Patrolling the Pond
By Mike Miller, Board Member, Vice President, Lake Lotawana Association
Riding the Summertime Wave
Memorial Day has come and gone (and I thought the rain along with it until today) and Independence Day will be here before we know it. As we ramp up to what is the pinnacle of the summer season, I still sit here wondering if I’m going to get my PWC on the lake or not this year! The few times I’ve tried, rain and weather got in the way. Hopefully this will be the week. Of course, the idea of getting the PWC in the water nudges me of the reminders I need to provide to my family members as it pertains to PWCs. The rules could be summarized as, “Be at least 16 years old, tested, and be smart.” You can find the full set of rules in (Section III, M 1-4). Here is a brief take on the rules for PWC that can always use a good refresh for your family.
DO: Have a kill switch on your PWC.
DO: Make sure you are 16 years and if 16-17 have completed the Missouri Water Patrol Water Safety Class.
DO: Watch for other traffic and drive in a safe manner.
DO: Wear a US Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (Type I,II,III,V)
DO: You can use your PWC to tow another vehicle (slowly).
DO NOT: Tow a tube or skier with your PWC.
DO NOT: Weave through traffic at any higher than idle speed.
DO NOT: Jump the wake of any other Watercraft
DO NOT: Operate at a speed in excess of wake/no wake zone within 50 feet of other Watercraft.
DO NOT: Operate your PWC in a way that is a nuance to residents.
DO: REVIEW THE RULES and MAKE SURE your family members, the only people who should be riding you PWC, understand the rules.
A quick review of the PWC rules or any rules for that matter will contribute a lot to the safety of your family and friends and make your days a lot less stressful. ONE LAST NOTE and gentle reminder:
NO ONE except close family members (and that does not include your daughter’s boyfriend from Iona University) should be riding your PWCs on the lake. The rules are the same as any other Watercraft use on the lake.
Memorial Day lived up to the billing of about 2 of 3 days of rain. The sun blessed us all last weekend with some beautiful weather and sunsets (throw in a little haze from the fires in Canada). Hopefully we will see some sun again this weekend. It’s raining again now. Just maybe, the sun will come out tomorrow. See you on the Pond!
The Safer Seven: Know Your Watercraft Lighting
With the days getting longer and evening cruises more popular, Safer Seven figures it’s a good time to get reacquainted with the lighting rules. Using the correct lighting at the correct time is one of the most important safety issues on the lake. Knowing what lights to use and when is a great first step. Test your knowledge here!
- Navigation lights should be displayed after sunset to sunrise. TRUE or FALSE? FALSE. Navigation lights shall be displayed ONE-HALF HOUR AFTER sunset to sunrise and at any time the visibility is such that the Watercraft cannot be seen from a distance of 100 yards. (Sec III, G, Part 1)
- Docking lights (headlights) on Watercraft shall only be displayed within 100 feet of shore when approaching a Dock or when approaching a stationary Watercraft. TRUE or FALSE? Don’t be the one who drives down the lake blinding everyone with your docking lights. 3 pts.
- You are anchored and fishing at night about 100 feet from shore. You need to leave your navigation lights on while fishing anywhere on the lake. TRUE or FALSE? FALSE. While it may not be a bad idea to leave your nav lights on at all times at night, according to the rules you only need to activate your lights if there is another Watercraft in the immediate vicinity (to avoid a collision) (Sec III, G, 5).
- Navigation lights on the port side are green, red on the starboard side, and white on the stern of the Watercraft. TRUE or FALSE? FALSE. Yes, stern lights are white. Red lights are found on the port side of boat and green lights are found on the starboard side of the Watercraft.
- Sailboats don’t need lights at night. TRUE or FALSE? FALSE. Sailboats shall only be required to illuminate the sail with a white light. (3 pts.). (Sec III, G, 3).
- It’s ok to use a spotlight from your boat. TRUE or FALSE? FALSE. Using spotlights in any fashion that invades the privacy of others is prohibited. (3 pts.) (Sec III, G, 5, a)
- Your neighbor just installed lights on their dock to watch the fish at night. That is a violation that could get 3 points. TRUE or FALSE? TRUE!
Lighting your Watercraft appropriately at night is essential for safety. Know when to turn your lights on. I typically do it about 30 minutes BEFORE sunset. Yes, it’s 30 minutes earlier than necessary but for me, it better to be seen early than late! Be a light!