Lake of the Ozarks 2009 Vacation & Service Guide - (Page 122) BOATING Boating at the Lake Your own boat is always welcome at the Lake of the Ozarks. Bring it along and launch it at one of the area’s nine public access ramps at Bagnell Dam, Gravois Mills, Sunrise Beach, Lake of the Ozarks State Park and other locations. Some charge a small access fee and also offer gas and convenience items. Or you can use the launching ramp at one of the Lake’s many full-service commercial marinas, where you also can purchase gas and supplies. Staying overnight? Several lodging facilities offer private boat slips so you can step out your door, right onto your boat. No boat is no problem here. Speedboats, pontoons, fishing boats and personal watercraft can be rented by the hour, day or more at marinas, resorts and campgrounds. Be sure to check on Missouri’s requirements regarding boating safety certification for residents and visitors. For an easy and enjoyable boat ride, take a leisurely Lake cruise. Several vessels operate from early spring through late fall and offer relaxing and informative scenic tours, as well as dinner, dancing and other special excursions. Numerous charter services operate at the Lake of the Ozarks. Many people find chartering a boat for an hour or a day is just right for a romantic sunset cruise or a relaxing day out on the Lake. And why drive to a restaurant when you can cruise there? Another unique way to cruise the Lake of the Ozarks is by houseboat. Forever Resorts Houseboat Rentals offer deluxe houseboats for an unforgettable Lake cruising experience. Spacious and comfortable, some have an upper-deck hot tub and bar! Always designate a sober captain if you’ll be drinking while cruising. Remember, Missouri’s legal blood alcohol content for operating a vessel recently dropped from .10% to .08%. “Think Before You Sink” and have a safe and enjoyable time at the Lake of the Ozarks! 10 Missouri Boating Laws You Should Know (This is only a partial list of Missouri Boating Laws.) 1. Life jackets must be accessible for every person on board a watercraft. Children under the age of seven must wear a life jacket at all times while on board a watercraft. All persons must wear a life jacket when on a PWC. 2. Navigation lights are required on all boats underway between sunset and sunrise. 3. Proper ventilation is required of every vessel. 4. Fire extinguishers are required equipment on all motorized watercraft carrying or using flammable or toxic fluid such as gasoline or propane. 5. Registration is required of all motorized watercraft regardless of horsepower; all sailboats twelve feet and over in length are required to be registered. 6. The operator of any boat being used for towing a person on water skis, inner tube or similar device must have another person aboard the vessel, seated in a position so as to observe the progress of the person or persons being towed unless the vessel is equipped with a ski mirror approved by the Missouri State Water Patrol, mounted so that the progress of the skier can be observed by the operator. An orange or red skier down flag must be displayed any time people are in the water. PWCs and moored or anchored boats are exempt from displaying the flag. 7. Riding on the bow, gunwales, railing, top of seat back and decking over the back of a motorboat is prohibited. 8. Boater Education; anyone born after 1/1/1984, who wants to operate a vessel on the lakes of Missouri, must have successfully completed a certified boating safety course and carry proof of successful completion. 9. All marker buoys, such as No Wake buoys, apply to all motorized vessels, including all personal watercraft. 10. Operating a boat while intoxicated is a state offense, subject to a $5,000 fine and 1-5 years in jail, for a felony conviction. Boating handbooks are available at: Any Missouri Department of Revenue License Bureau The Missouri State Water Patrol (573) 751-3333 Online at mswp.dps.mo.gov 122 http://mswp.dps.mo.gov
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