Category: Boating Safety

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Smith Lake Alabama | Lewis Smith Lake Alabama

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7/5/2024 2 Comments

Boat Show Season 2025

A favorite time of year for all those who LAKE is Boat Show Season - occurring at the beginning of every year, usually in January, sometimes into March. For us, it means SPRING is just around the corner. The lake area begins to be in high gear for the next boating season as soon as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve! It's certainly the case for us.

Most of the folks in our area enjoy attending several boat shows each year. Favorite shows are within about a 3 hour driving range. Attending shows allows a fun reason to get out and go visit another city, reconnect with other boating friends aka "your lake people," and getting excited for a new season by checking out the vendors - favorite boat brands, marinas, lake life brands and lake-oriented businesses.

Attached is the list of 2024 boat shows you might like to attend - in order by date. All shows are a short drive from the lake area. (we'll try to update this listing each year as soon as we get confirmed info, but also keep the contact information at hand so that you know how to reach out annually for additional information, vendor apps, vendor lists, floorplans/maps and tickets.)

The Discover Boating Nashville Boat Show
Music City Center
201 Fifth Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
CONTACT:
Kim Muncy
502-957-0471
[email protected]
nashvilleboatshow.com
Facebook: @nashvilleboatshow
Instagram: @nashboatshow
HOSTS: Discover Boating, Nashville Boat Show, Music City Center
SPONSORS: Progressive, Lake and Coast Real Estate, TMobile, Summit Finance Group, Alpha Electrical Contractor, Jupiter Bike, Leaf Filter Gutter Protection, Spades Cosmetics, NMMA Certified using ABYC Standards

2025 DATES: 2024 dates were cancelled, so we await new dates for 2025 or confirmation of future cancellations of the event.
SCHEDULE:
JAN ? - Thursday - 2pm-9pm
JAN ? - Friday - 12pm-9pm
JAN ? - Saturday- 10am-9pm
JAN ? - Sunday - 11am-5pm

Photo: Nashville Boat Show (Facebook)

The Huntsville Boat Show
Von Braun Center
700 Monroe Street SW
Huntsville, AL 36801
256-533-1953
[email protected]
huntsvilleboatshow.com
Facebook: @huntsvilleboatshow
Instagram: @huntsvilleboatshow

2025 DATES: January 16-19, 2025
SCHEDULE:
JAN 16 - Thursday - 2pm-8pm
JAN 17 - Friday - 12pm-8pm
JAN 18 - Saturday - 10am-8pm
JAN 19 - Sunday - 11pm-5pm

The 51st Annual Birmingham Boat Show
Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center ("The BJCC")
LOCATION ADDRESS:
2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N
Birmingham, AL 35203
CONTACT:
Birmingham Sport & Boat Show Inc.
P.O. Box 2675
Rockport, Texas 78381
361-446-4040
[email protected]
birminghamboatshow.com
Facebook: Birmingham Sport and Boat Show
Instagram: @birminghamboatshow
HOSTS: Birmingham Boat Show, The BJCC
SPONSORS: AmFirst, Big #1 Motorsports, CBS 42, Sylacauga Marine & ATV Inc., Tracker Boats, Yamaha, Ranger Boats, The Lakeside Life Magazine

2025 DATES: January 23-26, 2025
SCHEDULE:
JAN 23 - Thursday - 12pm-8pm
JAN 24 - Friday - 12pm-8pm
JAN 25 - Saturday - 11am-8pm
JAN 26 - Sunday - 12pm-5pm

2025 DATES: March ?-?, 2025 - To be announced later
SCHEDULE:
MAR ? - Friday - 11pm-7pm
MAR ? - Saturday - 11am-7pm
MAR ? - Sunday - 12pm-5pm

Alabama Boat Show and Expo
Barber Motorsports Park
LOCATION ADDRESS:
6040 Barber Motorsports Pkwy
Leeds, AL 35094
CONTACT:
Johnathon Burton, Show Operator
205-447-3773
[email protected]
alabamaboatshow.net
Facebook: @alboatshow
Instagram: @alboatshow
HOSTS: Alabama Boat Show and Expo, Barber Motorsports Park
SPONSORS: AmFirst Credit Union

For information on more boat shows further away like the Nashville, Atlanta, and Orlando, FL areas, just Google 'boat show' info for the states you're visiting.

Now, just grab your favorite lake folks, pack up the car and head out to the boat shows of your choice. ENJOY!

