A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

COLD WEATHER BOATING

As the weather shifts and the air and water temperatures cool, boaters should ready their vessels and equipment for the winter. If you choose to continue boating during the cold weather months be sure to examine your equipment for readiness and review your cold weather rescue skills.

Keep in mind that boating during cold weather months comes with increased risks.  Water temperatures can dip below 50º F during the off-season which can easily make a fall into the water turn into a fatal accident. In addition, reduced boating traffic during the off-season adds to that danger because immediate or prompt rescue by another boater is less likely.

We caution all boaters to use common sense and exercise extreme caution during cold weather months to avoid turning a day on the water into a day of tragedy.

From all the staff of DNR Boating Services, boat safely.

Robert P. Gaudette
Director, DNR Boating Services

DID YOU KNOW:

• Boating Services provides statewide planning, technical, resource conservation, and financial assistance to federal, state, and local partners to maintain and develop public boating access sites, public navigation channels, water trails, clean marinas, marine sewage pumpout stations, navigation and regulatory buoys/signs, and to acquire fire/rescue and patrol boats and equipment.


• Boating Services works with boating organizations, non-profits, watermen and the general public to help enhance the boating experience for recreational boaters and those who make their living on our state waterways.


• Boating programs and activities are financed through the DNR Waterway Improvement Fund. The revenues for this Fund come from the 5% vessel excise tax that is paid when a vessel is titled in Maryland.


• Over the past 40 plus years, the Waterway Improvement Fund has financed over 4,500 grant projects valued at $300 million that have been used for developing over 300 public boating access sites throughout the State.


• The Fund also supports over 2,000 aids to navigation and other regulatory markers, ice breaking operations during the winter months, the removal of tons of dangerous debris and abandoned boats from public waterways, the establishment of 600 miles of water trails, and the installation of 250 marine sewage pumpout stations.

Online Services

• Tide Finder
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• Online Store
• State Parks

Personal Water Craft (PWC) Info

There are over 12,000 Personal Watercraft (PWC), commonly called Jet Ski’s or Wave Runners, registered in Maryland. Learn more about the rules and regulations for PWCs and how to operate one in a responsible manner by visiting the special safety section for “PWCs”.

Courtesy on the Water

The Chesapeake Bay is home to an array of boats and boaters. There are over 200,000 registered boats in the State, which means everyone needs to be aware of their actions on the water. Learn more about courtesy on the water and do your part to make Maryland waters enjoyable for all users.

Invasive Species Notice for Boaters

Prevent the spread of aquatic hitchhikers. The zebra mussel is an exotic and harmful species that are a form of biological pollution and damage aquatic ecosystems. Click here to learn how you can prevent the spread of zebra mussels in Maryland.

Chesapeake Bay Hotline

• Boating accident or reckless activity
• Fish kill or algal bloom
• Floating debris that poses a hazard to navigation
• Illegal fishing activity
• Public sewer leak or overflow
• Oil or hazardous material spill
• Critical area or wetlands violation
• Suspicious or unusual activity