When we talk about the rules of boating, you should have the license and PFD, you should check the weather before you go sailing, you should avoid boats that are too close to you, etc. But, What are the Rules of Boating on a Lake?
There are certain rules which you should abide by while operating a boat on a lake. Follow these rules and you will have a happy experience of boating. These rules are to protect the environment and the people who use the lake water.
Safety Rules of Boating on a Lake
Navigation Lights Rules
When it comes to boating, we cannot ignore the importance of having a good understanding of boating techniques. To get more knowledge about boating, you should always read boating articles to gain a deeper insight.
There are many reasons why you need to use navigation lights when you are boating in the open waters or on the lake. Navigation lights in a boat are required to switch on during night-time boating. Navigation lights help other boaters to guide the way and understand where they are going.
Navigation lights are made to help the boater. These lights can save your life at night or in bad weather. So, you need to get familiar with the procedure for using the navigation lights.
Navigation lights come in different types of colors like red, green, and white. There are four main types of navigation lights, which are port side light (red), starboard side light (green), forward masthead light (white), aft masthead light (white), and aft light (white). Remember, Navigation lights differ for different types of boats.
Post a lookout
Boating is really exciting and enjoyable. We must do our best to keep ourselves safe in case something unexpected happen, right? We should be responsible for ourselves, our friends, and our relatives in case anything happens.
As it is said in every case, “Safety first.” A good start to learning how to do that is to always keep a proper lookout. When in lakes, you should keep a watchful eye out for other boats.
As the lake has a big potential danger and that is boat collision with other boats, and sometimes objects on the lake. Therefore, it requires you to be cautious when you’re driving around the lake. You should check the traffic in advance so that you will not collide with anything at the last minute.
Wear a life jacket
You should wear a life jacket whenever you are boating in the water whether it is in a lake or sea. This is an important precautionary measure in case of an accident.
Also, if you are traveling with children or kids, then it’s always recommended to have a sufficient amount of life jackets on board. Because life jackets are safety devices designed for the protection of human life, the chances of drowning or going missing are quite high when you are without a life jacket.
However, life jackets are required by law. The Coast Guard has regulations that specify the use of life jackets. Life jackets must meet certain standards.
To make sure your life jacket meets these standards, you should check it regularly for damage, and consult with your marine dealer about the proper maintenance.
Do not go alone
Many people think that they can handle their boat themselves if they are familiar with boating. But actually, it is not like that, for safety reasons you should not drive a boat alone. In the case that you drive alone on a boat, you will end up driving with bad and wrong driving skills, which might cause you and others to get harmed.
Going alone is not a good idea. You can not avoid any kind of problem because no one will be available to help you in case of an emergency. To avoid this problem, you can always consider taking a buddy. This buddy is someone you are close to. So they can always help you and support you if something bad happens.
Another solution is to inform other people on land before going boating. If you do this, you can make sure that there is no risk of being lost.
Observe Weather
You need to pay attention to the weather forecast whenever you planning to take a ride with your vessel. Weather forecasting is a very important part of sailing for a large number of boaters. Some boaters will try to plan a voyage even when they know that there is bad weather coming. But in general, bad weather can be quite dangerous for vessels at sea.
As such, boaters are advised to stay alert and ready for bad weather conditions in advance. Also, you should know how to handle and survive any bad weather that you encounter during your boating experience.
If there is bad weather or a storm is going to pass soon. Then you should better plan something else instead of going out. Bad weather may affect your boat’s performance, it can damage your boat too. Most importantly, bad weather can put our life in danger such as storms, strong winds, high waves, and poor visibility.
Speed limit to follow
There is no real speed limit to follow when you are boating on the lake or river. As you already know, if you are cruising, you can cruise up to your maximum safe speed, which depends on the watercraft itself, traffic density, weather conditions, and your physical strength.
If you are following other boats or vessels around you, then it will affect the way you move along and it will affect how you get the best cruise rate. In this case, you need to be very careful when driving your boat.
When it comes to cruising, it is always a good idea to keep cruising speed under control. That’s because the higher speed can affect other drivers in the area. So, always keep a watchful eye on the surroundings and go at a safe speed to avoid collisions.
