Oct. 13. By Dave Vieser. New regulations to control rental boat activity on Lake Norman will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.The new rules were driven by “an explosion” in rental activity over the past four years according to Kevin Frank, a member of the Lake Norman Marine Commission (LNMC).
“The accident figures from the past few years are truly alarming,” said Frank. In 2020, accidents increased by 26 percent; deaths by 25 percent and rental boat- related deaths nearly doubled. Over the same period, 75 percent of accident deaths were due to drowning. Frank said 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
Frank said most operators involved in the incidents had no boating instruction.
“There’s virtually no rules for the rental boat owners right now, and we have a tremendous number of boaters who don’t know what they are doing,” Frank said.
That’s about to change.
Over the past year the commission worked on developing regulations to address rental boat issues. Officials from the LNMC visited local government officials to explain the details of the new regulations and urge enforcement by local authorities, since they will be responsible for enforcing the regulations.
Frank said that the focus of the new rental regulations will be on the companies which offer short-term rentals around the lake. “They often provide a boat and there is no current control for safety,” he said.
New regulations for rental boat owners
All rental boat owners will be responsible for registering their vehicles with the LNMC providing proof of the following:
1. Minimum $500,000 liability insurance (currently no insurance is required)
2. Rental fleets must pass safety inspections.
3. Require that a renter/operator is qualified.
4. Provide instructions on rules/regulations and boat operation.
5. Provide instructions on navigating Lake Norman, such as no wake zones or the shoals scattered throughout Lake Norman.
6. Utilize a pre-rental checklist during the rental process.
Frank also urged local officials to encourage state representatives to require boat operator training and company licensing. “It would be great to have support on the state level,” he said.
