National Safe Boating Council

10/13/2026

We’re not ready to call it a season just yet!
The temperatures may be dropping and the days are getting shorter, but there’s still time to squeeze in a little more adventure on the water.
So grab your layers, wear your life jacket, and make the most of these last beautiful days of boating.
Winterizing the boat? Yeah… we’ll get to that.

10/12/2026

The best hunting stories are the ones you come home to tell. 🦆
Early mornings. Cold air. The anticipation of another day on the water. Duck hunting season is here, and being prepared means more than having the right gear for the hunt.
Before you head out, make sure your life jacket is part of that preparation.
Here’s to early mornings, great hunts, and making it home with another story to tell.
Adventure Ready. Wear It.
LifeJacketsSaveLives
Peg Phillips Four W’s Fishing Team Ken Waldron | Filmmaker + Photographer Cabela's Ducks Unlimited

10/11/2026

Who says October means the end of boating season?
Cooler air, fewer crowds, and a whole new kind of adventure waiting on the water.
Just remember to dress for the conditions! Layer up, check the water temperature, and always wear your life jacket over your clothing, never underneath.
A little preparation goes a long way toward keeping the adventure going.
Because some of the best days on the water happen after summer ends.

THE BOAT BOSS Kim Sweers Capt. Mark Hotze Freedom Boat Club of Tampa Bay Fliteboard - The world’s most awarded eFoil Peg Phillips

10/10/2026

Looking for a wireless alternative to the traditional engine cutoff switch lanyard? CoastKey offers freedom of movement with overboard protection, plus the convenience of keyless ignition and remote engine start and stop.

Safety and convenience, all in one system. Endorsed by the National Safe Boating Council. CoastKey

GOOD PEOPLE. GREAT PARTNERSHIPS. ONE IMPORTANT MISSION. 🇺🇸🇳🇴🌎🚤

Always great to see Capt. Peg Phillips, Executive Director of the National Safe Boating Council, at IBEX!

CoastKey and NSBC have worked together for many years, sharing the same goal: making boating safer.

For us, that mission has been at the heart of CoastKey for 20+ years — developing wireless safety technology designed to help protect boaters when it matters most.

Proud to have NSBC as part of the CoastKey journey.

Safety first. Always.

Peg Phillips
National Safe Boating Council

10/10/2026

Ready to go for Gold?
Florida’s Enhanced Recreational Boating Safety Certificate recognizes boaters who take their boating education one step further, combining classroom knowledge with real-world, on-water skills.
Earning your Gold Card takes just two steps:
✅ Complete a NASBLA and Florida-approved boating safety course.
✅ Complete a verified on-water boating skills course.
Once you’ve completed both requirements, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will mail you your official Gold Card.
More knowledge. More confidence. Better boating.

Capt. Mark Hotze Peg Phillips NASBLA MyFWC Life

10/09/2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the path of Hurricane Isaias as communities prepare for flooding, powerful winds, and storm surge. Please stay safe and look out for one another during these challenging conditions.

A reminder to our paddling community: Flooded streets and neighborhoods are not safe places to paddle. Rising water can conceal dangerous currents, submerged debris, downed power lines, and displaced wildlife - hazards that may not be visible until it’s too late.

Follow local evacuation instructions and weather alerts, and avoid all on-water activities when conditions are unsafe. Staying off the water helps protect not only you and your loved ones, but also the first responders who may otherwise be called to assist.

Stay safe.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center | The Weather Channel

10/08/2026

The National Safe Boating Council mourns the loss of Frederick “Fred” Frank Messmann, a longtime leader and friend whose life was dedicated to service, boating safety, and helping others.

Fred served as deputy director of the National Safe Boating Council under former executive director Virgil Chambers following a distinguished 28-year career with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. During his years with the NSBC, Fred played a key role in numerous boating safety initiatives and programs, including the International Boating and Water Safety Summit, Navigation Rules education, life jacket wear education, emergency locator beacon awareness, and survivor engagement.

A member of the National Safe Boating Council Hall of Fame, Fred’s contributions to the boating safety community were recognized with numerous honors, including the U.S. Coast Guard Partnering with Pride Award and the NASBLA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Fred was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and spending time on the water with his family and lifelong friends.

We are grateful for Fred’s years of service, his friendship, and the lasting impact he made on boating safety. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Anabella, his family, friends, and the many members of the boating safety community who had the privilege of knowing him.

10/07/2026

October has a way of making you want to stay out just a little longer.
Cooler air. Quieter water. Golden light.
Some views are worth capturing. Others are worth paddling into.
Adventure Ready. Wear it.

Peg Phillips THE BOAT BOSS Kim Sweers Ken Waldron | Filmmaker + Photographer

10/07/2026

Stock up on materials and gear — brochures, stickers, life jackets, and more available in-store:
https://www.safeboatingcouncil.org/shop/

10/06/2026

The National Safe Boating Council was proud to present Pinellas County with an award recognizing its commitment and dedication to recreational boating safety.

This summer, the NSBC certified 28 Pinellas County first responders as powerboat instructors, strengthening the county’s ability to provide consistent, hands-on training for personnel operating on the water.

NSBC Executive Director and Instructor Trainer Captain Peg Phillips presented the award in recognition of this investment in on-water skills and safety.

Thank you to Pinellas County and its dedicated first responders for helping advance safer boating and save lives.

Pinellas County Government | Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue | Gulfport Fire and Rescue | St. Petersburg Fire Rescue