Yellowknife RCMP say they received three calls Friday regarding boaters overdue or in distress on Great Slave Lake.

The RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary responded to the calls.

In all three incidents, the boaters had safety equipment on board such as satellite phones, GPS, SPOT locating devices or a marine radio.

But RCMP said the incidents were a result of the boaters not knowing how to use the devices and not following their scheduled plans to report in to friends or relatives.

Police are asking boaters heading out on the lake for the long weekend to learn how to use their radio, GPS or satellite phone before they need to use it, to make a travel plan and advise someone of the plan, and to contact that person if the plan changes.