Play Nice

October 9, 2025

Our waterways are hardly full, but there still seems to sometimes be too little room.  The ‘why’ is simple – some boaters don’t appear to have the necessary respect for other boaters.  It’s a minority, mind you, but that aggravating tiny faction is getting on some people’s nerves and creating a bad look for our boating community.

We know that irresponsibly operated PWCs are an obvious target and police in various jurisdictions have been cracking down on illegal renters and on the few brain-dead operators who buzz beaches, swimmers and paddlers. But there’s more; rowers have complained that wake boats swamp and capsize them, wake boaters complain that rowers think they own the place. The few speedboat yahoos that buzz sailors for giggles only cause hard feelings.

There are a few unpleasant solutions but fortunately, one fairly easy one. The unfriendly solution is more cops everywhere handing out tickets and blowing whistles. The side detriment to that plan is that taxpayers have to employ and equip a huge fleet of additional marine police. Clearly, 99% of the boating community doesn’t need or want this or want to pay for it.

The simple solution is to use the old noggin’ and give the other boat some deference. Yes, there are rules of the road, but some standard issue politesse would be a good place to start. Most boaters know there’s lots of water out there and happily share it. The ones who don’t need to get a good shaking.

John Morris, Online Editor