- All vessel operation on the great pond known as Webster Lake in the
Town of Webster shall comply with the following Webster Lake Rules and
Regulations. Massachusetts General Laws c. 90B and the Division of Law
Enforcement Regulations 323 CMR 1.00-5.00
- All General Laws and Rules and Regulations shall be enforced by officers
of the Webster Policies Department and the Massachusetts Environmental
Policies as those laws apply to M.G.L C. 90B.
- No person shall operate a motorboat after drinking intoxicating liquor,
taking narcotic drugs, barbiturates, or marijuana. No alcoholic beverages
shall be carried on board a motorboat at any time.
- No person shall operate or permit the operation of any motorboat without
a valid certificate of number (registration).
- The certificate of number(registration) shall be carried on board or
person. Certificate numbers shall be displayed in size "3" block
of contrasting hull color.
- All motor boat equipment on board shall comply with M.G.L. C. 90B and
123 CMR 2.06: Generally this will include: lights, paddle, anchor line,
bailer, sounding device, fire extinguisher, USCG approved personal floatation
device (PFD) type I, II, III, or IV for each person on board, muffler
or under water exhaust, and flame arrestor (inboards only).
- All persons shall stop when directed to do so by a police officer in
uniform or any authorized person showing a badge.
- No person shall operate a motorboat negligently with a person in tow
as to endanger the lives of the public. No person shall be towed after
sunset or before sunrise.
- All persons in tow shall wear a USCG approved PFD of type I, II, or
II: except as outlined in 232 CMR 2.07:9
- No person shall operate any motorboat with a person in tow unless there
is in such a person who has attended age twelve in addition to the operator,
in a position to observe the person being towed and unless such motorboat
is equipped with a ladder, steps, or similar means by which the person
being towed can be taken from the water.
- All motorboats must be operated in such a manner and at such a distance
to prevent their wash from being thrown into or causing excessive rocking
to other vessels, rafts or floats.
Water skiers shall ski at a safe distance to prevent their wash
from being thrown into or causing excessive rocking to other vessels,
rafts, or floats.
Motorboats shall not be operated within one-hundred-fifty (150) feet
of the seaward boundary of shoreline which is being use as a swimming
area whether public or private or: within seventy-five (75) feet of
the seaward boundary or public bathing beach if designated by markers,
floats, or otherwise. This regulation 232 CMR 2.07(1) shall apply
to motorboats, barges, water skiers, or other devices being towed
by power and the operator of the towing vessel shall be responsible
for compliance therewith.
No person shall operate any motorboat on Webster Lake while towing
a person or persons on water skies, a surfboard, wake board, or similar
device unless such motorboat is equipped with a ladder, steps or
similar means by which any person being towed can be taken from water.
No boom skiing or towing a person from the side of any motorboat
shall be permitted on Webster Lake between the hours of 9:00am and
6:00pm on any day.
No sections of Regulation number 11 shall apply to a performer engaged
in a professional exhibition which has been previously approved but
the licensing authorities.
- No high speed uses, or persons in tow shall be allowed in the cove
known as Nipmuc Cove located at the boat ramp in the Webster Memorial
Beach area.
- No person shall operate a motorboat or craft to create a wake or in
excess of 45 miles per hour with the exception of special permits as
issued by 323 CMR 2.09
- No person shall operate a motorboat or craft to create a wake or in
excess of 5 miles per hour when passing through a channel. Channel is
defined at 150 feet on either side of the posted speed limit. Markers
are set at the Narrows section, Pont Breeze section, and the Long Island
section.
- No person shall be towed through a channel.
- The speed limit of all boats operating after sunset and before sunrise
shall be 10 miles per hour.
- Any person on any vessel under age 12 shall wear a USCG approved PFD
of type I, II, or III at all times
.
- Any person on a raft, tube, or similar inflatable device more than
50 feet from shore shall wear a USCG approved PFD of type I, II, or III.
- Any swimmer more than 150 feet from shore shall be attended by a boat.
- No person shall be allowed to sit on gunwales or decks unless there
are adequate guardrails.
- All scuba divers must display a divers flag (float). Boats must remain
100 feet from a diver's flag.
- The operator of any boat involved in an accident, collision, or other
casualty shall report to the Webster Police Department within 48 hours
and shall submit in writing a copy of said report to the Massachusetts
Environmental Policies in accordance with M.G.L. C. 90B
- Rowboats, Canoes, and sailboats shall have the right of way at all
times on any part of the lake.
- No one shall operate a jet-ski watercraft, surf jet, water bike or
any other so called personal watercraft under the age of 16.
- Any person operating a jet ski watercraft or personal watercraft shall
wear a USCG approved PFD type I, II, or III at all times.
- No one shall operate a jet ski or personal watercraft after sunset
or before sunrise.
- No skier or any other type of tow with a person aboard shall be towed
through any channel.
- No person shall tow a person(s) attempting to para-sail or glider-sail
from the rear of a boat without first obtaining the necessary permits
from both State and local agencies.
Adopted by the Webster Board of Selectmen
April 10, 1993 |
