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Each summer, the SLA’s Neighborhood Watch and Safety committee hosts a free boating safety class for the Sage Lake community. The Michigan DNR requires that boaters born after June 30, 1997, and most personal watercraft operators who operate a vessel in Michigan must have a boating safety certificate. Lunch is provided.
To register for this year’s class, click here.
Responsible Boating: Ensuring our lake remains clean
Dumping garbage and plastics into federally controlled and state water is illegal. You must store trash in a container on board, and place it in a proper receptacle after returning to shore.
Stop the spread of nuisance species! To prevent the spread of nuisance species:
- Inspect your boat and trailer, and remove any nuisance species (zebra mussels and eurasian milfoil) you see before leaving the lake.
- Before leaving the lake, drain your motor and bilge on land.
- Never release live bait into the lake or release aquatic animals from one lake into another. Empty your bait on land.
Who may operate a boat
Those younger than age 12:
- May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower (hp) without restrictions.
- May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp but no more than 35 hp only if they are directly supervised onboard by a person at least 16 years old.
- May not legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 hp under any conditions.
- Those born on or after July 1, 1997, may operate a boat legally only if they have been issued a boating safety certificate and have it on board the boat.
- Those born before July 1, 1997, may operate a boat legally without restrictions.
Who may operate a personal watercraft (PWC):
- Those younger than age 14 may not legally operate a PWC.
- Those 14 and 15 years old may operate a PWC legally only if they have obtained a boating safety certificate and
- They are accompanied on board by their parent or legal guardian or by a person at least 21 years old who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian or
- They are operating or riding the PWC at a distance of not more than 100 feet from their parent or legal guardian or from a person at least 21 years old who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian.
- Those at least 16 years old and born after Dec. 31, 1979, may operate a PWC legally only if they have obtained a boating safety certificate. - Those born on or before Dec. 31, 1979, may operate a PWC legally without restrictions.
Towing skiers, tubers, wakeboarders, etc.:
Every vessel (boat or PWC) towing a person(s) on water skis, tubes, wakeboards, or similar devices must have a person-spotter in addition to the operator observing the towed person(s) at all times.
It is illegal to tow skiers, tubers, etc., or any device of this type between:
- One hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise if towed behind a boat.
- One hour before sunset and 8 a.m. if towed behind a PWC.
People being towed must stay at least 100 feet away from:
- Any moored or anchored vessel.
- Any docks or rafts.
- Any marked swimming area or person(s) in the water.
- Those being towed behind a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III personal floatation device (PFD). Inflatable PFDs may not be used.
Diver down flags:
- Divers or snorkelers must display a diver down flag to mark their diving area. Divers must stay within 100 feet of the vertical position of their diver down flag.
- Boats/PWC must remain at least 200 feet away from diver down flags.
- A diver down flag is a rectangular red flag, at least 14 inches by 16 inches, with three white diagonal stripes.
To get a copy of the Handbook of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities click here.
