Kent wrote:

I recently bought a "2-person" inflatable "boat". This thing is not much
more than your run-of the-mill 1-person swimming pool raft. I live on the
north shore of Long Island, NY and was kicked off of one public beach when I
was told by a lifeguard that "inflatables" aren't allowed, and when I
inquired at 3 other beaches in the area I was told the same thing. Am I
crazy or something? A 5-year old girl is allowed to swim out as far as she
can in water way over her head with nobody else around her and that's ok but
a 28 year old man can't peacefully lie on a raft and get a tan? Has
anyone else run into problems with these "boats" at beaches? And if
anyone happens to read this who's from LI, please let me know if there are
any places you know of where a person can use one of these "boats" in some
kind of water outside of a swimming pool.
Thanks
-Kent

As someone said, pick a spot without a lifegaurd and they won't bother you. As
to why they aren't allowed, along with the visibility issue mentioned, another
possibility is that it is probably not umcommon for folks to lay back, close
their eyes and maybe even fall asleep for a bit and when they wake up they are
much farther out than the lifegaurd wants to go get them it they get into
trouble.