snowmobiling guide 2011

8/3/2019 Snowmobiling Guide 2011

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3.................avoiingsnowoi C

4.................micignsnowoi rgion

6-7 ...........Qick rnc

ti mp8................. dnk diving:ln fc

9.................minnnc tip

11 .............Wy o enjoysnowoiing

13 .............Pi Inc

21 .............how o Pc u snowoi

2 Noten micigan snowoiling Guide Winte

Northern Michigan Snowmobiling Guide Published by:

publishers of the

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Cover Photo Courtesy of the Gaylord area Chamber of CommerCe

WeeklyChoice.com CharlevoixCountyNews.com


3/24

Winte 2011/12 Noten micigan snowoiling Gui

Safety Tipsand AvoidingInjuries

by Jon mxi

There are approxi-

mately 13,000 reported

injuries due to snowmo-

bile accidents in the

United States each year.

Additionally, there are

over 100 deaths due tosnowmobile crashes

each year. Some deaths

are the result of the op-

erator being pinned

under the vehicle, and

over two-fifths of re-

ported deaths are the re-

sult of collisions with

trees, other vehicles,

bridges, and wires.

There are also deaths re-

ported that are caused

by the vehicle entering

water or falling through

ice. Here are some tips

that will help ensure

your safety while operat-

ing a snowmobile:

Never ride a snowmo-

bile alone or across un-

familiar territory.

Having a partner will

provide an extra meas-

ure of safety in the

event of a breakdown or

accident.

Ride only on estab-lished trails and clearly

marked areas. Avoid

water and frozen lakes.

It is impossible to judge

the thickness or depth of

ice.

Watch the trail in

front of you very closely.

There could be hidden

rocks, barbed wire, or

other obstacles in your

path. You should avoid

operating a snowmobile

in bad weather. Check

for warnings regarding

snowstorms and rain be-

fore starting.

Always slow down at

the top of a hill or snow

bank. There could be an

unexpected hazard on

the other side. Also, do

not attempt to jump or

hurdle snow banks. You

will only have control of

your snowmobile whenthe skis are firmly on

the ground.

Take the time to learn

the snowmobile laws

and regulations for the

area you are in. Each

state has its own re-

quirements and rules in

regard to snowmobiles.

Use common sense when

approaching roads or

railroad tracks. Make

sure you signal eachturn you make and

watch for other vehicles.

Control your speed ac-

cording the conditions

in which you are riding.

Use extra caution if

you are operating a

snowmobile at night.

Unseen obstacles can be

potentially fatal. Drive

only as fast as your

headlights will allow

you to see safely. Neverattempt to navigate new

trails at night.

Do not operate a snow-

mobile while drinking.

Numerous accidents

occur each year to due

driving a snowmobile

after consuming alcohol.

Make sure the vehicle

you are driving has been

avoiing snowoi Cproperly maintained and is

in good operating condi-

tion. Snowmobiling can be

exciting and very safe if

you observe the proper pr

cautions and use common

sense while riding.


4/24


LegaL Definitionof a SnowmobiLe:

Snowmobile means

any motor-driven vehicle

designed for travel prima-

rily on snow or ice of a

type that utilizes sled-type

runners or skis, an end-

less belt tread, or any com-

bination of these or other

similar means of contact

with the surface upon

which it is operated, but is

not a vehicle that must be

registered under the

Michigan vehicle code,

1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to

257.923.

a SnowmobiLemay operate on apubLic HigHwayUnder the FollowingConditions:

A snowmobile may be

operated on the right-of-

way of a public highway

(except a limited-access

highway) if it is operated

at the extreme right of the

open portion of the right-

of-way and with the flow

of traffic on the highway.

Snowmobiles operated on

a road right-of-way must

travel in single file and

shall not be operated

abreast except when over-

taking or passing another

snowmobile.

A snowmobile may beoperated on the roadway

or shoulder when neces-

sary to cross a bridge or

culvert if the snowmobile

is brought to a complete

stop before entering onto

the roadway or shoulder

and the operator yields

the right-of-way to any ap-

proaching motor vehicle

on the highway.

