General Information

You will find more than 20,000 acres for boating on Lake Gaston. The Lake, actually a part of the Roanoke River, is 34 miles long and has 350 miles of shoreline. The main lake is about a mile wide. The water feeds in from the west from Kerr Lake. Power boats and jet skis are permitted.

There are several creeks off the main channel of Lake Gaston. Most can be accessed by boats. Several, especially on the north side of the lake have highway bridges over the creeks, but the culverts are wide and tall enough to clear most boats if you lower the bimini top or ski rack.

There are a number of marinas and public boat ramps along the lake. For navigation, there are buoys about every mile. They are numbered starting from the east, where buoy number one is about a mile from the Gaston Dam. We have them marked along with other facilities on the 'Lake Gaston Guide' map.

There are some stumps in the shallow parts of the lake. Many boaters have lost a prop on them. Most have been marked with floating milk jugs or other homemade markers. There are also some areas designated with "no wake" buoys.

Marinas

There are eight marinas on Lake Gaston. All are marked on our Lake Gaston map. Or you can click here for a list. All have gas pumps and a store. Some offer other services. Not all operate year round.

Regulations

North Carolina boating is regulated by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Virginia boating is regulated by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. There are a number of regulations regarding life jackets, hull-numbers, registration, boating courses, safety equipment, lighting, alcohol and other things. If you are not familiar with Virginia and North Carolina boating laws, you would wise to read up. Lake Gaston is regularly patroled and boats are sometimes stopped.

Required Boating Courses

Both Virginia and North Carolina are 'phasing in' requirements that boaters (for motor boats with engines of 10hp or more) and users of PWC's (Jet Skis, etc) complete 'Safe Boating Courses.'

As of Jan. 2011, Virginia law says PWC operators between 14 and 35 must have completed the course and have written proof with them (no one under 14 is allowed to operate a PWC). On July 1st, 2011, the age for PWC moves to 50 and younger and the first phase for boaters goes into effect for operators 20 and younger. By 2016 everyone will be required to complete the course. Click here for the 'phase-in' details for Virginia.

In North Carolina, the current (as of May 2010) requirement for boats AND PWC's is for anyone under the age of 26. If you are visiting North Carolina, you must abide by the requirements of the state where you live.

Both states have an index of both seated and on-line courses by localtion. For North Carolina courses, click here. Virginia courses, here.

Boat Ramps

There are both private and public boat ramps on Lake Gaston. Our lake map shows the location of these ramps. Or you can click here for a list.

Lake Levels

The lake stays within one foot of 200 feet above sea level, except in emergencies. If the lake is down by a foot, some shallow tree-stumps can prove to be a problem for boaters. Click here for the current lake level.

Life Jackets

The Coast Guard requires that children on a boat who are under the age of 13 must be wearing a life jacket that fits correctly for their weight. There must be an available life jacket for all the adults. Anyone on a PWC (ie. Jet Ski) must wear a life jacket.