SAFETY GUIDELINES

#1: ASK PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD & IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO GET OFF THEIR BOAT, YOU GET OFF IMMEDIATELY

The cove is a popular spot for socializing and having a good time, so you’ll likely encounter plenty of friendly faces in the crowd. It is common courtesy to ask permission before boarding someone else’s boat. In most cases, you can expect a warm welcome and an invitation to come aboard. It is important to remember to respect other people’s property. Feel welcome to move around and mingle with everyone on board, most of us love showing off our boats!

#2: IF YOU ARE ASKED TO DO SOMETHING, PLEASE COMPLY & UNDERSTAND, WE ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING STAYS SAFE AND HAPPY

It is important to keep in mind that boats are private property and their owners are responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone on board. We’re all here to have a good time and want to ensure that everyone and everything stays safe and in good condition. Your compliance and understanding are key to making that happen. Remember, if someone gets injured at the cove, it can put a damper on the entire day for all of us. Let’s all do our part to keep things fun, friendly, and safe!

#3: ONLY TIE or UNTIE FROM ANOTHER BOAT WITH BOTH OWNERS PRESENT

Tying or untying your boat with another boat must ALWAYS be done with the OWNER of both boats present. The owner needs to be there to make sure that no boats get damaged and that nobody gets hurt. We’re thrilled to have anyone with the right gear join us in the lineup, and even if you’re new to boating, you’ll find plenty of friendly folks eager to help out and offer guidance. Just be sure to communicate your intentions clearly and get confirmation from the other captains involved. We’re all in this together, and we want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable experience out on Lake Lanier.

#4: IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SWIM WELL, PLEASE INFORM ONE OF THE CAPTAINS

It is important for everyone’s safety that we’re aware of any potential risks. We want to ensure that everyone is safe while in the water. If you’re not a confident swimmer, please don’t hesitate to inform a Captain. We will help take the necessary precautions to make sure you have a fun and secure experience on the water. We have an abundance of flotation devices available for you to use, all you need to do is ask.

#5: NO “PRINCESS DROPS”

A Princess Drop is a lazy maneuver used by boaters to drop anchors AFTER tying up with other boats.
Please ensure proper anchoring when joining us at Marker 21!

1) Drop your anchor at least 2 to 3 times the length of your boat, in front of the boat line

2) Let the anchor rope out quickly so it hits the bottom of the lake

3) Slowly back the boat up while letting your anchor rope out, don’t hold and drag your anchor back while you are backing up

4) After you have parked, gently tug on the anchor rope until the anchor is well hung

Please remember to have dock lines (ropes to tie up with), an anchor with proper anchor line, and fenders / bumpers to protect your boat (4 minimum). A back anchor is encouraged too. Sometimes we may ask you to go stern-to-stern with someone and we’ll show you what that means when you arrive.

If you are solo or new to the cove, one of us will be happy to jump on your boat and help.

#6: 100-FOOT NO-WAKE ZONE

Please slow down when within 100 Feet of Gay Cove, this is not something a SIZE queen desires to wake up with!  A wake is a small wave caused by the speed and motor of a passing boat. Please slow down to idle speeds and show courtesy to other boaters when approaching and leaving the Cove. There are a lot of queens out there performing their synchronized swimming in the water, rocking the boats can be damaging and dangerous to the people swimming around them.

#7:  CIGARETTE BUTTS AND TRASH

Please do not extinguish cigarettes or dispose of trash or food in the lake.  We will be swimming in close proximity to everyone’s boats, we certainly would not like to swim in an ashtray or with garbage.  We want to keep our cove clean & fish free!

#8:  PROPER EQUIPMENT 

Please remember to have dock lines (ropes to tie up with), an anchor with proper anchor line, and fenders / bumpers to protect your boat (4 minimum). A back anchor is encouraged too. Sometimes we may ask you to go stern-to-stern with someone and we’ll show you what that means when you arrive.

We suggest Dock Lines of 20-25’+, this will help you when throwing lines to the boat you are pulling up next to.
We suggest Anchor Lines be a minimum of 4x the length of your boat or at least 100 FEET.

Please be advised that most rental boats typically only have the equipment you need to anchor at a beach and tie up to a dock. At the cove we are in much deeper water, so longer lines are necessary. You can absolutely get everything you need pretty inexpensively on Amazon and put it in a day bag for a rental or boat club boat! Just reach out to one of the Facebook group chats and we can send you some links!

#9:  OTHERS’ PROPERTY

Please be on your best behavior when visiting another person’s boat.
This is really important for three reasons:

1.  Most people do not realize the cost of all of the boats.  From the smallest to the biggest, these boats cost more than many of us make per year and are expensive to repair, clean, and insure.

2.  The boats are the Owner’s weekend homes so treat them like you are a visitor at their house.

3.  If you don’t act properly, you might not be invited back to that person’s boat.

If a boat owner wants you off their boat, you get off immediately.

#10:  PHOTOGRAPHS

As you can see from the site, we have some very talented photographers at the Cove and, unless you are sure that you want your picture taken with that salsa spurting out of your nose after a few too many, try to maintain your composure.  We all like to have a good time but want to be sure that no one is hurt or unable to get home.
_{If you would like to request any photo to be removed from our pages, please message a group admin on the Facebook group.}

#11:  LAKE LANIER

Please keep in mind that the Cove is public property and that it is patrolled by the Department of Natural Resources, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department, Gwinnett Sheriff’s Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Department, Army Corp of Engineers, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

In addition, it is certain that some of the adjacent property owners would prefer that the Cove not be in THEIR cove, so be sure not to give them any ammunition (i.e. nudity, littering, unsafe boating, etc.) that they can photograph and use against us.