For three days he had been barrelling water out of his boat, after it was inundated by the deliberate washes of large boats towing skiers.
As a long-time lover of the Murray River and a visitor to the area for 25 years, Mr Roussel questioned the rules that allow these activities, he said he was not just worried about his boat but the effect of these large waves on the environment.
“Sure it’s an annoyance and a pain and I don’t know what the insurance will say but it’s more about the damage to the environment and it’s dangerous to skiers,” he said.
The Clyde North resident has noticed significant changes to the river bank over the years, including an increase in larger boats over the past three years.
Mr Roussel said the bend opposite Perricoota station was a perfect example of the degradation of the environment.
“(The bank) used to be 4m with a gentle slope and now it’s completely cut off and there are so many fallen trees,” he said.
“These big boats - they don’t belong on the water.”
Roads and Maritime Services NSW have no plans to restrict the size or speed of recreational vessels regardless of their impact on the erosion or recreation.
As has happened at Picnic Point near the junction of the Murray and Edward Rivers, there are boating restrictions for safety and environmental reasons as the river is narrow, shallow, has snags and submerged hazards.
“Recreational vessel sizes are not restricted but boat operators must ensure they operate safely,” a spokesperson for RMS said.
“Transport for NSW is aware of erosion issues on the Murray River and is working with local stakeholders to address these issues.”