SOURCE: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Boating Statistics, 2006; available at: http://www.uscgboating.org as of Mar. 24, 2008.
Approximately 70% of all fatal boating accident victims drowned (474 out of 692). Moreover, 89% of the victims who drowned were not wearing their personal flotation device (PFD or lifejacket), up from 86% in 2000 and 88% in 2005.