2 Comments

2/20/2023 0 Comments

Boating Etiquette on Smith Lake

The dawn of a new lake season arrives with an official kick-off around spring break each year. The fact that many schools start spring vacations annually at the end of March means the lake gets busy well before summer. Those of us who live on Smith Lake full time have the good fortune to be able to enjoy a very calm and serene lake during the many months off-season, but the inevitable long on-season period often lasts from late March well into October, sometimes later depending on weather in a given year. There are years when our family can remember waterskiing, kayaking or paddleboarding into early December, but it's not every year that happens.

Early spring is a good time for all of us to reflect on how we’ll react to the rush of more people, boats and activity overall. The words we cherish most are TOLERANCE and RESPECT. Every single one of us has a different way that we experience lake life. But that is not to say that we cannot appreciate the ways that others enjoy their lake experience in their short summer season of primarily late May through early August. Everyone is doing their own thing, in their own way, and it’s all good. We like to think that collectively, we simply make a silent pact as a community to stay drama free and tolerant of one another. Having respect for others is the key to making sure we can keep that pact intact.

It’s simple, and listed below are just a few ways to exhibit respect showing basic good boating etiquette, and therefore earning tolerance from others as we all enjoy lake days in our individual ways.

Don’t be “that guy” - get your good boating etiquette hat ON well ahead of season!

Photo from ALEA Marine Patrol Division page on X

Obey boating laws at all times always. Look them up online before the season starts and check out our Boat Safety Tips. Most importantly, check out the boating rules & regulations at this link for Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Marine Division: alea.gov
Practice ramp readiness and respect. Launching or retrieving a boat at a ramp? Do it fast and efficiently. Always load-up and prepare the boat in the parking lot in a “make ready” spot off the ramp area. Please do not load and prepare a boat at the ramp delaying others. When launched, pull the boat to a designated dock area to pick up passengers and gear. After pulling the boat out, don’t drain it, clean it, or otherwise waste time on the ramp. To do those things, get away to a spot away from others who are in a hurry to get on their way. Everyone wants to be either on the water or off the water fast, just like you. Think in advance about how you can cut down your ramp time altogether. Delegate responsibilities to your crew and practice them before you get to the ramp.

Do not be afraid to ask another boater for help on the ramp for any reason, especially if you need help backing in your boat or loading one in. It's better to ask than to have everyone in line waiting anxiously not knowing what your problem is. You’ll find other boaters to be very thoughtful and helpful when simply asked. Don’t wait for them to ask you if you need help, you might already have waited too long at that point, and folks are just ready to have a slow boater out of the way. Don’t get offended when a boater asks to assist. They are just trying to help you learn, and help you in and out of the ramp area so that everything runs smoothly for all.
Practice courtesy at the fuel pump. Get fueled, pay the bill and move out of the way. Leaving a boat at the fuel dock as a parking spot is a big no-no anywhere. If you need to get snacks, ice, a map, fishing tackle, or just want to "shoot the breeze" with others, please relocate your boat to a temporary dock and tie up. Again, fueling is a necessary part of the boating experience and everyone else’s as well, but be considerate of other boaters who would rather be out on the water than waiting on someone who hasn't thought these things through.
Lend a hand. This is one of the unwritten laws that can say more about you as a boater than almost anything else. If you see someone in trouble on the water or on the shore, lend a helping hand immediately. If you do not, you are creating what we boaters all know as “boating karma" - meaning it will come back to haunt you.
PRO TIP: Get an annual membership with your local towing company - TowBoatUS Smith Lake's Captain Terry Russeau can help you get your annual membership secured so you can boat worry free and with full confidence that you've got help if needed. CALL 256-385-1966!

