Conference wahoo::fishing

	Does anyone out there have any info on the same kind of speed limit
    action being taken in N.H.??

                                   Jim

    
    
    	I do not own a Ranger, I have done much boating in a 12' aluminum
    	with outboard (7.5) on Lake Quinsig. in Worc., in fact I grew
    	up on Lake Q. I don't feel that 45mph limit is unreasonable for boating.
        I have been subjected many times to people literally flying by
    	in 150+ hp boats who do not give a sh*t if you are in a canoe
    	with small children fishing or in any other kind of small boat for
    	that matter.  I feel that if people were ticketed for operation
    	in excess of a certain speed limit , say $100.00, that it may
    	make these operators show a little more concern for other boaters
    	rights.  The fishing noters seem to be a reasonable bunch, and
    	I am not trying to pick, but didn't I just read a note concerning
    	being "given a double hole shot shower between two rangers".
    	Only kidding? Well that is exactly the mentality I have experienced
    	on Lake Q. with FAST power boats.
    	I have no interest in purchasing a RANGER type boat, and I am
    	not PICKING on RANGER owners at all. But even if I owned a RANGER
    	I would still support this bill.
                                        	Steve Prunier

re: .2  <I have been subjected many times to people literally flying by
    	<in 150+ hp boats who do not give a sh*t if you are in a canoe
    	<with small children fishing or in any other kind of small boat for
    	<that matter.  I feel that if people were ticketed for operation
    	<in excess of a certain speed limit , say $100.00, that it may
    	<make these operators show a little more concern for other boaters
    	<rights.

	Steve,

		I can certainly appreciate your position.  About 12 years ago
	I canoed the Wilderness Waterway through the Everglades Nat'l Park.
	We were two heavily loaded canoes in a small river channel (maybe 50'
	across).  We had just rounded a hair pin turn when we heard the roar
	of a 25' cabin cruiser with twin I/O's.  He was up on plane.  When
	he saw us (maybe 75' away) he shut down his engines in an effort to
	keep from sinking us.  The bow wave he set up was twice the height
	of the wake he was making on plane.  We pivoted in place so as to put
	the bow toward the 4' swell. Aside from a little water over the bow
	we managed to ride it out.

		My point is this: the wake from a boat on plane is no worse
	than one which is plowing through water at 15-20 mph.  I believe how
	close a power boat (raising a wake) comes to the smaller boats is more
	the issue at hand ( I think within 100 yds is too close), and no amount
	of legislation will dictate the root of the problem, as you point out,


		    ***** COURTESY and RESPONSIBILITY. *****


					Al Whitman

    Re:2
    	I already voiced my opinion in 283.3 on boat speed but you bring
    up another point. I have been told that there is a law on the books 
    about boats passing to close to other boats. If you were able to
    get the numbers off the boat passing you, you may have been able
    to do something about it.
    	In the boat that I used to have (15' fiberglass center console),
    I would throw up a larger wake by slowing down then I would at full
    throttle. I may be wrong but I think a Ranger would do the same,
    especially if it came down off a plane.
    	I have been in the same predicament as you in a canoe before.
    My friend and I actually had someone TRY to swamp us. It was a big
    joke to them until I finally got pissed off and almost popped the
    driver of the boat off the head with a beer bottle. If he didn't jump 
    back, I would of. It was one of those them or us situations. At any rate,
    they quickly got the idea we didn't like playing their deadly and
    expensive little game. This however had to do with courtesy, not
    boat speed.
    
    RAYJ

    I believe there's a time and place for fast boats, the problem as
    I preceive it is that some people don't understand what a boat can
    do at 45+ mph or should I say, can't do. I've seen an 18ft bass
    boat with a 150 Black Max on it, hit a rock (at full speed),which 
    sheared some of the lower unit bolts off and was still able to run 
    (in fact for 45 minutes). It immediately threw the driver out and 
    went in different circle patterns until running out of gas. No one
    was hurt. The driver wasn't wearing his kill switch or a life jacket.
    He was lucky, the boat threw him in the opposite direction from
    where it was going. 
     I guess the moral here is that speed is dangerous and because the
    water is unpredictible, that danger can be increased greatly for
    anyone on the water, not just the driver of the fast boat.
                                     
    Speed limits are a tough call only because we have alot of crazy's
    out there. You can argue on both sides of the question real easily.
    I for one would like to think that I am safe on the water without
    a speed limit.    But....
    
    
    				Watch out for them "no wake zones"
    
    							Jim
                                                           

    I have owned boats for many a years now. I have spent many a night
    all night fishing for stripers at the mouth of the Merrimack and
    I have made some mistakes of which most of them have cost me one
    way or another. When you navigate at night you get to know the water
    intimately.
    
    Out side of the harbors I think speed should be left up to the
    captains. I understand that this is an inland water regulation
    and I think once you are away from the ramp, slip what ever and
    you moved into the open lake its the captain judgement that should
    govorn speed.
    
