Boating Etiquette (A letter from the Residents of the Summerland Group) Posted Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 11:27:55 AM     Alexandria Bay, NY 1000 Islands  Comments  Unique Views 7612/Total Views 8726

Boating Etiquette (A letter from the Residents of the Summerland Group)

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"Picture this; you buy a beautiful home in the woods because you are a private person who enjoys the quiet and seclusion of the wilderness.  Your home sits on a few acres and is totally surrounded by state land.  Every weekend, your peace and tranquility is disrupted by up to 70 car loads of people that descend on the area to party.  They speed by in their cars, some of them trailer in ATV’s and buzz around on those, they litter, trespass, block your garage,  play loud music, drink too much alcohol, knock down your phone line, and are a general nuisance, every weekend!



This is what the property owners in the Summerland Island Group deal with every weekend in the summer.  Our home in the “woods” happens to be on an island and the few acres of state land happen to be water.  Instead of 70 cars and ATV’s descending on the area it is boats and personal watercrafts, all the rest is the same. You get the idea.

Unlike the Lake of the Isles, which is largely bordered by undeveloped land, and Potter’s Beach which is managed by TILT, The Summerland Group is bordered by private property.  Some of the boaters that anchor in this area have a blatant disregard for the privacy and total lack of respect and common sense toward the islanders and their property.  While some boaters are courteous and respectful many are not.  Below are a few basic guidelines to consider when mooring in this area, most of it is common sense:

1. SLOW DOWN!  When you are passing by our docks and boathouses throwing a wake, you can do serious damage to our boats.  We have kids and dogs swimming in the area, use common sense on your personal watercraft and slow down near shore.  It is also not a race back to the marina at 4pm.


2. BACK UP!  It is very rude to anchor so close to someone’s boathouse that they can’t pull in or out of their slip.  Also, when you raft multiple boats keep them away from land, it creates a navigation hazard.  Most islands have water intakes from the river, do not anchor so close that you are on top of them.


3. BE QUIET!  We don’t want to listen to your loud music, screaming, and horns.


4. Be aware of underwater power and phone lines.  That black wire that you pull up on your anchor is someone’s phone line.  We lose phone service EVERY weekend due to someone pulling up the line.


5. Pick up your garbage.


6. Don’t gawk, stare, or be inappropriate to anybody laying out.  Again, we are islanders because we like our privacy.  Also, do not whistle at or call anyone’s dog. DO NOT swim to shore.  All of the land that you can see while anchored is PRIVATE PROPERTY!  It is safe to assume that unless you are at a State or Provincial Park all islands are private.  Also, do not let your animals swim ashore to relieve themselves.


7. If you moor overnight (which isn’t recommended), USE AN ANCHOR LIGHT!  It is the law.

We are here for the same reason as you, rest and relaxation after a long work week.  Please use some common sense and basic etiquette when anchoring in our neighborhood."
 
Signed,
 
Residents of the Summerland Group

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