Iowa And Illinois, Please Follow These 7 Unwritten Boating Rules

In theory it shouldn't be hard to be a courteous boater.

It's bright, beautiful summer and a lot of us are heading to the lakes, hopping in a friend's boat or our own, and ready to spend days flopped out in the lake.

There are some obvious maritime laws in both Iowa and Illinois, like requiring life jackets for pretty much any water activity. Both states also require people with engine cutoff switches on their boats to use them.

If you think you can get away with most anything in a boat, I wouldn't try that luck, especially on the 4th of July weekend. On the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the U.S. Coast Guard is patrolling, which could put you on the hook for federal law, and not just state.

Boating is a lot like driving. There are certain legal rules to follow but there are also unwritten common sense ones. Since a lot of us don't go boating as much as we drive, it's good to have a quick refresher on the just decent human things to do when you're boating.

The Minnesota DNR and travel company le boat put together lists of what to do and what not to do on the lake. For example, I know for sure I'll hear boats with super loud music on the lake over the 4th weekend. Sound carries over water and the whole sprawling lake does not want to hear your crappy playlist, my dude.

Scroll down to brush up on boat etiquette!