[aopel]

[QUOTE=Bear Islander]I have moved many boats when they were blocking or parked stupid.

Thanks Bear Islander for sharing your approach. I too do not hesitate to move a boat up or down a post or two if this will create a space. I have been on the lake all my life and consider this a common courtesy and would not mind if someone did the same to my boat.

That said, I did this in Wolfboro this weekend and one onlooker was appalled and tried to tell me that this was something he had never seen and was unacceptable.

I feel that if a boat is taking up two or more spaces, because it was poorly docked to begin with or because other boats have moved, then fair use says careful repositioning is well within the unwritten code of boating courtesy.

I tried to convey this to the driver of an oversized Formula but his attachment to his possession drove him to tell me I better never touch HIS boat.

I see the point about liability mentioned earlier but I am confident I can tie a boating knot. The world may be turning to lawyers to solve all problems but I still believe in basic trust and watching out for each others boats. I see no point in sitting in a cue while docking sites sit available because no one has the common sense to move a boat. Call me old school but I used to watch my father use the Irwins hoists at the Weirs to drain the water out of our old Chris Craft during off hours. The Irwins didn't mind because they trusted us.

I called MP on the moving issue and they said each town sets their own public dock use regulations. If I find laws addressing this issue, I'll post them. Until then, I'll be moving boats to make the best use of the docks!