State of Michigan bans boats with motors

[Pete Meisinger]

The governor states that the ancillary service required by boats using motors causes violations of the social distancing guidelines. Getting fuel, launching fishing boats, general marina services.

His ban includes outboards, trolling motors and inboards of all types.

Regulating will be tough. Boat launches are closed. Inland lakes are pretty well defined but what about Lake Michigan and Green Bay? I am located in Wisconsin but often traverse State of Michigan waters. I guess they would follow the lines defined for fishing license purposes.

What about safe harbors like Cedar Creek and some of the other Northern Michigan ports?

Very interesting and upsetting!

pete

 

[Portage_Bay]

The governor states that the ancillary service required by boats using motors causes violations of the social distancing guidelines. Getting fuel, launching fishing boats, general marina services.

His ban includes outboards, trolling motors and inboards of all types.

Regulating will be tough. Boat launches are closed. Inland lakes are pretty well defined but what about Lake Michigan and Green Bay? I am located in Wisconsin but often traverse State of Michigan waters. I guess they would follow the lines defined for fishing license purposes.

What about safe harbors like Cedar Creek and some of the other Northern Michigan ports?

Very interesting and upsetting!

pete

Yes, it's upsetting to see your home waters and desired destinations closed. We're all feeling the pinch.

But I'm reminded of a post you made #24 in the thread Inside Passage Travel Route where you advocated staying at home for the good of others as well as yourself. Your post was one of several in that thread that helped to change my perspective.

Quoting you from that post:

BUT.. Have some pity on the folks at your destination. Just because you may be able to make it nonstop around Canada what about the folks in Alaska who may not have been exposed.

Isolation has two purposes. One purpose is to keep yourself from getting the virus. The other purpose is to keep from spreading the virus to others.

You may be able to comply with the letter of the law by not stopping in Canada but you certainly are NOT isolating yourself.

pete

 

[rslifkin]

Considering the reasons given, it's interesting to me that they'd ban the boats, rather than the activities they're concerned about. Why not ban any sale of fuel that isn't self-service for payment (and can be done without human contact)? Force marinas to close public spaces, bathrooms, etc. It would take out a lot of boating, but wouldn't impact those who are in a position where they can boat without needing to interact with other people.

For example, I fully intend to be boating, although not traveling, once ours is in the water. But I'm in a good position to do that with minimal interaction. Fuel tanks are already full, so I can do weekends for a couple months before I need to buy fuel. I have a large holding tank, so just doing weekends, I can go about a month before needing a pumpout. Getting water doesn't require human interaction, and I can park my car 10 feet from my slip and walk directly onto my finger pier, so no human interaction (or walking near other people) required to get onto the boat either. Of course, many are not so lucky and would require more interaction to use their boats.

But as moparharn pointed out, it's still pretty early in the year for boating this far north, so restrictions like this don't have a big impact right now. It remains to be seen how things will change over the next month or so and whether it'll actually have a big impact, or if it's just a minor annoyance to the early birds.

 

[Pete Meisinger]

Like I have said before. I intend to follow the letter of the law. If there is a loophole I will use it. For now it looks like Michigan waters are off limit.

pete

 

[Rufus]

Michigan DNR has been advised that many sailboats are powered and operate under power the vast majority of the time. Suggested revision to the language was provided.

This order could impact individuals who lease seasonal slips from municipalities in Michigan...and there are many of them, most from Indiana. Further, the communities themselves would lose income. I'm thinking they would favor a one time delivery to fill those slips (no subsequent cruising...14 day quarantine of occupants).

 

[BandB]

Like I have said before. I intend to follow the letter of the law. If there is a loophole I will use it. For now it looks like Michigan waters are off limit.

pete

Wifey B: This might be one time to go beyond the letter and not use loopholes. We're being asked to just do nothing. Is that really so hard for so many? We keep having gatherings and dozens affected. Meanwhile we have grocery workers, delivery workers, doctors, police, nurses, hospital techs, hospital janitors, manufacturing workers making protective gear and so many others putting themselves at risk for us. New Nike slogan to follow, JUST DO NOTHING.

