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There are many Marine laws. Here are a few of the ones most boaters need to know. for more information contact www.michigan.gov/dnr or www.uscgboating.org/.Please remember these laws are for your and others boaters safety.

Remember Boating safety classes required for some opertions Click for info.

Or on line boating safety classes. Click for info

 

Life Jackets | Personal Water Craft | High Speed Boating | Water Skiing and Towing | Counter-Clockwise Operation | Registration Numbers | Who May Operate

 

Life Jackets (Personal Floation Device - PFD)

  • There must be a least one USCG approved lPFD of the proper size for each person on board the boat.
  • They must be readily available, not stored in a container.
  • If the boat is over 16 feet long there must be a USCG approved thype IV throwable device on board. This is usually a cushion or ring buoy.
  • Any child under 6 years of age must wear a PFD when riding on the open arear of a boat.

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PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC)

  • A PWC is defined as a vessel you ride on rather than in.
  • If you were born after December 31, 1978 you must have a Boating Safety Certificate to operate a PWC.
  • You must wear a PFD. If towing a person they must also wear a PFD.
  • You may not use an inflatable PFD.
  • The ignation safety switch lanyard must be attached to the operator.
  • A PWC may operate from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.
  • If crossing the wake of another vessel you must stay at least 150 feet from the vessel unless it is another PWC.
     
  • Beginning October 1, 2011, a person under the age of 16 shall not operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this state unless the person is not less than 14 years of age and 1 of the following circumstances applies:
    (a)
    The person is riding the personal watercraft with his or her parent or guardian or an individual 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or guardian.
    (b)
    The person is operating or riding a personal watercraft at a distance of not more than 100 feet from his or her parent or guardian or an individual 21 years of age or older designated by the parent or guardian.

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HIGH SPEED BOATING

  • Because of local laws adopted by the State of Michigan in November 1977, high speed boating is allowed on Hardwood Lake between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. eastern Daylight Savings Time.
  • High speed boating is defined as the boat being on plane.

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WATER SKIING AND TOWING

  • State law allows water skiing and towing behind a boat to be conducted between between one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. Because of local laws higs speed towing and skiing is restricted to the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. (See High Speed Boating)
  • The person being towed must stay 100 feet away from a moured or anchored vessel, a dock or raft, a marked swimming area or a swimmer.
  • In addition to the operator you must have a person on board the towing vessel observing the towed person at all times.

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COUNTER-CLOCKWISE OPERATION

  • All vessels should operate in a counter-clockwise insofar as possible.

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REGISTRATION NUMBERS

  • Numbers must be applied to both sides of the bow as high above the waterline as practicle.
  • Numbers must read from left to right.
  • Numbers must at least three-inch-high block letters and contrast with the background.
  • Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen for example MC 3717 ZW or MC-3717-ZW
  • The validation decal must must be on each side and placed three inches after the last character of the registration number.
  • Decals expire on March 31 of the year on the decal. For example if the decal has 11 on it like the one below then the decal expires March 31, 2011.

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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 6 horspower (HP) without restrictions.
    • May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 horspower but no more than 35 HPonly if they are directly supervised by a person at least 16 years of age.
    • May not legally operate a boat
  • Those 12 to 15 years of age:
    • May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 HP without restrictions.
    • May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 horspower only if they:
    • Have passed a boating safety class approved by the DNR and have onboard their boating safety certificate or are accompied onboard by a person at least 16 years of age.
  • Those 16 years of age or older:
    • May operate any boat on the water of Michigan.

 

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Hardwood Lake Property Owners Association
Prescott, Michigan
Established October 23, 1975

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This site last updated 9/12/2023

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