Is boating safety the real issue?

In the wake of the city council's deadlock vote on allowing drinking while boating on Whitefish Lake, it's worth considering the legal and practical issues of boating on the lake.

State law governing boating on public waters significantly differs from state law for motor vehicles on public roads.

While open containers are now illegal on public roads, they are still permitted on lakes and rivers. And while drivers must be licensed and carry proof of insurance, nothing is required for someone to operate a motor boat.

Boats must be equipped with life jackets and be stickered with a state ID number. Motors must have flame arresters and mufflers, and personal watercraft must have lanyard-type engine-cutoff switches. But boat operators are not required to pass a test before they take over the helm.

Furthermore, youths 12-and-under are allowed to operate motorboats with less than 10 horsepower. And if accompanied by a person at least 18 years old, a 13-year-old may legally man a ski boat on Whitefish Lake, providing the youth has passed a state boat safety education program.

That last point should be emphasized. With motor boat traffic increasing every year on Whitefish Lake, boat safety education is even more important. Next year, the number of slips at the Whitefish Lake Lodge's public marina could increase, adding even more traffic, and down the line, the Boardwalk at Whitefish project will add even more traffic.

Responsible boat operators worry that reckless boaters will ruin it for everyone else — speeding inside the 200-foot no-wake zone, not giving the right-of-way to slow-moving boats, such as sailboats, fishermen or paddlers, and not following boating etiquette when using public ramps and docks.

Boaters who want to sip on a cold beer or a glass of wine rightly argue that boating safety in general is in question. The council might want to consider these questions when they take up the boating and drinking ordinance on Dec. 5.