Minimum Requirements for Lake Superior

[78cj5]

Csn someone tell me where I can find the minimum saftey requirements for Boating on Lake Superior?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Valv]

If you mean which size boat....there's no regulation.

You can use a canoe (in fact they are very popular along shore) and have no problem.

It all depends on what and where you are fishing, if you "venture" few miles offshore, you might want a decent size boat, 19ft or larger, if you go further out definitely a larger boat and possibly with twin engines (just in case 1 fails you still have 2nd).

If you stay within 1 mile or so from shore even a 16ft tiller will be fine, but BEWARE of weather changes.

[Wade Joseph]

I think he is refferring to Coast Guard regs. I too have been searching for them with no luck so I am gonna go with the standard, 3 flares, one whistle, one horn, one exstinguisher and propper life jackets, and a throwable.

I have also heard some scuttlebutt about an anchor with 150' of rope and a 6'chain and a kicker motor rquirement but I can't find it in writting anywhere.

Just the facts please

[Surface Tension]

The requirements change with boat length.

A audible signal device like an air horn. 150' of rope and chain, Flares that are up to date, fire exsting plus everything you need for inland waters.

Here are some other things you should have but are required.

Compass, GPS, cell phone, VHF radio, charts and bilge pump.

[Greg Hyovalti]

I had some questions about this myself, some one was telling me that you could only be on the lake a 1/2 hour before Sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset. I never beleived this myself. So I decieded to do some checking. I couldn't find anything on the coast gaurd web site but did find a refrence to the DNR, I contacted them yesterday and she got a good cuckle out of my question, she did tell me how ever that in a few weeks they will have a boating guide specific to Lake Superior available It has maps, safety and regulation info - both fed. & state and other good stuff on harbors, accesses etc

[78cj5]

Right, I was talking about equipment regulations...

I have not been able to come up with something definitive on required equipment.

[Hydra Sport]

I am not aware of any regs that indicate a size requirement for being on Superior. As has been indicated people do go out with anything from a canoe to a 50 foot sailboat. The real question that people need to take to heart is how much risk am I taking on by taking any particular craft. Also how much risk am I creating by going any particular distance from land. Valv's correct. It is all about the weather. For any of you who have had the misfortune to get caught out on Mille lacs in bad stuff you know how nasty large water can get. I always think back to a picture that was in the paper several years ago on opening day. It showed what was referred to as a 23 foot boat rocked up on a wave and the photographer's shot showed the complete deck of the boat as though being shot from the air. I am sure these guys thought they had a good boat for Mille Lacs. Again its all about the weather. If something brews can you cope with what it throws at you. have you provided enough of a safety net for yourself. And family!!

[outdoor ran]

Frank, I was boarded by the coast guard on the river on the opener and I asked him about the having a chain for LK Superior and he said that by law you didn't need it.

Have you made it out on the big pond? How did you do?

[78cj5]

Quote:

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Have you made it out on the big pond? How did you do?

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We spent one full day on the St. Louis River, the Harbor, a a couple of hours on the Lake near the Knife River. Fishing was slow but it was an excellent education marking many potential areas to work at a later date. The lake was like glass on Friday and there were no immediate weather concerns. We listened to the radio for changing conditions all day. It was very exciting and frightening to head out onto the lake (from the Superior side of the Harbor). The long runs were nice, putting on over 70 miles for the day.

I can't wait to go again, but it will have to be another fair-weather day...