Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating

Mooring and Interference with Buoys Prohibited
(ORC 1547.09 & OAC 1501:47-1-10)

• No person shall moor or anchor in any designated speed zone or water-skiing zone.
• Unless in distress, no person shall moor, anchor, or tie to any marker, aid, buoy, light, or other aid to navigation.
• No person shall operate or permit operation of a vessel in violation of these sections.
• No person shall climb on, swim or hang on, dive off, tie a watercraft to, injure, sink, disconnect from its anchor, damage, deface, or interfere with any buoy or other aid to navigation.

Obstructing a Waterway, Securing of Docked and Anchored Vessels
(OAC 1501:47-1-13)

• No person shall anchor, moor, tie up, or raft off to any other vessel, dock, launch ramp, or structure in such a manner that the vessel blocks, impedes, or restricts other vessels in their normal and reasonable use or navigation.
• No person shall leave any vessel anchored, or in any dock space or tie-up space, without first properly fastening and securing the vessel in such a manner as to avoid fouling or collision with any other vessel or from drifting free.

Don’t Mess with Buoys!

It’s important not to tamper with buoys, block their view, or drag them off station. These navigation aids mark channels of safe passage, indicate water hazards, or give other critical navigation information. Leave buoys alone, and help keep Ohio waters safe for everyone.