West Alton Sand Bar

dlucas10 · 09-03-2014, 09:11 AM

Marine Patrol has been heavy at the sandbar this year. Three boats were written up $68 tickets for being inside the 150 foot buoy. I've actually have heard recently that Marine Patrol will ask permission to board your vessel and they will use a laser to determine if you're 150 feet from shore. So, even though you're outside the 150 foot buoy you should not be right up to it as the buoy could move.

What I don't get and it slightly frustrates me, is that on the chart of the lake that sandbar is marked as "no rafting" - I get that. So, it's my understanding that rafting is 2 OR more boats. With that said, I was at the sandbar 2 weekends ago, and there were two boats in front of me that were rafting. I almost went over to them and tell them they couldn't do that, but decided to mind my own business as there were other folks "rafting". Marine Patrol came by and said "Are you guys tied together? If so, you need to have 50 feet between you and any other boats, or if you separate then you need 25 feet from any other boats. Figure out which one is better" he then went on his way. If there is no rafting, then why allow it? Maybe the Marine Patrol gentleman was just quizzing them? Getting mixed signals from Marine Patrol!

09-03-2014, 09:11 AM	#10
dlucas10 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 13 Thanks: 21 Thanked 11 Times in 3 Posts	Marine Patrol has been heavy at the sandbar this year. Three boats were written up $68 tickets for being inside the 150 foot buoy. I've actually have heard recently that Marine Patrol will ask permission to board your vessel and they will use a laser to determine if you're 150 feet from shore. So, even though you're outside the 150 foot buoy you should not be right up to it as the buoy could move. What I don't get and it slightly frustrates me, is that on the chart of the lake that sandbar is marked as "no rafting" - I get that. So, it's my understanding that rafting is 2 OR more boats. With that said, I was at the sandbar 2 weekends ago, and there were two boats in front of me that were rafting. I almost went over to them and tell them they couldn't do that, but decided to mind my own business as there were other folks "rafting". Marine Patrol came by and said "Are you guys tied together? If so, you need to have 50 feet between you and any other boats, or if you separate then you need 25 feet from any other boats. Figure out which one is better" he then went on his way. If there is no rafting, then why allow it? Maybe the Marine Patrol gentleman was just quizzing them? Getting mixed signals from Marine Patrol!