      One thing I am sure of if you insist on going fast sooner
    or later its going to get you and chance are it will get you bad.
    
    There are a lot of sumerged hazards out there and they don't always
    stay in the same spot. In the spring you constantly have to be on
    watch from debree that is being bought down with the spring run
    off
    
    What was said before about a boat throwing a bigger wake when it
    slowed down my; resonse to that is" yes,  many planning hulls
    have a larger wake a slower speeds but you ain't slowed down enough."
    If you slow down enough your wake will decrease to almost nothing.   
    
    so what has happened here is a few people making it difficult for
    all of us by not showing good judgement.
    
    when you pass a canoe you shouldn't be trowing any wake.
    
    You see I'm  against any speed limit but I can see other peoples 
    frustration because there's no other way to get you to slow down.
                
    There's not enough enforcement officers to make an impact so I
    don't know what the answer is purhaps if we made the fines really
    high that might have an impact
    
    In other words the chance of you getting caught might still be slimm
    but the price if you do might be a deterent ( sp ).
                                                       
    
   Bear 

    	One of this years projects for me is to get started on a hovercraft
    I want to build. I have the plans, engine, prop, and v-belt reduction.
    I am looking to find some Sitka spruce (seems to be a rare wood
    anymore) before I start. According to my rough calculations, this
    craft would be capable of 50-55 on water and 55-60 on ice. Since
    I am not actually in the water, I don't have to worry about intimately
    knowing any body of water I put it on as far as submerged rocks,
    stumps, and sand bars are concerned. I also would throw little to
    no wake at any speed. 
    	Presently, these are registered as "recreational vehicles" and not 
    "boats". Since I have none of the already mentioned hazards to worry
    about, I do not want to see a law like this go through. I have a
    funny feeling this speed limit would affect me in a hovercraft if I happen
    to be on the water. I'll have to see if the law specifically says
    "boats". If it does, I won't have to worry about it (legally anyway).
    
    RAYJ
    
    BTW - The reference in .4 should say 287.3, not 283.3

    No but it maks dem salebotes chockay!!!
    
    Coonass
    

    
    Back a few I read about someone on lake Quisig getting some close
    boat traffic.  
    
    That lake has a posted 40mph limit on it, and 20 at night.  It also
    has the bigegst bunch of jerks driving on it.  You know the saying
    "it only takes a few"  Well that is the problem with quinsig.
    
    I am a RANGER owner with a 150.  ( I just got it but I have been
    driving speed boats for the last 10 years)  Setting a speed limit
    is unfair.
    
    Now I think this is starting to sound like I like speed. I just
    think it is a few absent minded people who go out with the case
    of beer and get feeling good and drive unsafe.  Those are the people
    who should be watch for and fined.
    
    It is just sad a few people have to make problems for them all.
     I still can't see how this would pass with the lobby power of the
    big motor companies.
    
    Bassin Bob
    

    I guess my question is, what good will it do? There is no way the
    dept. of fisheries can patrol the lakes any more than the Highway
    Patrol can handle the highways. We have a 55 mph on the roads. Now
    come on, who drives 55?? It will be the same with the boats. There
    will the ones who are going to go fast as they can where and whenever
    they can, and there will the responsible boaters that will go a
    safe speed, considering the conditions. Nothing will change, and
    we will have fuzz busters on the race boats on the lakes.......
    
    It all comes down to people....we have drunks on the roads and we
    have drunks on the water. We have those that care and those that
    couldn't care less. What will the law change??? Laws don't change
    people, people change people........
    
    You talk about canoes being swamped....well, I use to use one, and
    I was swamped by a boat wake....lost my tackle and sunglasses, not
    to mention all the stuff that got wet in my wallet. So you know
    that I slow down for canoes. Others, as was already pointed out,
    make a game of it....trying to see how much they can rock them.
    Now there are already laws to cover this.....why aren't they enforced??
    Same reason the speed law won't be......no manpower. To much water
    and not enough resources. And as for trying to get the boat numbers,
    forget it. Even trained observers would have a hard time, and even
    if caught, its a wrist slap. 
    
    A much more practical idea would be licensing of boat operators.
    That would keep some of the hot rodding down, but of course, that
    would send up an even worse howl....not to speak of the cost.
    
    And finally (then I'll get off my soapbox) if they are going to
    consider such a law (anyways) they should at least take the size
    of the water into consideration. Letting Wini alone is a good step
    but I thing that other lakes, such as Squam, should also be included.
        
    Ron

    Right on Ron!!!

    Somtime ole Coonass carry him twice barrel shoot gun an sometime
    he carry him pompgun(de one dat come runnin tree time out de barrel,
    cept wen de gang warden not dere, den five time), but ALL dem big
    boats come by me piroque real slow-like.

    
    Teachin 'em how to slow down...
    
    Coonass