Editorial: Ban of large boats is not the answer to dangers, congestion on the Chain

Those who have spent a warm summer day on the Chain O' Lakes can attest that it can be like a game of Tetris in spots, wedging your boat between all of the other people doing the same thing you are.

There can be no arguing the Chain isn't crowded. But a proposal by Deerfield State Sen. Julie Morrison to deny access to boats 40 feet and longer access to the Chain is not the answer.

Morrison tragically lost her 10-year-old nephew, Tony Borcia of Libertyville, when he fell into the water and was struck by a boat operated by a drunken driver.

Our Lee Filas wrote for Monday's paper about how Tony's death opened Morrison's eyes to safety issues on the Chain, and her motivation is to make things safer.

We feel for Morrison and appreciate her desire to prevent another child's death. But this is not the way to go about making the Chain safer, and the state Senate is not the body that should be legislating it.

Senate Bill 56 seeks to outlaw boats of 40 feet or larger that are used primarily for personal use. That would discount watercraft used for dredging, construction, lake maintenance and the like. The proposal is still in its early stages and is undergoing revision, Morrison said.

Of the more than 22,000 boat stickers sold on the Chain last year, only eight were for crafts 40 feet or longer. And two would be excluded because they are designed to carry passengers for hire, another exemption in the bill.

The drunk who killed Tony was behind the wheel of a boat that was shorter than 40 feet, Having six fewer boats on the Chain longer than 40 feet would not begin to mitigate the congestion in any meaningful way.

"A 40-foot-plus speed boat is more appropriate on Lake Michigan," Morrison told us. "It's too big, too fast, and not made to just sit and idle on the Chain."

Enter the Fox Waterway Agency, which was established by the state 35 years ago to improve and maintain the Fox River and the Chain and ensure the safety of those who use it.

Its chairman, Wayne Blake, bristles at Morrison proposing legislation without seeking his organization's input. He's right to be concerned.

"I don't know if the problem here is the size of the boat or more about how the speed boats are traveling or whether the driver is impaired," he said. "There are a lot of other factors in play than just the length of the boat."

He also objects to the legislation taking aim solely at the Chain and not the rest of the state.

Ron Michalek owns a 42-footer. He points out that people who own boats that size are knowledgeable about safety and mindful of protecting their costly investment.

"The fact of the matter is that some boats are unsafe and there are drivers who do not know the difference between the port and starboard," he said. "There are a lot of things they should concentrate on (more) than 'let's get the bigger boats off the lake.'"

We agree.