DNR definition of no-wake?

Hey guys,

I’m looking for a little claification on a DNR ruling. Heres the thing:

I had the pleasure of getting stopped by a Washington Co. Sherrif last evening on the Croix. As the officer approached, he stated that I was stopped for making a “wake” in a no wake zone, and he would be issuing me a warning, along with doing a routine check up of my boat.

I politely informed the officer that I was not making a wake to my knowlege, and asked him his ruling on what a wake is. Unforunately he wasn’t really able to tell me what exactly a wake it. He simply stated that if there is a wave behind your boat, its a wake. I was always under the impression that in order to be considered a wake, the water behind your boat must be curling over/forming a white cap.

Also the officer gave me a warning because my life jacket was not accessable. He stated that since my life jacket was in a compartment located in the bow of the boat that it was not accessable and the law states that it needed to be. I thought this was just for your throwable.

Am I correct on these, or did I get off lucky with a warning????

I consider curling over a wave. A wake would be any noticable disturbance eminating outward from stern. Large enough to affect a nearby object. Obviously there is no way to measure and it is at the officers discretion. Didnt know the life jackets had to be accesbile. I too thought just the throwable. Mine have always been but only because I dont have a compartment to fit them in. Thanks for the info.

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Didnt know the life jackets had to be accesbile. I too thought just the throwable. Mine have always been but only because I dont have a compartment to fit them in. Thanks for the info.

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I was always under the impression that they can be in a storage compartment as long as it isn’t locked?

Not sure of the DNR def…but the USCG’s is as slow as possible and still have control of your vessel.

As far as PFD’s go…let’s just forget about the law for a moment. If your jacket is not “accessible” like in a compartment, what good will it do?

Although I would like to preach about wearing a pdf all the time while on the water…I’ll spare everyone.

today.

What is the definition of “accessible” in the DNR’s view?

Page 15 of the 2009 MN DNR boating regs.

The requirements for PFDs are as follows:

On all boats (except a sailboard) regardless of

length (including canoes, kayaks and duck boats),

INFLATABLE

15

MN 4316 AD

Less than 16 feet

or any size canoe or

kayak One life jacket

per person

16 feet or longer

except canoes

and kayaks

MN 2000 GT

there must be a readily accessible U.S. Coast Guard

approved Type I, II, III or V wearable PFD (life jacket)

for each person on board. Type IV throwable devices,

such as buoyant cushions, are no longer

acceptable primary lifesaving devices.

IN ADDITION, on boats 16 feet or longer (except

canoes and kayaks) there must also be at

least one U.S. Coast Guard approved Type IV throwable

device, such as a buoyant cushion or ring

buoy immediately available for each boat.

The law does not state that PFDs must be worn,

only that they are readily accessible except for

personal watercraft (Wave Runners, Jet Skis, etc.)

and children under 10. (see page 16)

HOWEVER… we highly recommend that PFDs

always be worn by everyone on board any boat.

Check the label on the PFD to make sure it is a

U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation device and

what type of device it is.

Page 16.

 Readily accessible – means easily retrievable

within a reasonable amount of time in an

emergency. PFDs in plastic bags, locked

lockers, or under anchors or line are examples

of PFDs that are not accessible.

 Immediately available – means Type IV

throwable devices must be easily reached in

time of an emergency by someone on board

the boat. Generally this means they will be

in the open and not in a container.

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I was always under the impression that they can be in a storage compartment as long as it isn’t locked?

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Same here

This is what the 2008 Minnesota Statutes says
Subd. 16a.Slow-no wake.

“Slow-no wake” means operation of a watercraft at the slowest possible speed necessary to maintain steerage, but in no case greater than five miles per hour.

It took some time to find this.

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What is the definition of “accessible” in the DNR’s view?

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 Readily accessible – means easily retrievable

within a reasonable amount of time in an

emergency. PFDs in plastic bags, locked

lockers, or under anchors or line are examples

of PFDs that are not accessible.

 Immediately available – means Type IV

throwable devices must be easily reached in

time of an emergency by someone on board

the boat. Generally this means they will be

in the open and not in a container.

“operation of a watercraft at the slowest possible speed necessary to maintain steerage, but in no case greater than five miles per hour.”

Has nothing to do with the size of your wave.

I thought that the life jacket rule was changed when they made it manditory that kids under X had to have one on at all times. They now need to be out and accessible. The 1st thing I do now it take them out and put them on the chair backs for anyone in the boat.

A wake is a wave from your boat (or a reason for an Irishman to drink!). If you are in current moving upstream, I think a wake at 1-2 GPS mph is acceptable. Any other noticable wave is an offense IMO.

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I thought that the life jacket rule was changed when they made it manditory that kids under X had to have one on at all times. They now need to be out and accessible. The 1st thing I do now it take them out and put them on the chair backs for anyone in the boat.

A wake is a wave from your boat (or a reason for an Irishman to drink!). If you are in current moving upstream, I think a wake at 1-2 GPS mph is acceptable. Any other noticable wave is an offense IMO.

