Anyone operating a boat, jet ski, kayak, or any other type of watercraft on White Lake is required and expected to follow NY State rules and guidelines to ensure their own and others’ safety, and as a courtesy to their neighbors. The following highlights some of the important safety regulations; it is a partial and by no means exhaustive listing.

You can find comprehensive information at https://www.parks.ny.gov/recreation/boating/documents/NYSBoatersGuide.pdf. When in doubt, let common sense prevail, respect your neighbors, and don’t threaten or harass the loons or other wildlife. In short, please be courteous to other boaters, especially small boats, fishermen, swimmers, and property owners. Avoid continuous and noisy operation in the same location, early mornings, late evening, near other boats and properties where people are enjoying the serenity of White Lake. 

 In addition, all watercraft should be cleaned and inspected for aquatic invasive species prior to being introduced into our lake.

All motorized vessels should be registered and insured.

Speed and No Wake Zones

In NYS, vessel speed is limited to 5 mph when within 100 feet of the shore, dock, pier, raft, float, or anchored boat. In addition, speed is limited to 5mph within 500 feet of a designated swim area, which means Beach A, Beach B, and White Lake Lodges. A vessel operator is responsible for any damages caused by the vessel’s wake. Prudent judgment requires operators to reduce speed when passing marinas, fishing vessels, work boats or other similar areas. Every operator must operate his vehicle in a prudent manner, at a safe speed, and consistently maintaining a proper lookout for swimmers and downed skiers, by all means available.

While traveling through Purgatory, Outlet, and Domine Bays the speed is limited to 5 MPH with NO WAKE. If your vessel is unable to operate “flat,” please do not enter these bays. 

The Channel between the Main Lake and Second Lake is narrow so it is suggested that all slow moving and non-powered watercraft remain out of the channel's center when passing through.  Only one powered watercraft traveling faster than 5 MPH should pass through the channel at one time, staying in the center of the channel.  Skiers and tubers stay directly behind the boat.  When approaching the channel at speed, if another watercraft is already within the channel at speed, you are asked to slow to 5 MPH and give the other boater the right of way.

Boating Certification

"Brianna's Law”  requires all operators of motorboats to hold a boating safety certificate.  The law went into effect 01/01/20 and will become fully effective by 01/01/25.   Schedule below:

If you were born after Jan. 1, 1993, certification required by 2020 when operating a motorized vessel.

If you were born after Jan. 1, 1988, certification required by 2022 when operating a motorized vessel.

If you were born after Jan. 1, 1983, certification required by 2023 when operating a motorized vessel.

If you were born after Jan. 1, 1978, certification required by 2025 when operating a motorized vessel.

All operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, will need boating safety certification by Jan. 1, 2025.

Required Equipment

LIFE JACKET:  Every vessel, including canoes, kayaks, row boats, and paddle boards operated in NYS must have on board one USCG approved wearable life jacket for each person aboard.  In addition, vessels 16 feet and greater in length except canoes and kayaks are required to have USCG approved type IV throwable floatation aid.  All children under 12 years of age must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, or III personal floatation device. Everyone being towed (wakeboarding, water skiing, tubing, etc.) is required to wear a life jacket.

VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALS:  All vessels 16 feet and greater, except for rowboats, kayaks, and canoes to carry USCG approved day and nighttime visual distress signals.  All vessels, except rowboats, kayaks, and canoes, to carry USCG approved nighttime visual distress signals when operating from sunset to sunrise.  

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS:  All mechanically propelled vessels, except outboards less than 26 feet in length and of open construction, must carry one B-I US Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher.  Mechanically propelled vessels 26 feet to less than 40 feet in length must carry two B-I US Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers.  

ANCHOR:  All mechanically propelled vessels, except personal Watercraft, must carry an anchor and line of sufficient weight and strength to provide the vessel with safe anchorage.  

WHISTLE, HORN, OR BELL: All mechanically propelled vessels 12 meters (39 ft.) and greater in length must carry a whistle and a bell. The whistle must be a mechanical device capable of producing a blast of two or more seconds in duration. On vessels less than 39 ft. in length a mouth whistle may be used. The purpose of the bell is to facilitate compliance with the rules of the road when anchored or grounded during periods of reduced visibility.

NAVIGATIONAL LIGHTS:  Recreational vessels must always display their required navigational lights between sunset and sunrise, and during periods of restricted visibility.  

Boat Launch Sites

There are two primary boat launch sites at White Lake: the gate at Beach A (across from the White Lake Inn) or the AWLA boat launch. There is a steward available for inspections (aquatic invasive species) at Beach A, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer season. A FREE boat wash station is located in Inlet (Rocky Point) State Rt. 28. If you have transported any of your own personal watercraft from other bodies of water or have guests or renters bringing boats onto our lake, you should first have your boat inspected and cleaned for Aquatic Invasive Species. It is a violation of NYS Law (Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Spread Prevention regulation, or 6 NYCRR Part 576) with fines up to $1,000, if you transport invasive species from one body of water to another. PLEASE HELP KEEP OUR LAKE FREE OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES. PREVENTION IS EASIER THAN THE CURE.

