A rash of recent groundings along Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline and connecting lakes indicates that boaters would do well to follow Commandant guidelines regarding area familiarization. During one recent weekend Coast Guard personnel along Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline responded to six groundings. Of those six cases, I was involved in four.

One of these groundings involved a powerboat, the others, three sailboats. One sail boat ran aground late Friday afternoon on the north shore of Muskegon Lake, an area plagued by shallow waters. The waters were too shallow to allow my 25-foot inflatable to reach the grounded boat, but fortunately a Coast Guard auxiliary boat was near by and was able to reach it with a small dingy. After some effort, the 26-foot sailboat was liberated. A crewman told me later that there should be buoys marking the shallow area. Nonsense, if she consulted a nautical chart she could clearly see that the entire northern shore of Muskegon Lake (nearly three miles) sits in shallow water. When the captain advised me she was unfamiliar with that part of the lake I threw her one of those ‘did I hear you right’ looks.

The next day found a father, mother and their young child grounded on the east end of Muskegon Lake late at night in driving rain with the sky ablaze with lighting. A Muskegon Sheriff marine boat managed to reach the 24-foot sailboat and free it. Deputy sheriff Gary Brazinski said: “It was really sparky out there, a lightning bolt exploded within 100 yards of the grounded boat.” The operator later told Brazinski that he was unfamiliar with the lake. The fact that he was out there then with his family under those conditions has me uttering words not fit for print.

Earlier that same day a 40-foot power boat ran aground on White Lake near buoy “9” which marks a shoal area with water depths suddenly shifting from 20 to two feet. Commercial tower Dan McCormick of Great Lakes Assist told me it took four hours to free the boat. McCormick figures the operator cut inside the green buoy, which he should’ve passed off his portside (left) returning from seaward. What a hard way for a captain to learn the “Red, Right, Returning” rule which means keep the red buoys to your starboard (right) when you return from Lake Michigan, and the green ones to your port (left).

Strong winds played a part in most of the groundings: that and near record low water depths. Lake Michigan levels began this year at 577.3 feet, about 17 inches below the long term average (LTA) for January, and about 2 inches below the low Water Datum of 577.5 feet. As of June 15, 2000, the Lake water level read 577.9 feet. Now how does this figure compare to historical record highs and lows? Lake Michigan’s period of record range of 582.35 feet to 576.05 feet, or about 6.3 feet range between historical high and low water readings, shows that we are nearing the all-time low water mark. With a June 15, reading of 577.9 feet, Lake Michigan is within 1.85 feet of its all time 1964 low of 576.05 feet.

Low water levels spell grief for marina owners and operators who are suffering one of their worst seasons in years. Three municipal marinas in Michigan City have lost 120 slips due to low water; many other marinas along Lake Michigan are coping with similar slip loses. Low water levels can also be costly to boaters who run aground. I’ve talked with several commercial towing services and marine salvagers; their charges range from $135 to $160 an hour to liberate a grounded boat. One marine salvage operator told me the bill could go up considerably if the boat needs to be towed, repaired on scene, or additional salvage vessels have to be deployed. He quoted a recent salvage bill for a 24-foot powerboat that ran aground onto rocks: the bill came to over $3,000 to free the disabled craft. I told him I hope the boat owner’s insurance policy covered the cost. The Coast Guard’s policy on grounded boats is that if there is an immediate threat to life and limb, we will directly assist a grounded boater. Otherwise, we will assist in making arrangements with a towing service or commercial salvage company. If there if no commercial salvage company available, or if they are not willing to take the job, Coast Guard towing policy reads: if CG personnel and boats are not put in jeopardy, if the CG boat is capable of safely undertaking the operation, if the owner agrees to the arrangement, and if no further damage will occur if refloated, the CG will take action. I explain to boaters who ask why we can’t always assist a grounded boater that we simply can’t jeopardize our rescue resources. Plus, we could be liable should the grounded boat incur additional damagers during removal. Our towing policy is like the Michigan State police who make arrangements for a wrecker, but avoid towing disabled automobiles. Their highest and best use, as with the Coast Guard, is law enforcement and public safety- not performing AAA type services.

Unquestionably, the safest policy against going aground is knowing your water. I’ve recently talked with a number of marine professionals- they all provide the same advice- call ahead to marinas, harbor masters, fellow boaters, or whomever to determine safe water, especially when sailing into unfamiliar waters. Most marinas, fellow boaters, and harbormasters can be contacted by marine radio over VHF-FM Channel 09, or by cellular phone.

But even in familiar waters one has to be keenly aware of hazardous waters, especially near boat ramps. We carry an expandable skiff hook on board our rescue boats; when nearing questionable waters, especially near boat ramps, I direct a crewman to go forward and test the waters with the hook. The sound of a prop striking a solid object is one that will fill you with dread- believe me.

There is one other area where boaters must use extreme caution. That is sandbars that run along Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Sand bars that boaters freely passed over last year now wait to trap boaters. If caught between bars, not only can the boat be made inaccessible to recovery it could get battered by surf as with the 36-foot sail boat that the Muskegon County Sheriff marine deputy and I assisted last weekend that ran onto a sandbar in Lake Michigan.

As I told the captain- Boat Smart, know your waters.

As of June 18, 2000, Group Grand Haven has received 21 hoax calls (false Maydays), Help us end this scourge. Call the CG toll-free tipline at (800) 264-5980 if you have information regarding these deadly pranksters.

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Boat Smart is now on the Internet: www.boatsmart.net (includes Lake Michigan water temperatures and local weather).

Use channel 16 for emergencies, and channel 9 for calling fellow boaters.