Overnighting on Inland lake

[Cdubb2010]

Hi all,

This might be a dumb question but I've never seen it done on my lake so bear with me. Is it legal to overnight on a inland lake (in Michigan if that helps any). Im looking at a swing keel sailboat that has a cabin, so Ive had three of my friends just today ask if we are staying in it on the water. There is very little if any traffic on the water after dust and if there is any boats they are law enforcement most of the time. My understanding of overnighting is as long as your nav lights remain visable and you are away from shipping lanes (which there are none in this case) you are in the clear. Anyone have some experince with this topic? The lake is plenty large enough to take the boat out for a day on the water and this would be the cherry on top to see all the inns and outs of the new boat.

 

[roscoe]

Stay out for a week if you want.

Nav lights on ONLY while underway.

When anchored, only the white all around light can be on.

 

[Cdubb2010]

Awesome, thats what I wanted to hear, cheers man!

 

[Mischief Managed]

Only place I know of where it's illegal to anchor overnight on inland waters state-wide is New Hampshire. Have fun!

 

[JoshOnt]

You should be fine but I would suggest maybe a cove with a nice sunrise across the lake. Other than that have a great time.

 

[FunInDuhSun]

There's absolutely nothing better than spending the evening at anchor on a calm, clear night,
Well except maybe for waking up early on the water!

 

[jetboater]

Ohio prohibits sleeping on a boat overnight in any state owned lake or State Park lake. (this includes many of the inland lakes in the state). This applies whether you're moored, at anchor, or at a dock. if you're caught, it's a ticket for an $80 fine (for each person!)

May want to check what the laws are for the lake you'll be on before you go.

 

[Cdubb2010]

Thanks for the info everyone, I'll talk to the powers that may be beforehand, hopefully its allowed in Michigan.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

If you're trailering to the lake you might also check on the boat ramp rules too, I know at the river ramp close to the house "No Overnight Parking" is posted, though I think may be hard to enforce..

 

[roffey]

Ohio prohibits sleeping on a boat overnight in any state owned lake or State Park lake. (this includes many of the inland lakes in the state). This applies whether you're moored, at anchor, or at a dock. if you're caught, it's a ticket for an $80 fine (for each person!)

May want to check what the laws are for the lake you'll be on before you go.

Anyone in the know correct me, but here in Canada their are no "owned" lakes. You can own the land around the body of water but not the water. Further to that the first 15 feet (I think) are crown land and anyone can use it to walk or portage.

Crown land is the term used to describe land owned by the federal or provincial governments. Authority for control of these public lands rests with the Crown, hence their name

 

[Cdubb2010]

Anyone in the know correct me, but here in Canada their are no "owned" lakes. You can own the land around the body of water but not the water. Further to that the first 15 feet (I think) are crown land and anyone can use it to walk or portage.

Crown land is the term used to describe land owned by the federal or provincial governments. Authority for control of these public lands rests with the Crown, hence their name

Cant speak for Canada but I know there has been right-away and dock location wars in court for years on the lake Im speaking of. I half followed it since my families dock was not in question but I think it works kinda like that. I think rights go as far as the dock does, ours is 110' long, which is on par for the lake.

 

[roffey]

I think we have these laws in effect from when people would travel by water and more specifically canoe. I have waterfront and a dock and as far as I know I am the only one who can put a dock there but I can't stop people from fishing in front of the dock or walking around the lake and across "my property".

Your question is interesting. I know you must have lights and for obvious reasons you can't anchor in a shipping lane. I am sure I could anchor in any quite bay for the night or week? I will keep an eye on this thread. I have a runabout so over night is by accident only, LOL.

 

[MH Hawker]

I am on mostly COE lakes here in WV and while it is prohibited from camping on the banks its fine to sleep on the boat, i use one of the solar powered white lights for over nights.

 

[Cdubb2010]

Roffey,

Sounds like the laws are very similar between our areas in regards to property lines and right aways. Now I know about 15-18 years ago when I was a kid there was a big pig of a houseboat that people used to stay on at their dock, which would still get me overnight on the water. Now that's saying that laws haven't changed or if the cops looked the other way maybe someone complained. The later is very possible, it was a booming party spot day and night in the summers (to this day it's the only vessel I've ever seen that had TWO visible stripper poles lol). Hopefully when it warms up a bit more I'll see a boat cop at the gas station and ask him for the official stance on this.

 

[rallyart]

Anyone in the know correct me, but here in Canada their are no "owned" lakes. You can own the land around the body of water but not the water. Further to that the first 15 feet (I think) are crown land and anyone can use it to walk or portage.

Crown land is the term used to describe land owned by the federal or provincial governments. Authority for control of these public lands rests with the Crown, hence their name

There are owned lakes but they are all man made and do not have water inflow or outflow. Other water areas don't have a 15' rule by federal legislation. They do have the Crown land defined by the high and low water levels. In essence the 'lake' is the water and all land up to the high water mark. People who have foreshore rights can have there property (docks) there and they are private property but the land is not. ( much to the chagrin of, alternatively, visiting teenagers and wannabe private property cottage owners )

 

[jetboater]

There are owned lakes but they are all man made and do not have water inflow or outflow. Other water areas don't have a 15' rule by federal legislation. They do have the Crown land defined by the high and low water levels. In essence the 'lake' is the water and all land up to the high water mark. People who have foreshore rights can have there property (docks) there and they are private property but the land is not. ( much to the chagrin of, alternatively, visiting teenagers and wannabe private property cottage owners )

That's very similar to the way it is in Ohio. I live on a lake and the water up to the shoreline is actually a state park. I own the land to the water's edge. I have to have a permit for my two docks and pay an annual license fee for them to the state ($80) and when I wanted to rebuild them, I had to submit plans to the state park office for their approval (they were good to deal with).

Because my dock in state park waters, there's no sleeping on the boat even if it's tied up to it ---enforcement is pretty lax on the dock but pretty strict if you're just anchored out somewhere in the middle of the night.

There are a number of lakes not owned or controlled by the state (like COE lakes) and I'm sure the sleeping/camping rules vary a great deal.

 

[roffey]

There are owned lakes but they are all man made and do not have water inflow or outflow. Other water areas don't have a 15' rule by federal legislation. They do have the Crown land defined by the high and low water levels. In essence the 'lake' is the water and all land up to the high water mark. People who have foreshore rights can have there property (docks) there and they are private property but the land is not. ( much to the chagrin of, alternatively, visiting teenagers and wannabe private property cottage owners )

My father told me he did not own the waterfront and he could not stop people from walking along the shore line (not that he tried, but he did try and buy right up to the shore line) at my place I have never asked but just assumed it was the same rules. Reading your post you say the dock is private but the shore land is not? Makes sense as I would object if a random boater tied up to my dock and just walked away, LOL. You make a good point about the high water mark as it changes drastically from fall to spring, as much as 20 feet.