Lt. Steve Hunter (foreground) and Officer
Dave Cruser patrol one of Indiana’s lakes.
I have two old aluminum canoes. They are both 15 feet in length. We are planning a vacation at Clear Lake (Steuben Co., Ind.) and want to use the boats.
We occasionally use an electric trolling motor on the canoes. Since this is a private lake, do I need to register the boats? We have no plans to use them on a public lake or river.
Clear Lake is a public freshwater lake, and as such is considered a public waterway. In order to use your canoes with a trolling motor they will require registration.
You are required to register all motorboats (including boats equipped with electric trolling motors) that are used on public water. You may visit your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch to register your boat.
Is there a requirement on how old you have to be to drive a boat? If there is, what are the regulations and is there a license for you to drive a boat?
In order to operate a watercraft 10 horsepower or more, a person must hold a valid driver’s license. If no drivers license is held then the operator must be at least 15 years of age; completed a boater education course; and have been issued an identification card from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Boater education courses may be completed on-line at www.boat-ed.com/.
I have heard that there was a change in the law requiring certain people to wear a life jacket while boating. Can you explain the changes?
All boats must carry one wearable (Type I, II, III or V) U.S. Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for each person on board or being towed.
All PFDs must be U.S. Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition, readily accessible and of proper size for the intended wearer.
Boats 16 feet in length (except a canoe or kayak) or longer must have one Type IV U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD on board and be readily accessible.
Each person on, and all persons being towed behind, a personal water craft on skis or any other device must wear a USCG-approved PFD.
In addition to the above, on waters of concurrent jurisdiction (Lake Michigan, the Ohio River, and the portion of the Wabash River that creates the border between Ind. and Ill.) the following applies:
Children under 13 years of age must wear a PFD except when the child is below deck in an enclosed cabin or the watercraft is docked or at anchor, and anyone being towed on water skis, a wakeboard, a kite or similar device must wear a Type I, II or III PFD (Type V PFDs are not approved).
My daughter is stationed out of state and will be home on military leave soon. I would like to be able to take her fishing, what type of license will she need?
Residents of Indiana who are engaged in full-time military service may fish without a license while on approved military leave. However, they must carry their leave orders and a valid Indiana’s driver’s license or voter registration card.
Non-resident military personnel stationed in Indiana must obtain a resident license to fish or hunt in Indiana.
To submit a question to Ask a CO, email OI@dnr.IN.gov or write to Outdoor Indiana, Ask a Conservation Officer, 402 W. Washington Street, Suite W255B, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
