Lake Norman: Marine commission may hear rental boat regulation recommendations soon

Some movement may be coming toward regulating the owners and operators of rental boats on Lake Norman.

The subject, which has been studied by a committee of the Lake Norman Marine Commission for more than a year, came up for discussion again during the group’s Feb. 11 meeting in Mooresville.

John Marino, Catawba County’s representative on the marine commission and chairman of the rental boat committee, told his fellow commissioners the committee would hold a meeting before the next marine commission meeting 7 p.m. March 11 at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in downtown Mooresville.

The rental boat committee has been working on a draft of an ordinance over rental boat operations – both businesses and individuals – on the lake, covering who could rent a boat to pre-rental safety classes.

The impetus behind the proposed rental boat regulations was the June 2011 accident that injured a Charlotte woman, Deondra Scott. Scott, 25, suffered severe arm and chest injuries after she was struck by the propeller of a rental boat piloted by Dennis Franklin Allen. Scott, who had her right arm and breast amputated, has since filed suit against Allen, David D. Orzolek, who rented the boat to Allen; and boat manufacturer Chaparral Boats Inc.

In other business before the marine commission:

•  Commission assistant director Bob Elliott told the commissioners he would be attending a meeting of the state Aquatic Weed Council on March 1 to push the board’s request for a larger-than-normal order of sterile grass carp.

The grass carp are used to control hydrilla and other water-borne plants in Lake Norman, and have proved successful and cost-effective. However, because of larger-than-normal orders placed by other states last year, suppliers could not fill the commission’s annual order of approximately 1,200 grass carp.

Elliott said to help make up for last year’s omission and to get the lake’s grass carp levels back up to what is considered the necessary levels, an order has been placed for 2,000 grass carp this year. The cost will be split between the commission, Duke Energy and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Sailing Scene

• The Lake Norman flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will hold a boating safety course for sailboat operators 8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 2 at the Lake Norman Yacht Club clubhouse. $45 per person. Coffee and water will be provided, but participants must bring lunch and snacks. Advance registration is required: 704-663-5733 or 828-478-2507.

•  The fifth and sixth races of the Outrigger Yacht Club’s Icicle Series sailboat races on Lake Norman scheduled for Feb. 16 were postponed because of weather conditions. The two races – the last in the six-race series for spinnaker and nonspinnaker class sailboats – will be made up March 2.

Boating safety classes

•  8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 9, Huntersville United Methodist Church, 14005 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. $45 per person, $25 for each additional family member. Advance registration required. For information or to register, visit www.usps.org/lakenorman or call 704-895-4994 or 704-846-2865.

•  8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. March 16, Westport Marina, 7879 Water Oaks Drive, Denver. $45 per person. For information or to advance register for a class, call 704-663-5733, 704-663-3333 or 828-478-2507. www.cgaux.org.

•  8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 20, Shepherds Volunteer Fire Department, 2014 Charlotte Highway (U.S. 21), Mooresville. $45 per person. For information or to register for a class, call 704-663-5733, 704-663-3333 or 828-478-2507. www.cgaux.org.

•  8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 27; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11; 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. June 8 or 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. July 27, , Kings Point Marina, 18020 Kings Point Drive, Cornelius. $45 per person. For information or to register for a class, call 704-663-5733, 704-663-3333 or 828-478-2507. www.cgaux.org.

•  8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 27, Duke Energy Environmental Center, McGuire Nuclear Station Road, Huntersville. $45 per person, $25 for each additional family member. Advance registration is required. For information or to register, visit www.usps.org/lakenorman or call 704-895-4994 or 704-846-2865.

•  8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11 or 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. June 15, Shepherds Volunteer Fire Department, 2014 Charlotte Highway (U.S. 21), Mooresville. $45 per person. For information or to advance register for a class, call 704-663-5733, 704-663-3333 or 828-478-2507. www.cgaux.org.

•  8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 1, Denver United Methodist Church, 3910 N.C. 16 N., Denver. $45 per person, $25 for each additional family member. Advance registration is required. www.usps.org/lakenorman or call 704-895-4994 or 704-846-2865.

• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. July 13, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 19600 Zion St., Cornelius. $45 per person, $25 for each additional family member. Advance registration is required. www.usps.org/lakenorman or call 704-895-4994 or 704-846-2865.

•  8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 17, Lake Norman Volunteer Fire Department, 1518 Brawley School Road, Mooresville. Cost: $45 per person, $25 for each additional family member. Advance registration is required. For information or to register, visit www.usps.org/lakenorman or call 704-895-4994 or 704-846-2865.

Skiing, wakeboarding classes

The Lake Norman Ski Club is holding registration for a series of youth water skiing and wakeboarding classes.

The Learn2Ski and Learn2Wakeboard classes are open to students age 15-under, and are tentatively scheduled for June and July 2013. All classes will be held in the cove at Vinnie’s Raw Bar and Restaurant on Williamson’s Road in Mooresville, and will run from 8-11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $20 per person, and all participants must have a signed waiver-release form from their parent or guardian. For information, to obtain waiver forms or to keep posted on exact dates, visit www.lakenormanskiclub.8m.com.