A number of vessels travelled up river past the camp during the hour or so that I was there and most were travelling at a safe speed, but there were several which were either unaware that this is a posted river and has a speed limit or the operators simply chose to ignore the fact.
The sign shown here is posted beside the Camp Tidnish dock and was newly placed two years ago. It shows a speed of 15 km/h, which is the maximum speed allowed on the river from the channel entrance by the camp, upstream as far as the waters are navigable.
There are also signs posted on the Tidnish River bridge and there should be one by the public launch ramp.
Travelling at speeds above this limit not only causes river bank erosion, but it also creates hazards for other boaters as well as for those who have their boats moored in and along the river.
The signs are very visible and operators should make themselves familiar with all regulations.
While on the subject of marine safety, operators of personal watercraft should remember that you need a large enough machine to carry an observer and to pick up a skier or occupant of a towed device should it be damaged. So unless you have a three-seater PWC, you cannot operate in this fashion.
Since my days conducting enforcement and education patrols, most operators that I observe are very compliant with the Small Vessels Act, but every now and then it helps to be reminded.
As the Small Vessel Regulation handbooks are no longer published, (the reasons for which I find less than convincing), individuals can go to the Transport Canada website and look up the Small Vessel Regulations on line.
Paul Calder, Amherst