A snowmobile may be

operated across a public

highway, other than a lim-

ited access highway, at

right angles to the high-

way for the purpose of get-

ting from one area to

another when the opera-

tion can be done safely

and another vehicle is not

crossing the highway at

the same time in the im-

mediate area. An operator

must bring his/her snow-

mobile to a complete stopbefore proceeding across

the public highway and

must yield the right-of-

way to all oncoming traf-

fic.

Snowmobiles may be op-

erated on a highway in a

county road system,

which is not normally

snowplowed for vehicular

traffic; and on the right-of-

way or shoulder when no

right-of-way exists on asnowplowed highway in a

county road system, out-

side the corporate limits

of a city or village, which

is designated and marked

for snowmobile use by the

county road commission

having jurisdiction.

a perSon SHaLLnot operate aSnowmobiLe:

While under the influ-

ence of drugs or alcohol.

At a rate of speed

greater than is reasonable

for existing conditions.

In a forest nursery,

planting area or public

lands posted or reasonably

identifiable as an area or

forest reproduction when

growing stock may be

damaged or any desig-

nated wild, wilderness or

natural area in the state.

On the frozen surface of

public waters within 100

feet of a person, including

a skater, not in or upon a

snowmobile or within 100

feet of a fishing shanty or

shelter except at the mini-

mum speed required to

maintain forward move-

ment of the snowmobile,

or on an area that has

been cleared for ice skat-

ing, unless the area is nec-essary for gaining access

to the public water.

Within 100 feet of a

dwelling between the

hours of midnight and 6

a.m. at a speed greater

than the minimum re-

quired to maintain for-

ward movement of the

snowmobile.

Upon the land of an-

other without consent of

the owner or their agent,as required by the recre-

ational trespass act.

In an area open to pub-

lic hunting during the No-

vember 15-30 firearm deer

season from 7 a.m. to 11

a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5

p.m.

While transporting a

bow unless it is unstrung

or encased, or a firearm

unless it is unloaded and

securely encased.? On or across a ceme-

tery or burial ground, air-

port, railroad or a railroad

right-of-way, or within 100

feet of a sledding, skiing

or skating area.

To chase, pursue, worry

or kill any wild bird or an-

imal.

In a public or private

parking lot in a carele

negligent manner.

acciDentreporting

The law requires tha

the operator of a snow

bile involved in an acc

dent resulting in injur

or death of, any person

property damage in an

timated amount of $10

more, must immediate

notify a law enforceme

agency within the cou

in which the accident curred.

Driver LicenSeinformationSuspended DriverLicense

You may not operate

snowmobile if your li

cense to operate an au

mobile has been

suspended or revoked

Michigan or your homstate.

Points Assessed tYour Driver Record

A person convicted o

manslaughter, neglige

homicide or a felony r

sulting from snowmob

operation shall have s

points assessed agains

his/her driver record.

person convicted of op

ating a snowmobile wh

under the influence ofcohol or a controlled s

stance, or with an

unlawful blood alcoho

content shall have six

points assessed agains

his/her driver record.

person who is convicte

micign snowoi rguion

CoNtiNued oN pg

RULES OF THE TRAIL


5/24


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6/24


traiLmapS

Northern Michigan Snowmobile

Quick RefeRence

emmet county

antrim county

* Only intended as a general reference, and not intended for navigational purposes

cHarLevoiX county

crawforD count


7/24


otSego county

cHeboygan county


8/24


by ti h

Here are some interesting

drunk driving facts thatarent commonly discussed

but important to those who

may be potentially facing a

DUI or drunk driving re-

lated offense:

Drunk driving and DUI

laws vary from state to state

as do the potential punish-

ments.

Drunk driving offenses

are considered DUI crimi-

nal offenses in every state

across the nation. Repeat DUI offenses are

considered from other

states should you re-offend

in a different state.

Almost every state in

the U.S. shares DUI infor-

mation with the other

states when you attempt to

transfer licenses.

Your employer will most

likely find out about your

DUI or criminal drunk driv-

ing offense.

Your auto insurance is

certainly affected by a

drunk driving offense by

being required to carry

whats known as a SR22 in-

surance policy. The SR22 is

a high risk type of auto in-

surance policy that the

state DMV requires in

order to force the auto in-

surance company to notify

them (the DMV) should the

auto insurance company

cease to provide coverage

for you for any reason. The

policy is named after the

form that the DMV re-

quires; form SR22.

