Lake Rules & Boating Etiquette

Registration & Documentation

• All vessels — motorized and non-motorized, with the exception of paddleboards — must be registered with the Canyon Lake POA and display current Canyon Lake POA registration stickers on both sides of the bow. Any unregistered vessel requiring registration is subject to a fine. (LM.2.6)
• Annual Canyon Lake POA registration is required for all vessels. (LM.2.1)
• A maximum of two (2) boats may be registered per property, one of which may be over 70 horsepower. (LM.2.8)
• Motorized vessels may not exceed 21'6" in length or 6,000 pounds in dry weight. Boats registered with the Canyon Lake POA as of February 7, 2023 that exceed this are grandfathered until sold, removed, or transferred. (LM.7.2)
• All motorized boats and sailboats over 8 feet must also be state registered, with current stickers displayed on both sides of the bow. (LM.2.5)
• A Certificate of Liability Insurance is required for motorized boats (minimum $300,000 coverage, the Canyon Lake POA named as additional insured). (LM.2.9, LM.2.9b)
• A Safety Certificate from Marine Patrol must be submitted at registration and renewed every two years, or upon sale / change of ownership. (LM.2.10)
• All boaters, regardless of age, must carry a California Boater Card when operating on Canyon Lake waterways. (LM.6.9)
• Change of ownership must be reported to the Corporate Administrative Office within ten (10) days. (LM.2.11)

Traffic Pattern & Right of Way

• All boats must follow a counter-clockwise pattern, keeping the shoreline on the right at all times. (LM.6.13)
• No 180-degree or 360-degree turns except as required by ski pattern or skier pick-up. (LM.6.13)
• Mid channel buoys must be passed on the boat's port (left) side. (LM.6.24)
• All boats must yield to Marine Patrol vessels when emergency lights are flashing. (LM.6.12)
• Sailboats have right of way over powerboats, except when overtaking or when a powerboat is towing. (LM.6.12)
• Powerboats towing skiers have right of way over other powerboats. (LM.6.12)
• When motorized boats are present in 35 mph zones, slow-moving craft must stay within 100 feet of the shoreline. (LM.6.14)

Passenger Safety

• All persons under 13 years of age must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket while in any vessel that is underway. (LM.6.10)
• All occupants (except the operator) must be properly seated when the boat is operating over 5 mph. (LM.7.4)
• All powerboats must be operated from the primary operator's station only. (LM.7.4)
• Load capacity must not exceed Coast Guard standards. Length × width ÷ 15 = approximate number of persons allowed. (LM.6.6)
• Riding on the bow, gunwale, or transom of a vessel underway is prohibited. (LM.7.3)

Required Equipment (Motorized Boats)

Motorized sailboats and motorboats must carry the following equipment on board. (LM.7.5)

• One (1) Coast Guard approved lifejacket per person on board (LM.7.5)
• One (1) whistle or horn (LM.7.5)
• Approved navigation lights, displayed between almanac sunset and sunrise and during restricted visibility (LM.6.18, LM.7.5)
• One (1) Type B-1 Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher (LM.7.5)
• One (1) paddle or oar (LM.7.5)
• One (1) red or international orange flag (LM.7.5)
• One (1) Coast Guard approved throwable Type IV flotation device (LM.7.5)
• Fenders adequate to protect other boats and Canyon Lake POA property (LM.6.5)
• Backfire flame control device for carbureted engines (Coast Guard approved, or compliant with SAE J-1928 / UL 111) (LM.7.5)

Noise Limits

• Engines manufactured before January 1, 1993: maximum 90 dBA. (LM.6.11a)
• Engines manufactured on or after January 1, 1993: maximum 88 dBA. (LM.6.11a)
• Radios, stereos, and other sound-emitting devices must not exceed an acceptable noise level as determined by Marine Patrol. (LM.6.11b)

Prohibited Activities

• Jet skis, motorized boards, and personal motorized watercraft are prohibited on Canyon Lake. (LM.7.1)
• Water diverting devices (rooster tails) are prohibited. (LM.7.6)
• Buzzing or wetting down others is prohibited. (LM.7.7)
• Remote-controlled watercraft exceeding 15 mph are prohibited. (LM.7.8)
• Reckless or negligent operation of any vessel or water device is prohibited. (LM.7.3, LM.9.13)
• Littering in Canyon Lake is prohibited. (LM.5.7)
• Domestic animals are not permitted in CLPOA waters. (LM.5.1)

