Re: [Paddlewise] Why hate all Jetskiers? (Re: Vote in poll on

While I did vote yes on the poll, I think the real
solution is appropriate speed limits and licensing.
You need a drivers license and need to be a certain
age before you are allowed to drive public roads; 
you probably also ought to have to have a boating 
license to operate a powerboat on public waters.  Heck,
I'd even support a license with testing for all 
boats, power and otherwise, if it would net the
weekend jetskier crowd.  It seems to me that a lot
of them feel they are above the law when they get
on the water.

The noise objection, and the general recklessness
apparent from the statistics of jetski accidents,
I understand as reasonable objections.  On the
other hand, I can't imagine a jetski that is capable
of creating a wake of even noticeable proportion.
Even the big 200hp deep-V hulls only throw a 2ft
or so wake, barely big enough to play with, much
less be hazardous.

If you want to make jetskiers safe, put enforceable
speed limits on the more congested waterways.  A
20kt limit would be quite acceptable to most boaters,
set the fine at say $30 for 10kts over or less, $100
for 10-20kts over, and $500 for 20kts+ over.  You'll
have sheriffs sitting in their boats with radar guns
enforcing those rules quite effectively; instead of
sitting in the shack drinking coffee.

Really though, jetskiers seem to be most dangerous
to their own, we just recently had a 3 way jetski
collision on lake Conroe, sent them all to the 
hospital via life flight.  I can't imagine how 
they made that happen though...


Richard Walker
Houston, TX
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