Inside Scoop on What You Can and Cannot Do in Your Sailboat Now
On March 30, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued a “Stay at Home” order in the state. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued some guidance on the order on this page, which included this statement:
“Under the executive order, no Marylander should leave their home except for an essential reason. Therefore, recreational boating is not allowed. Subsistence hunting and fishing—limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance—can continue, however social distancing must be adhered to strictly.”
Following two days of confusion (aka collective freak-out among sailors and boaters), the DNR issued some clarifications on this FAQ page. SpinSheet asked for even more (below).
(Virginia boaters can still go out, provided they follow social distancing guidelines. Here are the rules.)
10 Boating in Maryland FAQ and DNR Clarification:
- May I move my freshly launched boat from my service marina to its summer slip? Moving boats between marinas or slips is permissible (or from a marina to your home). Certain marinas and marine services are part of the federal and state essential workforce list (those that provide fuel, "supply parts, or provide maintenance and repair services for transportation assets and infrastructure including… marine vessels”), so they are allowed to be open. However, some have voluntarily stopped providing overnight accommodations from what we (at DNR) understand. While it is not necessary to have documentation about the purpose of travel between slips, having such documentation may help resolve potential questions.
- I live on my sailboat; can I still be in my boat slip or moored out? If your boat serves as your residence, you can remain on the vessel.
- May I go sailing on my privately owned boat provided that my marina is open and I follow social distancing rules? No.
- May I go solo sailing on my privately owned vessel provided that my marina is open? No.
- May I paddle my standup paddleboard, canoe, or kayak for exercise? Since kayaking and paddleboarding are both human-powered forms of exercise, akin to bicycling, they are permitted under the executive order. Short-distance canoeing also would be permitted as exercise. Guidance on social distancing and the prohibition on social gatherings must be strictly followed
- May I go sailing on my Laser or other active dinghy sailing vessel for exercise? No. See #5.
- May I take out my sailing kayak or multihull with pedals that I use for exercise? If it is human-powered, and used only for short-distance exercise, yes.
- May I go windsurfing for exercise? No. See #5
- May I go Jet-skiing or some other motorized personal watercraft for exercise? No. See #5.
- Can any boat go out fishing or just those fishing for their family’s meal? Limited recreational fishing and crabbing are allowed if you are seeking food for you or your family, but social distancing guidelines and the prohibition on social gatherings must be strictly followed.
ONE MORE THING: The department consulted with the state’s legal experts on how to interpret the governor’s executive order, and the intent is simple: stay home unless you absolutely must leave. This is a serious global health crisis and the number of confirmed cases and deaths in Maryland rises everyday. Risking unnecessary exposure is not just a hazard for you—it puts law enforcement, emergency responders, seniors, and vulnerable populations in danger. We will save lives by doing the right thing and simply staying home.
Thank you to Gregg Bortz, media relations manager at the Maryland DNR for answering our most pressing questions.
****REMEMBER that the water temperature today at Thomas Point Light is only 52 degrees—still dangerously cold, as in “wear a dry suit and PFD” cold. Please take time to learn about cold weather boating safety****
