Boating Safely on Copake Lake

  1. Keep at least 100 ft. between your boat and other vessels and swimmers.
  2. Slow to 5 mph (NO WAKE) when less than 100 ft. from docks, swim areas and shoreline.
  3. Life jackets (PFD) must be worn by children under age 12, by ALL being towed and everyone on Personal Watercrafts (PWC). PFD’s must be accessible for each person on board all vessels in NYS.
  4. Motorized boats must yield to non-motorized boats and swimmers.
  5. Avoid traveling behind boats towing others.
  6. When towing others (tubing or skiing), an observer age 10 is required on board your boat or PWC to relay status of skier/tuber to operator.
  7. Due to the power of wake surfing waves, consider limiting this activity to the center of the large lake basin.
  8. At all times, maintain optimum visibility: know what is in your front and at your sides.
  9. PWC operators must be at least 14 and carry a NYS approved Boating Safety Certificate.
  10. PWC operators must not jump boat wakes nor weave through congested traffic.
  11. Observe Town Ordinance: Speed not to exceed 6 MPH before 9AM, or after 8PM daily.
  12. Report unsafe activity on the lake to the Columbia Co. Sheriff: 518-828-3344.
  1. Keep at least 100 ft. between your boat and other vessels and swimmers.
  2. Slow to 5 mph (NO WAKE) when less than 100 ft. from docks, swim areas and shoreline.
  3. Life jackets (PFD) must be worn by children under age 12, by ALL being towed and everyone on Personal Watercrafts (PWC). PFD’s must be accessible for each person on board all vessels in NYS.
  4. Motorized boats must yield to non-motorized boats and swimmers.
  5. Avoid traveling behind boats towing others.
  6. When towing others (tubing or skiing), an observer age 10 is required on board your boat or PWC to relay status of skier/tuber to operator.
  7. Due to the power of wake surfing waves, consider limiting this activity to the center of the large lake basin.
  8. At all times, maintain optimum visibility: know what is in your front and at your sides.
  9. PWC operators must be at least 14 and carry a NYS approved Boating Safety Certificate.
  10. PWC operators must not jump boat wakes nor weave through congested traffic.
  11. Observe Town Ordinance: Speed not to exceed 6 MPH before 9AM, or after 8PM daily.
  12. Report unsafe activity on the lake to the Columbia Co. Sheriff: 518-828-3344.
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