I hate to come off sounding like a grouch, but if there’s anything that drives me crazy it’s the sight of a dinghy zipping through the marina, overloaded with people; half of them kids and the other half supposed adults who either don’t value the kids or don’t have the good sense to realize that they’re putting those kids in peril.

Now, I know, “peril” is a pretty strong word, but let me give you an example.  The other day I was in Rock Hall harbor, moving below wake speed when a dinghy passed me going about 8 knots.  I can’t be precise, but I know it was going fast enough to leave a considerable wake and it moved smartly—there’s an ironic word choice—enough to leave me behind. 

A couple of the passengers—but not the operator—were clutching bottles of brew and sipping away while they sped along.  Perched on the bow—and I mean right up on the bow, his butt hanging over so he was getting fairly wet—was a kid.  I would guess he was about 11 years old.

Well, everyone was watching the soaking, whooping and laughing; and the kid was enjoying being the center of attention as they all laughed about his getting wet.  Now, I don’t want to sound like a doomsayer, but what if they had encountered a wake, or if some other boat had suddenly appeared—maybe leaving its slip—or if the operator for whatever reason had had to cut sharply?  There isn’t one thing in that list of “what if’s” that we don’t have happen to us on a regular basis; any one of them could have happened.

You know what would have happened, don’t you.  The kid would have been thrown off of his perch and into the water.  And which way would he have  gone?  He would have gone right over the bow.  And, since he was wearing a life preserver—the dinghy operator was only 98% negligent—the boy  would have begun to pop to the surface just as, you guessed it!, the boat was passing over him.  And since the boat was propelled by an outboard with a propellor…  There’s no need for me to paint the rest of the scenario, is there?

Damn, folks, we’re talking lives out there.  Boating is so much fun and it’s great to have a bunch of people—My mother used to lecture me that bananas come in bunches; people come in groups.  Sorry, Mom.—on board and having a good time; but nothing spoils a weekend, a boating season, a life, like a bonehead accident that causes the serious injury or death of one of your clan.  I don’t know what the fuel consumption rate is for an 8 hp outboard, but if it’s more than you can afford and keeps you from making an extra trip to the boat, stop and see me.  I’m at Haven Harbour, Red 62, and I’ll gladly pay for the pint of gas or so that you need in order to ensure the safety of your friends and family.