Text Box: Tips for better boating on Lake Norman         Learn how to drive a boat … It sounds elementary, but operator inexperience is always near the top of the list for causes of accidents, according to NCWRC data.  Because no equivalent of a driver’s license is required for a boat, many excitedly hit the water with no experience.  Numerous classes are available around the lake for boaters of varying skill and experience.   Learn how to navigate the lake … Invest in a map that shows you not only all of the coves and islands, but also the markers that help guide the way.  Knowing the shallow points could save you from doing serious damage to your boat.  Also, get familiar with lake lingo such as “full pond” (when the lake is full) or “hot hole” (warm-water spots that provide good fishing near McGuire Nuclear Station and Marshall Steam Plant).   Don’t go small on the weekend … Want to quietly enjoy the scenery with a canoe or kayak?  Do it during the week.  The abundance of large boats and personal watercraft on the weekends, especially in summer, makes it dangerous for people in small boats.   Pack a fishing rod (or two) … You may need a couple of different-size fishing poles if you want to pursue all of the varieties of fish swimming in Lake Norman, from bottom-feeding Catfish to minnow-busting Striped Bass.  Find one of the many local fishing guides for some advice on where to start.   Have fun … just not too much fun … As with driving a car, you can be stopped and checked for boating under the influence.  The official rules state you cannot operate a boat “while under the influence of an impairing substance or after consumed sufficient alcohol with a concentration of .08 or more.”  Penalties range from fines to jail time.   Text Box: Living Here at the Lake, The Charlotte Observer By Dan Tierney