 

[syjos]

Wifey B: This might be one time to go beyond the letter and not use loopholes. We're being asked to just do nothing. Is that really so hard for so many? We keep having gatherings and dozens affected. Meanwhile we have grocery workers, delivery workers, doctors, police, nurses, hospital techs, hospital janitors, manufacturing workers making protective gear and so many others putting themselves at risk for us. New Nike slogan to follow, JUST DO NOTHING.

I agree.

Those workers are the soldiers on the front line keeping us safe and supplied.

The faster this virus is defeated, the less risk to those workers.

Stay the f%#& home!

 

[syjos]

I have been very careful keeping my distance from other when I go out.

Other people are not. I've had to admonish people getting close to me and their answer is always "I'm healthy" or "I don't have the virus" and my response is how can you prove it?

 

[sbu22]

One man's solution to SD:

 

[GFC]

Dayam, I would stay a lot more than 6' from a guy like that!

 

[Northern Spy]

Dayam, I would stay a lot more than 6' from a guy like that!

Yeah. He doesn't even need the pool noodles, really.

 

[Northern Spy]

Yeah. He doesn't even need the pool noodles, really.

Although, now that I look closer I see he is on supplemental O2. I'm sure he is more frightened, than frightening.

Too bad he didn't have someone else to do his shopping at Lowe's.

 

[Portage_Bay]

Wifey B: This might be one time to go beyond the letter and not use loopholes. We're being asked to just do nothing. Is that really so hard for so many? We keep having gatherings and dozens affected. Meanwhile we have grocery workers, delivery workers, doctors, police, nurses, hospital techs, hospital janitors, manufacturing workers making protective gear and so many others putting themselves at risk for us. New Nike slogan to follow, JUST DO NOTHING.

Snipped from the humor thread. It's more truthful than funny.

Your grandparents were called to war. You're being called to sit on your couch. You can do this!!

 

[BrianSmith]

Wifey B: This might be one time to go beyond the letter and not use loopholes. We're being asked to just do nothing. Is that really so hard for so many? We keep having gatherings and dozens affected. Meanwhile we have grocery workers, delivery workers, doctors, police, nurses, hospital techs, hospital janitors, manufacturing workers making protective gear and so many others putting themselves at risk for us. New Nike slogan to follow, JUST DO NOTHING.

Amen!

 

[Leo Reise]

BTW Michigan State has a lake on both sides.

Lake Huron, St. Clair, & Erie, all border the province of Ontario. Marinas there, public and private, are shut down.

For Lake Ontario, it appears that NY State has the same restrictions a Ontario.

For Ontario, we cannot event go to our boats in the storage yards to prepare for launch. The yards are closed as well until May 15 at least. Our club is now looking at mid-June as launch.

All that aside, most boaters do not use their boats until May 24 or Memorial Day weekend. We might miss 2 weeks, maybe 3 out of the season.

 

[Transpac]

The current order goes through May 1. It's snowing today. I think we can make the sacrifice and not go boating for a couple of weeks. After Memorial Day it will certainly be a more complicated issue.

 

[BruceK]

The governor states that the ancillary service required by boats using motors causes violations of the social distancing guidelines. Getting fuel, launching fishing boats, general marina services.His ban includes outboards, trolling motors and inboards of all types...pete

The Governor is a sailboater, isn`t he.

 

[swboater]

The gov. is a she, and yes she is.

 

[Julsburd]

I am all for taking precautions, appreciating those first responders, and realizing that boating can be a luxury but I am also concerned that our governor has stepped over the line in prohibiting me and my husband from taking our 21 ft. bowrider off our dock to get outside and go for a nice putz on our lake. Or for the father who wants to take his house bound kids out in his small rowboat to fish. Governor Whitmer has also restricted us from shopping for home improvement things like paint and gardening supplies. IMO She has restricted our freedom in unreasonable ways and needs to be called out on it. If we just sit back and let our government decide what we can do and can't do we are in trouble. The world has changed in many horrible ways but we don't have to sit inside our homes and wait for our goverment to let us out.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Ms. J "I am all for taking precautions," Evidently not if you want to go to home improvement and/or gardening businesses. How do you know that the person who put that can of paint on the shelf or that potting soil in the pile didn't sneeze or cough all over it 1/2 hour before YOU picked it up? He/she was contagious and now so are you.

