Here in south-central Pennsylvania, there are not many places to do open water swimming. That may seem hard to believe, but most of the rivers/lakes are either on private land or pretty nasty places due to pollution (farm run-off, esp.) The few places that there are to swim are usually in parks and are regulated out the wazoo. (A friend of mine was arrested earlier this year for training out of bounds at one of the state parks.) For those of you who do freshwater training swims, how do you deal with/circumvent the legal issues or do they not apply in your area? I realize that saltwater swimming is a different story, but we are several hours from the nearest saltwater - too far for regular swims.
Or is freshwater training all "Jersey legal" - i.e. legal as long as you don't get caught?
-LBJ
Parents
Former Member
I am not familiar with the 'laws' in the US, however I train, (up in the "Frozen North" ) in a smaller lake for some swims. The bottom of the lake is owned by a company (happens to be a church that operates retreats and week long camps in the summer).
There are several home/cottage owners who also have property affronting the lake. The 'company' owns the bottom of the lake. (which is the low tide mark) Nobody owns the high tide mark. These homeowners have a floating dock which does not require the dock to be secured on the 'bottom', so they can operate boats as well.
There is a small public acess road, where we launch our kayak and residents drive to, and swim. Occasionally, we run into a bit of confrontation by overly zealous "we own this" camp staff who volunteer at the camp. The waterfront at the camp offers waterskiing etc and the boat drivers feel they can drive wherever, regardless of who or what is on the water.
So my support crew and I have stopped the boats on numerous occasions, (when they come way too close) and explain that according to the boat safety courses, which are mandatory to operate a boat, that the craft with the least amount of power has the right of way. They then counter with, 'we own the the lake'. We then remind them, "you own the bottom of the lake and feel free to play down there. I only use the top. I am the least powered craft, and if you harm or interfer with me, or my kayak crew, who are also less powered than you, then you will be charged under the ACT.
Then we continue on, giggling and laughing.
14 years later, the chuckle continues!!
Open water Swimmers win again!!
Kiwi
I am not familiar with the 'laws' in the US, however I train, (up in the "Frozen North" ) in a smaller lake for some swims. The bottom of the lake is owned by a company (happens to be a church that operates retreats and week long camps in the summer).
There are several home/cottage owners who also have property affronting the lake. The 'company' owns the bottom of the lake. (which is the low tide mark) Nobody owns the high tide mark. These homeowners have a floating dock which does not require the dock to be secured on the 'bottom', so they can operate boats as well.
There is a small public acess road, where we launch our kayak and residents drive to, and swim. Occasionally, we run into a bit of confrontation by overly zealous "we own this" camp staff who volunteer at the camp. The waterfront at the camp offers waterskiing etc and the boat drivers feel they can drive wherever, regardless of who or what is on the water.
So my support crew and I have stopped the boats on numerous occasions, (when they come way too close) and explain that according to the boat safety courses, which are mandatory to operate a boat, that the craft with the least amount of power has the right of way. They then counter with, 'we own the the lake'. We then remind them, "you own the bottom of the lake and feel free to play down there. I only use the top. I am the least powered craft, and if you harm or interfer with me, or my kayak crew, who are also less powered than you, then you will be charged under the ACT.
Then we continue on, giggling and laughing.
14 years later, the chuckle continues!!
Open water Swimmers win again!!
Kiwi
