Coming from the Islands and going East we have seen the fishing net's. I have sailed over them at times but am curious as to how deep ther lines for us to get snagged? Any Lake Erie sailors know this ansewer? Cliff
The depth is variable, depending on a number of factors - how they are bouyed, how they are weighted, whether there is any current. You would probably sail clear over them most of the time, but if you hit one, it could do some real damage to your prop or rudder. And you would be liable for any damage to the net. So the best solution is to figure out the buoys, and steer around them. David Lady Lillie
One of our last outings along the shoreline around Cedar Point was memorable. There are lots of nets and I was watching the buoys, trying to stay outside(sometimes inside) of them. Reefed sails doing 7 knots in a good October breeze I feel the boat slowing. Then a loud "sprong" and I look back to see a net jump into the air. An unmarked section had caught on the rudder and luckily rode under it and off. With a standard prop who knows?
Don't know what the laws are on the Great Lakes (or Lake St. Clair) however in the North East if you damage a fishing net your liability includes the cost to repair the net and the potential loss of fish in the net when you damaged it. (Plus damage to your boat and the cost of a diver to help free you) Our nets typically are marked by floating barrels so they are hard to miss. And we give them a wide berth. What are they fishing for in lake St. Clair, smelt? Had a great uncle who lived on the north channel, he had an old wooden Chris Craft and it was my first experience with a boat, fell in love right there and then.
The Ohio DNR has printed material on this subject. At our marina's winter get together a rep from the DNR had a model showing what you have to deal with. The net is on the bottom and you should clear it BUT. . . As other have suggested go around whenever possible. Andy
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