Vessel Safety Check: A Good Idea

Here is one instance when "you get what you pay for" doesn't hold water: A free vessel safety inspection from the Division of Watercraft or one of our boating partners. These free inspections generally are held at public boat launch ramps and special events across Ohio April through early June and help increase boating safety awareness at a time when many Ohioans are launching their boats for the first time this season.

Trained personnel provide written courtesy inspections that allow you to make any recommended improvements to your boat's safety equipment before you hit the water. The inspectors examine fire extinguishers, navigational lights, horns, distress signals and other required safety equipment to ensure they are available and in good working order. Life jackets and flotation devices are also checked to make sure they are the proper type required for your boat and in good, serviceable condition as required by law. Bring all the life jackets you have to the vessel safety inspection so they all can be checked.

Articles

Outdoor Recreation

It may seem like kids aren't getting outside much these days, but take heart... the numbers are looking up! Family has the greatest influence on getting youth outdoors.

National Safe Boating Week Events

80% of people who drown in boating accidents aren't wearing a life jacket. May 21-27, 2011 is National Safe Boating Week.

Wear It Ohio

The Division is gearing up for another season of Wear It Ohio -- a life jacket awareness campaign that includes a loaner program.

Boater Code of Conduct: Part II

This year the Division of Watercraft is introducing a list of best boating practices known as the “Boater Code of Conduct” to promote boating safety awareness. These tips are included in the Division’s 2011 Calendar/2010 Annual Report, they are found on our web site, and they are featured here, in the Buckeye Boater. Here are 3 more best boater practices.

Great Destinations

Ready to start planning your boat outings for this year? Here's a short overview of Ohio boating opportunities to get you started.

Event Highlights

Fishing News

Ohio River Fishing Regulations

The Ohio Wildlife Council plans to vote on April 6 to move towards unification of fishing regulations along the entire Ohio River. The Ohio River Fisheries Management Team, which consists of the fishery resource managers from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, is working towards greater uniformity in regulations between the eastern and western units of the Ohio River, and throughout the river among all border states. This will mean that Ohio River anglers will encounter the same fishing regulations at any place on the Ohio River. News Release

Fish Catch Limits Unchanged

Despite a winter full of speculation that daily catch limits for Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch might be changed, the good news from the Ohio Division of Wildlife is that no such changes will occur this season. This means that the daily bag limit of six walleye per angler again will be in effect on Lake Erie and its tributaries May 1 through the last day of February 2012. The current daily bag limit for the Lake Erie region is four walleye per angler March 1 through April 30. The legal minimum length for keeper walleye is 15 inches. The current daily catch limit of 30 yellow perch across Lake Erie also remains unchanged. See www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife for fishing rules and license info.

Safety Tips

Boating Facility News

Marina Grant

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced March 14 it has awarded more than $13.5 million in grants to 11 states for 16 separate boating facility projects. Included is a $1,450,000 grant award through the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program to fund construction of a new transient marina facility along the downtown Cleveland lakefront adjacent to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at North Coast Harbor. The City of Cleveland is contributing $509,600 toward project construction that will include more than 50 transient boat slips, floating docks and shower, restroom and laundry facilities among other amenities. Construction of the North Coast Harbor marina is expected to begin in early April. The Division of Watercraft administers the BIG program for the State of Ohio. www.fws.gov

Middle Bass Island

Improvements to the Middle Bass Island Marina continue this year with plans to spend nearly $2,000,000 for construction of a harbor master facility that will include office and retail space, a reception area, public restrooms with showers, laundry facilities, and covered exterior spaces. Additional work includes installation of water, wastewater and electric utilities, landscaping, marina area lighting, site furnishings, parking, and accessible pedestrian access. The new building will serve both marina and day-use visitors to Middle Bass Island State Park. Approximately $1,000,000 from the Waterways Safety Fund has been allocated for this construction.

Repair Projects

Division of Watercraft will provide $168,157 for urgent boat launch facility repairs and maintenance at 14 sites statewide this spring through the Waterways Safety Fund. The projects range in cost from a low of $4,136 to a high of $20,000 and will be completed by June 1. Eleven projects are at Ohio State Park lakes.

Registration News

Ohio Boat Registrations Hit Record in 2010

In spite of a sluggish economy, Ohioans for the second straight year pushed Ohio watercraft registrations to a record high. Ohio posted a record 424,700 registered boats, significantly higher than the previous record of 419,364 reported in 2009. The totals do not include more than 6,400 additional watercraft, mostly canoes and kayaks, that were registered through commercial liveries. A listing of watercraft registrations for each of Ohio’s 88 counties is available here. Counties with the highest number of watercraft registrations last year remained unchanged from 2010 and include Franklin, Cuyahoga, Summit, Hamilton and Montgomery.

Online Boat Registration Renewal Available to Many

If you let your boat registration lapse in 2009 or 2010, you may yet be able to renew online. If you still have your renewal letter, you have the PIN you need to get your registration updated via the internet. If you don't have your renewal letter, email us with your boat number. If you choose to renew online, remember: Your boat isn't legal until the decal is displayed.

New Registration Agents

Mahoning County:
Union Square License Bureau, 667 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown, 330-746-4621

Medina County:
Wadsworth License Bureau, 123 Broad Street Suite A, Wadsworth, 330-336-4485

Summit County:
Barberton License Bureau, 107 5th Street SE, Barberton, 330-745-1455

Reaching Out to Boaters

The Division of Watercraft is participating this spring in the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) “Lapsed Boat Registration Pilot Program” that seeks to increase boat registration renewals among lapsed boaters. Ohio is the second state to join the effort developed by RBFF. The pilot program began in Oregon in 2009 when RBFF contacted boat owners who had not renewed their registrations since 2007. RBFF sent direct mail pieces that targeted both angler and non-angler households, reminding boat owners of the importance of renewing their boat's registration.