Community Commentary -- Marty Kasules

I would like the opportunity to respond to Paul James Baldwin’s

Community Commentary (“It’s time to get the Disney-style boaters out of

the water,” Dec. 16). After expressing his displeasure for offshore

powerboats, sailing students and charter boats, Baldwin gets to the theme

of his letter, i.e. that Duffy electric boats have no business cruising

Newport Bay. I had hoped that Baldwin was kidding and that the article

was written tongue-in-cheek, but that does not seem to be the case.

Baldwin paints with a broad brush, saying that the Duffy operators are

all inexperienced boaters piloting their crafts recklessly and

obliviously through a drunken stupor. This is simply not true. The

majority of Duffy owners are as responsible and knowledgeable as any

other type of boat operator in the harbor. Baldwin offers an ominous

warning that it is only a matter of time before there will be a

high-profile injury or death on this type of vessel. He advocates a

slow-growth boating initiative to limit the number of boats when he is on

the bay. If I may suggest a potential title, how about the “red

light/green light initiative”? Actually, there is already a slow-growth

initiative on the bay. It’s called “slip fees.”

Baldwin does a disservice to Duffy Duffield, the creator of the Duffy

electric boat. Duffield created a unique niche in boating and remains

based here in Newport Harbor even though his manufacturing plant was

driven out of the area by ever-increasing environmental restraints and

regulations. Ironically, Duffield boats contribute no pollution

whatsoever to Newport Harbor and, to my knowledge, there has never been

an injury accident involving a Duffield boat here in Newport.

Baldwin mentions that he has a particular brand of boat, which

certainly has a reputation as a strong and sturdy craft. Unfortunately,

there have been a number of serious injuries and some deaths that have

been related to this style of boat nationwide and as close as Avalon

Harbor. These deaths have typically been attributed to alcohol and or

speed. I doubt Baldwin would want to see his brand of boat banned from

Newport Harbor, only the brands he deems a nuisance.

I would remind him that Newport Harbor is a regional boating center

and everyone with a boat, whether large, small, power, sail or paddle,

has a right to enjoy the unique charm and beauty of this area. Not

everyone can have Baldwin’s boating expertise. We all started somewhere,

not knowing the name of the pointy end of a boat.

Mandatory licensing of boaters will do little to raise individual

awareness but would certainly create another cumbersome layer of

government bureaucracy for boaters to wade through. Automobile drivers’

licenses have not eliminated people from making mistakes and causing

accidents, even when they have taken a test on the rules of the road. It

will be the same with a boating license.

I would suggest to Baldwin that he share his knowledge by donating

time through the Sea Scouts, OCC Sailing Center, Nautical Museum or the

Balboa Power Squadron, where other knowledgeable and generous individuals

contribute their time to educating and raising the next generation of

competent, confident and safe boaters.

* MARTY KASULES is the Orange County harbor master.