Boat Survey - Mail

OMB No. 1625-0089
Expiration 06/30/2013

National Recreational
Boating Survey

United States Coast Guard Division of Boating Safety

The United States Coast Guard is legislated to collect boating safety data under U.S. Code
46, Chapter 131. The research has been approved by the U.S. Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), Approval Number 1625-0089, expiring on 6/30/13. Without this number,
we could not conduct this survey. Your participation is completely voluntary. The time
required to complete this information collection is less than 15 minutes, including the time
to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete
and review the information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or
any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this
burden, to Dr. Philippe Gwet, Mathematical Statistician, US Coast Guard CG-5422,
2100 Second St. SW, Washington, DC 20593.

OMB NO. 1625-0089
EXPIRES: MM/DD/YYYY

Privacy Act Notice
Authority: A National Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) program requirement as set
forth in Title 46, United States Code, § 13101, is to “encourage greater State participation
and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the States to assume
the greater share of boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities”.
Purpose: As coordinator of the National RBS program, the Coast Guard provides
support for safety initiatives in every jurisdiction (States and Territories) by making
available timely, relevant information on boating activities that occur in each respective
jurisdiction. Working in partnership with State Boating Law Administrators (BLAs), the
boating information provided by the Coast Guard enables each State agency to tailor and
implement safety initiatives that address the needs of boaters in each respective jurisdiction.

Routine Uses: Statistical data only and not personally identifiable information will be
used by and disclosed to Coast Guard personnel and contractors or other agents who need
the information to assist in the promotion of safe boating practices in America.
Additionally, the Coast Guard may share statistical data with its boating partners from the
industry and academia. Personal data will neither be used internally by the Coast Guard,
nor be transmitted to any third party.
Disclosure: Providing this information is completely voluntary and failure to answer any
question will not result in any penalty or loss of benefits.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement:
The United States Coast Guard is legislated to collect boating safety data under U.S.
Code 46, Chapter 131. The research has been approved by the U.S. Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), Approval Number 1625-0089, expiring on 6/30/13.
Without this number, we could not conduct this survey. Your participation is completely
voluntary. The time required to complete this information collection is less than 15
minutes, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather
the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Dr. Philippe Gwet, Mathematical
Statistician, US Coast Guard CG-5422, 2100 Second St. SW, Washington, DC 20593.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q
A
Q
A
Q
A
What is the survey’s purpose?

The primary purpose of the survey is to gather information about the boats you own.
Who is sponsoring the survey?

The survey is being sponsored by the United States Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety.
ICF Macro is a research company conducting the study on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Why is the survey important?

This survey provides the U.S. Coast Guard with the data needed for the Boating Safety
Program legislated under U.S. Code 46, Chapter 131. It helps the U.S. Coast Guard to support
your state in tailoring safety initiatives that address specific needs of boaters in your area.

Q
A
Q
A
Q
A
Q
A

How do I know my information will be kept confidential?
Nothing is ever reported in any way that can identify you.Your personal information will
be kept separate from the survey data. Your answers are combined with the answers of
everyone else. Results are only reported in group form.
How did you get my information?
We received your information from a list of registered boat owners in your state. You were
randomly selected from this list to represent other registered boat owners like you.
What will the results be used for?
This survey will help monitor boating safety efforts to aid in reducing the number of boating
fatalities and injuries, and property damage associated with boat use. It will help the U.S.
Coast Guard and other boating organizations to assess boating needs, forecast boater
participation, and develop policies and regulations that enhance the quality (e.g., safety,
environmental protection) and sustainability of boating. The survey will also permit states to
create more effective programs.
How do I know this survey is legitimate?
The OMB approval number for this project is 1625-0089 expiring on June 30, 2013. We cannot
conduct this survey without this federally mandated approval number. Your participation in
this survey is completely voluntary, and you can choose not to participate or not answer
any individual question. If you have any questions, our contact information is provided in the
introduction letter for this survey.

About Your Boats
1. In the following table, please describe the 16' to 20' powerboat mentioned in the introduction letter, as
well as the four (4) longest boats owned by members of your household in 2011.
Recreational Boat

Registration

Do you still Have you used
own this
the boat for
boat?
making money
in 2011?*

Is the boat
registered
in the U.S. or
Puerto Rico?

Boat Attributes

Is the boat
State of
Length
documented
registration? in feet
with the U.S.
Coast Guard?**

16' to 20'
powerboat
in letter

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Boat 1

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Boat 2

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Boat 3

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Boat 4

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Type***
(see list
below)

* For example, making money from guided tours or commercial fishing.
** 
“Documented” means the boat is recorded with the U.S. Coast Guard. Only some very large boats
are documented with the U.S. Coast Guard.
*** Please use the boat types listed below to describe the boats in the “Type” column.
Powerboats
CM
OM
PB
HB
JB
AB

Cabin Motorboat
Open Motorboat
Pontoon Boat
Houseboat
Jet Boat
Airboat

Other Boats

Sailboats
AS Auxiliary Motor Sail
SO Sail Only
Personal Watercraft
JS

CN Canoe
KY Kayak
RB Rowboat

Jetski

Boat Details
As noted in the introduction, please refer to your 16'–20' powerboat when answering the following questions.
2. Do you still own this boat?
1o

Yes

GO TO QUESTION 3 ON NEXT PAGE

2o

No

CONTINUE TO QUESTION 2a

2a. If you no longer own this boat, what happened to it?

o I never owned that boat
2 o I sold or gave away the boat
3 o Something else (Please explain): ____________________________________________________
1

2b. Since you no longer own the 16'-20' powerboat, we would like you to describe another
recreational boat you currently own. Which of the recreational boats in Question 1 did
you most recently use? (Please refer to this boat when answering the remaining questions.)

