SCDNR offering free boat inspections, safety tips ahead of Memorial Day Weekend

LAKE MURRAY, SC (WOLO) — As boaters prepare to have fun on the water this Memorial Day Weekend, officers with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources are reminding everyone to be safe.

Conservation Officer Trey Moss says he and fellow law enforcement will be on the water alongside everyone celebrating.

“We’re gonna be watching for, of course, all of our normal violations. No-wake zones, not operating navigation lights, registration numbers and decals being in time, we’re also gonna be watching out for boats passing each other. Make sure we’re giving each other plenty of space to pass each other and do it safely. And that we’re not operating in a way that can put someone else or ourselves in danger,” says Moss.

SC DNR will be providing free boat inspections, with no penalties given out,  at designated locations later this week (See the end of this article for a complete list).

“They should have a registration card on the vessel, enough life jackets for everybody on board, a fire extinguisher in good working order, make sure it’s still in the green, you’ll need a type for throwable for any vessel over 16-foot, and you’ll need a sound device, a bell, horn, or whistle to take with you on the boat,” says Moss.

And if you’re planning on having drinks over Memorial Day Weekend, Moss says remember the legal limit is still 0.08 — so always designate a “Sober Skipper.”

“A lot of times we start celebrating and alcohol gets involved. Biggest thing we wanna focus on is to designate a Sober Skipper. Someone to operate the vessel while everyone else is having a good time. Somebody to keep the party safe, is something we really want to harp on. There’s gonna be a lot of traffic on the lake over memorial day weekend, and we just want to see everybody come out and have a good time, make memories with their families and make it home safe, that’s the biggest thing at the end of the day,” says Moss.

Boater safety courses are now available online or in person.

Memorial Day weekend boat inspection locations (all inspections are from 10 a.m. to Noon):

Saturday, May 24:

• Anderson County: Twin Lakes Landing, Lake Hartwell, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Berkeley County: William Dennis Landing, Tail Race Canal, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Charleston County: Wapoo Cut Landing, Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), 10 a.m. to Noon
• Fairfield County: Molly Creek, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Greenwood County: SC Highway 72 Landing at Break on the Lake, Lake Greenwood, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Horry County: Little River Landing, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Lexington County: Lake Murray Dam Landing, 10 a.m. to Noon

Sunday, May 25:

• Beaufort County: Broad River Landing, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Charleston County: Remley’s Point, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Clarendon County: Alex Harvin Landing, Lake Marion, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Colleton County: Bennett’s Point, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Kershaw County: Clearwater Cove Landing, Lake Wateree, 10 a.m. to Noon
• McCormick County: Dorn Landing, Lake Thurmond, 10 a.m. to Noon

Monday, May 26:

• Beaufort County: Lemon Island Boat Ramp, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Charleston County: Limehouse Landing, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Georgetown County: Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex Landing, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Lexington County: Lake Murray Dam, 10 a.m. to Noon
• Pickens County: South Cove Landing, Lake Keowee, 10 a.m. to Noon
• York County: Allison Creek Park Landing, Lake Wylie, 10 a.m. to Noon