General Safety 

Lake residents are responsible for the actions of their visiting friends and family. We urge you to educate them as to boating safety and keep yours and our families safe. 

• Please operate your vessel counter clockwise around the lake. 
• No wake speed within 100 ft. of any other watercraft. 
• No passenger may sit on front of a pontoon boat while underway. 
• Operation of any watercraft, while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is prohibited. 
• If you observe a Marine Safety Violation on the lake, phone 269-657-3101 and give the person answering the following:
  
  • description of the boat
    
  • what they are doing wrong
    
  • MC numbers (if you can get them)
    
  • any other information that will help to identify the offender ​

Who may operate a boat with a motor?

In Michigan, there are age requirements to operate a motorboat and/or personal watercraft (PWC), which vary based on age and the type of vessel

Operating a boat with a motor (excluding personal watercraft)

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Less than 12 years of age:

• Up to 6 horsepower: May operate without restrictions.
• More than 6 horsepower, up to 35 horsepower: May operate only if they:
  • Possess a valid boating safety certificate on board.
  • Are directly supervised on board by someone at least 16 years old.
• More than 35 horsepower: May not operate under any circumstances.

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Born on or after July 1, 1996:

• May operate a boat with a motor more than 6 horsepower only if they possess boating safety certificate.

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Born before July 1, 1996:

• May operate a boat with a motor without restrictions.

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Operating a personal watercraft (like a jet ski or wave runner)

• Minimum age to operate at all: 14 (with restrictions)
• Minimum age to operate independently: 16 (with certificate)
• No certificate required: Only if born on or before Dec. 31, 1978

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Duplicate Safety Education Certificate Request
If you previously completed a Michigan marine education safety course and your original certificate has been lost or damaged, you may be able to obtain a copy of your certificate here.

​Please see the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website for more information.

Ice Safety

Winter sports such as ice fishing, sledding, snowmobiling and ice-skating are popular activities with many residents. With these activities come some safety precautions. Ice can be very enjoyable but very dangerous. Ice on the lake is affected by many aspects of nature. The strength and thickness of the ice should be known before any activities take place on it.

To determine what activities can safely take place, a rough rule of thumb is to ensure *inches of new, clear ice:

• Walking: 2 inches of ice* 
• Fishing: 4 inches of ice*
• Snowmobiling: 5 inches of ice*
•  Vehicles:  8-12 inches of ice* 
  

Never check ice or rescue a victim of ice failure alone, because you could go from rescuer to victim in a matter of seconds.
Always check the ice before going out on it. Be aware that ice thickness and strength can vary from location to location.
Remember to bundle up, be safe and enjoy the winter activities our great lake has to offer!