Swimming & Water Activities

• Swimming, snorkeling, skin diving, and use of small flotation devices must stay within 50 feet of shore and are prohibited on the Main Lake Ski Area. Exception: members anchored within a 5 mph zone away from boat traffic lanes may swim or float in the immediate area surrounding their boat. (LM.5.2)
• No swimming in tunnels. (LM.5.3)
• No jumping or diving from any Canyon Lake common docks or causeways. (LM.5.5)
• No scuba diving unless approved by Marine Patrol. (LM.5.6)
• Flotation devices may not be placed to block ingress or egress to any location or vessel. (LM.5.4)
• Access is prohibited on the lake between the float line barrier and the Dam. (LM.6.23)

Skiing, Wakeboarding & Watersports

• All skiing and riding is prohibited between almanac sunset and sunrise. (LM.9.1)
• All skiers and riders must wear a Type I, II, III, or V Coast Guard approved personal flotation device. (LM.9.2)
• Maximum of one (1) skier or rider per boat at any time. (LM.9.3)
• Ski pattern is counter-clockwise only. No cross-lake skiing, no skiing within any cove, no skiing into or out of any beach. (LM.9.4)
• A competent observer 12 years or older is required, must hold a red or international orange flag, and must watch the skier/rider at all times. (LM.9.6)
• Stay at least 50 feet from docks when pulling a skier or rider. (LM.9.9)
• Skiing may not start or end at a dock. (LM.9.10)
• Shore starts are not allowed except on the north side of Skipper's Island. (LM.9.14)
• Ski ropes must be between 50 and 75 feet in length. Side mount bars are prohibited. (LM.9.17)
• Loose skis, wakeboards, and ski ropes must be retrieved immediately. (LM.9.18, LM.9.19)
• No wake-enhancing devices are allowed on Main Lake or Jump Lagoon (permitted in the North Ski Area). (LM.9.20)
• On July 4, no riders may be towed from any vessel on the Main Lake after 12:00 pm. (LM.9.22)

Towing Another Boat

• When towing a boat, the towing boat must prominently display a red or international orange flag. (LM.6.16)
• All boating traffic shall stay at least 100 feet from boats in tow. (LM.6.16)
• Tow ropes must be a minimum of 25 feet and a maximum of 50 feet in length. (LM.6.16)
• Maximum speed when towing a boat is 5 mph. (LM.6.16)
• No towing of any device is permitted between almanac sunset and sunrise or during restricted visibility. (LM.6.17)
• Towing of occupied flotation devices through the causeway tunnel is prohibited. (LM.6.29)

Docking & Anchoring

• All docked boats must be secured and must not impede the navigational waterway of any cove. Boats adrift may be impounded at the owner's expense. (LM.6.19)
• Canyon Lake POA docks, parks, and common facilities are available for docking or anchoring with a properly registered boat during regular park hours. (LM.6.20)
• Only members staying at Happy Camp may use those docks for overnight boat docking. No other Canyon Lake POA docks may be used for this purpose. (LM.6.20)
• Lodge rental docks are restricted to slip holders and their guests. (LM.6.21)
• No boats may anchor, drift, or come to rest between the center line buoys or within 20 feet of any buoy in the East Bay. (LM.6.22)
• Personal anchor buoys may not be used for docking between almanac sunset and sunrise (except at Happy Camp). (LM.6.26)
• No one shall tie up to, move, or damage any CLPOA-owned buoy. (LM.6.25)
• Common docks, common beaches, and other CLPOA common property may not be used for cleaning, painting, or repairing boats or equipment. (LM.6.27)

Accidents & Reporting

• Boating accidents involving bodily injury must be reported to Marine Patrol or the Canyon Lake POA within 24 hours. (LM.6.4)
• A death, disappearance, or injury beyond first aid must be reported to the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways within 48 hours. (LM.6.4a)
• Property damage exceeding $500.00 or loss of a vessel must be reported to the State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways within 10 days. (LM.6.4b)
• Any vessel that sinks must be removed within 48 hours or the Canyon Lake POA will remove it at the member's expense. The member is responsible for all cleanup costs. (LM.6.28)

Marine Patrol: 951-246-3473