Boating Laws Lake Hopatcong NJ

Lake Hopatcong Specific

Boating Laws & Regulations

All State and Federal Boating Laws still apply, these are laws specific to Lake Hopatcong, along with all other boating regulations.

13:82-3.11 Lake Hopatcong, Sussex and Morris Counties

(a) From May 15th through September 15th of each calendar year, no person shall water ski on Saturdays, Sundays, or Holidays between the hours of 11:00AM and 5:00PM in the following areas:

1. Byram Cove;

2. Between Raccoon Island and Prospect Point;

3. Between Prospect Point and Halsey Island;

4. Woodport Cove;

5. Between Halsey and Raccoon Island; and

6. Henderson Cove

(b) No vessel shall pull no more then two skiers at any one time on Saturdays, Sundays, or Holidays from May 15th through September 15th of any year; except when participating in an exhibition or race sanctioned by the State Police or the Division of Parks and Forestry.

(c ) The towing vessel shall not be loaded beyond the manufacturer’s recommended capacity. For purposes of this subsection, the skier, or skiers, shall be included when determining the passengers in the vessel.

(d) While towing a skier, the operator of the vessel shall maintain a distance from any shore, structure, buoy, person in the water, vessel or other objects, of not less than the length of the tow line, plus 100 feet.

(e ) The ski boat operator shall, when a skier has fallen, or has otherwise become disconnected from the tow line, reduce speed and return to the skier in a safe and reasonable manner.

(f) The dropping of skies for the purpose of barefoot or slalom skiing is prohibited, unless the ski is immediately retrieved by a following vessel

(g) No vessel shall be operated upon Lake Hopatcong between the hours of sunset and sunrise at a speed in excess of 10 miles per hour.

(h) No vessel shall be operated upon Lake Hopatcong on Saturdays, Sundays, or legal Holidays between May 15th and September 15th at a speed in excess of 30 MPH.

(i) No vessel shall be operated at a speed in excess of 5 MPH within 100 feet of shore, any wharf, pier, bridge, dock structure, buoy, or person in the water or designated bathing area which is marked by buoys.

(j) No vessel shall be operated at such a speed that shall cause 100% of the hull to come out of the water. Operation of the vessel in such a manner shall constitute, without further proof, careless operation. An exception to this requirement will be allowed for operation during authorized races sanctioned by the State Police or the Division of Parks and Forestry, or a race test permit issued by the State Police.

(k) When the water level reaches the Extreme High Water Level (Elevation 924.20ft) or when the gauge at the damn in Hopatcong State Park reads 9.5, a “Slow Speed—No Wake” condition shall exist.