Whereas i understand some of…

Whereas i understand some of the reasons for the implementation of some sort of controls for ensuring that boats do not continually anchor in front of someone's lakeside or riverfront residence I think that some things need to be considered. I am both a boat owner who likes to cruise different areas and i also own waterfront property so i see both sides of the issue.

There are some places where the only decent protected anchorage is going to actually be within 300 metres from someones dock or altered shoreline or boathouse. Precluding safe anchorage for a transient boat is not only unsafe but with a law actually in place to prohibit anchorage is going to cause massive friction from a cottage owner who wants no boat in his or her view, to the sailor who needs to have safe harbour. Trust me that once a property owner discovers that adding a small structure to any part of their shoreline keeps boaters legally away, they will be adding structures all around their property for this reason. People in the Georgian Bay and North Channel areas with islands and peninsula properties may do this and legally remove the opportunity for boaters to anchor in many areas currently available.

Places like the Pool in Baie Fin in the North Channel are well known and busy anchorages. It is a long way for someone to go in there and find that legally they cannot anchor because they are too close to a cottage. This is patently unfair. Anyone with a cottage or house next to a known anchorage has to know upon purchase that they will have boats close by throughout the season.

What is the law going to do when someone finds that after 7 days when they had planned to move on to the next anchorage, the weather has deteriorated or they have boat problems or they are sick, is the nearby cottage owner going to put their speed dial to the nearest law enforcement office?

So what is the real reason for this proposed law? Is it because Air BNB boats are staying all summer in one location partying near a waterfront cottage driving the owners of that cottage completely nuts? Is it because groups of party boats are rafted up and creating mayhem during the day and into the evening and then departing........or not? Or is it because some cottage owners just don't want anyone spoiling their view with hanging towels over their sailboat rail?

You cannot expect someone to move anchorage in Georgian Bay for example after seven days when the wind is blowing 30kts, the seas are five feet and a family is in a 26 foot cuddy cabin and if anyone knows Georgian Bay, they know that this weather can last many days. Even 1Km can be hazardous and there is no guarantee that the next safe anchorage is within that distance. The next one may be miles away. This law will affect the safety of navigators. With the courts already under pressure , the decision to implement another unenforceable law is just a plain waste of time and money.

You need to narrow it down, a lot. If Air BNB or houseboats or similar rental is the issue, deal with that issue. Do not throw cruising boats or recreational boats in with them. Cottage owners do not own the water in front of their properties. As a waterfront homeowner i have to accept the fact that someone whether a fisherman or an overnighter may spend time in front of my dock. nothing has changed since i purchased my property. Most boaters prefer not be be directly off someones dock anyway. You are proposing a howitzer of a proposed law to squash a pesky fly.

Sincerely