Never let anyone ride in the boat while it's being backed down a ramp into the water.
Be properly prepared when arriving at launch ramp. Boat packed, drain plug in and straps undone.
If you are going to be meeting friends at the ramp, do not park your car in a trailer space.
If someone seems inexperienced, offer to help them before you yell at them.
DON'T FISH on or around the ramps.
DO NOT SWIM on or around the ramps.
Teach your spouse/friend how to back the trailer at the ramp to load/unload the boat. Be patient.
CRUISING THE LAKE
NEVER let anyone ride on your boat with his or her feet dangling off the front or back of the boat.
If a boat is towing a skier, do not follow in the boats wake.
Remember, you have no depth perception on the water at night. You can't tell how far away those boat lights are until your right on top of them. DO NOT follow directly behind a boat at night. If it slows down or stops you won't realize it until too late. Stay off to one side of it a little when following another boat at night.
Be careful when approaching a marina at night. It is very difficult to see a boat ahead of you if its lights blend in with the marina lights.
Lake Cumberland's average depth is 90ft. No matter the level of their swimming ability all crew should use a flotation device in the water at all times.
Read the shoreline to judge the underwater geography. If the shore has an almost vertical cliff, more than likely it's the same below the shoreline. If the shore has a very gradual slope, underwater it may be the same and it is possible to hit a submerged object.
Lake Cumberland's water level changes seasonally. This is due to the COE's generation of electric power and flood control. Take this in to account when reading maps. The little underwater hill on the map you ran right across in the spring may be above the waterline in the fall!
When navigating or floating at NIGHT, you are required to display the proper running lights (see Boating Laws). When anchored at night, you are required to display an anchor light or stern light from sundown to sunup.
It is not uncommon for Cumberland boaters to wave when approaching another boat - they are just that friendly.
