Paddle vs. Power

It is common and sometimes warranted for the paddling folks of the world to resent and even despise power boaters on the water, but can't we all just get along!?

The majority of our summer is spent in the Massasauga Provincial Park where we camp with our small fishing boat. Since the park is water access only it is a great opportunity for us to get away.

For the most part everyone lives in harmony, but I have witnessed some questionable antics from both the powerboats and the paddlers of the world. Albeit, the majority of the time it is the paddlers who complain (and rightly so) about the noise, wake and vrrroooom of large boats hogging the water.

As a 'power boater' we make every effort to provide our paddling friends with space and as little wake as possible.

Yes, we own a boat. Yes, it has a motor and no it is not as environmentally friendly as a canoe, but by the same token we are respecting paddler's space and acting within our rights to enjoy the park just as the paddlers are. My call to the self propelled boaters of the world is to refrain from judging your power boating counterparts.

The bottom line is that there are idiots and disrespectful boaters within the ranks of every type of craft and just because we own a boat with a motor doesn't mean we are crass, over the top, water hogging jerks.