MUDDY CREEK TWP — Butler County’s sparkling gem, the 3,225-acre Lake Arthur, offers boating opportunities for both first-time boaters and experienced fishermen.

Built in the center of Moraine State Park off Route 422, Lake Arthur has been a popular boating spot since its construction in 1968.

Bryan Moore, a park ranger supervisor at Moraine, said kayaks, sailboats and fishing boats are among the vessels most frequently seen on the lake.

Motorboats with a maximum 10 horsepower motor, canoes, pontoons, wind surfers, and now paddle boarders also can be seen on the lake.

“They are only allowed one person per paddle board, and they must wear a life jacket at all times,” Moore said of the new hobby, in which a person stands on a board and paddles.

He said 10 boat launches dot the edges of the lake, which also has the Davis Hollow and Watt’s Bay marinas on the lake’s north shore.

The Davis Hollow Marina has about 700 boats in the water. Watt’s Bay has 138 boats, mostly sailboats and catamarans, in dry mooring in the parking area.

Moore said most boaters haul their own boats to the lake, and haul them away after a day of fishing or enjoying time on the water.

He said all motorboats must be registered by the state Fish and Boat Commission, and nonmotorized boats must have a state park launch permit or a Fish and Boat Commission boat launch permit.

The boat rental concession contracted by the state park, Crescent Bay Marine, offers five boats to Lake Arthur visitors. Pontoons, runabouts, tillers, kayaks and canoes can be rented at the concession on the lake’s south shore.

According to the concession’s website, a runabout is a 15-foot, 15-horsepower motorboat that holds a maximum of four people. Many people without a boat of their own, but who want to fish, rent the runabouts for fishing.

A tiller is a 15-foot fishing boat with a 9.9 horsepower motor. The boat is steered by using a tiller attached to the motor at the rear. No more than three people can ride in a tiller.

Pontoon boats come in four sizes, and most renters use them to fish or spend a day on the lake picnicking and sightseeing.

Moore said while boaters are not permitted to dive off any boats and swim, “bobbing” is permitted. He said boaters must enter the water feet first, wearing a life jacket, and stay within an arm’s length of their craft.

“We want to ensure everyone is safe on the lake,” Moore said.

The lake is patrolled by park rangers as well as officials from the Fish and Boat Commission, who mainly look for boaters committing safety violations, Moore said.

He said no alcohol is permitted at the park or lake, and all boats must have a life preserver for each adult on board. Each boat is required to contain a throwable life preserver, and children aged 12 and younger must wear their life vests at all times while on board.

“The biggest violation we see is life vests,” Moore said.

The park offers a handful of kayaking classes each summer.

He said the type of boats seen on the lake sometimes depends on the weather. More fishing boats are frequently seen in cooler weather, and fewer kayakers. In hot weather, more sailboats, canoes and kayaks traverse Lake Arthur.

Moore warns boaters should always consider the water temperature when considering a day on the lake.

“The water is still cold, and hypothermia can set in at any temperature,” Moore said. “Water draws body temperature faster than air does.”

More than one million people visit Moraine every year, and Moore said many of those pursue fishing.

“This is a great place,” he said. “People come here to enjoy the lake as well as nature in general.”

He feels one reason Moraine is popular is its proximity to and easy access from Pittsburgh.

“That’s huge,” Moore said. “The other reason is it’s a beautiful park. There’s something here for everyone.”

Information on Crescent Bay Marine rentals is available at www.moraineboatrentals.com.