NASBLA News

 

The 2026 Annual Report provides an overview of NASBLA’s work across its core programs and initiatives, including the Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program, policy committees and task forces, recreational boating safety grant projects, Operation Dry Water, national events, awards and partnerships.

 

“Each year brings a new opportunity to learn, grow and adapt to the changes and challenges of the world in which we operate,” said Thomas E. Guess, NASBLA chief executive officer. “This past year, we have worked diligently to advance the mission of our association through the development of a new strategic plan. This plan gives us a clearer mission, vision and values, along with a way forward for the coming years.”

 

Among the accomplishments highlighted in this year’s report is the development of NASBLA’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, which establishes a roadmap to guide the association’s priorities and initiatives over the next five years. NASBLA also streamlined its boating education course review process, renewed its Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard and launched the BOAT Program’s National Readiness Database, a centralized credentialing platform designed to strengthen maritime operational readiness.

 

Other key achievements include the publication of the ANSI/NASBLA 1200-2026 K-12 Personal Flotation Device Education Standard; the release of the Presenter’s Guide to Paddlesport Safety – Kayak; the development of a Waterway Management Resource Library with nearly 100 resources; and expanded collaboration between the BOAT Program and Operation Dry Water to provide specialized boating under the influence training in advance of the national heightened awareness and enforcement weekend.

 

The report also highlights continued growth and modernization within the BOAT Program. During federal fiscal year 2026, the program expanded its partnerships with the U.S. Coast Guard, modernized several national training curricula and launched the National Readiness Database. The new platform provides a centralized system for tracking individual qualifications, instructor credentials, training currency and organizational capabilities across the BOAT Program.

 

NASBLA’s policy committees, panel and task force also advanced numerous initiatives throughout the year. These efforts included work to modernize vessel registration and titling practices, strengthen boating education and enforcement resources, support state recreational boating safety grant administration, advance paddlesports safety and contribute to the modernization of the Boating Accident Report Database.

 

Leadership development remained an important focus in 2026. NASBLA hosted the RBS Leadership Academy in Lexington, Kentucky, with 23 participants completing the program. The association also reestablished the Certified Recreational Boating Professional Commission to update the CRBP course, process and study materials and support the continued development of recreational boating safety professionals.

 

The 2026 NASBLA Annual Report offers a comprehensive look at the programs, partnerships and people supporting NASBLA’s mission and demonstrates how the association continues to bring together recreational boating safety professionals across the country to promote safe, enjoyable and secure boating.

 

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The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that develops public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of the U.S. states and territories.

  

We offer a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards, publications and more. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, we affect the lives of over 85 million American boaters.