 

[Julsburd]

First of all, latest research has shown that it is a very very low chance that you will get this virus from left over germs on a can of paint or more importantly groceries that you put in your cart, secondly I always wear a new pair of latex gloves and then discard them after I leave a store so I don't contact the virus even if it has been left on the can or box. We have to use common sense, take these precautions but let these businesses open up again and let us go to them.

 

[Lou_tribal]

Greetings,
Ms. J "I am all for taking precautions," Evidently not if you want to go to home improvement and/or gardening businesses. How do you know that the person who put that can of paint on the shelf or that potting soil in the pile didn't sneeze or cough all over it 1/2 hour before YOU picked it up? He/she was contagious and now so are you.

While precautions are a must we also need to be reasonable. Even if someone coughed on a can of paint and I take it, there is no drama provided that I don't touch my mouth, nose, eyes (or any other orifice) before washing my hands or do not lick the can or do not stick it in any of my orifice. If I bring the can to home, few hours later it won't be an issue, especially if after using it I wash my hands (what I will do knowing that I will certainly pour paint all over my hands lol).

Beside avoiding close contact with people outside your household, it is mainly a matter of being careful about what we do and keeping a good hygiene.

L

 

[Julsburd]

Amen! We are adults and for the most part we can be careful. Once again our government is intent on protecting us from ourselves. I sound like a militant... I'm not but I have seen my freedoms taken away piece by piece and this is how it happens. I want to paint my hallway, I want to plant my tomatoes, I want to go on the water in my boat... all of a sudden I can't....

 

[Lou_tribal]

Amen! We are adults and for the most part we can be careful. Once again our government is intent on protecting us from ourselves. I sound like a militant... I'm not but I have seen my freedoms taken away piece by piece and this is how it happens. I want to paint my hallway, I want to plant my tomatoes, I want to go on the water in my boat... all of a sudden I can't....

Main problem is always the same... Allow everybody to take their boat then 2 days later marina will be full of people gathering and in contact with each other, going for grocery for the weekend and so on...
I can go fishing or trekking in the forest without meeting anybody and not putting anyone at risk, but open the doors and tomorrow thousands of people will gather for a bbq on lakeshore... I am sure you get the idea.

We should be able to distinguish between individual freedom and collective responsibility, the line is thin. One can own a supercar, but the same should not be allowed to drive it at 200mph on the street putting others life at risk.

If I was living alone deep in the forest I would not care much, but I am not, I am living among people and I have a responsibility to them the same way they have to me, there are rights and there are duties.

L

 

[Ruffryder]

https://komonews.com/news/local/hundreds-protest-wash-state-fishing-ban-in-eastern-wash

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,


"We should be able to distinguish between individual freedom and collective responsibility, the line is thin. One can own a supercar, but the same should not be allowed to drive it at 200mph on the street putting others life at risk."


EXACTLY!!!


Too many "Oh, I'm careful" types are not.

 

[Julsburd]

We can agree to disagree. I say Michigan's governor has overstepped.

 

[RT Firefly]

https://www.cinemablend.com/televis...ng-viral-for-showing-how-quickly-germs-spread

 

[Ka_sea_ta]

I guess I don't understand this action, motor boats are not allowed. sailboats are.... I understand the need for social distancing.... Can someone please explain the logic behind this...

 

[catalinajack]

Perhaps she has overstepped a bit. So what. Are her intentions evil? We are live aboards in Maryland which has also prohibited recreational boating. I see no sense in that relative to some activities that are allowed but this will all pass sooner or later. Staying in port will not kill us. I am a rabid Constitutionalist but I see nothing in these orders that violates any of my rights.

We can agree to disagree. I say Michigan's governor has overstepped.