Washington ( CNN ) -- Recreational boating accident deaths are on the rise , the U.S. Coast Guard 's Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety announced in its 2009 Recreational Boating Statistics report Tuesday . The report states that deaths caused by recreational boating accidents have increased by 3.8 percent , with related injuries increasing by 0.8 percent , though the number of accidents actually decreased by 1.2 percent . A total of 4,730 accidents recorded by the Coast Guard in 2009 caused 736 deaths , over 3,300 injuries and about $ 36 million in property damage , according to the report . A number called the fatality rate , which compares the number of annual deaths against the number of registered boats , increased to 5.8 deaths per 100,000 registered boats in 2009 . The top five contributing factors to the accidents included boat operator inattention and inexperience , excessive speed , improper lookout and alcohol consumption . The report states that alcohol consumption `` continues to be of major concern '' in fatal accidents , and was the leading factor in 16 percent of deaths . In addition , a full 86 percent of boat operators involved in fatal accidents had not received boat safety instruction . `` Nearly 75 percent of the 736 people who died in boating accidents in 2009 drowned , and 84 percent of those victims reportedly were not wearing a life jacket , '' said Rear Adm. Kevin Cook , the Coast Guard 's director of prevention policy . `` The two most important things boaters can do to prevent the loss of life is to wear a life jacket and take a boater education course . ''
Fatal accidents for recreational boaters increased by 3.8 percent in 2009 . Inattention , inexperience and alcohol consumption were common contributors to the accidents . Wearing a life jacket and taking boater education classes are good preventative measures , the Coast Guard says .