Search
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2007

Free Watercraft Safety Inspections Offered As Ohio Promotes Boating Safety Awareness

Free Inspections Schedule
Central Ohio
May 5-6 Gander Mountain, Hilliard Store 9 am to 3 pm
May 5-6 Gander Mountain, Reynoldsburg Store 9 am to 3 pm
May 20 Deer Creek Reservoir, Mt. Sterling 11 am to 1 pm
Northeast Ohio
April 29  Avon Lake, Route 6 Ramp 7:30 am to 2 pm
May 5-6 Gander Mountain, Elyria Store 10 am to 2 pm
May 5-6  Portage Lakes, New Boat Ramp 7 am to 10 am
May 5-6 West Branch Reservoir 7 am to 10 am
May 5-6 Gander Mountain, Twinsburg Store 11 am to 2 pm
May 5-6    Gander Mountain, North Canton Store 10:30 am to 2 pm
May 5  Mosquito Creek Lake, South Ramp 7 am to 10 am
May 5 Gander Mountain, Warren Store 10:30 am to 2 pm
May 6 Gander Mountain, Mentor Store 10 am to 3 pm
May 6 Mosquito Creek Lake, South Ramp 8 am to 11 am
May 6  Gander Mountain, North Canton Store 10:30 am to 2 pm
May 6     Gander Mountain, Warren Store 11:30 am to 2 pm
May 19-20 Portage Lakes, New Boat Ramp 9 am to 3 pm
May 19-20 West Branch Reservoir, West Ramp 9 am to Noon
May 19-20 Lake Milton, Robinson Pt. & Point View 8 am to 5 pm
May 19 Lake Erie, E. 55th Street Marina Cleveland 10 am to 2 pm
May 19  Black River, Spitzer Lakeside Marine 10 am to 2 pm
May 19 Atwood Lake, Main Ramp 10 am to Noon
May 19 Charles Mill Reservoir, Main Ramp 9 am to 1 pm
May 19 Tappan Lake, Main Ramp 9 am to 1 pm
May 20 Tappan Lake, Route 250 Ramp 10 am to Noon
May 20 Atwood Lake, Route 212 Ramp 9 am to Noon
May 20 Clendening Lake, Route 799 Ramp 9 am to Noon
May 20 Pleasant Hill Lake, Main Ramp 9 am to Noon
May 24-25 Black River, Lorain Hot Waters Ramp 10 am to 2 pm
May 26-27 Portage Lakes, New Boat Ramp 9 am to 3 pm
May 26-27 West Branch Reservoir, West Ramp 9 am to Noon
May 26-27 Berlin Reservoir, Campground Boat Ramp 8 am to 5 pm
May 27  Chippewa Lake, Gloria Glens Area 10 am to Noon
May 29 Portage Lakes, Goodyear Boating Association 9 am to 1 pm
June 2 Black River, Spitzer Lakeside Marine 10 am to 2 pm
June 2  Lake Erie, 55th Street Marina, Cleveland 10 am to 2 pm
June 9  Vermilion River, Maple Grove Marina 10 am to 2 pm
June 9-10 Mosquito Creek Lake State Park 8 am to 2 pm
Northwest Ohio
May 5-6  Lake Erie Islands Visitor Center
Rt. 53 in Port Clinton		 11 am to 1 pm
May 5-6 Gander Mountain, Toledo Store 10 am to 2 pm
May 6 Catawba Island State Park Ramp, Port Clinton 7 am to 9 am
May 19  Indian Lake, Blackhawk Ramp 8 am to 11 am
May 20 Indian Lake, Lakeview Ramp 8 am to Noon
May 20 Grand Lake St. Marys, West Bank Ramp 8 am to Noon
May 24 Indian lake, Moundwood Ramp 8 am to 10 am
May 25 Indian Lake, Blackhawk Ramp 8 am to Noon
May 25 Grand Lake St. Marys, East Bank Ramp 8 am to Noon
May 26 Indian Lake, Lakeview Ramp 8 am to Noon
May 26 Grand Lake St. Marys, West Bank Ramp 8 am to Noon
May 27  Huron Lagoons, Huron Lagoons Marina 10 am to 4 pm
June 3 Son Rise Marina, Sandusky 9 am to 4 pm
June 4 Son Rise Marina, Sandusky 9 am to 3 pm
Southwest Ohio
April 28 Spring Lakes Park, Bellbrook
(Greene County Boat and Fish Day)		 9 am to 4 pm
May 1  Greene County Highway Dept.
615 Dayton-Xenia Road, Xenia
(Hosted By Xenia Sportsmen Club)		 6 pm to 7:30 pm
May 5 Gander Mountain, Huber Heights Store 10 am to 2 pm
May 12-13 East Fork Lake, Tate Ramp Noon to 1 pm
May 19 Rocky Fork Lake 11 am to Noon
May 19  Buck Creek State Park, Springfield 3 pm to 5 pm
May 20  Paint Creek Lake 11 am to Noon
May 20  Acton Lake 11 am to 1 pm
May 20 East Fork Lake, Tate Ramp Noon to 1 pm
May 21 Buck Creek State Park 4 pm to 6 pm
May 22 Caesar Creek Lake, Wellman Ramp 10 am to Noon
May 25 Buck Creek State Park 4 pm to 6 pm
May 25 Acton Lake 4 pm to 6 pm
May 26 Cowan Lake Noon to 2 pm
Southeast Ohio
May 18-19 Ohio River, Harris Riverfront Park
in Huntington, WV
(National Maritime Days Celebration)		 10 am to 4 pm
May 19 Lake Logan 3 pm to 4 pm
May 19 Huntington (WV) Riverfront Park Noon to 2 pm
May 19 Jackson Lake Noon to 1 pm
May 19 Seneca Lake, Main Ramp 9 am to 1 pm
May 19-20 Salt Fork Lake, Morning Glory Ramp 10 am to Noon
May 19-20 Salt Fork Lake, Marina Ramp 10 am to Noon
May 20 Lake Hope 2 pm to 3 pm
May 20 Ohio River, Holiday Point Marina Noon to 1 pm
May 20   Ohio River, Ginatt Run Ramp Noon to 1 pm
May 20 Seneca Lake, Main Ramp 10 am to Noon
May 20 Dillon Lake, Big Run Ramp 10 am to Noon
May 20 Burr Oak Lake, Main Ramp 10 am to Noon
COLUMBUS, OH - Recreational boaters will benefit from free watercraft safety inspections offered during May by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft and its boating partners, including the U.S. Power Squadrons, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and some local marine patrols.


The safety inspections are aimed at increasing boating safety awareness at a time when many Ohioans are launching their boats for the season.

Watercraft officers will not issue citations, but will instead provide written inspection reports that allow boat owners to make recommended improvements to their safety equipment.

Officers and safety inspectors will look for properly working fire extinguishers, horns, navigational lights, distress signals and an adequate number of U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets that are the proper style, size and type for any of the boat’s likely passengers.

A limited number of floating key chains ideal for carrying a watercraft registration will be distributed to boaters whose vessels undergo the safety inspections.

During Safe Boating Week (May 19-25), watercraft officers will also distribute a limited supply of wrist bracelets inscribed with the words, “Wear Your Life Jacket,” to boaters they observe who are properly wearing a life jacket. 

-30-

For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, ODNR Division of Watercraft
(614) 265-6695
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860