Conference vicki::boats

    Hullo.  I occasionally ride Kawasaki Jet-skis.  If you go through
    this notesfile, you'll see all sorts of heated debate on the beasties.
    We even have one enterprising fellow who's trying to outlaw them,
    see note on access restrictions.
    
    Ever ridden a Kawasaki?  I've never tried a Yamaha, don't know how
    comparable they are.
    				John

    John,
    
       Hello , Well to begin with a YAMAHA is a tri-hull and is equiped
    for 2 passengers . Mine has a 550 cc YAMAHA 2 cycle . Top speed
    so far has been about 42 mph. If you ever get a chance to ride a
    Wave Runner.... DO !!!!
    
    
                                    SEE YA AT THE LAKE,
                                               BLAKE
    

    A couple of friends of mine have "Wave Runners" and they're a blast!
    We have towed people on trick skis, kneeboards, and even jump skis
    behind them.  They're a lot harder to handle but tons of fun.  Of
    course you need to be careful since a spotter is out of the question.
    Naturally we went crazy one day and did "around-the-wave-runner"
    on jump skis!  Works pretty good, just watch your head!  :-)
    
    Side slides and 360 spins are very easy on a wave runner because
    it is a wide machine and doesn't tip over as easy as a jet ski.
    Two people are even more fun since as the driver you can't control
    the weight distribution as easily when you turn.  I don't think
    I'd spend the ~$4K on one, but I have a great time beating up on
    someone else's!  :-)
    
    					...Roger...

    WAY TO GO ROGER !!
    WELL WORTH THE 4K !!
    
    
    
    
    
    
                                     BLAKE
    

I've had blasts on jet skis, wet bikes, and wave runners. Though they're
    not as good as the real thing (slalom ski) they're a heck of a lot
    of fun, with the wave runners ahad by a nose in the enjoyability
    stakes.
    
    
    .jim.
    
    

    
    So you think I made the right choice by buying the Wave Runner ??
    I think so. I have to agree with you on slaoming though , there
    is nothing like it ! Take care Jim and have a killer w/end at the
    lake !!!!!!!!
    
    
    
                                            Blake 

I was at our lake association meeting a week ago and one of the topics was JET 
SKIIS. We were informed by our president that the state of New Hampshire has 
restricted the used of all JET SKIIS on ALL bodies of water in the state. He 
also stated that some bodies of water that don't want to restrict JET SKIIS 
must identify specific area on the body of water when the JET SKIIS will be 
used and how the JET SKIIS will get to the area.

Does anyone have any more information regarding this topic?

    
    
    Mass is also instituting new jet ski regulations this year.  The rules
    will be in place before Memorial Day.
    
    I have no idea what the rules are; I just know that they are about to
    happen.
    
    Kevin
    

    re. 117.7
    	Well I don't think the restrictions have taken effect yet. 
    I was in the water at Seabrook the past three days with no problems.
    Sunday the habor master was at the launch with about 10 jet skiers
    around. He was telling everyone who came in that they should be
    riding slowly to the dock, where to park their trailers and that
    regulations need to be followed starting next week. "I'll be out
    here next week cracking down. If your careful and don't go crazy
    in the dock area and channel we'll have no problems."
    
    As for the lakes...I was in Ossipee last weekend with out a sign
    of a harbor master/patrol. Maybe I just got lucky and wasn't spotted.
    But I did see 4 other skiers in the course of the day.  As far as
    getting it to the area to launch....My father is the manager of
    the mariner at his association. So it shouldn't be a problem.
    Although most of my riding will be in the ocean. No waves in lakes!!
    
    Also at all the cycle shops that sell jet skies there are petitions
    to sign against the ban. I really don't think its going to help,
    never seen a representative or senator on a Jet Ski....
    
    Tom
                                                                        
    

    As far as restrictions go in NH, Jet Skis have not been outlawed on all
    lakes.  Last year when this issue came up in the Legislature, they were
    banned on many small lakes, and other lakes with special cases.  You
    have to find a copy of the laws or call a newspaper or the NH Dept of
    Water Safety to find out specifically about your lake.

The Union Leader - Wed Aug 9

Safety Commissioner Outlaws Jet Skis on 2 Wolfeboro Lakes

Safety Commissioner Richard Flynn has decided to prohibit jet skis on 3,000
acre Lake Wentworth and 210 acre Rust Pond, both in Wolfeboro, effective Oct. 1.
  Also, Flynn yesterday denied the appeal of jet ski manufacturer Kawasaki
Motor Corp., USA which objected to Flynn's July 6 decision and order which
banned weekend jet ski use on Mascoma Lake in Enfield as of July 29.
.
.
.
  Flynn had already ordered a jet ski ban on 315 acre Deering Lake, known as
Deering Reservoir, in Deering effective Oct. 1.
  He ordered a total jet ski ban on 169-acre Upper Kimball Pond in Chatham
beginning Oct. 1.
  Public hearings have been held and Flynns decisions are pending on total
bans sought for Little Sunapee and Pleasant Lake in New London. on Gregg 
Lake in Antrim, on Wild Goose Pond in Pittsfield, on Stinson and Loon Lake
in Rumney, on Rockwood Pond in Fitzwilliam, on Lake Winnipocket in Webster
and on Crescent Lake in Wolfeboro.
.
.
.
In his order yesterday of a full jet ski ban on Lake Wentworth, Flynn found
that the use of jet skis "denies safe pursuit of the lake and constitutes a
hazard to the safety of the public and property". 
  "Ski craft use interferes with the use of the lake for drinking water by 
churning up silt said Flynn". ... He said the use of ski craft "has a 
detrimental effect on loons and other wildlife on the lake".
.
.
.
  Further public hearings on petitions to ban jet ski use on various lakes 
include:
    o	Aug 12, at 9:30 a.m. at the Conway Town Hall for a ban on Conway Lake
	in Conway

    o	Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Washington Town hall for a ban on Island
	Pond, also known as Washington Lake

    o	Aug 19 at 9 a.m. at the Gilford Middle High School to restrict ski
	craft to a triangular area of the Broads on Lake Winnipesaukee.

