Honeyoe Lake Boating Rules and Regulations
Required Equipment For Vessels
All mechanically propelled vessels must have:
- 1 PFD Type 1, 11, or 111 for every person on board. One throwable Type 1V PFD if over 16”.
- A whistle or horn capable of producing a 2 second blast which can be heard for 1/2 mile.
- A portable B-1 fire extinguisher except on motor boats less than 26’ of open construction.
- Carburetor backfire flame arresters must be installed on all mechanically propelled vessels.
- Class A boats (less than 16’ and Class 1 boats (16-26’) shall carry a bright white light aft to show allaround the horizon and a combined lantern on fore part of vessel showing green on starboard (right) and red on port (left) sides.
- On Honeoye Lake between sunset and sunrise, all vessels, whether anchored or adrift, shall display a white light visible all around the horizon for a distance of at least 1 mile.
- An anchor and sufficient line.
Pilot Rules
- No person under the age of 18 years shall operate a mechanically propelled vessel unless the operator is accompanied by a person who is 18 years or older, or the operator is 10 to 18 and has a safety certificate.
- When vessels are approaching each other “head to head” it is your duty to keep to your right just like cars.
- When vessels approach on an angle, yield to the vessel on the right.
- When vessels are passing another vessel from the rear they must yield the right of way to the vessel being passed.
- Powered vessels must yield the right-of-way to non-powered vessels.
- Boating while intoxicated, reckless operation of water craft, or discharge of waste into the lake are prohibited.
Noise Level
- No pleasure vessel may be operated in such a manner to exceed 90dB(A) when subjected to a stationary sound test, or exceed 75dB(A) in a moving test.
Speed Limits
- No vessel on Honeoye Lake shall be operated at a speed of more than 10 miles per hour from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.
“5 M.P.H. Rule”
ALL VESSELS or PWCs SHALL NOT EXCEED 5 mph when being operated within 200 feet of the shore line, a dock, pier, rafts, floats, moored or anchored vessels, including fishermen, EXCEPT TO PULL UP OR DROP OFF A WATER SKIER.
Water Skiing/Towing
Any vessel towing a person on water ski(s) or similar device, I.e. tube, raft, or floating device must have someone 10 years or older, other then the operator observing the person being towed.
Water Skiing is prohibited between SUNSET and SUNRISE.
Personal Water Craft (Jet Ski Rules)
- Each person riding shall be wearing a Type 1, 11, 111, or V – PFD
- No operation from sunset to sunrise
- No operation within 500’ of designated swim areas
- No reckless or unreasonable operation
- No weaving in congested traffic
- No jumping another vessel’s wake unreasonably close to the vessel
- No “playing chicken” or swerving head-on at the last possible moment
- If equipped the lanyard-type cutoff switch shall be always used
- Visual distress signals and a sound signaling device shall be aboard
- May not be rented to anyone under the age of 16. Youths 16-18 wishing to rent must show proof of completed safety course.