State offers free boat inspections during Memorial Day holiday weekend

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will offer free safety inspections for boaters during the Memorial Day weekend.

The inspections are scheduled at boat landings statewide.

The Memorial Day holiday kicks off summer boating season in the state and is named one of the busiest times of the year for South Carolina lakes and waterways, according to a release from SCDNR.

Boating safety and enforcement officers will perform quick, thorough inspections for required safety equipment and proper boat and motor registrations.

Those who are not in compliance with safety regulations or registration requirements will not be ticketed.

Instead, they will be given an opportunity to correct the problem before they launch their boat.

SCDNR officers will also be able to answer questions and provide boaters with safety tips on staying safe on the water.

All inspections are from 10 a.m. to noon on the following dates:

May 27:

• Anderson County: Twin Lakes Landing, Lake Hartwell
• Charleston County: Wapoo Cut Landing, Intracoastal Waterway
• Greenwood County: SC Highway 72 Landing at Break on the Lake, Lake Greenwood
• Horry County: Little River Landing
• Lexington County: Lake Murray Dam Landing
• York County: Ebenezer Park Landing, Lake Wylie

May 28:

• Beaufort County: Broad River Landing
• Clarendon County: Alex Harvin Landing, Lake Marion
• Kershaw County: Clearwater Cove Landing, Lake Wateree
• McCormick County: Dorn Landing, Lake Thurmond
• Pickens County: South Cove Landing, Lake Keowee

Memorial Day:

• Anderson County: Twelve Mile Landing, Lake Hartwell
• Beaufort County: Lemon Island Boat Ramp
• York County: Ebenezer Park Landing, Lake Wylie
• Lexington County: Lake Murray Dam

To report boating violations such as reckless operation or an intoxicated boat operator, call the SCDNR toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-922-5431 or dial #DNR on your cellular phone.

For a copy of South Carolina’s boating regulations, to find out about local boating safety courses, or to obtain a free float plan form, contact the SCDNR boating safety office at 1-800-277-4301 or click here to visit the agency’s website.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.