    o	Aug 25 at 7 pm in the Northwood Town Hall for a ban on Long Pond in
	Northwood

    o	Aug 25 at 7 p.m. in the Kingston Town hall for a ban on the southern 
	end of Country Pond in Kingston.

    o	Aug 25 at 8 p.m. in the Kingston Town hall for a ban on Great Pond
	(Kingston Lake), Kingston

    o	Aug 26 at the Hampstead Middle School, Hampstead, for a ban on Big
	Island Pond situated in Derry, Atkinson, and Hampstead.

    

Tidbits from Mass's June '89  jet ski regulations...


    Operators must be at least 14.  If 14 or 15, must have been issued a
    safety certificate by Coast Guard, US Power Squadron, Division of Law
    Enforcement, etc.  

    If 16 or under, parents must diligently supervise operation.

    Must wear a type I, II, or III floatation device

    No towing of water skier or any person in any other manner

    Cannot operate between sunset and sunrise or when vision is unduly
    restricted by weather.

    Must operate in a safe and prudent manner.  Specifically prohibits:

  - Unreasonable jumping, or trying to jump, the wake of another vessel
  - Following within 150 feet of a water skier
  - Weaving through congested vessel traffic
  - Speeding in restricted area
  - Crossing unreasonably close to another vessel
  - Operating in such a way as to endanger life, limb, or property

    Proximity.  Must not operate:

  - Within 150 feet of shore except at headway speed
  - Within 150 feet of a bathing beach, or between 150 and 300 feet of a beach
      at more than headway speed
  - Within 150 feet of a swimmer in the water


    Automatic Cut-off

    Every person operating a personal watercraft that has a lanyard-type
    engine cut-off switch must attach said lanyard to his person, clothing,
    or personal flotation device as is appropriate for the specific craft.
 

    Of course there's more, but these are the highlights.

    Kevin


    

	We were one of the few boats on Ft Meadow Pond yesterday 
(maybe the falling temperature and falling water level are a factor 
(-:.

	I remembered seeing a Jet-Ski (OK, PWC) head out toward the
middle and after a while I realized that I hadn't heard the scream of
the two stroke for longer than it usually takes people to fall off,
get back on and restart them.  We found him soon enough and rushed 
over, he said he was OK but was having problems getting back on 
because it was tipping too easily - to me he looked exhausted, from 
the effort of trying to reboard and the time he'd been in the water.  
He refused help, but I insisted on hanging around until he got on and 
restarted, he couln't.  I backed up and offered him the ladder and 
swim platform as an aid to getting back on the PWC, he accepted this 
time but had trouble even getting up the ladder - at this point I 
realized how heavy (~250+, not much of it being muscle) and how out of
shape the guy was (is), ALL FLAB.  With a lot of effort we managed to
get him into our boat, after some rest he was able to climb onto the 
PWC, restart it and drive away - young guy, quick recovery.

	The point I want to make is as follows;

	Before venturing out into water much more than waist deep, be 
sure that you are plenty strong enough to haul yourself aboard.  Many 
of us get overweight and out of shape, our legs get stronger as our 
weight increases, but our arms, back and shoulders get proportionaly 
weaker.  The guy we hauled in yesterday didn't even have enough 
(single) leg strength to make a big step up into our boat, maybe he 
could have if he was "fresh", but he wasn't and didn't have any 
strength reserve.

	Also, don't go out alone, someone else on a PWC may not be 
able to get you back on, but at least they can go for help.  If there
had been nobody out there yesterday his chances were slim at best  a) 
I don't think he could have swam in.  b)  If he had stayed clutching
the PWC it would have taken 2-3 hours to drift to shore, if he had
tried clambering aboard from time to time he might have deteriorated 
very fast.

	Reg	{Oh, I was there to play;  without a wetsuit natch}

    From what you describe, he may have had a touch of hypothermia.

                    -- NEW JETSKIING CONFERENCE --
    
    FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED IN JETSKIING THERE IS A CONFERENCE
    FOR JUST THAT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE RIDERS, OR JUST LIKE TO MOAN
    ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO DO, YOU CAN FIND THE CONFERENCE 
    ON:- SEDSWS:JETSKIING.
    
                        LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU 
                              NICK (BY THE WAY I OWN A KAWASAKI 550)
    
    
    
    
    
                                                              
    

	Ok, all you PWC fanatics.....


	Make sure you check out page two of the USA Today sports
section which sports a picture of "Bad Girl" Tonya on what appears
to be a waverunner!

Wouldn't want you to miss it! :-)

Rick

    Also in yesterday's Herald.  Enough to give PWC's a bad name. (As if
    PWC manufacturers didn't already have enough trouble with bad publicity!)
    Wayne

 To fisherman they are mesquitos. When used properly they are a great toy
 When used by most of the morons I've seen they are safety hazard. 

 That's probably why there are fewer and fewer lakes allowing them. This is 
 a case where the many ruin it for the few. 

 Before you plunk the $6k make sure it can be used on the waters your 
 thinking of using it on.

 - Dave