I have been renting a condo for the last 15 years on the water at the entrance to Collier Bay off of the Marco River.
Every year the boats are larger and travel at a faster speed going into and out of this Bay. Every one keep’s talking about saving the Manatee’s however very few walk the talk. These boat operators should travel this water way with a closed throttle.
Manatee’s swim along side of the sea walls and it almost impossible to believe the scars they carry from being hit by boats. Lets walk the talk!
Ken Houcek
St Charles, Illinois
Marco Island Code Compliance Board
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 9
WizeOlMarco writes:
Your observation of increased speeds is undoubtedly correct, however due to tide forces the running of a boat at a 'closed throttle' through this waterway is not realistic. Better education such as posting signs at the location and alerting boaters (owners and renters) of the rules would help.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
Ken, two words for ya...F.O! I think the owner of the condo you rent should put cameras in all the rooms to make sure your not doing anything he wouldn't approve of.
Mayor_McCheese writes:
I don't think closed throttles are realistic. Also, cameras are a bit much I think. There ought to be at least some places where you are not under surveillance!
I'm not sure why you are focusing on this waterway when boats are permitted to go 30 mph inside the channel in most of the backwater. I don;'t want to change that, but I bet that is more of a risk to manatees then what you are complaining about.
marco826 writes:
yada yada yada...
benjaron writes:
Some control is necessary I was at the Snook Inn last week & a 34ft cruiser went by leaving a good 3 ft wake All The dock's were full & there were boat's slamming & banging big time Last week at marker 8 on goodland a 28 ft center console went by doing the same thing All the tied up boat's were rockin & rollin closed throttle is pushing it but boater's should watch their wake as not to cause damage to docked boat's Just common sense
marco826 writes:
Look guys, our waters are patrolled all the time and plenty of boat operators are ticketed...Of course there will be the occasional idiot but we can't legislate everything. I boat these waters and the vast majority follow the rules.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
A typical American regulation paranoia with just no substance at all. Typical for a police nation. A little bit freedom is a loophole to cover.
OldMarcoMan writes:
People who have followed the Boating Debate on Marco know that NO REGULATION is the BEST REGULATION.
ALL Boaters are just better people than nonboater and because of that they don't speed. I have a theory that most Manatees are "cutters" and their scars are self inflected.
deltarome writes:
teach the manatees to avoid being out of the no wake zones.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.