Please be careful that you don't find yourself in legal trouble by posting a photo of someone or their family or property onto social media, without their permission, and creating a false narrative about a situation, their vessel or the people involved, especially if there are children involved. How would you like that done to you or your children? Those type of photos might consist of people having trouble on their boat, being towed, undergoing a marine officer stop, going about their day leisurely on their dock, while they are boating or participating in routine lake activities like sunbathing, fishing or watersports. Don't be UN-COOL - just mind your own business before you get labeled as a nosy neighbor, tattletale or drama diva on local social media pages. We certainly don't allow that on our private Smith Lake Community Facebook group. It's a group built to support everyone in every way they like to enjoy the lake, and to encourage a community environment welcoming to others.
Keep your boat, the lake, and marina area tidy. NO LITTERING in Lewis Smith Lake. Marinas have enough hazards without having to step over draining coolers, wet towels, shoes, watersports gear, sloppy dock lines, and random trash from a boat. At marina docks, leave the dock area in such a way that no one will ever know you were there, and your slot is ready for the next boater to dock. Furthermore, guests on your boat shouldn’t have to complete an obstacle course to get from one end to the other–bags, shoes, gear and other items need to be stowed properly. This can also be very helpful for safety when an issue arises and you need to get to something or someone quickly. Orderliness is your friend in boating. Keep a trash receptacle on your boat at all times, and deposit that trash in the proper receptacles around the lake at the marinas or other designated areas. Worst case, double bag it and take it away from the lake area to dispose of in a proper receptacle.
Stay a legal distance from docks if your boat is creating a wake. This applies to all boats, ANY boat going slow and not trimmed correctly will be pulling a wake, so be sure that you are not close to docks, shorelines and bouy-marked areas when creating a wake. This is important to keep you from being liable for damage to the property of others, and for the safety of all. If using an enhanced wake purposefully, be mindful of staying in the middle area of the large open channels. The 2023 Alabama Bill HB422/S272 (read entire bill here: HB422) on wake proximity basically states that wake boats (boats that are creating an enhanced wake for specific watersports activities - i.e. wakesurfing and wakeboarding) must operate at least 200ft from shorelines/docks/structures, and ALL boats must operate at least 100ft away from same when making a wake. Any closer and a marine vessel must be in idle only. Always try to seek out wider areas where there is less traffic and docks when you plan to be doing water activities on enhanced wakes. However, always make the best possible boating decisions putting human life above all else.

Smith Lake is very narrow in most areas, even along the large channels of Ryan Creek, Rock Creek and Sipsey. Treat it like a road when navigating and stay to the right side of center of the lake on average, and especially when passing oncoming traffic, it’s just the way we do things here on Smith. The narrow lake can be traversed much in the way you would operate your vehicle on a highway. Other boating laws are available at www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol/boating-rules-and-regulation.
PWCs – these vessels are small, fast and maneuverable, much more than any regular boat. Therefore, operate them much as if you are on a motorcycle on a major highway, and along with staying to the right of center on all channels, also yield to larger vessels at all times. As tempting as it is to jump a boat’s wake, refrain from doing so too closely, and especially when a skier is in tow. If that skier falls, you could risk running over the individual causing serious bodily harm to both the skier and yourself. Again, read the boating laws in the link above.
DO NOT EVER AT ANY TIME follow another boat closely in its wake. These days, in general, there are many young small children wakesurfing, wakeboarding, and skiing, etc., and due to a large wake blocking their height, you may not even realize there is a skier in tow until it is dangerously too late. And, even mature experienced skiers can ski low while doing tricks, or fall while in tow and risk having you run over them by not seeing them in the water in time. There are stiff fines for disobedience. If there is a person on board the boat in front of you that you can see waving arms and pointing for you to get out of the wake, you are already too close, DO NOT FOLLOW TOO CLOSELY, EVER. Just make it a hard rule in your mind as captain and among your crew.

DO NOT pull a tuber in wild patterns in lake areas that are narrow and hard to negotiate under the best conditions. This stirs up the water causing excessive wake and disrupting the regular safe driving pattern for other boaters. Like wakesurfing and wakeboarding, please try to gravitate to larger open bodies of water, and stay to the middle of the channels. PLEASE keep your eyes on your driving and don’t get distracted by the tubers behind you causing you to look back at them to long and to not look forward enough. There should be a rearview mirror on your boat, if not, it's a good investment, so use it! Leave the rear view watching for the observer in your boat who will likely be videotaping the action for your enjoyment later. You need to focus on driving and keeping your passengers and those being towed safe at all times.
Remember, Smith Lake is not only a recreational reservoir, but also a highly popular fishery. Fishermen who visit here are die-hard lakers no matter the season or the weather. Therefore, be kind to the fishermen as they are parked fishing, and try to veer away from them to alleviate a large wake unexpectedly throwing them towards the shoreline or off the course they are setting with a trolling motor. Smith Lake loves our fishermen, and we want to show them proper respect and give them a wide berth so they return often to contribute to the community. Remember that most fishermen are not “racing” around the lake for no reason. Often they are either practicing for a tournament or in a tournament where there are time restraints that they must operate under. Many locals just simply offer fishermen the right of way all the time as a kind gesture, but at the very least, just be thoughtful. Fishermen bring a lot of tourism and commerce to our area. Let’s let them know they are welcome here, and we want them to come back.
DO raise up your hand and WAVE to fellow boaters. It’s the southern way, and the way of life on Smith. There is nothing more unpleasant in the south than an arrogant or unfriendly boater.

