Area Boaters Attend Bumperbash 2011

An estimated 3500 people gathered together in the waters off of Dobbins Island on Saturday for the annual boating event Bumperbash. Over 700 boats were present, anchored just off the beach of Dobbins Island for a day of music and fun on the water.

Although the event had received bad publicity due to such allegations as under age drinking and littering the Magothy River with trash, event organizers and attendees felt that the day was a success, and that those in attendance were well-behaved.

“It just wasn't that bad,” said Bumperbash organizer Jimmy Jernigan, “People drank and hung out on their boats. Everyone who was on the beach was following the rules.”

This was the fifth year for the event, organized by Jernigan and his friend, Mike Hatcher. The two friends started the event in 2007, with only around 20 boats in attendance. “The next year, the boats doubled,” explained Jernigan, “The next, they tripled. The next, they quadrupled. I believe there were at least 700 boats there this year, but we won't know the numbers until we get the official count from the Coast Guard.”

For the second year in a row, Jernigan and Hatcher have worked to make Bumperbash a charity event, donating proceeds from T-shirt sales to Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD.) Jernigan said he believes they raised around $5,000 for SOMD through the sale of Bumperbash T-shirts.

Paul Spadaro of the Magothy River Association attended the event, and spoke positively about his experience. “The majority of the boats there were not sail boats or Captain Cruisers. These were 25-foot boats or smaller. These were the boats of the young, 20-something generation of boaters. These guys are our future.

Their being able to be out on the river, enjoying the water and having fun will pay off in the long run. If they have a vested interest in the Magothy River, they will work to preserve our waterways in the long term.”

Both the organizers and attendees praised the efforts of the DNR, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Lake Shore Fire Department, and Anne Arundel County Police Department, who staffed the waters and beach of Dobbins Island with officials who helped maintain the safety of all in attendance.

“I want to thank them all,” said Jernigan, “Without them, the event absolutely could not have happened. We appreciate their hard work more than I can say.”

Pasadena resident Jim Dickerson shared Jernigan's sentiments. “While I feel that the DNR and AAPD provided an excessive amount of manpower, no one can argue that it was a more pleasant family experience.

After last year’s issues I spoke with many boaters that declined to attend this year citing safety issues, but I feel that this group listened to its attendants concerns and made the needed changes to head in the right direction to continue to make this an enjoyable family outing. I for one will be attending next year’s event.”

Jernigan is already making plans for Bumperbash 2012, seeking to bring in more bands and engage the Pasadena community more in his efforts. “This is a big event for boaters in the Pasadena area, and we plan for it to keep growing,” Jernigan said, “We want the public to know that we're being responsible and that we care about our waterways. We're all boaters, too, and we plan to be in the area for a long time.”