Moraine State Park manager outlines rules and regulations for those ready to set sail
Just like many outdoor activities, boating took off during the pandemic and the popularity has not fallen off since. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, U.S. boat sales rose 40% during the pandemic — one-third of those sales to first-time boat owners — and reached numbers not seen since 2008. Over 100 million Americans go boating each year, according to the association.
Unfortunately, an increase in boat sales, especially among first-time boat owners also led to an increase in accidents, injuries and deaths among boaters. At Moraine State Park, safety concerns are the reason for the rules and regulations for boaters at Lake Arthur.
The first step to boating is to make sure that registrations are up-to-date. This an be especially important to know for first-time boaters who haven’t had to go through the process of having their boats registered yet.
“From a safety perspective and from a permit and registration perspective,” Moraine State Park manager Dustin Drew said, “the first thing to know is what kind of boat you have, what kind of registration or permit you may need.”
