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Yahoos are a Concern

Jets skis and a motorboat are seen on the far west end of Woodbine Beach on Friday, July 18, 2025. photo courtesy Beach Metro Community News

April 23, 2026

If I were a PWC owner, I’d be pretty dismayed by the antics of a few loonies who are creating a whole lot of havoc and forming pretty bad reputation that spills over to the 99.9 percent of boaters who want to enjoy their boats lawfully and respectfully.

The well-publicized hubbub in Toronto reflects friction in many spots across the land when boats and noise and safety get in the face of people who would prefer they went away. It has now precipitated bans on boats on selected beaches and perhaps more importantly, a lot of chirping on both sides. The PWC drivers are oppressed by regulation in ‘no fun city’ while swimmers, paddlers and sunbathers in places like Hanlan’s Point are fed up with wake, gawking and illegal speeds.  You can read an extensive evaluation the City of Toronto did prior to enacting new bylaws here which gets into the many issues including enforcement, illegal rentals, licensing etc.

It would be very helpful if the people who own boats could do the right thing but, sadly, that doesn’t always happen. This summer we could see this issue boiling the waters on some high profile beaches, creating spillover bad PR for the boating community. You operate your boat politely; let’s hope everyone else can learn to and the handful of bozos who are causing the problems can vanish and take the hassles with them.

John Morris, Online Editor

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