(A summary of Michigan boating laws)
1. SPEED LIMITS
- No wake within 100 feet of the shoreline, any watercraft, pier, person, raft, swimming area or person
- 55 mph maximum unless otherwise regulated
2. TOWING PERSONS
- No water skiing between one hour before sunset and one hour after sunrise (Moon Lake guidelines are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- One competent person in addition to driver shall be in towing boat
- Towboat must be equipped with a 170-degree wide-angle rear view mirror affixed to permit the driver to observe the progress of person being towed.
3. DISTANCE BETWEEN PERSON TOWED AND OTHER OBJECTS
- 100 feet
4. NOISE LEVEL OF BOATS
- Motorboats are required to have mufflers or an underwater exhaust system such that it does not produce sound levels in excess of 90 dB(A)
5. COUNTER-CLOCKWISE OPERATIONS
- Persons operating vessel shall operate in a counter-clockwise fashion insofar as it is reasonably possible.
6. CHILDREN OPERATING MOTORBOATS
- A person 16 or older must supervise persons under 12 years old.
- Persons 12 through 15 years may operate motorboats if accompanied by persons 16 years or older or has a boating safety certificate.
- Any person may operate a motorboat that is powered by no more than a 6 hp motor.
- Personal watercraft (jet ski) shall not be operated by anyone under age 12.
7. LIQUOR AND/OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
- A person intoxicated may not operate or be in control of any vessel. The MI implied consent law applies for boat operator intoxication testing.
8. OPERATING OF VESSELS
- Sailboats have the right-of-way to motorboats while they are under sail power.
- Motorboats shall give way to non-motorized vessels.
- When two vessels are approaching each other head-on, the operator of each shall cause his vessel to pass on the port (left) side of the vessel.
9. RESPONSIBILITY FOR VESSEL WAKE
- The owner of any vessel is personally responsible for any damage to life or property resulting from a wake or well created by the negligent operation of the vessel, where the vessel is being operated with his consent.
10. DIVER’S DISTANCE FROM DIVER’S FLAG
- A vessel shall not be operated with 200 feet of a buoyed diver’s flag unless tending the diving operation’ a diver shall stay within a surface area of 100 feet of a diver’s flag.
11. PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (JET SKI) SPECIAL REGULATIONS
- A person shall maintain a distance of 100’ from any dock, boat, raft, buoyed or occupied bathing area while driving at other than slow no-wake speed.
- A person shall not operate a personal watercraft between sunset and sunrise. Lights make no difference. (Moon Lake guidelines state from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
- Maneuvers that endanger life, limb or property, including weaving through congested traffic, jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably or unnecessarily close to the other vessel or when visibility around the other vessel is obstructed and swerving at the last possible moment to avoid a collision
- Carrying more persons than the vessel is designed for is prima facie evidence of reckless operation.
- Lanyards must be attached to the operator of vessels that are quipped with lanyards.
- Personal watercraft shall not be operated by anyone under 12 years of age.
- Persons operating or riding on or being towed behind a personal watercraft must wear an approved personal floatation device.
- Performers engaged in a professional exhibition or a person preparing to participate in a regatta, race, marine parade, tournament or exhibition held in compliance with this act are exempt.
