Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Unlawful and Dangerous Operation of a Vessel
Michigan law designates these dangerous operating practices as
illegal.
Reckless Operation of a vessel or reckless manipulation
of water skis, a surfboard, or similar device is defined as operation
which disregards the safety or rights of others or endangers the
person or property of others. Some examples of reckless operation
are:
- Weaving your vessel through congested waterway traffic or
swerving at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision
- Jumping the wake of another
vessel unnecessarily close to the other vessel or when visibility
around the other vessel is restricted
- Chasing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife with your vessel
- Causing damage from the wake of your vessel
Failure To Regulate Speed is defined as operating
a vessel at speeds that may cause danger to the life or property
of any other person or at speeds that will not permit you to bring
your vessel to a safe stop. It is illegal to:
- Operate a vessel in excess of 55 mph unless you are at least
one mile offshore on the Great Lakes or Lake St. Clair.
- Operate a vessel at greater than “slow,
no wake speed” when a person is in the bow of a vessel
without proper seating.
- Operate a vessel faster than is reasonable and prudent under
the conditions (weather, vessel traffic, etc.).
Improper Distance is not maintaining a proper distance while operating a vessel or towing a person. To maintain a proper distance when you are operating at greater than “slow, no wake speed” (except in channels that are not posted), the vessel or persons being towed must not be within 100 feet of:
- A shoreline (if operating in water less than three feet deep)
- Any moored or anchored vessel
- A dock or raft
- Any marked swimming area or person(s) in the water
Improper Distance for PWCs means that, if operating at greater
than “slow, no wake speed,” PWCs also must:
- Stay at least 200 feet from any Great Lakes shoreline.
- Not cross within 150 feet behind another vessel other than
another PWC.
Improper Direction is defined as the failure
to operate in a counterclockwise direction except in areas marked
by well-defined channels or rivers.
Boating in Restricted Areas is defined as operating
within a restricted area clearly marked by buoys, beacons, diver-down
flags, etc.
Riding on Bow is illegal if the vessel is not
equipped with bow seating and the
vessel is operating at greater than “slow, no wake speed.” Persons
also are not allowed to ride on the gunwale.
While underway, persons on a vessel may not sit, stand, or walk
on any portion of a vessel not designed for that purpose.
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