Even after a 1st offense

DUI you will be required to

complete an alcohol abuse

program regardless of your

blood alcohol concentration

(BAC) or the circumstances

of your arrest/ conviction.

Overall DUI and/or

drunk driving related of-

fenses are serious offenses

and you should seek out the

help and assistance of a

criminal defense lawyer to

protect your rights and best

interests. The lawyer you

select should focus their

practice of law exclusively

on DUI defense if you want

the best possible repr

tation.

Michigans tough st

against drinking and

ing includes snowmob

and ORVs in an effort

duce the risk of injur

death, or damage to p

sonal property. Any v

tions and points you r

for drinking while op

ing a snowmobile or O

are placed on your dr

record. Points added t

your driving record m

sult in your drivers li

being suspended or re

voked, preventing you

driving any motor veh

in Michigan. Fines a

penalties increase wit

ditional convictions.

dunk diving: ln fc


9/24


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by Ji akn

Safe snowmobiling is

about understanding yourabilities, capabilities of

your machine, the rules of

the trail, and taking steps

to make sure your sled is

properly maintained.

Randy Danforth, owner

T & R Yamaha in East Jor-

dan, notes, First of all, a

lot of the new equipment

is much more sophisti-

cated than in the past, so

riders should consider hav-

ing a qualified technicianlook at their sled to have

their pre-season mainte-

nance done.

But what if you really

want spend the afternoon

(and likely into the

evening) in a cold garage,

skinning a few knuckles,

tackling the job yourself ?

Randy has a few key

points.

He notes, Getting a

snowmobile ready for theseason partly depends on

how it was put it away for

the summer. In particular,

fuel isnt what it used to

be, so when the machine is

summer-ized all the fuel

should be removed to avoid

having the carburetors or

fuel injectors gum up.

Even using a gas stabilizer

is only good for about 30

days. So one of the first

things to do is remove any

old gas and put in fresh

gas.

The next step is to refer-

ence the service manual

for the actual sled to iden-

tify lubrication points and

other pre-season mainte-

nance tips. Inspect the

slides, wear bars and track

for signs of wear, check the

lights, and dont forget

those hand and thumb

warmers.

Its always a good idea to

install a new set of sparkplugs at the beginning of

the season. Another impor-

tant component is the bat-

tery. Have it checked and if

it is more than a couple of

years old, replace it with a

new one.

While confidence in the

performance of the ma-

chine is important, confi-

dence in operating skills

and knowledge of trail

rules is essential to a safeand secure riding experi-

ence.

The Michigan Snowmo-

bile Safety Course guide of-

fers some sound advice for

staying safe on the trails.

Among those tips;

Always ride with at least

one other rider and when

snowmobiling in groups,

use the buddy system -

where pre-assigned bud-

dies keep a watch on each

other during the ride.

Always ride single file

and stay on the right side

of the trail.

Stay on posted trails,

trespassing on private land

is illegal and potentially

dangerous.

Plan your trip in ad-

vance, and always tell a

friend or family member

where you are going and

when you expect to return.

Beware of fatigue. Try

to take a break at least

once an hour.

Observe trail etiquette.

In addition to staying on

the right side of the trail,

learn hand signals, an-

nounce your intentions

when passing, slow down

when being passed, yield

the right-of-way to skiers,

minnnc n sy tiphorses, or hikers on

snowshoes, and never

stop in blind areas

such as hilltops or on

curves.

Always wear protec-

tive clothing designed

for snowmobiling,

gloves and helmet (with

face shield or goggles).

Take extra precaution

at intersections and

when crossing road-

ways. Look both ways!

Of course, never

drink and ride. It im-

pairs ability, judgment,

reaction time, and car-ries substantial legal

repercussions for the

operator.

Riders between 12 and

16 years of age who

erate a snowmobile

without the direct s

pervision of an adu

must complete a Mi

gan certified snowm

bile course (which i

also required for ri

in this age category

order to cross a hig

way or street, even

adult supervision).

a list of those offer

snowmobile safety

courses in your are

and additional safe

formation, contact

local snowmobile dor visit www.michi

gan.gov/dnr and se

snowmobile safety


10/24


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MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT- LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION

MICHIGAN SNOWMOBILE FATALITY SUMMARY

2010/2011

2010/2011 SEASON: LOWEST SNOWMOBILE FATALITY COUNT IN LAST 20 YEARS.