Again, these are all just some favorite community ideas collected from our surveys in the Smith Lake Community Facebook group about how to have a wonderful time on Smith Lake while being conscious of community etiquette.

Written by The Lakeside LIfe Team
Photography by Terry Turner

Updated: 5/16/24
Original Article Date: 3/1/19

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5/1/2020 2 Comments

Boat Equipment Check List

Make sure you and your boat are safe and legitimate for boating season. This is an imperative component in your boating safety plan.

We recommend you do this well before spring and summer are underway. Each year as the official summer kick-off date - Memorial Day holiday weekend - gets underway, you will notice even more Alabama Marine Patrol presence to balance the large influx of additional boaters on Alabama waterways, important when considering that over a million registered boaters enjoy waterways throughout Alabama yearly. Here on Lewis Smith Lake, we have marine patrol presence year round, but the fleet’s efforts towards routine patrol grow understandably during the peak boating season of summer months. We are more than happy to see them here, and admire and respect all they do to help our community.

Alabama Marine Patrol, Photo File: Birmingham News

#1 - FIRST AND FOREMOST - We believe it is always best to get information direct from the proper legal source about how to prepare yourself and your boat for a busy lake season. Therefore, FIRST thing we recommend is that you please visit the website for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency "ALEA" – "Alabama Marine Patrol Division" (also listed in our quick links on our website’s home page). You will find a wealth of vital information on the site to help you and your boat operate safely and securely every boating season.
Know the checklist for your state - Alabama. Below we offer some basic boating equipment preparation advice, along with the recommended boating equipment items you should check annually as outlined in the ALEA checklist – but again, first, please check their official “Boat Equipment Checklist for Alabama” (also listed in our quick links on our website’s home page) as they need to be your prime source of such information.

Photo: thepatchmancollection.com

Towing Service - Get an annual membership with a legitimate and experienced towing service. Contact our local TowBoatUS Captain, Terry Russeau, at 256-385-1966 to get signed up as soon as possible. This service has been invaluable to us in the past, and you will find that it will give you secure peace of mind throughout the year.

TowBoatUS–Smith Lake, Photography: Scott Eric Day

Operator License - Make sure everyone who might possibly captain the boat has proper boater education, experience and a legal Alabama boat operator license onboard at all times. We also keep our registration documents and manufacturer booklets in a waterproof sealed bag stored in the boat.
- Check out these sites for licensing education and information for testing:
  - Alabama Law Enforcement Department - Online Course
  - Alabama Department of Education - Boating Licensing
Driver instruction - Just as important, and really it goes without saying, make sure that any new drivers in your crew have proper instruction driving on the lake with an experienced captain offering full assistance and a constant watchful eye. Obviously, this is best done at a time when boat traffic is low, like on a weekday in a remote area of the lake. Plan to work with your crew explaining everything about the boat, allow them adequate turns driving the boat and learning every scenario - experience is a must. Slow and steady wins the race here - don't be too quick to throw a new driver into the seat during the busy summer weekends, that is NOT the time to learn. Proper learning takes time and patience.
Registration - The boat’s certificate of number must be easily accessible on board.

Photo: boat-ed.com

Boat Decal - Validation decals must be properly displayed, highly visible, and easily identifiable from both sides of the boat for marine patrol. If you are not sure where or how to apply these, contact ALEA prior to launching your boat to be sure you have mounted these properly (see diagram).
Trailer - Check out your boat trailer carefully. If you will be hauling your boat to several locations/launches, you need to check tires, spare tires, electrical connections, lighting, winches, jacks, trailer guides, carpeting and anything else on your trailer that assists in creating carefree safe travel and launching.
Pulling and launching a boat - If there are new drivers in your crew, take them out during the week to teach them how to drive with a trailer in tow, and how to back in and pull out a trailer. Teach launching at a time (like during the week or early morning hours) and at a place where there is low traffic for the safety and comfort of everyone. Move or end your training session if you begin to see traffic around you back up. Learning to back in a boat trailer quickly and safely is vital to being a good boat owner because nothing is worse on a busy summer holiday weekend than a traffic jam at a boat launch. You are expected to know the rhythm and get out of the way if you are hindering it.

