Here’s what you had to say about Maine’s ‘floating camps’

By Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News Staff

The Bangor Daily News audience had a lot to say about a story about “floating camps” and how the state of Maine is trying to figure out how to regulate them.

Some commenters said they believe that it’s people who own camps and homes on Maine lakes, ponds and shorelines who are doing much of the complaining about the floating structures. 

All the people complaining are the ones who own camps. But sadly for you, you don’t own the water. Besides, what’s the difference, the lakes are covered in ice shacks all winter and nobody complains. As long as they have chemical or compost toilets I don’t see the problem. I’m sure ice shacks and all day drunken boaters have chemical toilets too.

– Kate Bachelor (Facebook)

Maine will find a way to tax them, I’m sure, especially when the out-of-staters start complaining. They already complain about the smell of the working waterfront that they chose to live near.

– Stacy James (Facebook)

One commenter suggested it was a unique way to deal with Maine’s ongoing housing crisis.

Well, that’s one way to clap back at this ridiculous housing crisis.

– Lauren Schmidt (Facebook)

Some were concerned that if the floating camps proliferated, it would begin to look like a “shanty town” on the water.

Let’s hope the DIF&W and our Legislative Committee can pull the reins in on this before it gets totally out of control. I don’t own the waterfront, but when I go visit one of our beautiful lakes, I don’t expect to take in the view of a ‘shanty town’.

– J (BDN site)

Other than the bathroom situation, if they look like this – fine. I’m sure they all don’t, and when it looks like a tent city out on the lake, and we’re swimming amongst the floating detritus, everyone will be singing a different note.

– Christopher MacMillian

Still others said that they shouldn’t be treated any differently than other boats, and it would largely be up to each town to deal with it.

Go look at the State Boating Facilities frequently asked questions. Can’t moor more than 200 feet from shore or more than one-third of the way to the far shore, whichever is less. Can’t moor in channel. Can’t deny the “right of free access” by impeding someone’s access to their legitimate mooring. After that, it seems to be up to the municipality. Although I didn’t search the health code, it seems just common sense that your right to use the lakes doesn’t include leaving your feces for someone else to clean up.

– Glenn Tippy (Facebook)

And, after looking at all the photos in the story, one commenter suggested that these vessels did not appear to be the most structurally sound watercraft anyway.

With no ballast or keel on these top heavy things, the right windy storm will take care of them so the government won’t have to!

– Erik the Redbeard (Facebook)