Hands UP, Don’t Run Me Over!

Lake Safety Committee
By: Bruce C. Bower

The title of this article is to draw your attention to what you should preach to your family and guests when they are in the water after being towed. As soon possible, they should put their hands up, over their heads, to draw attention of their presence to other boaters. If they have just fallen out of their skis, hold the ski or skis up vertically. Wave their arms so show where they are, not necessarily for you, but to any other boaters coming your way. One human head bobbing in the water is difficult to see, especially when there is a choppy surface. AND, get that flag up ASAP!

The Boat Patrol asked me to inform everyone to mark or paint your lot number on all your water toys, floats, skis, paddle boards, paddles, tubes, trampolines, and anything else that you want back if it gets lost. The Patrol finds things floating in the lake and wants a way to get the equipment back to the owners.

I have seen three different pontoon boats, at cruising speed, with people sitting outside the “playpen” of the boat. This is not only unbelievably dangerous, but against state law. Don’t do it!

There appears to be some question about “slow towing”. You can legally tow people on a tube in the no wake zones, at NO WAKE speed. Now there is something to get cleared by ODNR about slow tows in the designated NO-SKI zone at the south end. My interpretation is that you can slow-tow in this area, but once more at NO WAKE speed. I will have the official answer in the next article.

The lot number or address signs are still NOT on all waterfront docks or seawalls. It’s not expensive, it could be a life-saving item and it is a Village ordinance. What is so difficult about this procedure? If you can’t install the sign, call me, I’ll come over and mount it for you. Leave me a message. Oh, there are still boats that do not have their lot numbers in the correct location or position on their crafts. You get a packet of the rules every year with your boat tags. In there is the correct positions for mounting your address and your annual RRA sticker. Please get these errors corrected.

As always, call me with your thoughts or if you want to holler back at 216.906.2301. Think SAFETY Bower out.