

1.76

73

2005

68

1.32

45

23

2.70

93

2006

63

1.22

49

14

1.62

102

2007

41

0.78

26

15

1.73

113

2008

43

0.83

33

12

1.38

77

2009

43

0.82

28

15

1.84

72

2010

46

0.87

34

12

1.47

74

2011

66

0.94

50

16

1.98

67

2012

55

1.02

40

15

1.83

72

2013

43

.80

30

13

1.61

65

2014

43

0.79

29

14

1.73

36

2015

53

0.97

35

18

2.23

71

Back to top