Some states have laws about the speed limit in lakes and rivers. In this case, boaters are responsible for the speed they travel in waters with restrictions. They have to follow any local regulations and understand the risks associated with high speeds.
Knowledge about Buoy
There are lots of kinds of buoys in a lake, some are for navigation and others are for safety purposes, some for warning boaters and others for signaling the presence of a wreck.
All kinds of buoys come with many purposes and functions. And each of these kinds of buoys has a specific purpose. So if you are sailing and boating around a lake or bay, you must know all these kinds of buoys and what they are for. In addition to that, You should also know how to avoid hitting a buoy or a rock.
Carry a boating license
Federal regulations require that every person who owns operates, or controls a vessel must possess a boating safety certificate issued. This applies to all vessels, including recreational and commercial vessels, whether self-propelled or moored, motorized or not.
So If you have a boat that you want to operate then you need to have a valid boating license. You also need to have a boater safety card. This is because the state boating authorities require proof of a driver’s license as proof of being able to control the vessel.
Know the Horn blasts
It is important to sound your horn in an emergency. The horn is the most common and effective way to warn someone that you are in trouble and need help.
When you are approaching another boat in water, you need to steer to starboard and blow the horn for 2 short blasts. This warning is only effective if you are close enough to the other boat to be heard over its engine noise. You should always be careful to not blast the horn continuously.
If you are in a boat that has a horn and your passengers or crew are not familiar with the horn’s usage, it’s a good idea to show them how to use it and explain the purpose of its use. If everyone is comfortable and understands its importance, there’s no reason not to blast away.
Know the boating rules
The rules for boating on lakes are not different from the rules for boating on oceans.
It is recommended that if you are new to boating and going to use the waters of lakes, you should be accompanied by an experienced boater or at least a boating course. It is recommended that all boaters take a boating course before they go boating on lakes. This is to ensure that you know the boating rules, regulations, and safety rules. This is something that you need to abide by when you are boating.
While boating, there are many cases where we are driving close together and are trying to avoid collisions. It is important to have a good sense of boating and avoid collisions.
Never drop an anchor
Drop anchors aren’t allowed in many lakes, rivers, or bays. But if it is not listed on your map or your local lake or river agency it might be ok to drop your anchor there.
When setting an anchor, your best bet is to choose a location near shore. However, if you see that it is too close to shallow areas you should set the anchor away from the shoreline.
Remember, anchoring your boat in a lake, especially in a narrow passage, may bring many dangerous situations for the other vessels in that area.
Keep all the safety items with you
You should always keep life jackets, life buoy/ life ring, fire extinguisher, distress signals, heaving line, and signaling devices. These devices are very important to keep the passengers safe while on board. Therefore it is better if you familiarize them.
It would be safer to let your passengers know the way to use these devices in case you’re going to have a problem or something happens to you.
When you are sailing, then you will be out of sight from land. So, it is obvious that the weather can get much more dangerous. In this case, you need to be ready. You should bring some water containers to hold a fresh water supply, a first aid kit, a manual air pump, and even a GPS so that you will always know where you are at sea.
Always, keep your passengers safe and take care of them as much as you can, and you should never forget about your boat safety items while on a boat trip.
Save someone from drowning in a river/lake
To ensure safety you should have the right skills and equipment to deal with any crisis or emergency that occurs.
For example, when somebody is drowning near your vessel, then you need to look for any possible signs. These signs include the person may be struggling to swim and/or holding on to a floating object.
If you can spot these signs in time, then it is a good idea to assist the victim by pulling him/her to safety. However, you must remember that it is a dangerous job, so you need to prepare for the worst scenario that may arise.
Extra items to carry
When it comes to safety, you need to be safe for the entire trip whether it’s short or long. However, there are certain things that you should pay attention to.
One of the most important things you should bring to your boat is a good pair of sunscreen. Sunscreen is a vital component to prevent sunburns. It can also help you prevent skin cancer. You should wear it on your face, neck, and ears for obvious reasons.
Also, sunglasses with UV protection, especially one that offers 100% UV protection, are a necessity. Sunglasses can protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. Also, they should fit comfortably so you can get the best performance from them.
