Boating Safety Information

Wear your PFD If you are properly prepared for safe boating with good current information and have the proper equipment which you may need aboard, then you will have an enjoyable and safe trip. Here is some helpful information for all boaters:

Coast Guard Publishes the latest Boating Statistics Report. Please Click Here

Hurrican Wind Scale

General Information

MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO USE CAUTION WHILE TRANSITING THROUGH THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. RIGHT WHALES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ENCOUNTERED OFFSHORE THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND MARINERS ARE ADVISED TO KEEP A 500 YARD DISTANCE FROM NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE. ALL VESSELS SHALL INCORPORATE THE APPROACH GUIDANCE OF 500 YARDS.

National Hurricane Center

Before You Go Boating - Checklist

Rip Current Tips

Float Plan Form

Emergency Preparedness Checklist

A Boater's Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats and Safety Tips

Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook (202 pages in pdf)

U.S. Aids To Navigation System

U.S. Aids To Navigation System Brochure

Light List, Volume II, Atlantic Coast, Shrewsbury River, New Jersey to Little River, South Carolina

VSC 2024 Decal Personal Watercraft Law

Sample Waste Management Plans

Environmental Stressors Video

Recreational Boating Accident Report Form

Paddlecraft Safety Given the increased focus on paddle sports; this link will take you to a set of videos, you may find instructive." Click Here

Local & State Information:

For local charts, please click "Our Waterways" in the left tab

Vessel Operator's Guide for comprehensive instructions and requirements on operating a boat or other watercraft in North Carolina

NC Boating Checklist

N.C State Maps, Boat Registration, Fishing License Information and Publications

N.C. Department of Marine Fisheries

Local Buoy and Weather Data

Current National Weather Service Marine Weather

Current NOAA Weather Forecast

Local Tide Tables

Find a State Boating Access Site

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness for Flooding and Hurricanes

Hurricane Disaster Information

Sector NC terms for Hurricane Conditions

Reporting a Boating Accident - For NC Accident Report for accidents within three miles of the NC Coast, call the NC Wildlife Dispatch Center, 800-662-7137.

Use these colorful reminders below to aid you in navigating our waterways.

Brown, Brown, Run Aground: Bottom formations that grow close to the water’s surface and shallow aquatic grass beds will make the water appear brown. Such areas should be avoided to keep from running aground and damaging both your boat and these sensitive habitats.

White, White, You Might: Sandbars and shallow rubble areas appear white. These areas can be deceiving and may be much shallower than they appear. Navigate with caution around these areas.

Green, Green Nice and Clean: Green water usual indicates areas free of shallow areas or aquatic grass beds. Navigation of small, shallow draft boats in these areas is generally safe. However, larger shallow draft boats should exercise caution. All boaters should carry and consult current and corrected copies of appropriate marine charts.

Blue, Blue, Cruise on Through: Deep-water areas, such as the ocean side of a reef, may appear blue. Navigation in these areas is free from hazardous contact with reefs or aquatic grass beds. Remember, however, that reefs and rocks rise abruptly from deep water, so give yourself plenty of room to maneuver.

NOTICE/DISCLAIMER: Links to non-Coast Guard entities are not under the control of the United States Coast Guard or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and are provided for the convenience of our customers. They do not, in any way, constitute an endorsement of the linked pages or any commercial or private issues or products presented there. We cannot make any warranty or representation concerning the content of these sites, or secondary sites from the pages to which they link.

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Boating Safety Information

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