Final Update: 4/18/2011 07:30 hrs - FINAL UPDATE FOR THIS SEASON 13 accidents 13 deaths

DATE TIMECOUNTY/

LOCATION

AREA MOST HARMFUL

EVENTAGE/SEX ALCOHOL RESIDENCY

SAFETY

CRTFY

PE

F

11/14/2011 22:21 KALKASKA Hudson Rd, Springfield Twp 41 / M Yes MI Unk.

F

Victim was traveling in a group, he veered to left and lost control of his sled, side swiped saplings, then struck large tree, was ejected and hit tree. Alcohol, speeunfamiliar with area contributing factors.

2 12/27/2010 18:18 WEXFORD FR7724 and TRAIL 37 22 / F No MI Yes F

Snowmobile NE bound on trail, snowmobile left trail to left in S curve. Vict im ejected from sled and collided with tree stump. Speed believed to be a factor.

3 12/19/2010 02:03 CHEBOYGAN Fisher Trail near King Road 23 / M Yes MI Unk F

Victim was traveling south on Fisher Trail and +left roadway to left, then slammed into a wooden driveway post and came to rest facing east on the shoulder of throadway. Victim died as a result of significant injuries. Alcohol a factor. Victim did not wear a helmet at time of accident.

4 1/22/2011 19:26 ROSCOMMON Houghton Lake 60 / M No MI Unk F

Snowmobile was riding northeasterly direction and was struck on the left side by an eastbound snowmobile. Alcohol a factor in the crash.

5 1/21/2011 22:00 ALGER Trail 8, Burt Township 52 / M No MI Yes F

Victim was EB towards Grand Marais when he apparently lost control, left trail on right side, continued for another 140, then struck trees. Excessive speed a fa

6 1/29/3011 12:00 MANISTEE Trail 3, on Creamery Road 51 / M No MI Unk F

Operator of Snowmobile was heading west on Creamery Road and failed to stop at stop sign crossing into the path of a south bound vehicle at this crossing.

7 1/14/2011 22:35 IOSCO Forest Service Trail 2172 28 / M Yes MI Unk F

Operator of Snowmobile was traveling eastbound, lost control, failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the trail to left, and struck a tree. Operator ejected. Alcohol anspeed a factor


11/24


Snowmobiling is a great

way to get some high inten-

sity adventure or to enjoy

the scenery of a new loca-

tion during the winter

months. However, some may

feel their snowmobiling ex-

perience start to stagnate

after several years of riding

the same locations over and

over. If you are in this situa-

tion, or are looking for a

way to get the most out of

your snowmobiling experi-

ence, here are a few sugges-

tions that might help.

Explore a new location.For those who live where

it snows, it may be easy to

keep going to the same fa-

miliar places year after

year, but this can cause

your experience to seem

less exciting each time. Or if

you are planning to go on

vacation during the winter,

research which destinationsmay have some good snow-

mobiling for you. Find a

new location to explore, and

you may find your sense of

adventure return.

Try going on asnowmobiling tour.

Especially if you are on

vacation somewhere, snow-

mobile tours are a great

way to find some of the bet-

ter places to go without hav-

ing to wander around alone

for hours. Guided tours are

also a great way to go at a

casual pace to enjoy the

scenery, without feeling like

you are ruining others high

adventure.

For those who go

snowmobiling for theadrenaline rush, tryupping the intensity.

If you have not tried get-

ting air off jumps, or if you

shy away from intense look-

ing territory, it is time to try

it out. Maybe try tagging

along with friends or family

who are more experienced,

and try to keep up with

them. Snowmobiling can be-

come more fun if you allowyourself to go out of your

comfort zone occasionally.

Try mixing in somesnowmobiling games.

Bring some friends along

and play snowmobile t

hide and seek. Try pla

polo or Frisbee golf wh

you ride. There are madifferent things you ca

to have fun while you r

and most of them invo

simply doing somethin

of the ordinary.

Snowmobiling can b

extreme sport, a metho

adventure, or simply a

or relaxing thing you d

vacation. Whether you

grown tired of snowm

ing, or are simply lookfor a way to further yo

joyment, these suggest

may help you think of

new ways to better enj

your snowmobiling ex

ence.

