Most boating accidents in NC occur on Lake Norman. Here’s how to stay safe on the water
Next week marks the first official day of summer, which means it’s boating season on Lake Norman.
Though boating is a popular recreational activity, it also presents a risk on the waters.
In North Carolina, there were 187 boating accidents in 2020, and 24 of them resulted in fatalities, according to the most recent report from N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). Lake Norman had the most accidents of any body of water in the state that year, with 36 incidents recorded.
According to the Coast Guard, lack of proper safety equipment is one of the main causes of boating accidents.
If you’re new to the Lake Norman area or are one of the many consumers who purchased a boat during the pandemic, there are rules and regulations you should know before hitting the water.
What are the requirements to operate a boat?
Any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, must complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-approved boating education course before operating a boat with 10 horsepower or greater, according to state law.
Boating education courses can be completed in person or online. There is no minimum age requirement, but the course is taught at a sixth-grade level, and a written exam must be completed to pass the class, NCWRC says.
What equipment do you need to operate a boat?
According to NCWRC, all recreational boats must have a personal flotation device (PFD) for each person aboard, and the type of PFD required on each boat depends on its length and whether the boat is used for recreational or commercial purposes.
Recreational boats that are 16 feet in length or greater must have an additional throwable PFD, and children under 13 years of age are required to wear PFDs while onboard, NC Wildlife says.
Here’s what else you’ll need to operate a boat, according to NCWRC:
A boater education certificate and certificate of registration on board.
Registration decals displayed on the front half of your boat on each side, where they can easily be seen.
A fire extinguisher.
An ignition safety switch. NCWRC recommends having a safety kill switch and lanyard, but they are not required.
A backfire flame arrestor to disperse any flames caused by engine backfire.
A ventilation system to release any explosive or flammable gasses that could become trapped in the fuel tank.
A working muffler.
Sound-producing devices like horns, whistles or bells.
Navigation lights. Boats operated at night are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise.
More information on these requirements can be found at ncwildlife.org/boating.
What should I know about operating a personal watercraft?
Similar to boats, state law also regulates the use of personal watercrafts (PWC), commonly referred to as “jet skis” or “Wave Runners.” Here are the laws pertaining to them.
PWCs cannot be operated between sunset and sunrise.
No one under the age of 14 can operate a PWC, but those between the ages of 14 and 16 can if they are accompanied by an adult or have passed a boating safety education course.
Each person aboard a PWC is required to wear a PFD.
If the watercraft has a lanyard cut-off switch, it must be attached to the operator.
PWCs must not be operated in a way that could endanger the lives or property of others.
What should I know about ‘no wake’ zones?
A wake, or the disturbance of water resulting from a boat or jet ski moving through the water at high speeds, can create dangerous driving conditions for other boaters and property damage to docks, NCWRC says.
“No wake” zones, or areas where boats and other vessels are required to travel at idling speeds, are marked with signs, according to NCWRC.
To avoid excessive wake, NCWRC advises boaters to stay at least 200 feet away from the shoreline, docks or other structures, and minimize the number of times driven along any one portion of the shoreline.
What should I know about boating access areas?
Boating access areas are designed and maintained for public use, NCWRC says.
According to NCWRC, it is against the law to:
Leave any vehicle, trailer or boat where it will impede the use of the ramp by others
Park any vehicle anywhere other than the designated parking area.
Use the area for swimming, camping or operating concessions.
Operate any vessel within 50 yards of the ramp greater than the “no wake” speed.
Have loaded firearms in the access area.
Leave trash on the grounds of the area.
Conduct special events without authorization from the Division of Engineering Services.
Where are the boating access areas around Charlotte?
There are public boat access areas for all of the lakes in the Charlotte area, including Lake Norman. Here are a few of them:
Neck Road, 5898 Neck Road, Huntersville, NC 28078
Highway 73, 8670 N.C. 73, Stanley, NC 28164
Beatties Ford, 9124 Unity Church Road, Denver, NC 28037
Little Creek, 4906 Burton Lane, Denver, NC 28037
Hager Creek, 788 McKendree Road, Mooresville, NC 28117
Pinnacle, 1556 River Hwy., Mooresville, NC 28117
McCrary Creek, 1437 River Hwy., Mooresville, NC 28117
This story was originally published June 14, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
