As I paddled my kayak on Damariscotta Lake with my wife and two sons, I heard a noise like a low flying plane approaching from afar. I told my boys to paddle to the side and in a few seconds a Bass Boat with humongous outboard roared past just touching the tops of the waves. If this had been a jet ski flying past then the cries for a ban would have been heard all the way to Augusta.

I believe in responsible controls on boats and boating. I also believe in making a public resource available for the public to use and enjoy. I have followed the quest by Mark Haskell to overturn the discriminatory ban on jet skis on Maine lakes and support his efforts.

I have sailed for over 40 years on fresh and salt water. I have paddled and rowed extensively along the Maine coast and many Maine lakes and ponds. I also enjoy riding my jet ski. I and many others ride responsibly on modern jet skis that are both clean and quiet.

On July 4th on Lake St George in Liberty, Mark Haskell will be hosting the Ride With Pride to support your right to enjoy Maine's public waters. I hope that many of you will show up to support the rights of Maine boaters. If the shore land owners can ban jet skis then the next step is to simply ban whatever else they don't like.

E-mail this entry to a friend