South Carolina Boaters Can Take to the Water

Boaters in South Carolina who can get out on the water are being encouraged to do so. The state’s department of natural resources is reminding residents who live on the water or have private access that they can enjoy boating, wake sports and fishing as long as they follow social distancing rules.

Passengers on a boat must be family members from the same household. As long as the number of people on the boat doesn’t exceed the vessel’s published capacity, the state does not have a limit on the number of passengers.

SCDNR spokesman Robert McCullough told local TV station WIStv.com that if a person is on the water with non-family members or if passengers on a boat aren’t related, no more than two people are allowed aboard.

The state did close public access to waterways and beaches because of the probability of those areas becoming congested with people. “You get to a landing and it’s just a natural choke point,” McCullough said. “Boats line up, cars line up, you get out and talk, you hang out and it’s just a natural thing. So, that along with rafting up and anchoring and doing all those things, everybody going to the beaches, there’s always a party spot. So, to do away with all those places, we needed to.”

As of last Friday, the department said it have given out about 5,000 warnings and verbally told about 3,000 people across the state to maintain social distancing, but only nine tickets had to be written.