By Terry Cowan
In response to Lake of Bays wants Ministry to restrict floating accommodations , April 12, 2022.
In regards to all the different town councils’ concerns in the Muskoka region over the use of floating accommodations on waterways, I would like to add some input to consider.
A non-navigable floating structure is not the same thing as a houseboat or liveaboard boat. They are generally a structure or building constructed on top of floats and are not self-powered. They rely on a tugboat to move them if necessary, and are connected to municipal water and sewer systems. Toronto Harbour, Victoria Harbour, and other cities around the world have some of these types of structures/vessels and they are regulated by the cities they are in. They generally pay a higher tax rate to the cities than residential properties and additionally pay for the docking fees to the harbour. We don’t have these types of structures in Muskoka.
The closest type of structure to the non-navigable floating structures that we have here are boathouses that include residential accommodations, are regulated by building and planning departments in our towns, and are taxed along with the properties they are constructed on. Many localities no longer permit the construction of these types of boathouses.
In regards to houseboats, liveaboard boats and smaller overnight “camping” boats, please consider the following.
Most of the boats the size that the councils seem concerned about (liveaboards and houseboats) can’t make it to the lakes here as they are too large to go on highways for transport. They can’t get north of the Severn Waterway.
That’s why we don’t usually see these kinds of boats here.
When was the last time you actually saw a houseboat here? If you did, were they making a lot of noise and causing problems mooring at town docks, indiscriminately dumping wastewater, or dropping anchor near people’s cottages, docks, and waterfront homes? On the other hand, how many jet skis and speed boats are out making a racket, bothering paddlers and other boaters, or destroying docks and shorelines with their wake. How about party barge pontoon boats that are everywhere? How many people are drinking alcohol or using THC-based products and then taking their boats out? Unlicensed and uninsured operators? Lots. These are real problems.
What about the fireworks issue [Lake of Bays] Mayor Terry Glover addressed? I hear them going off most nights throughout the summer and it used to scare the crap out of my dog. But I hear them fired off in the town where I live in Gravenhurst, and from cottagers, not from houseboats. However, I suppose they could be fired off from houseboats, if there were any here, so that could be a legitimate issue. Probably just easier to ban fireworks, if it’s really a problem.
Boats that can actually transport to the lakes here don’t have sufficient holding tanks for freshwater supply in regards to having “320 litres of water a day per person” to use and dispose of, and are really only large enough to stay in overnight, not live aboard. I don’t think I have ever personally used 320 litres of water in a day, let alone every day as claimed by Councillor Nancy Tapley. If my household used 320 litres a day per person, I would be paying more than the $65.00 a month for our water and sewer that I just paid yesterday. However, Nancy’s numbers do reflect an average water household usage according to US government figures. But this is for households, not boats.
Boats that have a head and kitchen also have both grey and blackwater holding tanks. Generally freshwater tanks on larger boats hold 50-100 litres (water is used very sparingly), grey at 50-100 litres, and black at 50-100 litres. Similar to RVs that are everywhere. Are RVs a problem with dumping sewage indiscriminately? There are fines if you get caught doing that, and there are facilities both provincial and private to pump out the sewage easily and appropriately. Most people that have liveaboard boats—Great Loopers for example—respect the waters they are on and would never dump waste water. Some cottagers on the other hand do. Primarily grey water from their cottage. I’ve seen it many times.
An issue stemmed from Georgian Bay primarily, as I researched it. The actual issue that may have started it all wasn’t from houseboats from my understanding. The problem occurred when people near the water had too many outbuildings and were told to remove them. They started putting the outbuildings (sometimes shipping containers) on floats and anchoring or tying them to their docks, which has understandably gone over poorly with other residents and town officials. Some of the buildings are supposedly saunas that have showers that dump grey water into the lake, and some are bunkies. Not the houseboats or liveaboards that travel through the area every summer.
In addition, dealing with Transport Canada in regards to marine vessels is serious business for vessel operators. It’s more like dealing with the military, which is a good thing. There are federal and provincial regulations to be followed and if you don’t you will quickly be in big trouble. Officers from Transport Canada or the OPP can board your vessel anytime, and it better be in order.
Orillia and Barrie have lots of the larger liveaboard boats, sailboats, and yachts that dock and use town facilities that they pay for. Both cities make good revenue from this and don’t have a problem with it. The boats pay far more for the slip and docking fees daily than the residents pay in taxes on a one-to-one basis. They don’t have a problem with people dumping waste water, it is pumped out at the marinas where the boats also refill their freshwater tanks, and pay for the service. The people on the boats also provide revenue to the local businesses. This occurs all along the Severn Waterway and The Great Loop, all the way down to the southern US. The cities, towns, and docking facilities generate good income from this, and wouldn’t want to give it up.
Cities and countries all around the world have people living on canal boats, sailboats, and yachts, especially in the UK and Europe. They have done so for over a century, and seem fine with it. So, what’s our problem?
