Large boat motors should be allowed at Lake Macbride

The Gazette's Feb. 16 editorial “Let the Macbride rule stand,” is laughable, at best. You obviously have not spent much time on Lake Macbride during the boating season.

You insinuate that boats with motors larger than 10 horsepower pose a threat to the “serenity” of the area. I have spent 29 years fishing Lake Macbride. I own a boat with a 150-horsepower motor and invariably while fishing at Macbride I observe boats with 10 horsepower motors zipping across the lake at full throttle leaving huge wakes as they pass by, while I idle at no-wake speed. They have no consideration of other lake users. Therefore, in reality, the problem is a question of enforcement of the no-wake rule.

If local residents are serious about maintaining the “serenity” of the lake maybe they should look into private ownership of the area. I am sure it would be a matter of weeks before they realize the importance of public funding. It is quite hypocritical of local residents to accept state money to upgrade and maintain Lake Macbride and then insist the state Legislature restrict usage of the lake to an elitist group of local users.

I urge state legislators to do what is equitable and allow year-round use of Macbride by boaters with large motors and quit kowtowing to the “country club” attitude of some of the local residents.

Ed Crosby

Robins