Recreational Boating Still Allowed in Michigan

The office of Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer announced last Friday that recreational boating is in fact allowed under the statewide stay-at-home order. Earlier that day, a state police lieutenant inaccurately said that launching watercraft was banded under the governor’s edict. 

Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw told The Detroit News on Friday that the governor’s March 24 “Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives” order prohibited recreational use of the state’s waterways. Hours later, John Pepin, a spokesman with the state department of natural resources, clarified that boating is allowed under the governor’s order.

Frequently Asked Question

On Friday, the governor’s office updated the State of Michigan website’s frequently asked questions associated with the executive order. “Boating falls within the outdoor activities permitted under the order,” the website says. “Any outdoor activity, including boating, must be done in a manner consistent with social distancing, and individuals should only use their own equipment to prevent the transmission of the virus through the touching of shared surfaces. Additionally, in accordance with section 2 of the order, persons not part of a single household may not boat together.”

Non-Essential Services

The website continued, “While boating is permitted under the order, the provision of boating services or supplies does not itself constitute critical infrastructure work. Accordingly, marinas, canoe liveries, and other similar businesses and operations need not designate workers to come to work for that purpose. As needed, however, these businesses and operations may designate workers to leave their home for work if the in-person presence is strictly necessary to conduct the minimum basic operations listed in section 4(b) of the order. Minimum basic operations do not include serving members of the public, but do permit work necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of sites otherwise open to the public for outdoor recreation.”

On the federal level, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Friday did announce that it would close small-boat reporting locations across the state to comply with president Trump’s orders limiting travel across international borders.

The closed locations include the following:

• Mount Clemens — Metro Beach Public Marina
• Detroit — Erma Henderson Park
• Trenton — Elizabeth Park
• Lexington — Lexington Harbor
• Port Huron — River St. Marina
• Algonac — Algonac Harbor Club
• Sault Ste. Marie — Kemp Marina
• Drummond Island — Yacht Haven Marina
• Rogers City — Municipal Marina
• Mackinac Island