Maine Boaters Heed No Wake and Headway Speed Zones

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Maine Boaters Heed No Wake and Headway Speed Zones

Maine Boaters Heed No Wake and Headway Speed Zones

Twilight Descends Upon Damariscotta Lake in Midcoast Maine

by Leigh Macmillen Hayes
Imagine yourself sitting on the dock at your Maine lakefront property or standing on your paddle board in the lake, when . . . VROOM. A boat zooms by at half throttle creating a wake with ocean-size waves.

 

 

 

 

 


Perhaps they don’t realize that there are “no wake” and “headway speed” zones in Maine. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.
Maine law prohibits the operation of personal watercraft at a speed greater than headway while within a water safety zone:
Improper Speed or Distance is not keeping a proper speed and distance while operating a vessel. You may not:
Operate at a rate of speed that is not reasonable and prudent for existing conditions.
Operators must regulate their speed to avoid endangering, injuring, or unnecessarily inconveniencing another vessel and its occupants, whether anchored or underway.
Operators also must also consider the effect of their vessel’s wake on waterfront piers, floats, other property, or shorelines.
In addition, Maine law states the following: “Headway Speed” means the slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering and control of the vessel.
Again, you may not:
Operate a vessel at greater than “headway speed” while within 200 feet of any shoreline, including islands or within a marina or an approved anchorage in coastal or inland waters
Exception: Vessels may operate at greater than headway speed in the areas listed above while actively fishing or while following a direct course to pick up or drop off skiers.
It’s the law. Think: safety of other boaters; prevention of damage to boats tied up to docks; reduction of shoreline erosion.
As a boater, what can you do?
Be aware of your boat’s wake at various speeds
Slow down when in advance of entering a water safety zone, making sure your boat is level
Encourage passengers to position themselves so they help keep the boat level—you don’t want all the weight in the stern
Be considerate of others
Set a good example
To learn about lakefront properties for sale in Damariscotta, click on the green box above.
To learn more about the Damariscotta and Midcoast Lakes Region, check out the blog links below.
Paradise Pond, Damariscotta, Maine: Serene Setting for On The Pond Lakefront Property Owners
Damariscotta Lake, Newcastle, Nobleboro and Jefferson, Maine: Miles of Exploration Opportunities for Lakefront Property Owners

 

 

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