1

o Boat 1 2 o Boat 2

3

o Boat 3

4

o Boat 4

5

o I do not own any other boats.

Thank you! If you do not own any boats, then you have completed the
survey. Please return this survey in the postage-paid envelope provided.

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3. What is the model year of this boat?
4. When this boat was purchased, was it new or used?
1

o

New

2

o

Used

5. Of what primary material is the hull of this boat constructed? (Check one)
1

o Fiberglass

2

o Wood

o Aluminum
4 o Steel
3
5

o Rigid Hull Inflatable

6

o Carbon Fiber

7

o Rubber

8

o Vinyl

9

o Canvas

10 o Something else (Please explain): _______________________________________________________

6. What is the primary means of propulsion of this boat? Is it…
1

o Propeller

2

o Sail

3

o Water Jet

4

o Human-Powered (For example: oars, paddles, pedals)

5

o Air Thrust

7. Does this boat have a motor?
1

o Yes

CONTINUE TO QUESTION 7a

2

o No

GO TO QUESTION 8 ON NEXT PAGE

If the boat has a motor:
7a. Which type of motor or engine powers the boat?
Check all that apply. Do not include trolling motors.
1 o

Outboard Motor

2 o

Inboard/Outboard Engine Sterndriver

3 o

Inboard Engine

7b. How many engines or motors power this boat? (Enter number): ________
7c. W
 hat is the total horsepower of the engines or motors that power this
boat? _____________

For example: If that boat has twin 25 horsepower engines, its total horsepower is 50.

7d. Which type(s) of fuel is/are used in this boat’s primary engine? Check all that apply.
1 o

Gasoline

3

o Electric

2 o

Diesel

4

o Other Fuel (Specify): __________________

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Boat Operation
8. Are you the primary operator of this boat?
1 o

Yes

2 o

No

9. Have you ever taken a boat safety course?
1

o Yes

2

o No

10. How experienced in the operation of this boat are you?
1

o Very Experienced

2

o Somewhat Experienced

3

o Somewhat Inexperienced

4

o Very Inexperienced

Boat Storage
11. Do you or someone from your household intend to take the boat out on the water during 2012?
1

o Yes

2

o No

12. Where is this boat kept during the primary boating season?
1

o On Water

2

o On Land

13. Was the boat transported or trailered for the purpose of launching it in 2011?
1

o Yes

2

o No

14. Was this boat used outside the state of where it was kept in 2011?
1

o Yes

2

o No

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Boat Expenditures
The next questions are about money you spent on this boat in 2011.
15. Did anyone in the household buy this boat new in 2011?
1

o Yes
CONTINUE TO QUESTION 15a

2

o No

15a. How much did the boat cost?
$

,

.00

16. Do you have a monthly loan payment for this boat?
1

o Yes
CONTINUE TO QUESTION 16a

2

o No

16a. How much do you pay monthly for the boat,

including principal and interest?

$
,
.00

17. For each of the following items, please list how much, if any, you have already spent from January 1, 2011
until today and how much you plan to spend from tomorrow until December 31, 2011.
If you did not have any expenses for a particular item, please fill in zeros.

Amount Already
Spent in 2011

Expenses

(January 1, 2011
through today)

Storage

Amount You
Anticipate to Spend
in 2011
(Tomorrow through
December 31, 2011)

A

(slip rental fees, dry stack, winter storage, and
self-storage rental)

$

$

B

Insurance for liability, theft, fire

$

$

C

Taxes on the boat

$

$

D

New motors and trailers

$

$

E

Pre-owned and rented motors and trailers

$

$

F

Services performed by others such as boat maintenance,
repairs, or installation of new products

$

$

$

$

Other things, including boating-related clothing, fishing
equipment, navigation charts, safety-related equipment, and $
water sports equipment

$

(upgrades performed by others, including labor and parts)

G

H

Products, parts, supplies, and accessories you
purchased directly

(to be installed or used on the boat or trailer, including electronics
and navigation, parts, docking and anchors, paint and maintenance
supplies, hardware, sail supplies, trailer parts, etc.)

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Telephone Use
18. Do you have a landline telephone in your home that is used to make and receive calls?
1 o Yes

CONTINUE TO QUESTION 18a

2 o No

19. Do you personally use a cell phone?

18a. Not including business or work numbers,
how many landline telephone lines do you
have in your home? ____

1 o Yes
2 o No

20. If you have both a landline and cell phone, please answer the following question:

Of all the telephone calls that you receive, are…
1 o All or almost all calls received on cell phones
2 o Some received on cell phones and some on regular phones
3 o Very few or none on cell phones

Follow-up Survey
21. The U.S. Coast Guard is interested in learning more about how boats are used and boating safety.
Your personal experiences on this boat can help.

Can we contact you next year to conduct very short surveys about this boat?
1 o
Yes
CONTINUE TO QUESTION 22
2 o
No Thank you! You have completed the survey. Please return this survey in the postage-paid envelope

provided.

22. W
 e will contact you 2 to 4 times in the coming year to ask you a few questions about this boat. The surveys
will take about 10 minutes and, because we appreciate your help, you will be compensated with $5 for each
completed survey. Participation is completely voluntary and your responses are completely confidential.
To participate, please provide your contact information. (Please print)
Name
Mailing Address
City
State
ZIP
Phone (

)

Email
23. Would you prefer to complete the surveys via Internet or by telephone?

1 o

Internet

2 o

Telephone

Thank you! You have completed the survey.

Please return this survey in the postage-paid envelope provided to:
National Recreational Boating Survey
c/o ICF Macro
126 College Street
Burlington, VT 05401
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