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Boater Safety: More Training or Less Horsepower?

January 22, 2008 - AUGUSTA -- Proposals to require boater safety education to operate a boat in Maine and impose horsepower restrictions on Long Lake, prompted by an accident that killed two people there this past summer, drew a standing-room only crowd at a hearing in Augusta Tuesday, with opponents saying the state cannot legislate common sense.

Rep. Thomas Watson, D-Bath, made his case for requiring boaters in Maine to go through an approved boating safety course, similar to ones required in 38 other states, and get a certificate to prove it.

The requirement would be phased in beginning in 2011, starting with boaters 20 years old or younger. By 2016, all boat operators would be required to show proof of boater safety training.

"I don't know if it could have prevented that accident," Watson said, but statistics show 80 percent of boaters involved in accidents nationwide have not gone through training.

A public hearing was held on Watson's bill before the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee in tandem with a bill sponsored by Rep. Richard Sykes, R-Harrison, which would make 500 horsepower boat motors the limit for operation on Long Lake and Brandy Pond in the towns of Bridgton, Harrison and Naples.

The impetus for both laws, in part, was a fatal accident that occurred last August, when a 30-foot speed boat powered by twin engines ran into a 14-foot boat on the lake without its lights on, killing both of its occupants.

"A racing-style boat is too powerful to operate on Long Lake," said Sykes, who added he has received more e-mails and calls on the issue, from both sides, than any other in his three terms as a legislator.

Some at the hearing opposed the horsepower restriction, but thought requiring boater safety training was reasonable, or vice versa. Others felt no new restrictions should be put on boaters, and the real need was better enforcement of the laws already on the books.

"The Legislature should reduce the burdens of government, not expand the burdens," said George Smith of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine. "We have the laws now to solve the problem."

Rep. Jonathan McKane, R-Newcastle, said he could see a horsepower restriction on Maine's lakes, but was against the safety training requirement.

"It's bureaucratic red tape standing in the way of Maine folks enjoying their outdoor heritage," he said.

Others like Stephen Kasabian, who owns a 29-foot, twin- engine boat that he takes on Long Lake, said he didn't mind the boating safety course requirement, but was against horsepower restrictions.

"Horsepower is not what causes accidents. Operators of boats do," he said.

Kasabian said he knew the operators of both boats involved in the fatal accident and, "two boats collided at night because the operators didn't do what they were supposed to do."

The operator of the speed boat has been indicted on charges of manslaughter and operating under the influence and the operator of the boat, who was killed along with his companion, was out on the lake at night without lights.

Neal Stacy, who has been boating 40 years on Long Lake, said he's never seen conditions worse, in terms of noise and aggressive behavior.

"Long Lake is not Golden Pond and it's never going to be Golden Pond," he said, but "some of the pursuits are so over the top, it's time to rein things in."

Charlie Frechette, owner of Sebago Lake Marina, said what's needed is better enforcement of existing laws and more wardens on the lake. There are 90 wardens monitoring more than 2,000 lakes and ponds in Maine, according to testimony given Tuesday.

Bowdoinham harbormaster John McMullen testified in favor of the boater safety training bill, saying people believe they can jump in a boat and go, not realizing "even a minor mistake can result in death."

"I believe mandatory boating education will save lives," he said, referring to the 16 deaths on Maine waters last year. "I'm sure many of these deaths were the result of some unsafe practice."

Rep. Leila Percy, D-Phippsburg, also testified in favor of requiring boater training, as a way to make the water safer for everyone using it.

"I represent the many men and women who work on our coastal waters and even more who simply enjoy being out on New Meadows River, Harpswell Sound and Casco Bay. I believe Rep. Watson's bill deserves our support just in terms of making their work more safe and their recreation more enjoyable," Percy said, adding it would save the state money because there would be fewer accidents to investigate.

Rep. David Webster, D-Freeport, also testified in support of boater training, and even gave legislators a pop quiz to see if they knew the navigation rules on the water.

"You need to know the rules of the road, you need to know the lights and sound signals," he said.

SOURCE: KeepMECurrent.com

DATE: 01-16-2008

Lakes: Long Lake
Regions: Sebago


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