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Slow is the word for summer boating on the Fox

Oshkosh boaters need to practice a little patience when piloting the Fox River between Lake Winnebago and Lake Buttes des Mortes this year.

A new no-wake zone measure approved by the Oshkosh Common Council in February will force traffic to slow past the riverfront stretch of the Leach Amphitheater from the Canadian National bridge to the Main Street bridge.

Jackson Kinney, director of community development for the city of Oshkosh, said the ordinance was approved to meet a condition of the Department of Natural Resources in issuing the permit for the city to put in floating docks at Riverside Park.

“Improving the safety in the area will hopefully be an important by-product of that condition,” Kinney said.

Many boaters welcome the new no-wake zone, because they say the area often saw a large amount of traffic bounding through at high speeds, disrupting anchored fishermen and smaller boats.

“You’re supposed to go slow through there, but some take off right away and cut across, so it’s always a dangerous area,” said Mike Pagel, 43, of Oshkosh, who captains a Bayliner Cruiser.

“I’ve seen numerous accidents almost happen right in that area because it’s so crowded, because you can’t see beyond the bridge.”

www.thenorthwestern.com

Posted In: Boat Safety on May 15, 2008 Comments (611)

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