Memorial Day Weekend is here marking the start of the boating season for many!
With more people heading out to enjoy a day of boating or fishing, it is more important than ever to be a responsible boater to keep you and everyone on the water safe. Here are a few reminders:
- "Headway Speed" means the slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering and control of the watercraft. You must operate a watercraft at "headway speed" while:
- Within 200 feet of any shoreline, including islands.
- Within a marina or an approved anchorage in coastal or inland waters.
This law was designed to keep everyone on the water safe, reduce erosion, and to help protect wildlife such as loons that nest on the shoreline.
- When towing someone on water skis, a surfboard, tube, or another device, ALWAYS have a responsible person at least 12 years of age in a position to observe the towed person(s) continuously, in addition to the boat operator. The person(s) being towed must wear a life jacket.
- You are responsible for your wake. Always pay attention.
- Be respectful of others. Give other boaters, swimmers, and anglers plenty of space and always drive at a reasonable and prudent speed for conditions, congestion of other boats, and wildlife.
- ALWAYS wear a life jacket. If you think you will have time to put it on after you are in the water, think again.
- Stay alert! Never drink and boat.
Before you go, view all of Maine's boating laws at mefishwildlife.com/laws
Take a boating safety course, online or in-person
The key to an enjoyable boating season is to be safe and prepared, for yourself, your passengers, and everyone on the water. Take an online or in-person boater safety course to improve your knowledge of boating safety, laws, and rules.
Register for an online class or find an in-person class near you.
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Consider your impact! Help protect our waters for the next generation.
Maine waters, as well as the fish, wildlife, and recreation they support, are threatened each year by introductions of fish, plants, diseases, and other aquatic hitchhikers that compete with and displace native natural communities,
Once an invasive aquatic species has established in a body of water, it is extremely difficult for it to be eradicated. These efforts are costly, often risky, and not always successful.
Therefore, prevention is key. It’s our duty as those who enjoy using Maine’s waters to protect them against invasive species.
Help keep it Maine and stop the transport and spread of invasive species!
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CLEAN your gear before entering and leaving the water access site. Remove all plants, fish, animals, mud and debris from boots, gear, boat, trailer, and vehicle and throw it in the trash.
DRAIN bilge, ballast, wells and buckets away from the water before you leave the area.
DRY equipment completely before launching watercraft into another body of water.
DISPOSE of unused or unwanted bait baitfish on land or in the trash. Never release any live baitfish into a water body.
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Is your boat properly registered?
Boat registrations are valid from January 1 through December 31.
The easiest way to renew your boat registration is online at mefishwildlife.com, but not all towns have signed up with the state’s internet vendor, InforME, to do registrations. To see if your town allows online boat registration renewals, click here. To renew your boat registration online, click here.
First time boat registrations cannot be completed online, they must be done at the town office so the town can collect sales and excise tax.
Nonresidents: Boat registrations may be renewed online, but first time registrations cannot be done online or on the phone. If the boat will be kept in Maine waters for more than 60 days the boat must be registered in Maine in the town where the boat will be kept.
Watercraft with a valid registration in another state that are in Maine waters for less than 60 days do not require a Maine registration, but do require a Lake and River Protection Sticker.
Helpful links
Boat registration
Lake and river protection sticker
Aquatic Invasive Species awareness
Boating safety tips
Boating safety courses
Maine boating laws (PDF)
Stand up paddleboard guidelines (PDF)
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