ARTICLE 30
Rules & Regulations for Lake Chauncy (ATM 1989)
Rule 1. Any powerboat operated on Lake Chauncy must meet the statutory requirements of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All operations of water_craft on the waters of Lake Chauncy shall be in strict compliance with the U.S. Coast Guard Rules and Regulations, the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Rules and Regulations of the Town of Westborough, as ordered.
Rule 2. All operators of vessels on Lake Chauncy must be acquainted with the Rules and Regulations of the Town of Westborough as posted on the state access ramp of said Lake. The operator will be responsible for any violations of the rules by their vessel.
Rule 3. All powerboats must use the public access ramp (Oak Street) when entering onto or leaving from the waters on Lake Chauncy. Their use of the ramp adjacent to the Lake Chauncy beach (Lyman Street) is strictly prohibited except in the case of life_threatening emergency.
Rule 4. All vessels on the Lake, whether or not required to be registered under State Law, shall display the lights and be equipped with a proper muffler or underwater exhaust as is or may be required by Section 5 and 6 of Chapter 275, Act of 1960, or acts in amendment thereof, or regulations made thereunder.
Rule 5. No craft may be in excess of headway speed within 150' of the line buoys at Lake Chauncy beach except for the purpose of docking at a designated dock. Craft proceeding to dock or leaving said dock must do so in a line perpendicular to the shore and must be operated so as not to endanger any swimmers. All motor craft shall not exceed headway speed (6 mph or less) within 50 feet of the shore.
Rule 6. No person shall annoy another person, or utter any profane, threatening or abusive language, or loud outcry except for emergency; or have possession of or drink any intoxicating liquor or do any obscene or indecent act on the waters of Lake Chauncy.
Rule 7. No person shall throw, drop or place in the waters of Lake Chauncy or its tributaries, any waste paper rubbish, brush, leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, or refuse; or chemically treat the waters of Lake Chauncy or its tributaries without the approval of the Massachusetts State Department of Health and theTown of Westborough.
Rule 8. No person shall at any time make an opening in the ice of Lake Chauncy exceeding twelve inches in diameter. Snowmobiles, motorcycles, iceboats or any other winter recreational vehicles shall exercise reasonable caution and keep a reasonable distance from all persons, structures and cleared skating areas. Automobiles and trucks are not permitted on the ice. All scuba divers must display diver's flag (float). Any boat within 100 feet of a diver's flag must operate not to exceed 3 mph.
Rule 9. No person shall use the waters of Lake Chauncy for the taking off or landing of aircraft, except in case of emergency to save the lives of the pilot or passengers.
Rule 10. No person shall row or paddle a boat or canoe unless able to control or handle the same with safety to himself and others; or in such a manner as to annoy or endanger the occupants or other boats or canoes, or neglect or refuse to stop the same or to place the same when stopped as directed by a police officer in uniform or who displays his badge. In order to ensure an orderly and safe flow of traffic, all powerboats will travel in a counter clockwise direction on Lake Chauncy.
Rule 11. No person, without the permission of the Town of Westborough, may permanently moor any vessel, boat, canoe, raft or float, marker buoy, or series of connected buoys, so that any part of the same extends more than twenty (20) feet from the shore, or outside the limits of such lesser distance as may be designate by the Town for particular locations, by buoys, markers, or otherwise. Upon receiving permission of the Town of Westborough, any and all fixed objects that are 20 feet or more from shore shall be marked with a reflector type object, which must face the waterway.
Rule 12. No person shall engage in the business of renting any type of boat(s) or canoe(s) or permit their premises to be used for launching or dock facilities by other than members of their family or social guests without the permission of the Town of Westborough.
Rule 13 Speed.
A) No person shall operate any motor boat on the Lake at a speed greater than 35 mph or a safe and reasonable speed proper under the circumstances and conditions then existing, or operate same or manipulate any water skis, surf_board or similar device in a negligent manner so that the lives or safety of the public might be endangered.
B) Speed during the period from one_half hour after sunset until one_half hour before sunrise shall be such that no appreciable wake is produced, but in no case to exceed the minimum necessary to maintain steerage way.
C) No person operating a craft propelled by other than muscular power shall allow said craft to approach closer than seventy_five (75) feet to another craft so as to cause excessive rocking to such other craft; nor circle around any craft in a manner as to annoy or endanger the occupants of other crafts; nor pass between moored rafts or floats and the shore. No craft shall operate at a speed that endangers the life, limb or property of any person.
Rule 14. Water-skiing.
A) An operator of a motorboat towing water-skis, aquaplanes or similar devices will be held responsible for compliance of these rules and regulations for both the motorboat and person or appurtenance being towed. No such activity may be conducted during the period between sunset and sunrise. No towrope longer than 75 feet shall be used in water-skiing, aquaplaning or towing a person or any other appurtenance. Skiers or aquaplane riders shall wear an approved flotation device.
B) No person operating a boat with a water-skier, shipboard rider or similar device in tow shall bring such device or rider or the boat within seventy_five (75) feet of a dock, pier, raft, wharf, float or a person or persons swimming or any part of the shore except to embark or disembark, or to render assistance to a boat or person in need of it.
C) Two persons, an operator and an observer who is at least twelve (12) years of age and in a position to observe the person being towed; shall be in any boat towing a skier, skip board, or similar device.
D) The towing of two or more persons on skis, skip or surfboard or other device is hereby prohibited.
E) Skiers should not be dropped off within 150 feet of lined buoys designating beach area except in life threatening emergency. The public access ramp (Oak Street) should be used for skiers, not the Lyman Street ramp.
Rule 15. The number of vehicles occupying the parking lot and adjoining access ramp area (Oak Street) may be limited so as to ensure the safety of and eliminate potential hazards to those persons/boaters
utilizing the area. This limit would be set in conjunction by the Town of Westborough and Division of Public Access.
Rule 16. Swimming is prohibited at any point in the lake more than fifty (50) feet from land, except at Lake Chauncy Beach, and in those areas officially marked "No Swimming". Swimming across the lake is prohibited in all cases. No rafts are allowed more than fifty feet from land. Jumping or diving from ropes or lines attached to trees or structures is also prohibited.
Rule 17. No person shall abandon a boat or power propelled boat or canoe or other craft or leave the same unfixed or allow boats, wharfs, floats, and barrels, to go adrift upon the water of Lake Chauncy.
Rule 18. No person shall post, paint, affix or display any sign, notice, placard, or advertising device on any part of the waters of said lake up to the high water mark, except with the written authority of the Town of Westborough.
Rule 19. The Rules and regulations of Lake Chauncy shall be enforced by any state or municipal police officer empowered to enforce the state boating laws of Massachusetts. Each such officer shall have jurisdiction over all waters of Lake Chauncy and it's adjoining shores and may in performance of his or her duties cross over or through public or private property whether covered by water or not.
Rule 20. Prohibited Watercraft: The operation of jet skis, surf jets, and wet bikes, or any other personal watercraft, is prohibited at all times. As used in this by-law, “personal watercraft” shall mean a vessel propelled by a water jet pump or other machinery as its primary source of motor propulsion, which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel, rather than being operated in the conventional manner by a person sitting or standing inside the vessel. (Added STM07)
PENALTIES: Whoever shall violate any of the above rules and regulations shall be subject to a fine of not less than $50.00 and not more than $300.00 for each offense. Any person enabled to enforce the above rules and regulations, upon observing any violation of these rules, may arrest without a warrant and bring such person before the appropriate court. (ATM90)
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