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