Punta Gorda will consider a 20 minute delay at the Ponce de Leon boat ramp

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — On Wednesday, the Punta Gorda City Council will consider adopting an ordinance that would impose a 20-minute delay on loading and unloading boats at the Ponce de Leon Park boat ramp.

If approved, the ordinance allows the city to install a “sign limiting loading and unloading of boats to 20 minutes at the Ponce de Leon Park boat ramp.”

According to the City, current ordinances “do not currently adequately address conflicts that have arisen” at the boat ramp and are intended to prevent slow boaters from delaying the boat ramp on boat days. large crowd.

Alex Orenczuk, Fox 4 community correspondent in Punta Gorda, visited the park to talk with boaters and measure how long it takes them on average to launch their boat and move their trailer from the boat ramp at the water.

“The 20-minute delay seems excessive,” said William Davis, who, along with his friend Fritz Sobol, was able to get their boat into the water in less than a minute. “We don’t need this kind of time.”

Queston Irons of On-Site Boat Repair told Orenczuk he launches his boat 20 to 30 times a week. He managed to get his boat into the water in less than a minute by himself.

“It takes about five or 10 minutes at most,” Irons said. “Even right now I had to take a little extra time and I’ll be there and out of here in a few minutes.”

For inexperienced boaters, this may take longer, which can lead to traffic jams on busy boating days.

“I’ve seen them, and I’ve seen people filming people who can’t get their boat in and out of here,” Roy Wathen said after loading his boat onto his trailer, telling Orenczuk he supported the proposed ordinance. “If you can’t get your boat up and down in 20 minutes, you should probably take lessons or practice more.”

Roy Wathen speaks to Fox 4’s Alex Orenczuk at the boat launch at Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda.

If approved, citations could be issued to deadline violators. First-time violators could receive a $25 citation, $50 for a second offense and $100 for subsequent violations.

Irons explained to Orenczuk that he was able to use a boat launch quickly and that it was necessary to practice safely.

“Proper training is to come here and train, especially on days like right now when we’re not very busy, come in and out of here and do your training and whatnot, so that if you come here on the weekends you’re in and out,” Irons said.

If a boater gets stuck at the boat ramp, Davis said it’s more helpful to be patient with them and give them a helping hand than to be frustrated.

“Patience, man, was in the boating community,” Davis said. “Calm down and help each other instead of complaining. We want to provide an inviting atmosphere to the community. Patience is definitely the way to go.