Boaters Need to Obey Boating Regulations

ED BRODER
To The Editor:
With summer in full swing, I hope that boaters out on the water know the “rules of the road” before they start their engines. In the June 30 “Spout Off” section, a Court House spouter lamented not being able to run his boat past the Wetlands Institute’s dock at high speed because of the “obnoxious no wake buoys” which mark a “tremendously large, slow, no wake zone.” All boaters, including the spouter, need to remember that New Jersey boating regulations state, “All power vessels shall reduce their speed to slow speed when passing any marina, pier, dock or wharf at a distance of 200 feet or less.
Scotch Bonnet Creek, where it passes the Wetlands Institute, is much less than 200 feet wide, and the no wake buoys are placed 200 feet from the dock, right where the State Police told us to put them. There are often groups of children in the water near the dock, catching minnows and crabs or releasing turtles. There are also at least four kayak tours launched from that dock each week, and I can tell you from personal experience that it’s no fun having a power boat go weaving through a group of 20 inexperienced kayakers with its throttle wide open.
Boats are a part of our community, and we want everyone to enjoy safe boating. Boaters, please follow the law and slow down near docks. There are plenty of wide-open waters not far away if you want to go fast.
PHIL BRODER
Stone Harbor Manor