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Whether you
are a year-round, a seasonal resident, or just visiting for the
day, we hope that you have an enjoyable time. The following boating
rules and courtesies have been drafted through the combined efforts
of the Glen Echo Improvement Association, Inc. (GEIA) and the Glen
Echo Lake Ski Club. You will find that most of these rules follow
existing MA State Boating Laws which are enforceable by officers
from both the Charlton Police Department and the Environmental Police
Division of Law Enforcement who regularly patrol our lake. We hope
that by following these boating laws and common sense courtesies,
Glen Echo Lake will continue to be a safe and happy place for all
to enjoy.
Important
Telephone Numbers
Charlton Police
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergency: (508) 248-2250
Ambulance: 9-1-1
Environmental Police: (800) 632-8075
State Police: (508) 347-3352
Massachusetts Law Chapter 91 of the Acts of 2006
An act increasing
the speed limit for boating within the narrows in Glen Echo Lake
in the Town of Charlton.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:
Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the
contrary, the speed limit for motor boating through The Narrows
of Glen Echo Lake in the Town of Charlton shall be 35 miles per
hour within a clearly marked channel. The channel shall have a minimum
width of 120 feet. Swimming shall be prohibited with the channel.
Approved May 31, 2006
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!
Non-native plant and animal species can have a negative impact on ecosystems. Help prevent introduction of nuisance aquatic plants and animals in Glen Echo Lake by:
- Cleaning your boat and trailer of any plant fragments or animals before and after entering the water.
- Disposing of material far away from water bodies.
- Eliminating water from equipment before transporting.
- Never releasing plants, fish or animals from a body of water unless they came from that water body.
BOAT
OPERATION
* Mass. State Law
- Traffic flows counter-clockwise
on Glen Echo Lake. Please go with the flow and avoid accidents
and confrontations.
- Powerboats driving
into the North (small) end of the lake should not turn until they
have come to the known end of the lake.
- Drivers and passengers
should be seated at all times.
- Avoid following any
boat pulling a skier or recreational tow. If someone falls you
cannot believe how fast the trailing boat can catch up.
- Always stop when signaled by a Police Officer or if involved in an accident.
- * Operators of power
boats must be 16 years or older unless accompanied on-board by
a competent adult 18 years old or older, OR who are persons
who have successfully completed the U.S.C.G. approved basic boating
course.
- *Observe the
MA State daytime speed limit of 35 MPH through the NARROWS.
Boats MUST stay within the marked boat channel.
- **Observe the MA
state daytime speed limit of 45 MPH for powerboats. Nighttime
speed limit is 6 MPH (headway speed) sunset to sunrise.
- * Always have U.S.
Coast Guard (C.G.) APPROVED PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (PFD)
for everyone in your boat, power or non-power. State law requires
children twelve years of age and under to wear an approved PFD
whenever they are in any type of boat.
- * Operate at a safe
distance from shore - MA State law is 150 feet from shore or a
public swimming area. Swimmers may be underwater and not visible
to you as you approach.
- * NEVER
operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- * Make sure your boat
is properly equipped with muffler and underwater exhaust.
THE NARROWS
- *Observe MA
State daytime speed limit of 35 MPH through the NARROWS.
Boats MUST stay within the marked boat channel
- *Do not swim in the
boating channel.
- Water-skiers, tubers,
etc., SHOULD stay DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BOAT when
traveling through the NARROWS.
- Do not ski around
the buoys in the narrows.
WE ARE A SMALL LAKE. PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE, COURTESY AND EXTRA CAUTION WHEN TRAFFIC IS HEAVY
- *Powerboats must yield
right of way to canoes, sailboats, rowboats, and swimmers. It
doesn't take too much effort to slow or turn; you may get a smile
or wave in return.
- *All craft must display
running lights, red and green-fore, white-aft, from sunset to
sunrise. It's amazing how well an unlit boat blends into the water
at night. If other boat operators can't see you, they can't avoid
you.
- *Keep to the right
when approaching another boat head-on. When approaching at a right
angle, the boat on the right has the right of way.
- *If you are in trouble,
the distress signal is 5 or more short blasts on the horn or a
red flag.
- *All of the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as set forth by the Boating
Division of Law Enforcement, Massachusetts General Law Chapter
90B, and the Division of Law Enforcement Regulations, 323 CMR
1.00-5.00 and Massachusetts Law Chapter 91 Acts of 2006 apply
to our lake.
WATER
SKIIING AND RECREATIONAL TOWING
- Water-skiers, tubers,
etc., SHOULD stay DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BOAT when
traveling through the NARROWS.
- Do not ski around
the buoys in the narrows.
- When dropping a ski,
drop it in front of your own property and retrieve the dropped
ski as soon as possible.
- *All boats pulling
a water-skier or recreational tow must have a qualified observer
in the boat (12 years or older).
- *No water-skiing or
towing between sunset and sunrise or when visibility is too poor
to be deemed safe.
- *All water-skiers,
tubers, etc., MUST wear a USCG approved PFD Type I, II,
or III.
- *All boats used for
water-skiing must be equipped with a ladder, steps or similar
means by which any person being towed can be taken from the water.
GENERAL
COURTESIES
- Reflectors must be
on any objects that project from the water. Rafts and extended
docks can be difficult to see at night even when you have a good
idea where they are.
- Please help keep our
lake clean. Place a trash bag in your boat and use it.
- Do not swim further
than 50 feet from shore unless along side a boat. Boat operators
are busy navigating and watching for other boats, they may not
see a swimmer who is 90% under the water.
- Our lake is small.
We urge residents to discourage visitors from bringing power boats
or PWCs onto the lake. If you do have visitors who bring any type
of motorized craft onto the water, please advise them of the current
rules.
PERSONAL
WATERCRAFT (PWC)
(Jetskis, wet bike, surf jet, etc.)
- Traffic flows counter-clockwise
on Glen Echo Lake. Please go with the flow and avoid accidents
and confrontations
- PWC driving into the
North (small) end of the lake should not turn until they have
come to the known end of the lake
- *No persons under
the age of 16 may operate a PWC. Persons 16-17 years of age must
complete a basic boating course and an additional class on PWC
operation and have a "Safety Certificate" given by the USCG or
Environmental Police Division of Law Enforcement in their possession
when operating a PWC. Violation of this one can be very expensive.
- *You must wear a USCG
approved PFD Type I, II or III when on a personal watercraft.
- *DO NOT operate a
PWC in a negligent manner, such as:
- unreasonable jumping
or attempting to jump the wake of another vessel;
- following within
150 feet of a skier or recreational tow;
- speeding in restricted
areas;
- crossing unreasonably
close to another vessel;
- operating in such
a manner as to endanger life, limb, or property of another
person;
- towing a water-skier
or any person in any manner;
- operating a PWC
between sunset and sunrise or when visibility is too poor
to be deemed safe;
- weaving through
congested traffic
- *Observe MA State
daytime speed limit of 45 MPH. Since PWC do not have lights,
they may not be operated at night.
- *Observe MA State
daytime speed limit of 35 MPH through the NARROWS.
PWC MUST stay within the marked boat channel.
- *Keep 150 feet from
shore, other craft, swimmers, etc.
We
all share the same front yard!
Boating
Rules and Courtesies Latest Revision: January 2006
MA EnvPolice Boat Course List
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