Wy o enjoy snowoiing

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12/24


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flector nose pieceCustom-forms to your noseand face, creating a seal that directs all breath downand out the bottom, keeping your goggles (andglasses) fog-free. Head strap keeps everything inplace, even with a helmet. Warm, comfortable andguaranteed to keep your glasses or goggles fog-free.Laugh, sing, whistle, do face plants, dig your sled outand still see where youre going. It just doesnt getmuch better.One size. $39.95 www.ruoutside.com

4 5R. U. Outside

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The all around snowmobile glove of choice for sleddworldwide. This mid weight waterproof glove comes a removable set of liners with grip that can be worn combination to give the warmth of a heavy weight glHMKs most popular design for its versatility and dexity, the premium leather palm is reinforced in all the ccal areas for increased longevity as well as a neoprewrist cuff and adjustable mid-length gauntlet to keepsnow out. Colors - Black, GrayUS Mens size: XS-2XL MSRP $84.95

ArctivaComp 6InsulatedBibs

The Comp 6 Bib has the same souour Comp 6 RR race pant but in a insulated version. Key comfort features include a 120 gram Holofil inlation package, adjustable lengthlegs, and full length leg vent zippArticulated and padded knees fowhen the going gets tough. Go styling with ultra comfort constrtion. Durable waterproof nylonchassis. Nylon overlays in critwear areas. Double and tripleneedle stitching throughout.Bib interface connectors lockjacket & pant together.Full length side leg zippers.Removable suspenders and sulated back panel.120 gram Polyfil insulation fotreme conditions.SM-2XL $195 3XL-5XL $22www.arctiva.com

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14/24


There are four major

manufacturers that build

snowmobiles. They are:

Arctic Cat - headquartered

in Plymouth, MN; BRP -

headquartered in Valcourt,

Quebec; Polaris Industries -

headquartered in Medina,

MN; and Yamaha Motor

Corporation - headquar-

tered in Cypress, CA.

In 2011 there were

123,063 snowmobiles sold

worldwide; 51,796 were sold

in the U.S. and 40,878 were

sold in Canada. The average suggested

retail price of a new snow-

mobile sold in 2011 was

$8,450 (US Funds).

There are 1.55 million

registered snowmobiles in

the US and over 602,902 reg-

istered snowmobiles in

Canada.

The Economic Impact

of Snowmobiling:

o United States - $ 22 bil-

lion annually

o Canada - $ 6 billion an-

nually

o Europe & Russia - $2.2

billion annually

Over 90,000 full time

jobs are generated by the

snowmobile industry in

North America. Those jobs

are involved in manufactur-

ing, dealerships andtourism related businesses.

The average age of a

snowmobiler is 43 years

old.

The average annual

household income for snow-

mobilers is $65,000.

The average snowmo-

biler rides their snowmo-

bile 1414 miles (1836 km)

per year in North America.

Approximately 75% of

all active snowmobilers are

male; 25% female.

53% of the snowmobil-

ers usually trailer their

snowmobiles to go riding.

47% either snowmobile

from their primary resi-

dence or have a vacation

home where they keep and

use their snowmobiles.

Approximately 80% ofsnowmobilers use their

snowmobile for trail riding

and touring on marked and

groomed trails. 20% of

snowmobilers use their

snowmobile for work, ice

fishing and transportation.

Snowmobilers are

ing neighbors, they rai

over $3 million for char

during the 2010-2011 sea

There are over 225,

miles of groomed and

marked snowmobile tra

in North America that

been developed by volu

teer clubs working with

local government and p

vate land owners.

There are over 3000

snowmobile clubs worl

wide, involved in trail

grooming and charity fraising and family acti

ties.

There are over 40 r

tered non-profit associa

Ju fc

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Facts and Figures About Snowmobiling Industry in North Americ


15/24


tions representing snow-

mobilers in the U.S.,

Canada and Scandinavia.

Snowmobiling is great

exercise that brings people

outdoors to interact with

nature and each other. It is

an invigorating sport that

is great for stress release

and good mental health.

