Articles· July 7, 2025
Safety Series: Boating in Michigan
According to the most recent available figures from the U.S. Coast Guard, drowning was the reported cause of 75% of recreational boating deaths (where the cause of death was...
Boaters and most personal watercraft operators who operate a vessel must earn a boating safety certificate either in person or online.
Before you get going, give your boat a thorough once-over and stock up on essential safety gear including U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets and other personal floatation devices, fire extinguishers and distress signals.
If you're unfamiliar with the area, use navigation charts or GPS to avoid any surprises.
Know your signs. Along many waterways, buoys and markers guide boaters and identify potentially dangerous areas.
Leave a float plan with someone on shore. This should include details about the vessel, your planned route, your expected return time and the information of each person on board including an emergency contact.
Leave the adult beverages on shore. Michigan takes boating under the influence very seriously.
When you're out there, be mindful of speed limits and no-wake zones, and always give way to boats on your right.
Keep an eye on the time. Most state-sponsored boating access sites are closed between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. unless otherwise posted.
Get more tips from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and download the complete handbook to Michigan’s boating laws . Then, find your adventures on Michigan’s waterways .
Good to know
Frequently Asked
Everything you need to know before you go. Don’t see your question? Our AI concierge is one tap away.
Drowning is the reported cause of 75% of recreational boating deaths (where the cause of death was known); 87% of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
Boaters and most personal watercraft operators who operate a vessel must earn a boating safety certificate either in person or online.
Give your boat a thorough once-over and stock up on essential safety gear including U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets and other personal floatation devices, fire extinguishers and distress signals.
Leave a float plan with someone on shore. This should include details about the vessel, your planned route, your expected return time and the information of each person on board including an emergency contact.
Keep exploring
You might also like
Family-Friendly Winter Adventures in Munising
While the Munising area is a popular destination in the summertime, the little city along pristine Lake Superior shoreline also has plenty of family-friendly recreational options...
Spring into an RV and Camping Adventure
Camping and RVing anywhere in Michigan is spectacular. When you pick a picturesque site near a lake, river or stream, it becomes pure magic.
Unplug and Reconnect with a Great Family Camping Adventure
If you love the outdoors and exploring the beautiful state of Michigan, then you need to attend a Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) RV and...
Adventures on Michigan’s Waterways
It’s worth exploring beyond the Great Lakes for more water fun throughout Michigan’s inland lakes, rivers and water trails.
Curtain Up: 17 Places to Experience Pure Michigan Theatre
Whether you’re interested in a Shakespearean tragedy or a classic rendering of A Streetcar Named Desire, you’ll find live theater productions throughout the Great Lakes State
10 Ways to Experience Pure Michigan’s Fresh Fall Colors from Above
When the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, Michigan’s sugar maples burst into shades of scarlet and orange. Aspen and birch trees turn yellow and gold, stately white...