Your Family’s Enjoyment and Safety are at Risk
We all have a right to enjoy our lakes and river, its enshrined in the Public Trust Doctrine. Wake enhanced boats constitute 4 percent of all boats on our lakes, yet have a huge impact on the safe and fun enjoyment for the other 96% of water enthusiasts.
Sail Boating
Its a beautiful day, the winds are mild, perfect for teaching our kids how to sail. Sorry kids, we can’t go today, the wake boats are out.
Wake Boaters argue against restrictions to their sport yet those who sail are restricted to certain areas of the lake and even certain times of day. Not thru ordinance or statute but thru the fear of being swamped by the large wake from a wake enhanced boat.
Fishing
“There used to be so many fish on our lake”. Ask a fisherman and they will tell you. Once the wake boats come out, the fish disappear. Silt on fish nests, silt on fish feeding grounds, barren lake bottoms, all of these things are consequences of the unregulated sport of wake enhanced boating.
Wake Boaters argue against restrictions to their sport yet those who fish are restricted to certain areas of the lake and even certain times of day. Not thru ordinance or statute but thru the fear of being swamped by the large wake from a wake enhanced boat and the lack of fish as they head for deeper water to escape the power of these boats
Swimming
We used to be able to swim near our grandparents cabin, but not sinse the wake boaters joined the lake. Now those operating wake enhanced boats set the safe swimming area by avoiding them. Their huge wakes send fear into the heart of any parent.
Wake Boaters argue against restrictions to their sport yet those who swim are restricted to certain areas of the lake and even certain times of day. Not thru ordinance or statute but thru the fear of drowning by the large wake from a wake enhanced boat.
Paddle Board /Canoe, Kayaking
“We live on a small lake and love the exercise from paddleboarding”. We wouldnt think of going out when the wake boats are present and rush back to shore if they show up while we are out. I have been knocked off my paddleboard by wake boats operating a thousand feet away too many times to count.
Wake Boaters argue against restrictions to their sport yet those who paddleboard, canoe and kayak are restricted to certain areas of the lake and even certain times of day. Not thru ordinance or statute but thru the fear of being swamped or knocked off by the large wake from a wake enhanced boat.