Water Safety in Maine

Maine's lakes, rivers and coast stay cold for much of the year. If you paddle a canoe or kayak, wear your life jacket: the Maine Warden Service says about half of the state's boating deaths involve paddlers who weren't wearing one. Cold water saps strength fast, even for strong swimmers, and a life jacket keeps you afloat until help arrives.

Maine drowning and boating numbers

About half

• Drowning: CDC puts Maine's average annual drowning death rate for 2018-2021 at 1.45 per 100,000 people (opens in a new tab), above the U.S. rate of 1.31.
• Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 29 reportable recreational boating incidents in Maine in 2024, with 3 deaths and 11 injuries (opens in a new tab). Deaths by year: 11 in 2020, 4 in 2021, 9 in 2022, 4 in 2023 and 3 in 2024.
• Coast: NOAA lists 3,478 miles of official shoreline (opens in a new tab) for Maine, following its many bays, islands and tidal rivers.

CDC counts drowning deaths of residents; the Coast Guard counts boating incidents. See our Maine data page.

Paddlers and cold water

The Warden Service says approximately half of Maine's boating deaths involve non-motorized watercraft such as canoes and kayaks with the paddler not wearing a PFD (opens in a new tab), and that even the strongest swimmers lose the ability to stay afloat when immersed in cold water (opens in a new tab) for a while. Wardens stress cooler water temperatures in May, at the start of the season.

Why cold water is so dangerous: the National Weather Service says cold shock can be just as severe in 50-60°F water as in 35°F water (opens in a new tab). The gasp reflex can pull water into your lungs before you can swim a stroke.

• Wear the life jacket. A wardens' line sums it up: a life jacket doesn't help if it is stored under the seat and you're in the water.
• Dress for water temperature, not for air temperature (opens in a new tab).
• Make a float plan. Wardens say to tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back (opens in a new tab).

See kayak and canoe safety and cold water paddling. In winter, read what to do if you fall through ice.

Swimming at Acadia

Acadia National Park has two popular swimming beaches, Sand Beach and Echo Lake Beach, plus a small beach at Lake Wood. Lifeguards are not present at Sand Beach (opens in a new tab). Many other lakes and ponds in the park are public drinking water supplies, where swimming, wading and pets are prohibited. Read the posted signs.

Maine boating rules

• Headway speed: Maine's law requires all motorized watercraft to operate at the minimum speed to maintain steerage while within 200 feet of any shore (including islands) (opens in a new tab). It protects swimmers, boaters and the shoreline.
• Boater education: a person born on or after January 1, 1999 may not operate a motorboat over 25 horsepower unless they are 12 or older and have completed a boater safety course. Since January 1, 2024, a person born on or after that date must also be 16 or older, with the course, to operate a personal watercraft. See Maine boating safety courses (opens in a new tab).
• Children: federal law requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket on a moving boat (opens in a new tab).

This is a summary, not legal advice. Check Maine IF&W before you go.

Official Maine resources

• Maine IF&W boating safety courses (opens in a new tab)
• Warden Service life jacket and headway speed reminder (opens in a new tab)
• Acadia National Park swimming (NPS) (opens in a new tab)

What you can do today

• Make wearing a life jacket the rule for every paddle, every time.
• Check the water temperature before an early-season trip, and dress for it.
• Slow to headway speed within 200 feet of shore and islands.
• Take Maine's boater safety course if you were born in 1999 or later.
• Learn the rescue rule: reach or throw, don't go.