When Christopher Perry first climbed onto his father’s back for a waterski run on Lake Lillinonah at age three, he could not have imagined that decades later his own daughter would be sharing the same water with him. Today, the Perry family enjoys Candlewood Lake and other Connecticut waterways, and they are not alone. Across the state, families are using lakes for fishing, sailing, waterskiing and wakesurfing, and they are asking state officials to create clear, consistent rules that protect everyone on the water.
Education is the first line of safety
Perry, a sales manager at Candlewood East Marina, teaches wakesurfing through camps and private lessons. He says responsible boating begins long before a motor revs up – it starts with education. “Families ask where it’s appropriate to wakesurf, how to share the water with paddlers and anglers, and how to be courteous to nearby homeowners,” he explains. When boaters understand not only the rules but the reasons behind them, they make better decisions.
Safe wakesurfing, according to Perry, means keeping proper distances from shore, docks, swimmers, anglers, paddlers and other vessels; avoiding repetitive passes; minimizing unnecessary noise; and recognizing that all users are neighbors on a shared public resource. These practices are not optional recommendations – they are essential components of good stewardship.
A patchwork of local ordinances creates confusion
Connecticut’s waterways are governed by a combination of statewide boating statutes and locally adopted ordinances. While the core boating laws apply everywhere, municipalities and lake authorities often add their own restrictions. This results in a confusing patchwork that can be difficult for boaters to navigate and for law‑enforcement officers to enforce uniformly.
“One lake might allow wakesurfing on certain days, another might ban it entirely,” Perry notes. “That inconsistency discourages families from enjoying the water and makes it harder for us to teach safe practices.”
Calls for statewide, commonsense rules
Community leaders, marina operators and recreational groups are now urging the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop clear, statewide guidelines for wakesurfing and other water sports. They argue that a uniform set of rules, paired with robust education initiatives, would improve safety, simplify enforcement and keep public lakes accessible for responsible users.
“A consistent framework would let families plan outings without worrying about a different rule set at every lake,” says a spokesperson for the Connecticut Boating Association. “It would also give law‑enforcement officers a clear standard to apply, reducing disputes and enhancing safety for everyone.”
Family memories drive the push
For the Perrys, the stakes are personal. When their daughter was one year old, they gently rode a wave together; today she is a confident wakesurfer. “Seeing her grow in confidence and skill reminds us why these waters matter,” Perry says. He hopes that future generations will have the same opportunity to build lasting memories on Connecticut’s lakes.
By combining statewide, commonsense regulations with ongoing boater education, the state can preserve the safety, accessibility and enjoyment of its public waterways for families now and for years to come.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