The problem here is a crisis that is imaginary and totally blown out of proportion. The comments of the council have no basis in reality. These are musings that are hyped way out of context like bad journalism and passed off as legitimate concerns with no real foundation. This in turn riles up the local populace over nothing. It’s a long way off from the simple request for input from the NDMNRF.
I would rather see our local politicians focus their energy and the taxpayers money on real issues, like fentanyl and opioid addictions, overdoses, and deaths in our region. How about physical and mental abuse issues, homelessness, and affordable housing, lack of basic needs like decent food and clothes, or year-round employment. These are real problems—not the hordes of imaginary houseboats all over the lakes in Muskoka.
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Craig Nakamoto says
Excellent response Terry. I was thinking exactly the same thing (but with much less research and detail). This seems to be a pattern with local government. Knee jerk reactions to a few loud residents.
There are definitely much bigger problems that need to be addressed. There should be a sound level limit in decibels for all motor boats and it should be enforced. This would temporarily eliminate jet skis from our waters – until they can be made quieter.
Jay Richardson says
Excellent commentary Terry. Your response is well researched and presented. If local politicians would focus on real issues of lakes and waterfront such as enforcing no-wake zones to assist in minimizing shoreline damage and enforcing noise level controls from jet skis and high-performance race boats that would be a worthwhile direction to assist in lake health and the enjoyment of our beautiful lakes by all.
Brian Tapley says
I never thought I’d be seen defending a jet ski but here is a point that is sort of getting lost in the discussion.
Modern, as in last 3 to 5 years, jet skis (and snowmobiles and even some ATV’s ) are much quieter than the original incarnation of these things. If used responsibly, and according to current rules and guidelines they can be almost no issue at all.
This said, if they are old, modified or driven by fools with no consideration for what they are doing or other people around them, then they can sort of become very akin to a swarm of mosquitoes and about as popular. We have a lot of rules already that supposedly cover the use of these things but most are not easily enforced so they are pretty hit and miss, mostly miss.
Just jumping on the noise issue is however not really fair any more.
More to the point of all these things is consideration for other peoples rights. ATV’s that disrespect rules and private property are no friends to rural property owners. Same goes for people walking hunting and even mountain bike riding. Simply put, if it is not your property or designated public property, you should either not be there at all or have permission from the owner. What you are doing may look harmless to you, but that may not be the case or viewpoint of the actual owner. There may be safety hazards of which a trespasser is unaware.
As for fireworks, I think this is totally out of proportion too. If they are just domestic, small fireworks (not commercial high level ones) and they are set off on your own property, maybe over the lake shore, between say 6 and 10 PM and if you bothered to alert your immediate neighbors who are really the only ones going to be directly affected anyway…. well as far as I can see there is no need for any further by law control. The person setting them off would always be responsible for any fire or damage caused no matter any other rules.
Small fireworks displays are a fun thing that have been going on for birthdays, anniversaries and of course those special days like Victoria Day and July 1 for a long time. The current by law restrictions are more than is necessary. They are also essentially not very enforceable either and if a few simple rules were followed, this by law would be unnecessary in it’s current form.
The following 5 guidelines would handle fireworks.
1 Between 6 and 10 PM
2 Not during a fire ban.
3 notify your immediate neighbors
4 remember you are responsible for whatever happens
5 permit required for industrial size (large and extra loud) only.
Back to the original issue, live aboard boats, will come eventually to most lakes with a launch ramp. Thinking that these craft will not travel on roads is a bit wishful. They need to be aware of the issues that things like jet skis, ATV’s snowmobiles and fireworks cause as they are no different and they should choose carefully where they park for the night.
Terry Cowan says
I agree completely with the comments and perspectives put forward by Craig, Jay, and Brian in regards to the commentary article I wrote. Thank you for taking the time to read my article and respond. I wish more people had. Especially some of the Town Councilors from the region.
To be clear, I have no issues with jet skis or other recreational vehicles, and I don’t really care if people shoot off fireworks. The comments I made were in direct response to opinions put forward by Councilors throughout the region. In regards to the perspectives that Brian put forward so well – In my mind it really comes down to respect, or a lack thereof, towards other people and the world we live in. To be a responsible human being.
The real issue I have is the lack of due diligence on the part of all the Town Councils in the region by not performing sufficient research before making negative public comments about the behaviour of individuals with liveaboard boats, and making absurd recommendations to the NDMNRF. I expect better of them. I expect them to reasonably respond. To decide on issues by acquiring background knowledge and information, and perform a decent amount of informed consultation before reacting. This was not the case. As far as I’m concerned the Councils have bigger fish to fry with actual current issues as opposed to wasting so much time on a hypothetical problem that doesn’t exist.
There may be people that want to have smaller liveaboard boats in Muskoka, and not likely the behemoths that fill waterways south of here that are 24 feet high and 18 feet wide, as an example. If more regulations on these vessels is actually required, towns can implement them as needed at that time. Houseboats are not necessarily a bad thing.
Time to leave the pitchforks and torches at home and get down to the business at hand.