BOATERS SAFETY

Boaters safety is something that we all need to understand as well as teach our children. Most people, unless they have done some research, don't know what the Michigan marine laws are and quite frankly if someone gets hurt while they are enjoying the lake it can be tragic and can be life altering.

Here is a link to an online course that you and/or your children can take. It is $29.50 to take the course. Upon completion the student will receive a certificate card. As a reminder, "any motorized boat operator born after June 30, 1996, is required by law to pass a boater safety course and to carry a boater education card. In addition, boater education is also required for all PWC (Personal Water Craft) operators born after December 31, 1978." The web address for this class is www.boat-ed.com/michigan/

A few highlights:

• SLOW NO WAKE means no wake within 100 feet of shoreline, any watercraft, pier, person, raft, swimming area, and swimmers.
  
• SLOW NO WAKE zone means operating at a very slow speed in order to minimize the wake created by your vessel.
  
• No water skiing between one hour after sunset and one hour prior to sunrise.
  
• Children under 12 must be under the direct supervision of a person 16 years of age or older.
  
• As of October 1, 2011 a person of less than 14 years of age may not legally operate a personal watercraft under any circumstances.
  
• A person who was born after December 31, 1978 shall not operate a personal watercraft on Michigan waters unless they have obtained a boating safety certificate.
  
• The distance from a scuba diver should be 200 feet of a buoyed diver's flag unless it is involved in tendering the diving operation. A person diving shall stay within a surface area of a diver's flag....yes, we have at least one regular diver.
• Do not allow anyone to ride in the front of the pontoon.
  
• Improper distance: operating above slow, no wake speed at anything less than 100 ft (of other vessels, including persons being towed, rafts, docks, shoreline).
  
• A person shall not launch or transport watercraft unless they are free of aquatic organisms including plants.
  
• Michigan law requires anyone under the age of 6 to wear a type 1 or type 2 Personal Floatation Device (PFD) when riding on the deck of a boat while underway (type 1 and type 2 PFD have a neck support flap on the back).
  

For a full list of the Michigan Marine laws please click on the link below.