Snowmobiling is a

great family lifestyle. It is

an activity that keeps par-

ents and kids together. His-

torically individuals who

snowmobile at a young age

continue to snowmobile

with their parents through-

out their lives, sharing

great experiences as a fam-

ily. In many winter re-

gions, snowmobiling is

simply the main form ofwinter outdoor recreation

and in some cases the main

method of transportation

available.

The use of snowmo-

biles in National Parks is

regulated by Federal Law

Enforcement. The snowmo-

biling occurs on roads

groomed and marked for

snowmobiling, the same

roadways used by recre-

ational vehicles, cars,trucks and busses. Snow-

mobiles are NOT used as

off-road vehicles in Na-

tional Parks such as Yel-

lowstone, Rocky Mountain

and Grand Teton.

On U.S. National Forest

Land, most of the trails

used by snowmobiles are

on groomed roads used by

summer recreationists.

There are also secondary

and seasonal roads within

the forests used by snow-

mobilers. These roads are

groomed and marked by

volunteers who work

closely with the local U.S.

Forest Service staff in

maintaining and managing

those areas.

The manufacturers

have always been actively

involved in promoting safe

riding behavior while

snowmobiling. Over one

million safety related

brochures, decals and hun-

dreds of thousands of

posters and safety videos

have been distributed free

of charge to safety train-

ers, enforcement officers,

Travel Bureaus, Chambers

of Commerce, Convention

and Visitor Bureaus, and

snowmobile enthusiasts

throughout the world.

State/Provincial snow-

mobile registrations for

2010-2011 season were as

follows:

UNITED STATES

Alaska........................54,750

California ..................23,400

Colorado ....................30,608Idaho....................................

48,400....................................

Illinois .......................39,485

Indiana ......................10,120

Iowa .....................................

27,986....................................

Maine.........................89,500

Massachusetts ..............17,000

Michigan ........................242,546

Minnesota................254,492

Montana ....................42,000

Nebraska .....................2,210

NewHampsire..............56,000NewYork ..................134,577

NorthDakota .............17,664

Ohio ...........................15,000

Oregon.......................16,087

Pennsylvania..............41,000

SouthDakota .............15,437

Utah .....................................

26,200

Vermont.....................37,520

Washington ...............32,200

Wisconsin ................236,566

Wyoming....................39,410

CANADA

AB ..............................56,200

BC...............................38,400

MB..............................35,129

NB ..............................14,961

NF.............................100,209

NS ................................6,400

NT ................................5,200

NU...................................286

ON ............................146,000

PE.................................1,472

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Phone: 989.732.8160

Web site: www.weeklychoice.com


16/24


Visit our website at

www.stignace.comOr call us at

800-338-6660For current trail conditions, go to

www.straitsareasnowmobileclub.com

The St. Ignace Visitors

Bureau Welcomes You!

LODGER PHONE TOLL FREE

Bear Cove Inn 906-643-8910Boardwalk 906-643-7500 800-254-5408Birchwood Motel 906-984-2184Budget Host Inn 906-643-9666 800-872-7057Colonial House 906-643-6900Days Inn 906-643-8008 800-732-9746Driftwood Motel 906-643-7744Kewadin Shores 906-643-7071 800-539-2346Northernaire Inn 906-643-8704 888-797-0415Pines Motel 906-643-9250 877-378-0017Quality Inn 906-643-9700 800-906-4656Super 8 906-643-7616 800-460-7661Voyager Inn 906-643-1530 877-643-1530

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17/24


''%'

'#&)

!%)"

%""!!!

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18/24


operating a snowmobile

while visibly impaired due

to consumption of alcohol

or a controlled substance

shall have four points as-sessed against his/her

driver record.

reStrictionS on

youtHfuL operation

A person under the age of

12:

May not operate a snow-

mobile without direct su-

pervision of an adult,

except on property owned

or controlled by the parent

or legal guardian.

May not cross a highway

or street.

A person who is at least

12 but less than 17 years of

age:

May operate a snowmo-

bile if they have a valid

snowmobile safety certifi-

cate in their immediate

possession or are under di-

rect supervision of a per-

son 21 years of age or older.