Know different kinds of signals
If you are going to participate in water sports activities like water skiing or tubing, you should know your hand signals. It is important to know how to use your hand signals in case you find yourself in a situation where you need to communicate with your buddy.
Water safety training certification
Water safety is not compulsory at all. That’s why most boaters usually don’t even consider taking a water safety course. However, it’s very important to know the skills of boating and the basic rules of boating.
It is very helpful to take a water safety course. You can avoid serious injuries or accidents like drownings. It’s best if your loved ones also take a course to make them more confident and safe with the boat.
Overtime parking fines
Overtime parking is a common situation that happens in the lakes. Sometimes, boat owner parks their boat for long periods.
The term “Over Time Parking” is associated with boats that are just tied up at the moorings and not engaged in boating activity. This is not correct. In this situation, a boat owner must have the permission of the docking facility to park over a specified time.
So if you want to avoid the overtime fines then you must follow the rules and regulations of the docking facilities.
Do not dump in or around rivers/lake
This is an important safety issue for every boater. Dumping in the lakes is prohibited. It causes problems such as damage to shorelines, damage to water-front property, and damage to wildlife.
Most lakes have different rules for dumping. The most common way of disposal of waste is by using a storage tank. If you do that, then you will be able to dispose of the waste in a shore facility.
Get your boat inspected
It’s very important to get your vessel inspected by a competent authority, to know whether it’s in good shape and safe to use, or not.
An approved, certified, and licensed marine surveyor performs a comprehensive examination of your vessel to determine its condition.
Surveys are intended to help protect you, your vessel, and its environment. Many surveys are free, others are not. Some are conducted as a routine part of the process for a new vessel, and others are performed only when there is a specific safety concern or concern about the vessel.
Clean your vessel to prevent aquatic exotics
A good and effective way to keep your boat’s hull and exterior clean is to thoroughly wash and rinse it. You can use cleaning products such as vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and borax.
It is recommended that you clean your boat on the dock to avoid bringing any unwanted aquatic exotics or invasive species into your lake waters, which can harm local wildlife.
Respect other kinds of watercraft using the lake water
Respect other watercraft around you. Many types of vessels float on water. It’s best to avoid putting a boat near other boats. That means, be careful when using lake water.
You should also respect the swimmer or diver when you are on the water. You should always give them enough space so that they can enjoy their time on the water without worrying about getting hit by an object such as a boat.
Restrictions
Sometimes, we may come across some restrictions that should be followed while using the lake.
However, the regulations of water and other facilities can vary between different lakes and some lakes are residential areas.
Most lakes are usually owned by the government or local government and the use of the lake is regulated. In other words, we cannot use the lake or the water facilities without the permission of the owner.
The owners can decide the size, number, and hours of usage of the lake, so please abide by the terms set by the authority.
Lake Safety Tips
- You should be aware of the dangers of shallow water, submerged rocks, trees, and other things.
- Avoid swimming areas carefully while boating.
- Avoid drinking alcohol/drugs before or during boating.
- You must learn to swim.
- You should be familiar with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
- Do not use air-filled or foam toys in place of life jackets. They are not intended for this use. These are toys and are not designed to keep you safe.
- Have a plan for what you’ll do if you run into bad weather or become lost. Strong winds, heavy rains, and thunderstorms with lightning strikes are dangerous to boaters.
Final Words
In this blog, we have talked about the different rules of boating on a lake. We have also talked about the safety tips we can use in a lake.
Lake boating is not the only way that you can enjoy boating trips. It can take place in the rivers or the ocean. Although the lake is the most preferred by boaters around the world.
Before you plan to go out to the lake for boating, there are several things that you should check first. Make sure that you know the rules about boating in the waterway or river that you are planning to visit.
Most of the time it is best to have a map of the area that you are going to visit. You can find it at the local library or a bookstore. There will be a list of the boating rules and regulations in the vicinity that you can be able to see.
Make sure to know what kind of boats can you enjoy boating on the lake. You can have a paddle board for the sport. On the other hand, you can have any kind of motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats.
If you are with your family, make sure to check on the safety procedures that you should do before you go boating.