Howard: Washington Boats Pay Share

Howard Martinson: Contrary to what’s been written above, Washington boaters do pay to boat on Lake CdA. How? For starters they pay to launch and use the ramp and park their tow rigs & trailers. Many purchase their boat gas, on the trailer, from local Idaho gas stations (Idaho gas is considerably cheaper than Washington gas. Many purchase Idaho fishing licenses. Most Washington boaters register their vessels in Idaho and pay Idaho sales tax on their vessels. (Considerably cheaper than Washington registration and sales tax.) More below.

Question: Do you agree with Howard that Washington boaters pay their fair share to use Lake Coeur d’Alene?

Some pay for overnight mooring, either at 3rd Street or some other commercial marina. Some stop for food, gas, groceries, fishing gear or whatever on the lake. Some pay fines to the County for life jacket and other violations. The big boats - 40, 50 and 60 footers: Whatever the residency of their owners, they pay massive fees to Idaho - registration, sales tax, gas & gas taxes, breathtaking mooring fees at the commercial marinas, groceries, restaurants, beer, wine and liquor, repairs & parts, the list goes on and on. We’re talking big buck$ here. This is just a guess: a majority of the big boats on the Lake are owned by out of state residents. They bring in enormous $$$ to Idaho. 3rd Street is most likely the only viable launch ramp on the lake for these big boats.