High Water & Low IQ

Counted at least five boats Friday night creating large wakes that show no regard to the high water levels along narrow built up areas in West Arm. Actually it’s pretty common during the summer, boaters fly past, last year saw two swimmers almost get run over about 30 ft from shore. Just a matter of time before something serious happens. Under the federal Vessel Operations and Restrictions Regs speed is supposed to be limited to 10 Km’s within 100 ft of a shoreline. Transport Canada says OPP have the authority to enforce. In practice it’s difficult to enforce due to irregular shorelines however you’d think they could target obvious areas where safety or property damage is an issue.

Curious as to whether anyone has ever seen the OPP enforce this federal reg on Nipissing? I’ve seen them do safety blitzes where bailing buckets on a pontoon boat merit great concern but nothing in regards to speed creating real safety issues. What’s your take?

yes Woodenstiks its pathetic actually, they just don't care and no I have never seen the opp enforce that EVER! we watch those same boats come under that bridge and immediately get on the throttle or run wide open almost right up to the bridge, some will even run wide open all the way under the bridge with people fishing on the rocks there. I have seen canoes almost swamped, total disregard for kayaks, people actually have had to lay or sit down on paddle boards and swimmers as you mentioned with boats flying way too fast way too close numerous times. the 3 huge cabin cruisers are the most ignorant of them all! and they would be the first to jump up and down screaming and yelling if their boats were smashing off their docks. not to sure what the answer is.

Yeah totally agree Westarm. I’m thinking of starting to post pics in a hall of shame thread .

I’ve been tempted to follow some of these boats back to their place and run back and forth but hey my boat won’t go that fast and I don’t have the most imposing physique . haha.

I have looked into getting the feds to post official water signage but you need to get municipality approval hold stakeholder meetings produce impact reports in short jump through enough beauracratic red tape to sink a ship and take up a summer of time. The owners of Lakeair approached the OPP a few years ago for the same concerns and they were told they didn’t do that.

Maybe if enough people complain to municipal authorities someone will take notice.

I will put my complaint in. Funny you mentioned about following them and making wake at their dock, it's crossed my mind many times, a friend of mine almost had me convinced, my one boat makes GIANT wake but I make sure I only run it hard in the open bays and would feel bad for the rest in the area who did nothing wrong. I'm sure Dennis at lakair gets pretty angry every time those clowns go running through there with his new docks and customers boats all parked there. Too much entitlement and no consequence for these idiots. Wonder what ever happened to the guy who used to fish under the bridge and yell at anyone going to fast? We used to call him "old yeller" lol. I enjoyed hearing him give people hell.

I was not necessarily in the same area but I was once paddling a canoe down the Sturgeon River. Some hoser went ripping past us in a fancy motor boat and very nearly swamped us. A 1/2 hour later we came across the same hoser but this time his motor was on fire and he had his fire extinguisher out frantically trying to quell the flames.. It was one of the few times I've seen karma immediately play out in front of me.

that is classic!