YORK COUNTY, S.C. — As lakes and waterways across South Carolina prepare for a busy weekend of boating, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources will be conducting courtesy boat inspections at public boat landings.
SCDNR boating safety and enforcement officers will be on hand to perform quick and thorough inspections for required safety equipment and proper boat and motor registrations. No tickets will be issued for those not in compliance, instead, boaters will be given an opportunity to correct any issues before launching.
Boating inspections will take place Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.
Saturday, Aug. 31:
- Berkeley County: William H. Dennis Landing, Tail Race Canal, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Charleston County: Limehouse Landing, Stono River, Johns Island, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Darlington County: Society Hill Landing, Great Pee Dee River, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Horry County: Johnny Causey Landing, North Myrtle Beach, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Lexington County: Lake Murray Dam Landing, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Oconee County: Fall Creek Landing, Lake Keowee, 10 a.m. to Noon
- York County: Ebenezer Park Landing, Lake Wylie, 10 a.m. to Noon
Sunday, Sept. 1:
- Anderson County: River Forks Recreation Area, Lake Hartwell, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Beaufort County: Battery Creek Boat Landing, Paris Island, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Charleston County: Buck Hall Boat Landing, Intracoastal Waterway, McClellanville, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Clarendon County: Alex Harvin Landing, Lake Marion, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Georgetown County: Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex, Sampit River, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Kershaw County: Clearwater Cove Marina, Lake Wateree, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Marion County: Galivants Ferry Landing, Little Pee Dee River, 10 a.m. to Noon
Monday, Sept. 2 (Labor Day):
- Beaufort County: Lemon Island Landing, Okatie, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Charleston County: Wappos Cut Landing, Charleston, Intracoastal Waterway, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Chesterfield County: Lake H.B. Robinson Boat Landing, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Colleton County: Bennett's Point Landing, Mosquito Creek, Green Pond, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Lexington County: Lake Murray Dam Landing, 10 a.m. to Noon
- Oconee County: Fall Creek Landing, Lake Keowee, 10 a.m. to Noon
- York County: Ebenezer Park Landing, Lake Wylie, 10 a.m. to Noon
Charles Ibach, the Administrative Officer for the Charlotte Power Squadron, told WCNC Charlotte in June that the most important thing for anything water related is to utilize life jackets.
“We've had a number of drownings of late. Those drownings would have easily been preventable had the people been wearing life jackets and realize that local lakes, Lake Norman Lake Wylie, Mountain Island, they're not swimming lakes. You go down three to four feet in one of the lakes, you disappear,” Ibach explained.
He also encouraged anyone who plans on operating a boat to take a boaters safety course and also check the new rules in place.
Boating violations can be reported to the SCDNR at 1-800-922-5431.