The Island Influence
 

I have been reading these posts and noticed that a majority of island residents favor the speed limit. I remember that last summer the Bear Island association with about 100 members voted unanimously to support the new law.

Anybody know why this is?

Must have to do with the water on Bear Island.

I am on Cow Island and feel strongly against the proposal.

Chase1

Islanders
 

Maybe it's because islanders MUST go boating to get to their houses and would like to have as much sanity out there as possible. They can't generally just wait for things to quiet down. The waterways are more transportation than recreation much of the time.

On Bear Island we drink lake water. Which is another reason to dislike boating proliferation.

Last July chase1 told us he worked in the boating industry, that reason may override his islandership.

Islander,

islandership???? What is this you speak of??? I do work in the boating industry and like to see boats of all types in use. Part of the reason we enjoy the island so much is the way we need to use our boats.

Chase1

To answer the original question, I think being an "islander" is a very different experience than the main land, and that leads to a different way of thinking. The lake is in our front yard, not our back yard. Getting the paper in the morning, calling 911 and play dates for the kids, all require a boat trip. Children regularly operate power boats.

Island boats range from a 12' aluminum with HP to a 21' bowrider. Sometimes a pontoon boat that doubles as a barge. Very few performance boats.

Noise is a factor, so is pollution of our drinking water and the general direction the lake is taking. However safety IS the #1 concern.

Noise and wake vs. speed
 

As an islander, I am neither here nor there on the speed limit. Performance boats only bother me when they are very loud and I think there is already a law on the books about that. What bothers me most are very large cruiser-style boats that plow huge wakes while the operators don't seem to give a #*!%.

If safety is the #1 concern, shouldn't we propose the state addresses the #1 or #2 or even #3 or #4 safety issues instead of talking about a speed limit? I would think as an "islander" one would want to see money spent where it will be most effective?

Chase1

Amen!!!

On Mark we drink it too, although being that our pump is in 20+ feet of water we do not have any water problems. I will be adding a purification system this year but it is more for bacteria and silt. Our water quaility was actually very good.

I do not see any correlation between the type of boat and pollution even though some like to push this. Small outboards probably dump as much if not more waste into the lake than a large GHFBL. Just look at the slicks that come off a 2 stroke outboard...