Noise

Muffler “cutouts” are prohibited and modified factory installed muffler systems illegal.  NYS noise limits are 90 decibels when subjected to a stationary test and 75 decibels when tested while moving.  Be aware that noise levels below these limits may be considered as “disturbing the peace.” 

Boating While Intoxicated (BWI)

Boat operators should be aware of the laws and potential penalties for operating the vessel while under the influence. Boating while intoxicated mirrors driving while intoxicated, with a threshold of intoxication of 0.08 percent blood-alcohol content. Zero Tolerance – Under age 21.

Waterskiing & Tubing

Vessel operators towing a person(s) on water skis, a surfboard, or any similar device have specific equipment and observer requirements.

• Those being towed must wear a USCG approved type I, II, or III PFD.

• Every vessel towing a person(s) must have on board a person who is at least 10 years old, in addition to the operator, observing the towed person (s).

• When towing a person behind a Personal Watercraft,, the PWC, must be rated for at least three people – the operator, the observer, and the retrieved skier.

• Water skiing and Tubing are prohibited between sunset and sunrise.

Jetski/Waverunner (Personal Watercraft/PWC)

In order to operate a PWC you must be 14 years of age or older, you must have passed a boating safety course approved by NYS and carry your boating safety certificate on board the PWC. 

• Everyone must wear a USCG approved Type I, II or III PFD.

• Reckless operation, weaving through congested traffic, jumping the wake of another vessel and playing chicken is not allowed.

• Cannot operate after sunset or before sunrise.  

• Must carry a horn/whistle, capable of a two second blast, audible for ½ mile.

• Regulation flag must be carried during operation.

Navigation

Meeting Head-On:  Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel.  Both vessels should turn to starboard (the right).

Paths that Cross:  The vessel on the operator’s port (A) is the give-way vessel (e.g., does not have the right of way). The vessel on the operator’s starboard (B) is the stand-on vessel (e.g., has the right of way).

Overtaking:  The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.

It is extremely important that a PWC (Jet ski / Wave runner) encountering another PWC follow the same navigation rules that apply to motorboats or any other power-driven vessel.

Most fatalities involving a PWC result from injuries caused by collisions and not from drowning.

• The operator and passengers ride on top of the PWC instead of down inside it. There are no hulls or other enclosures to provide protection from the impact of a collision.

• Due to the lack of protection, PWC collisions are more likely to be deadly for the operator and any passengers.

Boaters without power always have the right of way.  Boats towing skiers, tubers, etc. do not have any additional rights of way, however it is courteous to yield.

Navigation Lights

Navigation lights help you and other boaters determine which is the give-way vessel when encountering each other at night. These lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility, such as fog. There are four common navigation lights.

• Sidelights: These red and green lights are called sidelights (also called combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the side or head-on. The red light indicates a vessel’s port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel’s starboard (right) side.

• Stern light: This white light is seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel.

• Anchor/ Masthead Light: This white light shines forward and to both sides and is required on all power-driven vessels. (On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, the masthead light and stern light may be combined into an all-round white light) A masthead light must be displayed by all vessels when under engine power. 

• All-Round White Light: On power-driven vessels less than 39.4 feet in length, this light may be used to combine a masthead light and stern light into a single white light that can be seen by other vessels from any direction.  This light serves as an anchor light when sidelights are extinguished.

Speed

In NYS, vessel speed is generally limited to 5 mph when within 100 feet of the shore, dock, pier, raft, float, or anchored boat. In addition, speed is limited to 5mph within 500 feet of a designated swim area which means A beach, B beach, and White Lake Lodges.  A vessel operator is responsible for any damages caused by the vessel’s wake.  Prudent judgment requires operators to reduce speed when passing marinas, fishing vessels, work boats or other similar areas.  Every operator must operate his vehicle in a prudent manner, at a safe speed, and consistently maintaining a proper lookout for swimmers and downed skiers, by all means available.  

Accidents

The operator or owner of a recreational vessel involved in a boating accident is required by law to report when it results in a personal injury requiring treatment beyond first aid, loss of life, personal disappearance and/or damage in excess of $1,000.00 (one-thousand dollars). An accident involving personal injury, loss of life,  or disappearance must be reported to the police immediately and to the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation within 48 hours. All other accidents must be reported in writing within 5 days of the occurrence.  In all cases, you must stop and give your name, address, and vessel identification to the owner of the damaged property or any injured party.

Law Enforcement

Oneida County Sheriff’s Department will enforce the laws of NYS, including the laws mentioned in this document.  Violations should be reported to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department directly at (315) 768-7804.  Provide description of vessel, operator, registration, and photo.