The Antrim County Sheriff’s Marine patrol started their season last weekend.
On Sunday, they showed us what a typical day boating on Torch lake looks like for them.
Deputy Joe Clark says “I always tell everybody our first job is search and rescue. So matter what we’re doing if we get a call and somebody’s in trouble we go.“
Deputy Clark has been patrolling Torch Lake for ten years.
He says many of the stops they make are to help educate boaters.
During one boat stop Deputy Clark says, “Antrim County Sheriff’s department, how are you today? The reason I stopped you today is because because how old is the child? She’s four? Okay. Michigan law says any child under six has to have a type one or two life jacket on.”
Deputy clerk says the biggest reason for a stop is expired registration or a child with an improper floating device.
“The way the flotation devices work is type one is the most floatation, type two is the next most, type three is the next most, and this is a type five. These are good for at the beach, waiting pool, stuff like that but they’re not legal on a boat,” says Deputy Clark.
The marine patrol says they are also excited to see locals out on the lake again.
Boaters say at this time of year there’s typically more boats on the water, but last weeks colder temperatures have some waiting it out.
Boater, Kurt Sacker, says, “Yesterday it was so cold and windy it was it was kind of crazy. We’re not surprised by it, we see all kinds of different weather.”
Other are just happy to spend the holiday with friends.
“They invited us out on the boat and we said sure. We were going to come out and kayak but we were like you know what boat beats kayak,” says boater, Dalitso Kuntambila.
Deputy Clark says that even though memorial weekend was slower than they expected, they are already preparing for a larger than usual crowd for Fourth of July.
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