May not cross a highwayor street without having a

valid snowmobile safety

certificate in their immedi-

ate possession.

regiStration anDtraiL permitS

A snowmobile shall not

be operated unless the

owner first obtains a cer-

tificate of registration, reg-

istration decal and an trail

permit sticker. The certifi-

cate of registration must

accompany the snowmobile

and be made available for

inspection upon demand bya peace officer.

Before OperatingIf owned by a nonresi-

dent, before operation in

Michigan, a snowmobile

must display a valid regis-

tration from the operators

home state or province, or

be registered in Michigan.

The registration certifi-

cate expires on September

30 of the year indicated on

the decal.The color of the decal

changes by year of expira-

tion.

Any time a registered

snowmobile is sold to an-

other person, the registra-

tion also must be

transferred. Contact the

Secretary of State for trans-

fer information.

State law requires that

you affix the registration

decals issued to the snow-

mobile to each side of theforward half of the cowl

above the footwell. Begin-

ning July 1, 1999, the regis-

tration decals display the

registration number as-

signed to the snowmobile.

A person who desire to

operate a snowmobile in

this state shall obtain a

snowmobile trail permit

sticker The snowmobile

trail permit sticker shall be

valid for a period of one

year, which begins October

1 and ends September 30 of

the following year.

The trail permit sticker

shall be permanently af-fixed to the forward half of

the snowmobile directly

above or below the head-

light.

Snowmobile trail permits

are available from snowmo-

bile dealers, DNR offices

and retail license agents

throughout Michigan.

Snowmobiles are exempt

from registration and hav-

ing a trail permit if they

are:

operated exclusively onlands owned or under the

control of the owner.

used entirely in a safety

education program con-

ducted by a certified snow-

mobile safety instructor.

operated exclusively in a

special event of limited du-

ration which is conducted

according to a prearranged

schedule under a permit

from the governmental unit

having proper jurisdiction.In addition, a snowmobile

used solely for transporta-

tion on the frozen surface of

public waters for ice fishing

is exempt from the trail

sticker requirement, but

must still be registered.

Safety eDucationanD training

Snowmobile safety edu-

cation training is recom-

mended for all snowmobile

operators and is required

for youth ages 12 to 17.

equipmentBrakes: Each snowmo-

bile must have a breaking

system capable of:

Stopping the snowmobile

in not more than 40 feet

from an initial speed

miles per hour while t

snowmobile travels on

packed snow carrying

operator who weighs

pounds or more.

Locking the snowm

biles traction belt or b

Noise: Each snowmmanufactured after Ju

1977, shall be equippe

with a muffler that do

exceed 78 decibels of s

pressure at 50 feet as m

ured by the 1974 SAEJ

Helmet: All person

erating or riding on a

mobile must wear a

Department of Transp

tion approved crash h

met.

Lighting: All snowm

biles must display a lihead-light and tailligh

all time during operat

However, the headligh

shall not be covered w

lens cap of any color.

Safe riDing HinAlways keep your m

chine in top mechanic

condition.

Always wear insula

boots and clothing inc

ing a helmet and glove

Never ride alone. Al

go with a friend on an

snowmobile.

Avoid, when possibl

crossing frozen bodies

water.

Never operate in sin

file when crossing a fr

body of water.

Always be alert to a

fences and low-strung

wires.

Never operate on a sor highway.

Always look for dep

sions in the snow.

At an intersection, c

to a complete stop, rai

the seat and look for t

Always check the

weather before you go

Leave a travel plan.

micigan regulationCoNtiNued from pg. 4


19/24


20/24


21/24


by tioy hion

Buying a used snowmobile can

be a pleasant experience, but there

are a few things to keep in mind

when making the decision. Dont

stop at the first snowmobile that

you see and purchase it. It pays off

to spend half an hour studying the

market and getting a feel for the

prices and brands. If you are an in-

formed buyer, your chances of get-

ting stif fed by a seller are far lower.

Another great idea is to bring afriend along. If your friend knows

a thing or two about snowmobiles,

thats even better. Two minds are

always better than one, and your

friend might play the role of the

objective voice, if you get over en-

thusiastic about a certain offer.

When visiting a snowmobile

seller ask him or her to leave the

machine cold - not to start it up

and

allow it to get

heated. This will ensure a rigorous

testing of the snowmobiles start-

ing capacity. Warmed up engines

will start right away, but cold ones,

especially if they have certain mal-

functions, will give you a hard time

when starting from cold. It also

helps if the owner lets you test the

snowmobile. In this case you

should have your own gear and not

borrow it from the owner.You might think that buying

from individual owners is risky -

you are right, but dealerships are

not far from this truth as well.