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 Mandatory Child Life Jacket Wear Law:
As of May 6, 2005, Minnesota law requires a
life jacket to be worn by children less than
10 years old when aboard any watercraft
17
while underway. Underway means not attached
to a permanent mooring or tied to a
dock. There are exceptions to the wear law
for:
(1) children who are below the top deck or
in an enclosed cabin,
(2) children aboard passenger vessels being
operated by a licensed captain,
(3) children on a boat that is anchored for the
purpose of swimming or diving.

I keep my life jackets on the seats also. I keep them on tightly so they won’t blow off. I think it was on Vermilion a fews years ago that a CO told me that they where on the seats to tight and not easily accessable.

Here is the link.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/boatwater/boatingguide.pdf

I don’t think you disserved a warning if your lifejackets were on top in an unlocked compartment.

File a complaint with Washington County for receiving a warning without just cause.
See where it takes you.

I do the same Dave. Life jackets and floatation come out the second I dip the boat (then the net!). And like Brian said, what good is it if it’s in a compartment, locked or not? Just my 2cents.

Personally, I think you got lucky on both offenses with just a warning. No harm done, just learn from the mistake.

Wow! Thanks for all the replies guys.

I guess this means I need to slow down a bit more than usual. Whats funny is that I’ve been operating my boat in this manner for 10+ years throught the now wake zones in the Croix and have never been stopped until now.

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File a complaint with Washington County for receiving a warning without just cause.

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I thought about his as well, simply becuase of the life jacket issue, but we will see. It’s just a little frustrating to know that my boat will now be targeted in the future IMO.

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As far as PFD’s go…let’s just forget about the law for a moment. If your jacket is not “accessible” like in a compartment, what good will it do?

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I can swim almost as well as a 1968 Buick LeSabre…so I wear the thing and keep it on.

How does a Slow Speed zone differ? Is there a mph max or is it the same definition?
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/boatwater/stcroixboatingrules.pdf

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Wow! Thanks for all the replies guys.

I guess this means I need to slow down a bit more than usual. Whats funny is that I’ve been operating my boat in this manner for 10+ years throught the now wake zones in the Croix and have never been stopped until now.

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File a complaint with Washington County for receiving a warning without just cause.

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I thought about his as well, simply becuase of the life jacket issue, but we will see. It’s just a little frustrating to know that my boat will now be targeted in the future IMO.

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I’m not saying to file a complaint to be a jerk or anything about it in any way. I would file a complaint due to the peace officer not knowing the laws and to ensure there is uniform interpretation of the laws amongst all people (those who uphold the law, as well as those whom follow).

I was told about the life jackets needing to be out while on pool 5a by both the WI and MN CO’s. If you really want to get technical, they may also check to see if your battery terminals are covered. I can’t recall the exact reg but I know you have to have at least one of the terminals cover and I believe I was told this is a Coast Guard thing.

Good luck and be safe no matter where you are at on the water. Just like the recent accident on pool 4, you always have to be aware and concerned about the others out there.

Rootski who are you kidding???? We all know that the LeSabre can swim better.

i just put the lifejackets and throwable under the console by my feet. they are out of the way, but very accessible.

We were checked out by a WI CO a couple of weeks back on the Croix. He went through everything, including asking for my friend’s wearable which said friend then removed from the front hatch. CO didn’t say anything other than my boat may need some new number decals which are pealing. I told him he better put his lights on as it was getting dark, we were already lit up. Love my Floatright!

I don’t think you have any basis for filing a complaint. You were traveling faster than a no-wake speed and your life jacket was in a compartment. Both clear violations of the laws that have been previously posted. I don’t see that the officer did anything wrong.

I’m not trying to be difficult, but especially since he just gave you a warning, I’d drop it.

Because of the way the law is written and people view the whole accessible thing differently, I’ve asked county and dnr enforcement what the law is.

One will tell me in an unlocked compartment (Dakota County water Patrol) one will say out of any compartment (Washington County and the DNR)…although I’m going to guess it might depend on which officer I ask.

So…my policy was to keep the throwable attached to the snap compartment in the bow. Grab it and go…and wear one of the many Class Five PFD on the market today. Class V meaning it must be worn to be legal.

No wear lifie jacket…boat no go.

No law enforcement has said boo to me in over 3 years.

I encourage every one that goes on the water to ask their Favorite Spouse for one of the auto inflate PFD’s on the market today for their birthday or Christmas. They are just too comfortable!

I got a warning about 8 years ago for not haveing my throw cusion out ( normally I do have it out). My life Vest was on the floor but he said I still need a cusion out. My arguement was since I was out fishing by myselfe who would throw it to me if I needed it. He was stumped. He just said that is the law.

They just want everybody to be safe.

Had one stop me for going to fast through Kinny during high water. I litteraly would move backward (down river) if I had no wake. I gave it just enough to move forward and they stopped me and threatened a ticket. I challenged them to go below the Kinny and come back up with out a wake. Of coarse they declined my challenge and let me off with a warning
but common sense has nothing to do with the law with some of the officers. And you are right, There is no clear interpretation of the law on wake or life jackets. It can be a loosing situation if you take one interepretation as bible.