Boat Launch
Take advantage of the municipality’s free washing stations before heading to the boat launch. (1, chemin du Carrefour (Town Hall) and 48, ch. St-Joseph (Perkins Fire Station)).
Keep your washing station receipt to make your launch easier.
You can use the public Pélissier ramp from late April/early May until October to put your boat in the water and take it out, for the summer cottaging season or for a day excursion. Please see the VDM events calendar for official opening date.
A reminder that the ramp is open daily during the following hours:
– From 6am to 8pm (April/May -date TBC annually until June 23)
– From 6am to 9pm (June 24 until Labour Day)
– From 7am to 7pm (Labour Day until September 30)
– From 7am to 5pm (October 1 until October 10)
– From 9am to 5pm – Saturdays & Sundays only (October 15 until October 31)
Click here for THE NEW 2023 SAFE BOATING GUIDE (in French) (which includes details on the fees), and here for the regulations related to the Public-access Ramp at Pélissier beach on McGregor Lake.
Fees for Residents and Tax payers:
– Non-motorized boats: FREE
– Motorized boats: Fee ranges from $5 to $60 for the season (based on motor power/size)
Fees for Non-Residents:
– Non-motorized boats: FREE
– Motorized boats: Fee ranges from $10 to $120 per day (based on motor power/size)
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Safe Boating
Operating your boat at a slow, idle-speed, is a great way to cruise and enjoy the beauty of the lake. These low-wake speeds help protect wildlife, shorelines and decrease risks to swimmers and private docks.
To promote goodwill among all of our lakes’ users, we encourage all boaters to abide by the following code of conduct.
Behaviour which amounts to the dangerous operation of a boat is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. Just as you would do if you witness dangerous car driving, call 911 if you feel the situation is urgent.
Anyone who witnesses inappropriate or dangerous behaviour in the operation of a boat should try (only if safe to do so) to get some evidence (photo/video/boat registration number) so that they could provide information to the police. They should report it to the MRC des Collines police by calling (819) 459-9911.
All Watercraft
Be sure to know the laws that pertain to your vessel. Pertinent websites are:
- https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/proof-competency-recreational-boaters
- https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/licensing-pleasure-craft
- https://www.paddlecanada.com/are-you-using-a-stand-up-paddleboard/?fbclid=IwAR0UVKh4UCyeoa7CkJppW9-kWRlUdmIleymgHd_G_4qcRWWZy5_GyVsqE2w)
- https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-91/FullText.html
Make sure you have all of the required documents on board with you: pleasure-craft operator card, personal identification and pleasure-craft permit and all required safety equipment.
Non-motorized watercraft (other than sailboats) are encouraged to stay within 30 meters of shore, and when crossing larger areas should avoid lingering in the center of these areas as some have been designated for surf boating activities.
Motorized watercraft
- Do not travel with a motorized boat in the nose-up position (transition position) since any boat then produces a very large wave. It is preferable to travel at clutch/idle speed (4 to 8 km / h, depending on the boat) or at higher speed so as to completely plane the boat.
- Slow down to idle-speed as you approach the shore and as you leave it and avoid abrupt turns.
- Do your cruising at idle-speed and at least 30 meters from shore, leaving the area closer in to bathers and non-motorized craft.
- Respect swimmers and non-motorized watercraft: Stay as far away as you can from them.
- Avoid prolonged spinning in one spot.
- Do not closely follow a boat towing a skier, boarder or tube, and never jump their wake.
- Keep the volume down on your sound system. Remember that you’re sharing the lake with other boaters and with shoreline residents.
- Use your horns and sirens only for emergencies.
Towing
- Go to deeper areas to water-ski or tube (see below for wake/surf boaters).
- Do not turn at the bottom of the bay when towing a skier or wakeboarder. Instead, drive straight, slow down and drop your rider, then reposition the boat at low speed and set off in the opposite direction.
- Tubers, water skiers and wake boarders must wear a PFD or an approved life jacket.
- If you’re towing someone on water skis, a wake board or an inflatable tube, you must have an observer on board who keeps watch over each person being towed and notifies the operator in case of problems.
- Your pleasure craft must have a seat for all persons being towed in case they need to come back on board.
Towing is prohibited after sunset.
In addition to general safety guidelines, Wake/Surf boaters are reminded of the following:
- Restrict all wake/surf activities to designated zones (See Carte – Map Avr-Apr 2021).
- As much as possible avoid close passes to other boats, and don’t follow another boat too closely.
- Avoid high power turns to recover fallen surfer.
- Ensure your ballasts are empty when navigating the lake and only fill them for the purpose of conducting wake surf/wakeboard activities inside pre-determined zones identified on the map.
- Navigate in areas deeper than 15 feet to avoid re-suspension of sediments and proliferation of aquatic plants.
As much as possible avoid wake boarding/surfing in circular patterns to avoid the waves of multiple boats crossing each other in the middle of the lake and create huge wave. Wake/Surf only in designated areas and preferably in a straight line, one boat behind the other (at a safe distance). - Keep in mind that local boating laws and navigation rules still apply. Follow them and everyone will enjoy their time on the water we share.
- Be courteous and keep music at a responsible level especially in the early morning and later in the evenings; sound travels much farther than you think on the water, and loud music can ruin other boaters’ and resident’s peace and quiet.
Additional references
- The Municipality of Val-des-Monts has published a Safe-Boating Guide (EN).
- Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide 2019 (EN) & (FR)
- MLA’s formal letter (Lettre à Jacques Laurin FR / Letter to Jacques Laurin EN) sent in summer 2019 to the (then) Mayor Jacques Laurin asking the Municipality to step up its efforts to police the waterways on weekends and high traffic periods, as well as educate boaters, particularly those accessing rental equipment at the public ramp at Pelissier Park.
- Summer 2020 Pilot Project: With a view to striking a balance between enjoying surf boating & being mindful of all lake residents needs and concerns, a collaborative initiative between several surf boat owners & the MLA was launched in summer 2020 to develop guidelines for surf boat owners. These guidelines were endorsed by the MLA Board in May 2021.