Photo: Bama Detailing

Detail your vessel and organize it - Clean, detail, and organize your boat. This is imperative, because in case of emergency, you do not want to be scrambling for safety equipment or tripping over items that are not in their proper place. This also allows you to see if there are issues developing on the boat (i.e. cracked interior upholstery, damaged trim on the boat exterior or interior entry areas, gelcoat fractures around towers or other mounts that could cause weaknesses, leaks or hazards, frayed or damaged wiring, etc.) We highly recommend Bama Detailing - Winner of the BEST OF SMITH LAKE 2022 contest. Call owner Eric Gurganus @ 205-300-8769. After detailing has been done and inspected, put everything in its proper place carefully and take some time to educate your passengers where all safety equipment is located on the boat so anyone can help quickly in an emergency. Make sure safety items are VERY EASY to find, grab and use.

Boat and Tower Accessories – (i.e. audio equipment, LED lighting, boat racks, light bars, upgraded marine flooring, etc.) Make sure these are proper for your boat, using manufacturer approved products and hardware, and make sure that all accessories are securely attached and operating correctly. Realize that some audio and other digital equipment when used or installed incorrectly can cause very serious electrical and computer issues on new boat digital and electrical systems, so using a local professional is vital - you need someone to call if something needs adjusting. We recommend professional marine design/build/install by MasterPro Audio based in Cullman, AL, who is also mobile and can come to your dock if needed, and available for phone assistance 24/7 – Call Scott Hanna @ 205-470-8250.

MasterPro Audio, Logo

Ronix Covert CGA Vest, Photo: Lakeside Gear

PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) – There must be a proper U.S. Coast Guard/Coast Guard Approved "USCG/CGA" device for every rider in the boat, and children under 8 MUST wear their device at all times - while the boat is underway, floating, or anchored. There must also be at least one Type IV throwable device on board as well - commonly referred to as "seat cushions," throwable floating cushions and sometimes approved flat floating rings. Check to be sure the items indicate "Type IV" prior to purchase. Make sure all your PFDs are in good useable condition (i.e. not damaged, torn, dry-rotted, missing latches, bad zippers, etc.). Buy your life vests locally - try Lakeside Gear in Cullman, AL for all your watersports gear - call 205-470-8250 or 256-708-7679. This Alabama based company can order most anything you need for boating and watersports delivered right to your doorstep - shop local, support local. Also visit other local sporting goods shops like Russell Marine-Smith Lake, Trident Marina, Pine Valley Outdoors and Pat's Archery & Outdoors.
Ropes - Make sure you have mooring and towing ropes in excellent condition and that you’ve learned, along with your crew, the best types of ties and knots to safely dock a boat in quick situations and for longer term parking or storage applications.
Lights – make sure your navigation lights are in excellent working condition because they MUST be used properly according to requirements from “sunset to sunrise” as defined by ALEA while the boat is underway, floating or anchored.

SAMPLE Marine Fire Extinguisher, Manufacturer: Kidde, Photo: walmart.com

Engine check – make sure your engine has been maintained properly prior to launching and is in perfect operational condition. This means checking all connections to be sure there are no leaks of any kind that could cause hazard. This is a great time to check hoses, belts, impellars, etc. Also check the condition of your batteries, connections, and electrical system throughout the boat. Hopefully you have had professional maintenance or you are in close contact with your boat manufacturer and local dealer for any questions well ahead of the season.
Ventilation System/Blowers – These functions need to be in ideal working order at all times.
Muffler – This is self-explanatory and should be basic operating equipment for all newer boats. This helps keep the vessel engine noise at bay and keeps toxic fumes from being a hazard to those near the rear of the boat. If you have questions, please discuss this with your boat manufacturer immediately.

Fire Extinguishers – these must be appropriate for your size vessel, in perfect operating condition and not past their expiration date. See the ALEA link above for more detailed information.
Backfire Trap - USCG approved flame arrestor (aka backfire trap). ALEA explains this in their link, but if you are unsure about your vessel’s compliance, please contact your local dealer or the manufacturer so you can check that this is satisfactory and standard equipment on your boat, and how to handle the issue if needed.

