How About IF…

Boating Safety Committee
By: Bruce C. Bower

How about if we, as a community try to think once per hour, whilst driving your boat, about the other people who are in OUR community? What if while you are driving your boat, you merely turn around and look at your wake. Look at how your wake affects everything from where you are all the way to the shoreline. Take a quick glance at how moored boats are almost jumping out of the water from the wave you just created. Try to imagine your beloved possession getting slammed around at your dock by a wave such as you just created. Take a quick look behind you and see how that poor guy trying to fish in a small boat is hanging on for dear life because that wave you just created almost swamped him and his tackle. Take a quick look around you and watch how that massive wake you just created is slamming into the seawall of your neighbor’s place. Just think of your neighbor’s investment as the THREE foot wave you just created beats up his property. All it takes is a little bit of empathy for your neighbors, just try to be a little more considerate this season.

Now here comes my next plea. How about if the pilots of the wake board boats would turn down the volume on their stereo systems a couple of notches. We know you’re enjoying the music, but everyone else may not think as much of it as you do. The people you are towing should enjoy the ride almost as much, if the music isn’t quite so loud. And as a sidebar to that, there is a lake rule that states that stereo systems may not produce more than 60 decibels, as measured from 50 feet from the boat.

Let’s sum it up, how about if you go over the boating rules before you go out the next time. How about if you go over the boating rules and laws with your guests before you flip them the keys to your jet-ski. Remember the owner is responsible for all infractions and who knows what your insurance company thinks, if there is a problem. How about if you stay further from shore than you have been to give the shoreline a break. How about if you put the jet-ski away before sundown. How about using the proper lights after sundown. And finally, how about just using a little more common sense to make this season a safe season. Make sure and read my “From my deck” annual article next month, which lists the moronic things that I see on the weekend of the 4th. Hopefully I won’t have anything to report.

NO WAKE AFTER 8:00 PM ON FIREWORKS NIGHT!

Think Safety, Bower out!
Cell 216.906.2301