Minnesota is the safest state in the country for recreational boaters, followed by Wyoming and North Dakota, according to a study conducted by the Web site Bestofboating.com.

The study is based on a comparison of the number of registered boats in each state and the number of reported boating accidents.

All but two of the 10 safest states for recreational boating have mandatory boating education requirements on the books. But only three of the bottom 10 states and Washington, D.C., require formal boating education.

"This study shows that boating education works," said Bob Gonsalves, spokesman for Best ofboating.com. "Although the number of registered boats continues to grow nationally, the number of reported boating accidents has significantly declined due mostly to mandatory boating education requirements."

The survey does not reflect hours of use, which gives states like Wyoming and North Dakota an advantage and penalizes states like California and Florida, Gonsalves said. However, five of the most populated states for recreational boating made the top 10.

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking authority from Congress that would include applying a federal standard of boating safety where no state standard exists. Currently, 44 of 56 U.S. states and territories have some level of operator proficiency standards.

Top 10 Safest States

For Boating

1. Minnesota*

2. Wyoming

3. North Dakota*

4. Iowa*

5. West Virginia*

6. Michigan*

7. Vermont*

8. South Dakota

9. Pennsylvania*

10. Mississippi*

Bottom 10

1.California

2. Florida*

3. Utah

4. Idaho*

5. Maryland*

6. Rhode Island

7. District of Columbia*

8. Alaska

9. Nevada

10. Arizona

* Requires mandatory boating safety education.

Source: Bestofboating.com survey.