Illustration of a marine vessel "emergency shut-off switch", Photo: boat-ed.com

Emergency shut-off switch - This is standard equipment on most vessels that operate on Smith Lake and often is a bright red or orange switch with a lanyard-type extension that connects from the boat switch point to the driver while a vessel is under operation. How does it work? If the "key" in the switch pulls out (in the case of a driver being thrown or ejected from the cockpit area in a crash type situation), the elimination of the key from the switch causes all power to the boat to be shut off immediately. This is an important safety feature. This device should be checked yearly to be sure there are no cracks or disconnections in the switch, weaknesses or breaks in the lanyard device or connection clip. The connection must be engaged and operational at all times while underway or while the boat is on. (see illustration)
Sound Device – this is described as a horn, whistle or bell type sound making device. Boaters should know that visibility can be affected greatly at night, or in inclement weather, fog, etc. Therefore, you must keep a sound device on board. We keep both a whistle and an air horn in a waterproof packet in our glove box at all times. Check each season to make sure they are in perfect working order.

Visual Distress Signals (VDSs). Please refer to the ALEA link above on this for particulars. This is required only on federally controlled waters, but as sailors in the Gulf, having them for us is a precaution that was always a part of our prep package for sailing and we've carried it over to our lake boating as an additional safety precaution - it's a personal thing. So, personally, we carry non-pyrotechnic devices: usually orange smoke signals for day use (3 are recommended) and a highly visible electric light for signaling at night (1 recommended), and we additionally carry a very bright flashlight and a white flag – all are for signaling distress at different times of the day. We feel most recreational boats that operate on very large inland lakes should have VDSs for peace of mind, and non-pyrotechnic is our favorite. If it is something you want to have, consider investing in a) 3 hand-held red flares (day & night), or b) 3 orange smoke signals (day) and 1 electric light (night).

Never leave a boater stranded - Last but not least, always safely stop to assist a boater in distress. Even if you do not have the equipment or experience to help, you may be able to assist them by getting them off an unsafe vessel, or simply helping to make a phone call if their cell phone is dead. This is kind of a known “rule of the water.” There is a saying we like as members of an ocean sailing family – “A sailor in need requires a good deed, so throw a rope and give him some hope." If you need to tow a boat, make sure your rope is proper for towing the weight of the other boat. On Smith Lake, we all consider it an honor to help a fellow boater any way we can safely. Folks around here more often don't ask for anything in return except that you “pay it forward.” It’s always nice to offer a few dollars for gas after a really long haul, or grab your helper a meal if the marina is open, but most boaters will require nothing more than a sincere and thoughtful “Thank you” and a promise to "Pay it Forward." Boating ettiquete at its best.

CLICK PICK for link to "Top 12 Towing Tips", Photo: southern boating.com

Safety Course and Boat Inspection - Did you know that …”the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will perform a Courtesy Marine Examination (CME) of your boat and equipment free of charge. This inspection covers federal and state requirements. If your boat meets all CME requirements, you will receive a CME decal. If your boat fails to meet all requirements, no report is made to any law enforcement agency.” - ALEA. It’s worth a call to ALEA to see if an inspection can be done in your area. TIP from local Capt. Chris Jackson-Professional Angler, "In fact, many USCG Auxiliary units (there is one on most lakes in Alabama) do a full boater safety course as well as free boat inspections yearly. I have attended several courses over the years along with getting my actual Captains License prior to becoming a guide and charter Capt.. it’s a great course. The inspection is great for anyone with a boat. They will go through the entire boat and list anything you need to get as well as give you a decal that your vessel was inspected that year. This is not required at all but great to have."

We hope the checklist above helps you get ahead and geared up for a great boating season. A little work on the front end of the season saves endless needless headaches, stress or worst yet, unnecessary and unwanted citations. Again, we stress this emphatically, be sure to follow all instructions from the ALEA website first and foremost, and use our suggestions only as additional advice. Here’s the link again: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency – Alabama Marine Patrol Division: https://www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol.

Other Links that you should check:

Boating Rules & Regulations from Alabama Law Enforcement Agency: https://www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol/boating-rules-and-regulations
Safe Boating – Wear Your Life Jacket: https://www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol/safe-boating

Be sure to check our other lists on our blog and through our magazine - samples below. (these will soon be linked for ease of navigation...)

Boater’s Bag Check List
Boat Tote Check List
Friendly Boating Advice (from a previous magazine issue)
No Alcohol while boating on Smith Lake (from a previous magazine issue)
Boating on Smith Lake – recommended DO NOTs (from a previous magazine issue)

Contact, message, or comment if you'd like us to add anything specific to the list or if we need to revise or repair a broken link. We'll be updating the list annually. Thank you!

Updated: 05/01/2023

2 Comments

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