To Minnesota boaters with trailers

[Navy Jr.]

Sorry if this has already been posted, but I learned a little more about the new law passed in Minnesota effective this past July 1st regarding those who trailer their boats.

What I already knew was that there is now a law that all lake water must be drained from the boat after it has been retrieved at the ramp (it was just common sense before, but now it is law). This includes the motor, live wells, the bilge and any other areas where lake water may have collected. The idea is to prevent mixing one lake's water with the water in another.

What I didn't know was that the drain plug must remain out of the bilge when towing the boat. I have always checked to make sure the plug was put back in before leaving for the lake, then double-checked it upon arrival at the ramp. But no more. The DNR guy explained leaving the plug in while towing could be a $100 ticket. Ouch!

 

[GeoHawk]

Re: To Minnesota boaters with trailers

Thanks, that's good to know. We pass through MN on our way up to Lake of the Woods every summer. Though I don't normally leave the drain plug in, I'll be sure to double check next year.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: To Minnesota boaters with trailers

Yeah, I think that is part of our new law to help curb zebra mussell and other infestations.
They want as little water as possible placed from lake to lake.
The launches hopefully have the new rules posted, and usually the law enforcement is out to spread the word for a few weeks before they start writing citations.
My lake (Prior Lake, south metro) had zebra mussels discovered last year, but so far they've not found my boat, knock wood.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: To Minnesota boaters with trailers

I think it's a ploy to increase membership in the no plug at the ramp club.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: To Minnesota boaters with trailers

Never heard of that one, had to look it up. My plug is always in, and was on the way up Gull, over to Bear Trap and back home last week. Guess I'm lucky nobody was checking.


Regulations on transport of water
As of July 1, 2010, the following regulations, apply to the transportation of water by boaters from all waters in the state (violations are misdemeanors):

a person leaving waters of the state must drain boating-related equipment holding water and live wells and bilges by removing the drain plug before transporting the watercraft and associated equipment on public roads; and
drain plugs, bailers, valves, or other devices used to control the draining of water from ballast tanks, bilges, and live wells must be removed or opened while transporting watercraft on a public road (marine sanitary systems and portable bait containers are excluded from this requirement).


It also appears that the fine is $250

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3355.0.html&session=ls86

 

[Mntom]

Re: To Minnesota boaters with trailers

A couple of weeks ago I got a written warning for not dumping the water out of a bait bucket. The CO told me had I not pulled the plug he would have given me a citation instead.