Lake James Property Owners Association, Inc.

Boating Safety

State of Michigan / Lake James Boating Regulations

YOUR VESSELS'S CAPACITY - Never take a vessel on the water with too many people or gear onboard. To prevent your vessel from swamping always adhere to the vessel's maximum capacities as states on the vessel's Maximum Capacity Plate.

NAVIGATION RULES - On the main lake ALWAYS operate your vessel in a counter-clockwise direction. ALWAYS practice good seamanship, keep a sharp lookout and maintain a safe speed on all waters.

NAVIGATION LIGHTS - Vessel operators MUST make sure that their vessels are equipped with the proper navigation lights and are used under proper conditions.

MARKERS AND BUOYS - These are the "traffic signals" that guide vessel operators safely along the waterways. Lake James has (2) key markers that MUST be followed. They are CONTROLLED AREAS, i.e. no wake zones and EXCLUSION AREAS, i.e. swimming and dam zones.

WHO MAY OPERATE A BOAT - Those less than 12 years of age: May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6hp without legal restrictions; May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6hp but no more than 35hp only if they are directly supervised by a person at least 16 years of age; May not legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 hp under any conditions.
Those 12 to 15 years of age: May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6hp without restrictions; May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6hp only if they have passed the DNR boating safety course and have onboard their boating safety certificate OR are accompanied by a person of at least 16 years of age.
Those 16 years of age or older: May operate any boat on the waters of Michigan.

WHO MAY OPERATE A PWC - Those less than 12 years of age: NO one under the age of 12 years may legally operate a PWC.
Those 12 and 13 years of age: A person who is 12 or more and less than 14 years may operate a PWC only if he or she obtained a boating safety certificate prior to January 1, 1999, or ...All of the following conditions are satisfied: The person is accompanied solely by their parent or legal guardian. Both the person and the parent/legal guardian have obtained a boating safety certificate. The PWC is equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch and the parent/legal guardian has the lanyard attached to their person. The PWC is designed to carry at least (2) persons.
Those 14 years of age or older: A person born after December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC only if they have obtained a boating safety certificate. Those born December 31, 1978, or earlier may operate a PWC without restrictions.

UNLAWFUL AND DANGEROUS OPERATION OF A VESSEL - (Including PWC)
RECKLESS operation of a vessel, weaving your vessel through congested waterway traffic, jumping the wake of another vessel, chasing, harassing or disturbing wildlife. FAILURE to operate your vessel at speeds that may cause danger to the life or property of any other person. OPERATE a vessel at greater than SLOW - NO WAKE SPEED if any person is in the bow of a vessel without proper seating. OPERATE a vessel faster than reasonable under the conditions of weather, vessel traffic, i.e. IMPROPER distance is within 100 feet of the shoreline (if operating in water less than 3 feet deep), any moored or anchored vessel, a dock or raft, any marked swimming area. BOATING in the bow is illegal if the vessel is not equipped with bow seating.

PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICES - All vessels must be equipped with approved life jackets. The quantity and type depends on the length of the vessel and number of people onboard and/or being towed.

REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO PWC - In addition to adhering to all boating laws, PWC operators have requirements specific to their watercraft.
EACH person riding on or being towed behind a PWC must wear the approved U.S. Coast Guard life jacket. IT is illegal to operate a PWC between one hour before sunset and 8:00am. THE PWC must be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner at all times

TOWING A PERSON LEGALLY WITH A VESSEL - It is illegal to tow skiers, tubes, or any device of this type between: ONE hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise if towed behind a boat, OR one hour before sunset and 8:00am if towed behind a PWC. PERSONS being towed must stay at least 100 feet away from any moored or anchored vessel, dock, or raft. EVERY vessel towing persons must have a person, in addition to the vessel operator, observing the towed person(s) at all times.

RESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHERS "YOU" ALLOW TO OPERATE YOUR VESSEL - You should ALWAYS make sure that anyone operating your vessel understands their responsibilities as a driver. PLEASE be aware that if YOUR VESSEL is ticketed you are responsible and this action will go against your boating record.

The above Boating/PWC Regulations are extractions from the State of Michigan Boating Regulations. For all the Boating Regulations and further details see the DNR published Boating Laws Handbook or go to their website www.michigan.gov/dnr.

A PERSONAL REQUEST TO ALL LAKE JAMES RESIDENTS

We need to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species like zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil between other lakes and Lake James. To help prevent spreading nuisance species please take the time to (1) rinse your boat and trailer before launching, and (2) air dry your boat for as long as possible.

Did you know the decomposing time of the following?

Please boat responsibly and enjoy Lake James to its fullest. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful water resource, so let's keep it that way for now and the generations yet to come.

The Lake James Marine Safety Patrol thanks you for your support.

Revised Tuesday April 15, 2008 4:10 PM