All power boats must travel in a counter clockwise direction.
Speed limit on the lake is 55 MPH.
Vessels must operate at least 100 feet from rafts, docks, occupied bathing areas and shoreline, except when proceeding at a "slow, no wake speed" which is defined as the minimum speed necessary to maintain forward movement.
ALL boats - except privately owned non-motorized canoes, kayaks or row boats 16 feet in length or less - must be registered in
Registration numbers and decal must be properly displayed.
All vessels must have at least one type I, II, III or V Personal Flotation Device (PFD) that is U. S. Coast Guard approved wearable and the proper size for each person on board. Vessels 16 feet and longer also must have at least one type IV throwable PFD on board and readily accessible. Children under 6 years of age must wear an approved type I or II PFD when riding on the open deck of any boat.
All boats are required to have at least one type B-1 fire extinguisher on board if any of the following conditions exist:
Permanently installed fuel tanks.
Closed compartments in which Gasoline may be stored.
Closed living space.
Water Skiing and Tubing
May not be done during the no wake hours.
When pulling skiers, tubes, etc. boat
must have both operator and observer.
The "100 foot rule" applies to both boat and
skier, tube, etc
the exception is when starting up or dropping off.
Night Operation
Non-powered vessels must be equipped with a white light, displayed in sufficient time to prevent a collision.
Power boats must have white light aft and bow lights showing green to starboard (right) and red to port (left).
Operating a Personal Watercraft (PWC Jet Skis, Waver Runners etc.)
All PWC's must
go in a counter clockwise fashion.
Speed limit on the lake is 55 MPH.
The lanyard of the PWC's ignition safety switch must be attached to the person, clothing or personal flotation device of the operator.
PWC's must operate at least 100 feet from rafts, docks, occupied bathing areas and
shoreline, except when proceeding at a "slow, no wake speed" which is defined as the minimum speed necessary to maintain forward movement.
A person operating a PWC shall not cross within 150 feet behind another vessel,
other than another PWC, unless the PWC is operating at a slow no wake speed, and shall not weave through congested vessel traffic,
or disregard the rights or safety of others, or in any way operate a PWC in a reckless manner.
PWC registration must be in effect and the paper registration must be carried on board. Registration numbers and decal must be properly
displayed.
Each person 12 years of age or older, riding or being towed, must wear
a type I, II, or III personal flotation device (PFD). Each person less than 12 years of age, riding or being towed must wear type
I or II PFD.
Each PWC must be equipped with one type B-1 fire extinguisher.
Liability
of Owner
The owner of a PWC is liable for any injury caused by a negligent operator.
It is the responsibility of the owner to instruct anyone using his or her PWC about how to operate the PWC and about all applicable
regulations.
Water Skiing and Tubing
When pulling skiers, tubes, etc., PWC must have
both operator and observer. The PWC must be designed to carry not less than two persons.
The "100 foot rule" applies to both PWC and skier, tube, etc. The only exception is when starting up or dropping off.
Night Operation
- Is Illegal
A person shall not operate a PWC during the period that begins 1 hour before sunset and ends at 8:00am.
Who May Operate a PWC?
Individuals less than 12 years of age:
May not legally operate
a PWC
Individuals 12 and less than 14 years of age
May operate a PWC only if all
the following conditions are met:
The person is accompanied by his or her parent
or guardian, and
Both the person and the parent or legal guardian must have a boating
safety certificate, and
The parent or legal guardian has the safety switch lanyard
attached to his or her person, clothing, or personal flotation device (PFD) and
The PWC is designed to carry at least two people.
Individuals 14 years of age or older:
A person born after December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC only if he or she has obtained a boating safety certificate, which must be
carried on board.
A person born on December 31, 1978, or earlier may operate a PWC
without restrictions.
Who May Operate a Boat?
Individuals less than 12 years of age:
May legally operate a boat powered
by a motor of no more than 6 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 on board by a person at 16 least years of age.
May not legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 hp under any conditions.
Individuals
12 to 15 years of age:
May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 hp without restrictions.
May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp only if they have passed a boating safety course approved by the Department of Natural Resources and have on board their boating safety certificate - OR - are accompanied on board by a person at least 16 years of age.
Individuals 16 years of age or older:
May operate any boat (except PWC) on the waters of
For a complete guide to Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilities
go to http://boat-ed.com/mi/handbook
No Wake Hours of Operation
No wake rules are in effect for all boats and Personal Water Craft from:
6:30pm to 10:00am Eastern Standard Time
7:30pm to 11:00amEastern Daylight Time. DNR rules R281.700.3 & R281.739.1
No wake rules are in effect at all times in the channel. DNR rule R281.739.2
Dock Location Restrictions
No dock shall extend more than 50 feet from the shoreline
into the lake.
For a copy of the entire Ross Township Zoning Ordinances, click here.
Firearms Restrictions
It is unlawful to hunt or discharge a firearm on