The great weather brought out boaters and the Stow Police this past weekend. The police gave out eight warnings for not carrying life jackets on kayaks or paddle boards and for speeding in the narrows and during quiet hours. Let’s be safe and considerate out there!
You and your guests need to be aware and adhere to Lake Boon Rules and Mass State Law: https://lakeboon.wordpress.com/lake-rules/. In some cases of safe boating distance, more restrictive state laws take precedence over Lake Boon rules which are in the process of revision.
Mass laws are available in a more readable form at https://www.boat-ed.com/assets/pdf/handbook/ma_handbook_entire.pdf.
From page 53 of that handbook, key state laws include:
◊ Motorboats may not be operated
- Within 150 feet of shorelines used as swimming areas
- Within 75 feet of floats or markers that designate swimming areas
◊ At a rate of speed that creates a wake that causes damage, injury, or excessive rocking to other vessels, rafts, or floats
◊ At more than “headway speed” under any of the following conditions:
- From 150 to 300 feet of shorelines used as swimming areas
- Within 150 feet of marinas, ramps, rafts, or floats
- Within 150 feet of swimmers
Lake Boon Association 