Jet Skis in the Harbors?
A change to town laws that is under discussion would allow personal watercraft such as Jet Skis, which have been banned from East Hampton Town harbors, to be launched from designated ramps throughout the town and traverse the harbors in order to get to open waters, where they are unrestricted.
Seven launching ramps closest to the mouths of harbors would be cleared for use should the town board approve the revised law, Ed Michels, the head of East Hampton’s Marine Patrol, told the board on Tuesday.
They include those owned by the town at Northwest Creek, Gann Road at Three Mile Harbor, Louse Point on Accabonac Harbor, Napeague Harbor at Lazy Point, and Montauk Harbor. Two privately owned launching ramps, at the Gone Fishing Marina on East Lake Drive in Montauk and on Clearwater Beach Property Owners Association land in Springs, could also be used.
The town board is considering the change at the request of Martin Drew, a Springs resident, who brought the issue to the table, he has said, on behalf of his brother, a personal watercraft user.
Allowing the machines to set out from the launching ramps would not only “provide an access point,” said Michael Sendlenski, a town attorney who has penned a draft law, but cut down on “the beach launching that we currently see.”
A change to the current ban “shouldn’t be a problem,” Mr. Michels said. The change is supported by the Springs Citizens Advisory Committee, said Councilman Fred Overton, the liaison to that group.
At Montauk Harbor, Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said, boat traffic can be heavy in the morning and again in the afternoon, when commercial and private fishing boats head out from and return to docks. “To throw a personal watercraft into the mix, is that really what we want to do?” he asked.
Apart from the current restrictions about being in the harbor, said Mr. Michels, “they have the same right as kayaks and canoes,” which can also be problematic and a safety hazard when amongst larger boats.
Mr. Cantwell asked why previous elected officials had banned the personal watercraft from harbors.
“When these things first came out, it was a free-for-all,” Mr. Michels said. The craft were much noisier than they are now, and had to be driven at fast speeds or riders would fall off. Now, he said, they are quieter and more stable.
“They used to be, basically, floating chainsaws,” Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc said. Two-cycle engines have now been replaced with four-cycle engines, he said.
“What percentage is no longer floating chainsaws?” asked Councilwoman Sylvia Overby. “I’d say 95 percent,” Mr. Michels said.
Ms. Overby wondered if the law could distinguish between newer and older craft. Besides being noisier, the older craft, she said, would be unlikely or unable to follow the required slow speeds inside harbors.
Mr. Cantwell posed another question: “How are we going to tell operators they can go to the launching ramp, and only use it to exit the harbor and return?”
An education process and posted signs would be needed, along with enforcement, Mr. Michels said.
Signs that have been posted at various ramps have repeatedly ended up vandalized, said Mr. Van Scoyoc, who said that personal watercraft operators have driven around Northwest Harbor and disturbed shorebirds and other wildlife.
“They do 60 or 70 miles an hour, full speed, some of them, and they’re gone before you can even get out a report,” he said.
“I think the people who are going to launch them from the ramps are not going to do that,” said Mr. Michels. Locals “will know what they have,” if given the opportunity to launch into East Hampton’s harbors, and not abuse the privilege, he said.
Still, he said, “You can’t stop people from doing stupid things.”
“But this adds to the possibility,” Ms. Overby said.
“If it’s done correctly and monitored and enforced it can work,” said Mr. Michels.
The board will review a revised draft law at a future meeting and discuss scheduling the change for a public hearing.