SAFE OPERATIONS

Reckless Operation

The owner of a vessel shall be liable for any injury or damage occasioned by the negligent operation of such vessel, whether such negligence consists of a violation of the provisions of the statutes of this state, or the violation of any municipal ordinance, or neglecting to observe such ordinary care and such operation as the rules of the common law require.

Operation of Vessel, Wake Zone/Swimming Area

• "No wake zone" means any area posted with buoys or within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any boat ramp, dock, pier, or anchored or moored vessel.
• No person shall park, moor, or beach a vessel at the perimeter of or within a swimming area marked with buoys and cable.
• No person shall overload or give permission to overload a vessel with persons or gear so as to exceed the posted capacity plate or to exceed United States Coast Guard standards.
• No person shall operate on the waters of this state, except privately owned waters, any vessel, including personal watercraft, within fifty (50) feet in proximity to another vessel when running at speeds of over ten (10) miles per hour; provided, this prohibition shall not apply to vessels operating in sanctioned events.

NIGHTTIME SPEED LIMIT

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vessel upon the waters of this state which are under the jurisdiction of the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise at any speed in excess of thirty-five (35) miles per hour.

SITTING AND STANDING IN VESSEL WHILE UNDER WAY

• No person shall sit or ride on the sides of any vessel or the back of any seat of a vessel while under way at any speed greater than idle or trolling speed; provided, however, the operator of such vessel may stand if said vessel is specifically designed to be operated from a standing position.
• No person shall sit or ride on the covered bow of any vessel while under way at any speed greater than idle or trolling speed unless such vessel is designed as such to allow access to the covered bow by way of side walkways or factory-equipped walk-through areas which are surrounded by life rails, deck rails, bow rails, or other such enclosure extending at least twenty-four (24) inches above the deck; provided, that no person riding in or operating a vessel shall extend any appendage over the edge of the vessel either above or below the rail if such vessel is at any speed greater than idle or trolling speed.
• No person shall stand on the covered bow of any vessel while under way at a speed greater than idle or trolling speed.

OCCUPYING FRONT OR BACK DECK OF VESSEL WHILE UNDER WAY

No operator shall allow any person to occupy the front or back deck of any vessel while under way at any speed greater than idle or trolling speed unless such vessel is equipped with factory-installed seating or is designed as such to allow access to the front or back deck by way of side walkways or factory-equipped, walk-through areas to a flat deck surrounded by life rails, deck rails, stern rails, bow rails, or other such enclosures extending at least twenty-four (24) inches above the deck.

WATERWAY MARKER, NAVIGATIONAL AID OR BUOY

No person shall remove, tamper or otherwise interfere with or attach or moor a vessel to the anchor cable or any other part of any waterway marker, navigational aid or buoy.