Name:   Carnac - Subject:   Wake Boarding "The Narrows" Legal Claims Date:   6/12/2016 9:06:44 AM

While there is no doubt that home owners on the shores of the Narrows are most at risk for damage to their docks and boats the issue of large wakes abounds all over Lake Martin.  We live on a large embayment.  My docks and boats have suffered a lot of damage during our twenty-one years living on Lake Martin.  Last week the large wake from a selfish deck boat operator tore chunks from our Trex decking.  The lines and cleats landed inside the boat that had been tethered to the cleats.

I had just stepped outside when I saw our boat pitching violently.  I saw the boat and operator that caused the damage and hailed him toward our dock so that i could invite hime to see the damage that he had caused.  He motored slowly over in my direction but came no closer than 200 feet and put his boat into neutral.  My invitation was summarily declined.  He didn't give a rat's behind about the problem he caused.  Perhaps if he had made his first pass that same 200 feet from our dock my decking may have survived. 

Now, about the Marine Police:  Several years ago there was an effort to change the law that said a boat operator had to stay a minimum of 50 feet from somebody else's dock or boat.  The petitioners wanted the distance extended to 75 feet.  The Bass Anglers organization made a huge uproar and the effort died almost immediately.  The funny thing is that bass boats almost never cause wake damage.  Around that same time Wake Board boats began appearing in abundance.  Like fire ants are the scourge of the land Wake Board boats sre the scourge of the lake.  In the final analysis it isn't so much the type of watercraft as it is the human element.  The boaters enjoyment takes first priority over the risk of damage to others and their property.  Contrary to what the Water Patrolmen tell us it is not an educational problem.  It is an enforcement problem.  Yes, I realize they are short handed and way under funded.  It remains an enforcement problem