Some snowmobile dealerships will

buy the sleds as trade-ins and pol-

ish them up to increase their value.

However, a little make up does

not justify some of the huge price

increases. You should find a compe-

tent

mechanic, if possi-

ble, who will have a look the s

mobile before you purchase it

find any major flaws. Since a w

hour on a sled is around $40 - $

you will want to get the snowm

bile that has the lowest chance

needing repairs.

Ask the seller if the sled ha

accessories, such as a toolkit ostructions manual. Many used

snowmobiles do not have them

this should be a good reason fo

you to negotiate the price even

ther. Some owners add accesso

to their snowmobiles - while t

might have been useful for the

they could be of no real value

how o by

u snowoi

CoNtiNued oN


22/24



23/24


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you. In general, the extra

accessories also inflate

the snowmobile price. If

you just want the basics

and are not a huge acces-

sory fan, skip the offers

that have a full list of

add-ons. Many owners

put custom exhausts on

their snowmobiles (with

a full exhaust system

priced at one or two hun-

dred dollars). Suspension

upgrades are also quite

common, but they can

also add a few hundred

dollars to the overall sledprice.

Just like with cars,

some people like to get

more performance out of

their factory sleds. Try to

avoid buying modified

sleds, as their risk level

is the highest. When

modifying certain fac-

tory standards to get

more performance, own-

ers reduce the life of the

snowmobile. Things such

as high compression pis-

tons or porting may

sound great and offer you

a 10% - 15% boost in

power, but they are likely

to wear out the engine

parts a lot sooner. Mak-

ing the final decision

should be as rational as

possible - do not let an

emotional response dic-

tate your purchase, as

this may lead to hours

and hours of headaches

and a lot of money

wasted on repairs.About the Author -

Timothy Harrison is an

outdoor sports enthusi-

ast with much experi-

ence buying used

snowmobiles.

how to buy a ued

snowoileCoNtiNued from pg. 4

!7(($!(,4+0!3,*4+0-0./+)!-.!((+1!-+-/$!-*%$%#*1!-/%.!4+0-0.%*!..%*/$!!!'(4$+%!/+-!$+*.0)!-.%*/+2*.

+*7/(%)%/4+0-,-%*/1!-/%.%*#/+-!!-.%*&0./+0,(!+"/+2*.!$+0//+/$! !*/%-!-!#%+*-+)'%*2%/4/+%+/$!!!'(4$+%!$./$!(-#!./%./-%0/%+*-!+"*4,,!-%*+-/$!-*%$%#*0-"-!!%./-%0/%+**!2.,,!-%. *+2 %./-%0/! %*/+2*. %*(0%*# 4(+- !/+.'!4$!+4#*-4(%*#*%*%1!-*24*!(+*!2%./+**%+

!!-.(+1!+0-+.%/%1!!2.*,+-/.%*+0-"-!!%./-%0/%+**!2.,,!-1!-/%.!-.(+1!/$!-!.,+*.!/$!4#!/"-+)/+2*.((+1!-+-/$!-*%$%#* '! /$! 5!./$+%!6"+-1!-/%.%*#4+0-0.%*!..$++.!/$!

!!'(4$+%!

$!$-(!1+%3+0*/4!2.%./$!(+(2!!'(4*!2.,,!-"+-((+"$-(!1+%3+0*/4+(!2.*.,+-/."-+)+4*!%/4./+-*$-(!1+%3+4*!((.((++*'!((.2+-/$*/2++1%((! +* !2./*."+- !*/.+-$1! /$! *!2.,,!-!( %1!-! /+ 4+0-$+)!"+-.(+2.4!-

ChoiceWeeklyA ChoiceChoice Publication

+1"-.+-.

,$"-.&-.,&/.&+*,"

/!&."!&,/(.&+*

,""&-.,&/.&+*

+-&.&0""1-

+,"+*."*.

-.&2.%.3(+,!4##&"""'(3%+&"+)4111""'(3%+&"+)

Choice Publications


24/24


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snowmobiling guide 2011

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