Safe Boating Practices
For detailed information on safe boating, go to https://www.boat-ed.com/assets/pdf/handbook/mi_handbook_entire.pdf, www.michigan.gov/dnr or US Coast Guard website.
IMPROPER DISTANCE VIOLATIONS
When operating a vessel at greater than slow/no wake speed, the vessel or persons being towed must NOT be within 100 feet of any shoreline, moored or anchored vessel, dock or raft, swimming area, or person in the water.
Vessels must remain at least 200’ away from diver-down flags.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Personal Floatation Devices (PFD’s) are required for every person aboard any vessel (motorized or paddle craft)
Children under age 6 must wear a PFD
Adults must have a PFD readily available
Boats 16’/+ must have a throwable floatation device, fire extinguisher, and a horn or audible signaling device
BOAT/PWC OPERATORS
BOATS/PWCS PULLING PEOPLE (skiers, tubers, wake boarders, etc.) must have an observer on board at all times.
BOAT/PWC OPERATORS must adhere to Michigan DNR age and “Boating Safety Certificate” requirements.
NIGHT LIGHTS
Vessels must exhibit navigation lights if underway between sunset and sunrise or during periods of reduced visibility.
Navigation light requirements differ depending on the type and size of the vessel.
OTHER REGULATIONS
LOONS are protected by federal migratory laws and Michigan’s DNR Endangered Species legislation, Act 451, Part 324:36501 and Part (f), which prohibits the “taking” (“harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture…”) of all listed species. Loons will splash and call raucously when frightened.
DNR FISHING rules and regulations apply. Fishing licenses are required for adults and available online at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Fishing regulations can be found at that site as well.
DOGS are not allowed on the federal islands and only with permission on the private islands. Grand Traverse County’s leash law (Ordinance 27, Article IV, Section 401) applies throughout the area and states “No person shall … allow a dog to run at large, stray, or otherwise be off the owner’s premises unless held on leash…”
FIREWORKS Per East Bay Township’s Consumer Fireworks Ordinance No. 4 of 2019, fireworks are allowed only
after 11 a.m. on Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1,
between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday preceding Memorial Day
between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday preceding Labor Day, and
on June 29 through July 4 (If July 5 falls on a Friday or Saturday, then also on July 5.).
Fire Prevention Ordinance 308.1.6.3 prohibits the release of “untethered SKY LANTERNS”.
LOCAL & COUNTY SHERIFF For information, call 231-947-3631. To file a complaint or dispatch an officer, call 231-922-4550.
Boating Rules and Regulations
Rules Specific to Spider Lake:
Direction of Travel on the lake and its coves is COUNTER CLOCKWISE for all vessels under power.
Water depths vary throughout Spider Lake, particularly in the coves and near the islands. Over 75% of the lake is considered shallow. Caution! Sandbars are present in multiple locations.
Three of its coves are designated No Wake/Slow Speed areas:
Last Cove (south and east of boat launch)
Lighthouse cove
Turtle Cove
High speed boating is allowed only on the main body of Spider Lake between 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. SLOW/NO WAKE or NO HIGH SPEED BOATING is to be observed in all coves at all times. Regulatory buoys are located at the mouth of those coves.
Slow-no wake zones: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/controls/localcontrols/grandtraverse/watercraft
Boating hours: https://www.eastbaytwp.org/residents/inland_lakes_boating_information.php
The lake is patrolled by the Grand Traverse Sheriff Department – Marine Division. All federal, state, county, and township regulations are enforced.