Good heavens! That's just crazy! And no life preservers on the children?!? WTF!

I don't know much at all about canoes and racks, but if there is a way to put yours under lock and key so that you or your DH only can remove them, I'd be looking into that pronto. Is that even a possibility?

I'm not sure what you can do after the fact. One thing I would for sure consider - is there a way to lock the canoes up to where they can't be taken off the rack by just anyone? I think you will also need to make it clear to the neighbor who "gave permission" that they don't have the right to do so. I'd also make clear to anyone you may let use the canoe in the future that life preservers must be used. Sorry you had to deal with this! GRRRR

We certainly can lock it, but it’s all been fine for 20 years, and we didn’t mind if the neighbor took it out. But yes, a simple chain and lock will do it. The rack is makeshift: a jungle gym with pvc pipe across lol. Makes a great canoe rack!

The local police have asked if they could fish from the shore, we said yes. But we did not give permission to ice fish, at least from our side, because we no longer check the thickness of the ice.

It’s funny, the neighbor didn’t exactly give permission, but indicated “I don’t think they’d mind.” I’m really surprised the guy didn’t contact me at all!

All it takes is one time, one foolish decision by some idiot like what you witnessed today, to make you feel like you're not "safe" in quite the way you've long felt to be. I wonder if you'd have had any liability for having your canoes accessible if this outing had ended tragically. Maybe not, but absolutely better safe than sorry.

I am sorry this happened. I would probably still be shaken from the shock of what that guy assumed he was entitled to!

Wow! I'm amazed at the effrontery of the guy. I always worry about liability and setting up any kind of de facto right-of-way. You are being nice to your neighbor, but what happens when they sell their house and tell the buyers that they've always been allowed to access the lake by crossing your property?

A few years ago, there was a tragic incident nearby. A group of honors high school students had a leadership retreat at a YMCA camp along a river. A handful of students left their rooms after lights out (against regulations), and the building (against regulations), wen to the boathouse (against regulations), removed a boat (against regulations), hauled it down to the river, and got in (against regulations), without life preservers (against the law), and set off, and none of them knew how to swim (against common sense). It was winter. The boats had been winterised, meaning the plugs had been removed. The boat sank. Young people died.

I have no understanding for a father, a medical professional at that, who takes out a watercraft they are unfamiliar with, on a body of water they don’t know, with young children unencumbered by life preservers, while the owners of the water do not know they are there at that moment. Boggles the mind.

FWIW, I've found that the opening words 'I have a concern' can make awkward conversations go a bit more smoothly. I would def. frame it in terms of safety, and liability if anything bad were to happen.

I think that not only do you have to lock up the canoes now, and anything else that might be accessible outside, but you may have to put up "no trespassing" signs.

Honestly, why do people think they're entitled to free usage of someone else's property?

I think I would find it difficult to refrain from having a follow up conversation with the dad, and agree that "I have a concern" is an excellent opener. He may find you overbearing and intrusive if you make further contact and attempt to explain why what he did was so incredibly dangerous, but so what. He might actually think twice the next time he has an opportunity to take those little boys somewhere for an adventure, and opt not to be foolhardy.

My opening words were “who is that?”, followed by ”that’s my husband’s canoe”. I think that covered it. My next words included “but, really, life preservers”.

The reason I asked about locking them up is because I would be concerned not only about someone getting hurt, but liability. You just can't be too careful these days!! Sad but true.

True, Tina! I‘m especially concerned if the guy told a friend, etc. It doesn’t take much, right?

WTH?! On a lighter note Bpath, your account of the whole thing was hilarious!

Wonder what he would have said/done if PD showed up instead of the nice homeowner.

Our last home was on a small lake. There was common area/boat ramp, but the surrounding land was homeowner's property. Several times I had to run off teenagers climbing over our fence to fish from our backyard. Doesn't cut it, when you don't ask first and my dogs bark non-stop. The dam was also common area, but no way to get to it, and it was so steep, you couldn't fish off of it anyway. A dog that lived on the lake started following a group and got a large hook in his mouth. I could tell something was wrong. They were across the lake from us, but in the backyard of my parents' lakehouse (not there). So I yelled was something wrong, drove over to help and called the owner. Dog had to have surgery due to repair a large tear.

People just do not think, or maybe they just do not care.

That was highly presumptuous, rude, and dangerous with the kids. I would be concerned too.

I wonder how it went when he and the kids told Mom about their adventure.

Think of all the problems that could be avoided by simply asking permission. Supposedly it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission, but that only works if you are the offender. Chances are you would have gladly loaned the canoe and granted permission to cross your property if only they had asked first. You also would have pointed out that they must wear ,life jackets.

Small thing but I remember coming home one day seeing a bunch of my lawn equipment on my neighbors yard. She waved and said “I knew you wouldn’t mind”. I would gladly loan her the stuff but it annoyed the heck out of me that she went into my garage and helped herself.

People are so strange! You shouldn't have to, but I could lock up the canoes. Maybe a simple bike chain lock. At least something that communicates: "not community property". People don't always make good decisions, including parents of children. I'm sorry you were put in this position. I would have been pissed. Sounds like you handled it pretty well.