The last boat study I’m aware of was conducted in 2003. This study looked at Geneva Lake on a number of different levels, including ecosystem issues, farm run-off concerns, invasive species considerations, and boat density. The study looked at historical boat densities on Geneva in an attempt to identify trends and lend some guidance to the future. For instance, on July 4th, 1977, there were 650 boats in use on Geneva. This includes sailboats, PWC’s, and motor boats. It does not differentiate between a 44′ Carver and a 13′ Alumacraft. On July 4, 1988, there were 1120 boats in use. And on July 4, 2003, just 512 boats were under sail or under power at any given point on that day. The study doesn’t mention weather as a factor, though I’m betting the 1988 day was 95 and sunny and the 2003 day was cool and rainy, but still.
I am unaware of any newer study on this boating topic, but my eyes yesterday told me one thing: There might be too many boats on Geneva on any given Sunday. This common concern can be easily avoided by those with vacation homes here, by following simple weekend boating schedules that include boating before 11 am and after 5 pm. Allow the midday to be thrown to the day trippers and bachelor party types, and save the mornings and the evenings for the pure lake lovers. Even so, if there is a density issue, how might we curb that? Should we raise launch fees to obscene levels? We should, but the DNR won’t have any of it, so that’s off the table for now. Should we limit owners to a certain number of boats? Of course not. Should we ban rental boats? Most certainly.
I do not watch the rental boat scene closely. This is because I don’t travel into downtown Lake Geneva on weekends unless forced by absolute necessity. So while I cannot know the exact number of rental boats, I do know what my eyes tell me, and that says that most pontoon boats on the lake are rental boats, and most 20′ and under boats on the lake are as well. Rental companies have lots of boats, and these boats are in high demand. Where else can a family with no boating experience be given a five minute “push this to go forward” lesson and be given the keys and a full tank of gas to last four hours? The danger element is real, and given the density consideration on the lake has everything to do with danger and little to do with aesthetics anyway, the rental boats add to the density which adds to the danger. We can kill two birds with one stone by limiting these boats.
But it isn’t all the fault of the rental boats, as the proliferation of so called “boat clubs” has added even more density to our water. Times were, you went boating if you owned a boat. Or, if you were lucky enough to have a friend who owned a boat. That way, you could burn through his tank of gas on a Saturday and throw him a $20 to feel like you compensated him for the fuel. Today, you don’t need to own anything, including any level of boating proficiency. You just need to sign on to a boat club at Gage or Gordy’s, and drive, drive, drive. Again, I do not know the exact numbers of boat club boats, nor do I know the numbers of participants in the clubs, I just know that there are more boats on the water lately, and it has nothing to do with more lakefront homes. It has everything to do with easier access to the water by those who would otherwise not be boating.
Some could argue that this is a good thing. That increased availability to the finer things in life is a positive for society. I would be hesitant to agree, but I might do so in the event that it could be proven that the operators of these rental boats are conscientious drivers. That isn’t so say that owners are boating pros, because I’ve seen some horrible boating moves at the hands of lakefront owners. I’ve seen towed kids drop off tubes only to have the boat driver continue on course for far too long before noticing. I’ve seen others whip inside of each other, forever unwilling to yield the right of way, and cursing loudly in the process. I’ve seen some horrible etiquette on the lake, and that’s because money can buy a wonderful, shiny boat, but it cannot buy calm nerves and common sense.
I sat at a lakefront house yesterday, on the front patio, in the shade, with a slight easterly breeze keeping my personal dew point at bay. I enjoyed the scene, as I always do. Sailboats tacked through that breeze, cruisers cruised and fishermen plunked their way from spot to spot, fighting the waves and the sun but likely not upset about either. The lake was full of boats, and it was undeniably busy. Late summer Sundays are like that, with every participant racing to cram more summer into this rapidly evaporating calendar. The rental boat drivers were doing the same, and while I cannot fault them for their enthusiasm, I can’t help but think there should be fewer of them. Safety demands it, and perhaps it’s time the DNR did, too.
Make weekend ramp fees $200. In state residents $100. A discount for smaller fishing boats. $500 for ridiculous go fast boats. Pontoons get a discount given their smaller wake but also have to pay a lack of taste surcharge. A discount for slalom skiers with proper tournament inboard ski boats. They are the keepers of boating etiquette due to the sports’ requirement for smooth water and thus minimize their own wake and avoid others. They’ll be off the lake by 9am anyway. Tell the DNR they can keep the proceeds from this new fee schedule and then they can buy one of those sweet Ocean Master boats used by the Water Safety Patrol that I’m sure they covet.