Alaska Boating Safety Program

05/28/2026

We had the pleasure of hosting the Western States Boating Administrators Association's annual workshop in Seward last week. Boating safety professionals from across the west gathered in Seward to share updates, learn from each other, and discuss challenges.

One of the highlights of the week was the awards ceremony. WSBAA honored several groups and individuals with different awards, which came with a beautifully handmade ceramic bowl by the incredible Alaskan Dry Creek Studio! Now each awardee gets to take home an incredible souvenir to remember their time in Alaska.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and their families.

If you're spending time on the water today, please do your part to keep yourself and others safe by following some safe boating practices like wearing a life jacket, carrying emergency communication tools on your person, checking the weather, and avoiding alcohol while boating.

Stay safe out there!

05/22/2026

We hope you all have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend!

If you're getting out on the water, make sure to wear your life jacket, file a float plan, carry emergency communication devices on your person, save the alcohol for when you're back on shore, and use your engine cutoff device. Let's get this summer started off right!

05/20/2026

In a 2017 Boater Safety Survey, more than 68% of Alaskan boaters who had a loved one encourage them to wear a life jacket said they committed to wearing a life jacket as a result of that encouragement.

Speak up and set an example for those around you. Friends don't let friends go boating without a life jacket.

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

This is Tilly. She wants to know if you might possibly show her a picture of your dog wearing a life jacket so she can know if she's doing it right. Drop your pictures in the comments!

05/18/2026

In case you missed our post last week, there is still time to sign up for our first Cold Water Paddling class of the summer. This free class will be held from 6-9pm at the Palmer Pool on May 28.

This is a great chance to practice some critical paddling skills, like getting back into your boat after capsizing or helping someone else reboard their boat, in the safe, controlled environment of the pool before you ever have to attempt it in real life. We will be using canoes, kayaks, and standup paddleboards, so if you've been thinking of purchasing one, this is an opportunity to see some different models and try them out.

Spots are limited and registration is required. Sign up by emailing [email protected] before it fills up!

05/17/2026

The Kids Don’t Float Program began back in 1996 when Bob Painter, then the Assistant Fire Chief of the Homer Fire Department (HVFD), was awarded a grant for the Kids Don’t Float (KDF) Project. This project involved life jacket loaner boards and water safety education in a collaborative effort between HVFD, Homer Safe Kids, the U.S. Coast Guar Auxiliary, and the Homer School District. Beginning in the spring of 1996, 15 loaner boards were erected in communities around Kachemak Bay.

Today, there are more than 600 life jacket loaner boards across the state. To date, more than 35 lives have been saved in part due to a life jacket from one of these loaner boards. Each board has a local sponsor. While we organize the program, it could never exist without the help of countless Alaskan individuals, businesses, and organizations who help us keep it running.

To those who have sponsored and supported this program over the years—thank you! Check out AlaskaBoatingSafety.org to learn more.

05/16/2026

Hear ye, hear ye! Today marks the beginning of National Safe Boating Week, and our Governor has declared it Safe Boating Week in Alaska, as you can read in this executive proclamation.

Boating is an integral part of life for many Alaskans. We are hard at work, with the help of many incredible partner organizations, businesses, and volunteers, providing boating safety education and information to Alaskans. Follow along this week as we post about free education opportunities, give some boating safety tips, and highlight some of our current efforts and programs.

02/09/2026

The Boating Skills and Seamanship course offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is an excellent chance to learn new information, refresh information you may already know, and all around prepare yourself for a safe, successful boating season in 2026! Join the Auxiliary on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 17 to April 9 in Anchorage with instructor John Larsen.

Learn more by reading this flyer, or scan the QR code to sign up.