Banning Wakeboard Boats on the Willamette

Lyle

I don't know if you guys remember but about this time last year a group was trying to get Oregon Marina Board to set up no wake zones on parts of the Willamette because "The large wakes are doing damage to their docks". Anyway, there was a big meeting about it and several of us from the wakeboard community showed up and voiced our opinions.
Well this editor from the Oregonian called me up last week and was doing a follow up article on it. He asked me a lot of questions with regards to wakeboarding, the Willamette, and wakes. If he wanted he could twist everything around that I said, and he was asking some pretty pointed questions. He said I was the only wakeboarder he had interviewed, and had interviewed several land owners. Hopefully he was able to get a hold of more of you, so we could have a strong united voice. The article is supposed to come out tomorrow, so keep your eyes open. I imagine it will be in the metro section.

oshensurfer · Posted: Jun 21, 2006 3:40 pm Post subject:

Lyle,
Post it up here when it publishes.

Damon · Posted: Jun 21, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject:

Isn't there an association of waterskiiers/wakeboarders that will come out and support the boaters on a lake/river? I thought I read something about it, it's some national organization.

Darin · Guest

I don't really understand how a floating dock could get damaged by wakes. Doens't it just go up and down. Doesn't wind do the same thing?

raptorschild · Newbie Joined: 14 May 2006 Posts: 43 City: Pasco

you gotta remember that Portland is full of Left wingers that don't appreciate the aritistic youth coming in and making a roucus.

DU540 · Outlaw Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 185 City: PDX

Here's the link:

http://www.oregonlive.com/metrosouth/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_south_news/1150768556266840.xml&coll=7

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 22, 2006 5:55 am Post subject:

This will only get worse as the sport grows. pay attention to the lakes you ride on or it will happen right under your nose.

As I mentioned in another thread.

People have started talking about that on my lake, interestingly enough they are all the people that did not join the Lake Association.
In our particular situation they have nothing to really lean on as most are only worried about wakeboard boats and BIG wakes.

They don't want to hear the fact that just about every boat can make a BIG wake.
Or the fact I can sack out any boat and throw a BIGWAKE...

They are only making themselves look bad as they are very adamant that the problem is only with wakeboard boats.
I love it when uneducated people try to pick a fight, it's like playing dodge ball with a bunch a paraplegics.

Good to read your situation turned out the way it did. I fear not all will be so lucky.

garveyj · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 877 City: Savage, MN

there is a typo in that article too - they are saying that boats can put up to 800-1000 gallons of water ballast in the boat...that would be 6000-8000 pounds of water weight.

They think it is bad now - think of what it would be like with that much weight Twisted Evil

BoarderX · Posted: Jun 22, 2006 11:35 am Post subject:

So where are the boat manufacturing companies in all this mix.. Big money talks more than enthusiast usually.

JV · Posted: Jun 22, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject:

What do boat companies care about outlawing ballast? Secretly, they'd probably love that...less chance of potential lawsuits. If ballast were illegal, we'd still buy our boats from the major companies, we'd just be looking for the best unweighted wake, rather than the best sacked out wakes.

BoarderX · Posted: Jun 23, 2006 6:23 am Post subject:

I'm talking about them losing market territory as lakes and rivers outlaw powerboats or specifically wakeboard boats all together... not just ballast. Thats money coming out of their pocket in the long run. Youd think theyd have a voice somewhere in the mix.

JV · Posted: Jun 23, 2006 6:37 am Post subject:

My fault, I thought you were referring to the ballast regulations. I don't think anyone has the authority to outlaw wakeboats specifically. All they can do is pepper the lake with "No Wake" buoys and, on smaller lakes, pass length restrictions or, like you said, outlaw powerboats altogether which would affect everyone. Maybe the boat companies will chime in when these issues become less localized.