The Marine Division consists of one fulltime and nine seasonal Deputies with a fleet of six boats and two personal watercrafts.  Deputies regularly patrol 40 of the counties 325 named bodies of water from April through September.  The Underwater Recovery Team consists of 12 Divers and a fully equipped dive van.

Marine Deputies provide general assistance to the boating public and vessels in distress, along with enforcing marine law, investigation of boating accidents and crimes on the water.  Deputies conduct boat livery inspections, vessel inspections, underwater rescue and recovery.  Deputies also provide boater’s safety training to approximately 800 area students and informational programs to various area groups such as Lake Associations.

The Marine Division is jointly funded by the Michigan Office of Natural Resources and the County of Barry.

Boating Safety

Boating safety is taught to 6th grade students at Barry County area schools on a yearly schedule. Barry County certifies over 1,000 students each year.

A boating safety course, open to the public, is taught on the last Saturday of June at Shady Shores Resort on Gun Lake. The resort is located on Patterson Road 1.3 miles south of M-179, and across the street from Premiere Motors.  The class is held from 9:00am - 3:00pm.  There is no charge for the class and many adults take the class, with younger individuals.  Bring a pencil and a sack lunch, or you may go out during the one hour lunch period.  Students 12 and under taking the boater safety class must be accompanied by a parent or responsible person during the entirety of the class.  Pre-registration is not required. (GPS Coordinates - N 42 36.637', W 85 32.631')

DUPLICATE SAFETY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE REQUEST
If you have previously completed a Michigan Marine Safety Education Course, and your original certificate has been lost or misplaced, please fill out and submit the form, available by clicking here. You may also apply for a duplicate certificate by phone or mail. There will be no charge for this service.  If you would like to apply by phone, call (517) 373-3292.

Who May Operate a Boat

Those less than 12 years of age:

• May operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower (hp) legally without restrictions.
• May operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp but no more than 35 hp legally only if they are directly supervised on board by a person at least 16 years of age.
• May not operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 hp legally under any conditions.

Those 12 to 15 years of age:

• May operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 hp legally without restrictions.
• May operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp legally only if they:
o Have passed a boating safety course approved by the Office of Natural Resources and Environment have on board their boating safety certificate or ...
o Are accompanied on board by a person at least 16 years of age.

Those 16 years of age or older may operate any boat on the waters of Michigan. Note: See "Who May Operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC)" below.

Who May Operate a Personal Watercraft (PWC)

Those less than 12 years of age may not legally operate a PWC.

Those 12 and 13 years of age may operate a PWC legally only if:

• He or she obtained a boating safety certificate prior to January 1, 1999, or ...
• All of the following conditions are satisfied:
o The operator is accompanied solely by his or her parent or legal guardian and ...
o Both the operator and the parent or legal guardian have obtained a boating safety certificate and ...
o The PWC is equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch and the parent or legal guardian has the lanyard attached to his or her person, clothing, or PFD. and…
o The PWC is designed to carry at least two persons.

Those 14 years of age or older:

• And born after December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally only if they have obtained a boating safety certificate.
• And born on or before December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally without restrictions.

Legal Hours of operating a PWC: 8:00 am to Sunset

The Marine Division is supported by a grant from the Michigan Office of Natural Resources