On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 23:58:04 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On 27 Oct 2004 02:46:02 GMT, (Gould 0738) wrote:

The alternative, suggested in the Scott Fields essay, is extremely draconian.
Fields quotes environmentalists who would prefer to see each individual boat
declared a "point source" for air and water pollution. If such a measure were
ever enacted, each pleasure boat would be individually required to obtain a
series of permits from the EPA for specific, common activities underway. The
expense and hassles associated with individual permitting and compliance
reporting to the EPA could potentially put an end to pleasure boating as we
know it.

===========================================

Be very, very afraid. These people are dangerous, creative and well
funded. They also hate boats and boaters. We need to polish our
image, chuck the bad apples, and the marine trades who service them.
We also need to band together to form an effective political and legal
advocacy group.

Sea Grant and Ocean Conservancy are probably the two most strident and
"anti" groups there are. And to tell the truth, I'm not so sure they
are all wet in some areas.

There is some kind of boat rally over Memorial Day or something out
west where there are so many boats, the air literally turns brown from
the exhaust. Is that a positive image?

My two glass boats are white and I have to scrub them at least once a
week just to get the oil and other scum off of them - and it ain't
just green algae either.

Every once in a while, I launch my Ranger for inshore fishing at Barn
Island and have to launch through the brown lumps that sure as hell
ain't chopped sea weed.

And if you gas up at a marina for gas and spill a little, over comes
the nice dock helper with a bottle of detergent, sprays it down and
the gas sinks to the bottom - it's doesn't go away, it just sinks.
They don't use the enzyme treatment because it's too expensive.

On the other hand, take East Greenwich Bay a part of Narragansett Bay.
The runoff from lawn fertilizer has virtually destroyed the ecosystem
in EGB, but try and convince the landowners of that - it's impossible.

Take a ride around Webster Lake when the water is clear and look on
the bottom - I'll bet there are at least a couple of thousand dollars
[1] worth of bottles and cans down there not to mention
other...er...stuff.

And jet ski's - don't get me started on those things. :)

I don't know what the answer is, but there has to be one. Maybe we
can develop some kind of idea that guys with venues like Chuck has can
promote and get moving in a positive direction.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

[1] Ok, it's a slight exaggeration, but still, you get the idea.